More than a third of drivers would rather fix minor car issues themselves than pay for a professional to do it, new research suggests.
According to eBay UK’s study, saving money is a key reason for savvy motorists taking on smaller repair jobs.
Worryingly, one-in-10 claimed they don’t think MOT advisories are a big deal, and nearly a quarter (22%) admitted to delaying repairs for as long as possible.
Also, 34% of motorists delayed getting MOT advisories fixed last year due to rising living costs, with another 33% stating that they were unable to afford the repairs.
The research also revealed that the most common MOT failure issues were inoperative lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (23%), followed closely by suspension (18%), brake issues (14%) and defective tyres (13%) – many of which could be easily avoided.
Hannah Gordon, eBay UK’s expert mechanic, said: “The car is an essential part of many people’s lives, so being without it due to an MOT fail plays into the dread that many people feel around the annual test.
“Often, minor faults such as frayed windscreen wipers can be easily replaced, and by searching on eBay UK you can save time and money by sourcing and fitting the parts yourself.”
Nearly a half of all motorists admit to breaking the speed limit on 60mph country roads – the highest level since 2016, according to new RAC data.
Some 48% of the 3,102 drivers questioned for the RAC Report on Motoring say they have driven faster than the limit in the past year on these roads – up from 44% in 2021 and matching the highest figure ever seen by the RAC in 2016.
Eight per cent confess to having done this frequently, while 40% say they have done it occasionally on up to half of their journeys on these roads.
In 2021 514 people were killed in a total of 11,827 collisions on 60mph non-built-up roads – a fatality rate of 4%, which is higher than on motorways.
On motorways and high-speed dual carriageways, the UK’s fastest roads, as many as 60% of drivers say they have broken the 70mph limit, either on most journeys (16%), or on up to half of their trips (43%) in the last 12 months.
This is up by five percentage points compared to 2021 when 55% admitted to having exceeded the limit. The 60% figure is the biggest percentage seen by the RAC since 2017, when 66% owned up to this. However, it is still down on the record of 70% reported in both 2015 and 2016.
The percentage who speed on urban roads has changed very little in the past 12 months with 40% of drivers saying they have exceeded the 30mph limit at least occasionally, compared to 41% in 2021, while 46% have broken the limit on 20mph roads, a figure unchanged on the year before.
The most common reason drivers give for exceeding the motorway 70mph limit is that they are travelling at the same speed as other motorists (42%).
The same justification is used by 32% of those who break 60mph limits – the most popular explanation given for exceeding the limit on these roads.
Almost half of drivers who have exceeded the speed limit in 20mph zones say this is because they think the limit is inappropriate for that particular road.
Most drivers (69%) think motorists only adhere to 20mph limits when there is enforcement or physical traffic-calming measures in place, while 65% say that signs warning of speed cameras nearby help them stick to the limit.
And, half (52%) say they would be opposed to additional 20mph limits being introduced in their local area. However, a similar proportion (48%) believe some 60mph limits on unclassified rural roads should be reduced.
“The recent increase in the proportion of drivers admitting to speeding on 60mph rural roads is extremely worrying as more people lose their lives every year in collisions on these roads than on any other,” said RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams.
The UK languishes near bottom of list of European countries which have acted to ease the burden of high fuel prices, claims new RAC research.
Motorists in the UK are paying as as much as 20p more per litre of petrol than drivers in France, for instance.
Out of 13 EU countries that have cut tax on petrol in order to ease the spiralling costs faced by drivers every time they fill up, only one – Luxembourg – has done less than the UK Government, with a duty cut in April worth the equivalent of 4.52p compared to the 5p duty cut announced at the UK Budget in March.
It’s a similar picture for diesel, with only Croatia doing less for its drivers than the UK, with a cut worth 4.5p.
The UK Government’s intervention back in the Spring looks paltry when compared to most other European nations, with Germany taking the equivalent of 25p a litre in tax off per litre of petrol on 1 June, Italy 21p, Portugal 16p and both Ireland and the Netherlands nearly 15p.
In addition, as an alternative to cutting fuel duty, governments of other countries in the EU have introduced fuel discounts at forecourt tills with Spain taking off 20 cents (about 17p) and France 18 cents (about 15p), while some fuel retailers including TotalEnergies in France and BP Spain have discounts running of up to 40 cents per litre (about 33p).
Of the remaining 15 EU states that haven’t taken steps to lower pump prices since March, all but six already charge less fuel duty than the UK even after the UK cut fuel duty by 5p in March’s Spring Statement, and almost all are cheaper at the pumps.
Although UK pump prices have finally started to fall in recent days – after significant pressure from the RAC on retailers to reflect the fact wholesale fuel costs have been falling for seven straight weeks – the average price of a litre of both petrol and diesel is well above the current EU averages of 159p and 161p respectively.
The UK is currently the joint-second most expensive country when it comes to the average cost of a litre of petrol (186p) – behind only Finland (190p) with Denmark also at 186p – and the second most expensive for diesel at 195p per litre, with only Sweden charging more (201p).
At the end of January the Highway Code hit the headlines after a major update came into force, affecting all road users and pedestrians.
The new measures aim to protect cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders when using or in close proximity to UK roads. They also aim to make the roads safer for vulnerable users by creating a hierarchy, which clarifies pedestrian and cyclist priority and establishes safer overtaking practices.
With this in mind, we’ve teamed up with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts to highlight the eight key changes and what they mean for us all.
1. Hierarchy of road users
To ensure the safety of the most vulnerable road users, a new hierarchy will be implemented to protect them and reduce the number of collisions on UK roads.
The new hierarchy when on the road is as followed:
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Horse Riders
Motorcyclists
Cars/taxis
Vans, minibuses, large passenger vehicles or courier vehicles (eg HGVs and buses)
2. Give way to pedestrians waiting at junctions
When pedestrians are crossing a road or junction, motorists should now give way to them. Even if the pedestrian hasn’t started crossing the road, motorists should give way to those who are waiting.
When approaching a zebra crossing, motorists, cyclists and those riding motorcycles should give way to pedestrians at the crossing, whereas at a parallel crossing motorists should give way to cyclists and pedestrians.
3. New guidance on shared spaces between pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists
People who are riding a horse, walking or driving a horse-drawn vehicle, should be aware of their surroundings and the safety of pedestrians.
People who are cycling are asked to not pass pedestrians and horse riders at a fast speed or at close proximity. They are also asked to slow down when necessary and make people aware of their presence by ringing their bell, but to keep in mind that people may be deaf or partially sighted. New rules also mean cyclists should not pass on the left-hand side of a horse.
4. New cyclist positioning on the road
Cyclists must now ride in the centre of their lane whilst cycling on quiet roads with slower-moving traffic, and also when approaching junctions or road narrowings. Whilst cycling on roads, bike riders now must keep at least 0.5 metres from the kerb edge on busy roads where vehicles are moving faster than them. When cycling past parked vehicles, cyclists should keep a one-metre distance and be aware of people walking into their path.
For cyclists who are cycling in groups, they can now cycle two abreast, as it can be safer when cycling in larger groups and with less experienced riders. They must allow cars to overtake them when it is safe to do so.
5. Safer overtaking when driving
When driving a vehicle, you may now cross a double white line if necessary and the road is clear to overtake a cyclist or horse if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
When overtaking cyclists 1.5 metres minimum must be left between the vehicle and cyclist going up to 30mph to give them more space. When passing horses, motorists must leave at least two metres of space. If motorists are driving by pedestrians walking on the road (no pavement), two metres should be left between the pedestrian and vehicle and speed should be dropped.
6. Cyclists priority near junctions
Cyclists are encouraged to use the small cycle traffic lights to make their journey safer. If cycling on roads that do not have this facility, it is recommended that cyclists proceed as though they are driving a vehicle, therefore should make themselves as visible as possible and avoid being overtaken where they deem it to be dangerous. Additionally, at a junction, going straight, cyclists now have the right of way.
7. Priority when at roundabouts
When at a roundabout, those driving a vehicle or motorcycle should not attempt to overtake people cycling within their lane, and should also allow cyclists to move across the roundabout when travelling around.
8. Charging, parking and leaving vehicle changes
‘Dutch Reach’ is the new technique being implemented when opening doors. Drivers and passengers should now open their car doors using the hand opposite to the side to the door they are opening – for example, using your right hand to open a door on the left-hand side of the vehicle. This is so when opening the door the person is looking at their shoulder, making them less likely to cause injury to cyclists, motorcyclists and people on the pavement.
When electric vehicle owners are charging their cars, they should park close to the charge point to stop pedestrians from tripping over cables. They should also display a warning sign if possible and return charging cables to reduce danger and obstacles to other people.
“The new Highway Code changes are essential to the safety of all road users and pedestrians,” said Keith Hawes, Director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
“As many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, it is important that all motorists keep up-to-date with the changes. Disobeying the rules can be a criminal offence which can lead to points on your licence, fines, driving bans and in the worst-case scenario, imprisonment.”
One in six motorists are self-conscious of their car and almost half feel their motor deserves more care than it’s currently given, according to a new study of 2,000 drivers.
More than a third are simply embarrassed by the mess their car is in, 41 per cent reckon they are “terrible” at washing their motor, while 54 per cent are left red-faced by the scuffs and scrapes they’ve accumulated over the years.
“We’re so reliant on our vehicles yet they don’t always get the care they deserve,” said Dominika Smolinska from car care product company Armor All, which commissioned the study.
“This research has given us a very interesting insight into what makes people feel embarrassed about their cars – however, one thing people are in control of is cleaning their vehicle.”
Top 10 reasons drivers are embarrassed about their cars
Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.
