Changes to the congestion charge

12 February 2008

The Greater London (Central Zone) Congestion Charging (Variation and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007

On 12 February 2008, following public and stakeholder consultation, the Mayor of London confirmed the Variation and Transitional Provisions Order 2007.

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A3 TDI e is very frugal and doesn’t shout about it

17 January 2008

Driving
The economy-boosting A3 features a 1.9-litre oil-burner that’s been assembled with low-friction components. It’s tuned to return excellent fuel consumption rather than outright performance. Yet the A3 still has a 120mph top speed and can sprint from 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds, while in-gear performance is livelier than these figures suggest. Tall gear ratios take the edge off acceleration, and you find yourself changing more frequently than normal. But the light shift eases this. What’s more, there’s a flip side of impressive cruising refinement. Precise steering and a smooth ride complete the dynamic package, but there’s nothing to get excited about – and the 1.9 TDI is noisy when cold.

Marketplace
Going green is a serious business – and Audi has taken the plunge with the A3 TDI e. It emits just 119g/km of CO2 and qualifies for a road tax bill of just £35. However, despite the considerable efforts to improve the car’s economy, there’s not even a special badge to mark it out. For the record, the body has a few aerodynamic tweaks, while the tyres have a reduced rolling resistance. The TDI e offered in all A3 trims – standard, SE, Sport and S-line, in both three-door and five-door Sportback guise. Such ‘green’ variants are becoming big business in the family and premium hatchback sector – the BMW 118d is even more spectacularly efficient, while there are also eco editions of the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and even the Kia cee’d on the horizon.

Owning
The cabin is regular A3 fare, which means a smart design and solid build quality. However, the five-speed manual gearbox has specially selected extra-long ratios, and there’s a digital display between the dials that tells you which gear to choose to optimise efficiency. And it’s economy that is the big story with this Audi. From a conventional diesel engine, that doesn’t even have BMW-style stop-start technology, the Audi returns a genuinely appealing 62.8mpg. This bodes well for running costs too. And while the Audi isn’t cheap, strong retained values should help further control expenditure.

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Two years in jail for drivers on the phone

17 January 2008

Drivers could be jailed for up to two years for using a mobile phone while at the wheel, under new guidelines to be published by the Crown Prosecution Service today.

The new measures mean that using a hand-held phone (talking or texting) while at the wheel will be treated as dangerous driving, rather than careless driving and so liable for a greater punishment. Charges of manslaughter, rather than causing death by dangerous driving, can also be applied, again attracting greater sentences - up to life in prison in the most extreme cases.

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German cities ban dirty old cars, Paris goes elect

17 January 2008

The city administrations of Berlin, Cologne and Hanover have set up 'environmental zones' in their downtown districts - and cars that exceed an emissions limit are banned from entering. Car owners will have to apply for special stickers proving that their vehicles meet the emissions standards, and fines will be imposed on cars caught inside the zone without the stickers. Further German cities are considering similar schemes.

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Milan introduces congestion charge

17 January 2008

Milan is the first Italian city to introduce a London-style congestion charging scheme, effective from 2nd January. Drivers entering a three-mile square central zone are charged up to €10, though electric and hybrid vehicles are admitted free, as are many small modern vehicles with particulate filters or especially efficient anti-pollution devices. Fines for entering the zone without a valid pass are up to €70; money raised will fund more buses, cycle paths and incentives to encourage people to buy cleaner vehicles.

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