Kwick fit have released the findings if their survey into the most annoying things drivers do.

Kwik Fit has revealed that hand-held mobile phone use behind the wheel is the most hated motoring habit in the country. It was, therefore, cited by forty-seven percent of its survey respondents. And it seems that older people find it more infuriating than youngsters. As such, sixty-two percent of those aged sixty-five plus named it first compared to only thirty-eight percent of those from eighteen to twenty-four. Using a hand-held mobile is also illegal and potentially dangerous. The offender can, therefore, receive a fixed penalty notice for one-hundred pounds and three penalty points on his/her licence. The latter can increase the cost of motor insurance. Furthermore, some offenders face a court where the penalty could rise to one-thousand pounds and a ban. The implications for professional drivers – such as those responsible for buses and heavy goods vehicles – are higher still. The Kwik Fit survey revealed other irritations too. Tailgating – that was the most hated habit of the last survey in 2010 – has slipped to second spot as it was only named by forty-two percent of the survey respondents. This was followed by failing to indicate in third position (thirty-five percent), dangerous overtaking in fourth (thirty percent), and middle lane cruisers in fifth (twenty-six percent).

Most Hated Motoring Habits In The United Kingdom

The Kwik Fit survey revealed a wider range of irritations than phone use, etc. The full list – that incorporates the views of more than two-thousand adults in the United Kingdom 

Kwik Fit Boss Discusses Bad Motoring Habits

Kwik Fit Director of Communications, Roger Griggs, revealed: “These driving habits aren’t just annoying, they are dangerous and some of them against the law. You’re four times more likely to have an accident if you use a mobile while driving (based on information from the Department for Transport’s THINK! Campaign) in addition to the frustration it causes for fellow motorists. Mr Griggs added: “And with on-the-spot penalties for motorists who hog the middle lane, tailgate or cut-up other vehicles being introduced last year, it highlights just how serious these anti-social driving behaviours are being taken.”

Britain’s Top Ten Most Hated Road Habits

Just to cover what I’m sure many have read in the press, Toyota a recalling some 3 door vehicles up to 2010.

Mine is a 5 door 2013 model.  That’s that covered then. Here’s the article.

Vehicle recall: car practical test Toyota has issued a recall notice affecting the Yaris model built between June 2005 and May 2010. You can’t use a vehicle that has a possible safety fault on the practical driving test unless you have proof that the vehicle is safe. The recall notice There are 2 separate safety issues: potential for the seat rail track to break if the seat is frequently adjusted forward and/or backward for: driver’s seat – all vehicles front passenger seat – 3-door vehicles only potential for a crack to develop in the steering column mounting bracket if the steering wheel is frequently and forcefully turned to the full-lock position For more information Read this notice on GOV.UK for the latest list of vehicle recalls and for details on the type of proof you need to bring to test. DVSA examiners may accept proof from the Toyota Online Recall Tool. You or your pupil would need to access this tool and complete the verification process on a suitable device to show the examiner, without delaying the testing schedule. For tests taking place within next 3 days If you’re affected by this and any of your pupils have a driving test booked within the next 3 working days (from Wednesday 16 April), they can cancel or re-arrange it free of charge. They can do this by contacting DVSA practical test enquiries and booking support to re-arrange; telephone 0300 200 1122 (Monday to Friday, 8am to midday). For tests taking place in more than 3 days’ time If any of your pupils have a driving test booked to take place in more than 3 days’ time (from Wednesday 16 April), they’ll still have to give the usual 3 clear working days notice to change or cancel without losing their fee. They can do this by using one of the following links: change the date of your driving test cancel your driving test

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This email was sent tosimon.ballinger@sky.com by the Driving Standards Agency, PO Box 280, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE99 1FP. www.gov.uk/dsa

the initiative for fraud prevention at dvsa marches on.

Fraudsters putting unqualified drivers on Britain’s roads – and putting your life at risk

Some of these ‘danger drivers’ use forged licences, others pay crooks to take the test for them – a single fraudster put 84 unqualified drivers on the road

Crime: The scandal was laid bare in a shocking ITVdocumentary last night at 10.35 on ITV.

Thousand of unqualified drivers are putting lives in danger on our roads. They have never passed any driving test , theory or practical. Many have no clue about the Highway Code and little or no experience of driving. And once they have their paperwork and their keys in the ignition they have a licence to kill.

And a third group bribe corrupt examiners to give them an undeserved pass.

Exposure: Who’s Driving on Britain’s Roads? showed that driving while unqualified is not just dangerous in theory – it kills innocent people.

So who are these crooks taking cash to put millions of people at risk?

One is Sara Gellner-Ward, of High Wycombe, Bucks, who was caught on CCTV turning up at test in place of learners who had paid her up to £1,500 a time. When police raided her home they found credit card bills for nearly 40 tests she had booked in just three months.

Her accomplice Christopher Buckland, of nearby Aylesbury, went to centre’s in Derby and Grantham on the same day to take theory tests for other people.  The gang admitted arranging 382 driving tests and the pair were convicted of conspiracy to defraud the Driving Standards Agency and jailed for two years.

Even more audacious was Gageen Singh, a disqualified drink-driver who travelled all over Britain impersonating candidates for the theory and practical driving tests. He charged £3,000 a time and for that they got a master of disguise who tailored his clothes and his headgear to suit the person he was impersonating.  He might turn up in a turban, a flat cap or a wig or even grow a full beard to match the photograph on the provisional licence.

When the DSA tracked him to his Surrey home they found £51,700 in cash and a paper trail that showed he sent between £5,000 and £9,000 to India every month.  He’s the man who single-handedly put 84 unqualified drivers on to Britain’s roads.

Singh was convicted on nine charges of fraud, jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for two years.

But not all fraudsters operate outside the system.Driving examiners Bushra Chughtai and Andrew Cursley from Nuneaton, Warks, used their privileged position to charge candidates £1,000 for a guaranteed pass no matter how badly they drove.  In an elaborate scam they were fed carefully vetted candidates by driving instructor Mahomed Ibrahim. Some “learners” did not even have to turn up to pass.

Chugtai gave the green light to one candidate who had collided with a parked car.

Cursley passed another despite having to grab the steering wheel and swerve back to the right side of the road during the test.

When they were caught, Chugtai was jailed for three years, Cursley for 18 months and Ibrahim for 15 months.

That landmark case also saw seven of the candidates who bribed them jailed for up to six months and 39 fraudulent licences revoked.

Crooked translators have been caught cashing in too.

They are employed to translate the theory test into more than 100 foreign languages for 2,000 candidates a year. For some in Birmingham’s Chinese community, Mandarin translator Peter Hui, 55, became the go-to-guy for a guaranteed theory pass. For up to £3,000 he even helped candidates cheat their way through their theory test for driving a bus. He was eventually caught when DSA inspectors became suspicious of his high pass rate.

They hired an independent Mandarin translator who quickly spotted his system. Hui was found to have raked in £37,500 from the scam and was jailed for 12 months.

DSA inspector Elaine Rabbitt said: “If you haven’t taken your test properly then you’re not safe on the road. It’s like a killer behind the wheel.” Her colleague Gareth Edwards emphasised that cheating on the theory test is an extremely serious offence in itself.

“These people who are passing could be driving their kids to school,” he said.

“Or they could be driving 40-tonne lorries down the M6, so it’s really important to have the right knowledge to drive the vehicle safely.”

Since 2004 the DSA has revoked 3,000 driving licences, but they face a constant battle to find the crooks before they do real harm.

In 12 months to June last year more than 1,700 people were killed and 185,000 injured on Britain’s roads.

Some were victims of unqualified drivers, but there are no official figures to show how many.