All Purple School of Motoring

Kensington and Chelsea council have been forced to show their contract with private enforcer NSL under the freedom of information act.

NSL Wardens are required to tow 8,250 vehicles, clamp 15,000 and issue 306,000 tickets on a year by year basis.  If a shortage occurs on the required numbers NSL would be liable for the deficit until their 10 year contract runs out in 2016.

It has been stated that the council and NSL never enforced the targets and that relevant contract clauses were removed in 2008 under government advice.

From 1st October 2012 it will become an offence to clamp, immobilize or tow a vehicle unless you have lawful authority.  To ignore this will bring a fine and possibly criminal charges.

Bodies still able to clamp and tow are:-

• Police
• Local authorities
• Government agencies – D.V.L.A. & V.O.S.A.
• Railway stations/Airports

If in doubt then do not park.  Instead find somewhere you know is safe and legal.

It has been revealed that 10% of british drivers, (that’s over 300,000 people) have been caught while parking illegally.  Amazingly just under 10% of these drivers, (that’s 30,000 people) have successfully appealed the fine and roughly 20% of drivers studied by the insurance company Sheilas’ Wheels do not believe there is any law broken with ignoring parking regulations.

In the study sadly the men still came out on top of the law breakers!

The old trick of leaving your parking ticket on the windscreen to avoid another one will not work, you will just end up with a nice collection of paper!

Many thousands of people have mentioned their confusion over parking regulations and this is something Apsom can help with.  Please contact us for a refresher on rules and regulations also to update your knowledge on signs and lines.

By the end of this year the devices needed (drugalysers) to screen for drug types and usage amounts will be ready for the police to use on the general public.  This will make certain types of drug driving an automatic offence punishable with six months in prison and/or a fine that could rise up to £5000.  If this is not enough to make you think about your actions before driving there will also be a driving ban of at least 12 months.

If you feel you have an issue with drugs, want further information or just want to talk to someone please use this link.

www.samaritans.org/

Some driving tests may be affected by winter weather over the next few months. DSA is advising candidates to follow the advice on their appointment email or letter and to call their test centre only if there’s snow or ice in their local area on the day of their test. For more information visit:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest

You can sign up to DSA Direct, free of charge, and get email alerts about the latest news and updates at DSA. You can receive alerts about news and social media, learning to drive and ride, driver trainers, consultations and events. To sign up, visit:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/dsa/emailalerts.

Thanks to those of you who have taken the time to send in your comments about the new independent driving part of the test. Feedback to date has been largely positive, but any comments and suggestions are appreciated. Send your thoughts to pressoffice@dsa.gsi.gov.uk

DSA has launched a Facebook page for learner drivers. The page, which is called ‘I can’t wait to pass my driving test’, has been set up to give learner drivers a way of keeping up to date with news about learning to drive and driving tests. The page also has links to information and services on Directgov. Learners can become a fan of the page by visiting

http://www.facebook.com/mydrivingtest

DVLA reminds motorists of new motor insurance law — spring time is coming and you must make sure your vehicle is correctly insured, or face the penalties! You will receive details with your car tax renewal form, (March onwards) in addition to the guidance and video available now on direct.gov/motoring. The average cost to each insured motorist is £30 added to their premiums each and every year. So even if you don’t drive your vehicle and it sits at home, make sure its insured, otherwise make sure you inform the DVLA and that the vehicle is SORN.

Did you know that Potholes appear when water freezes into splits on the road surface? These splits then expand and potholes are born! Due to our recent and harsh winter weather there is more than £100,000,000 coming in grants to local councils for exactly this problem. Keep avoiding them for the moment but hopefully not for too much longer!