Gemini drivers most likely to crash

Gemini drivers are more likely to be involved in a car accident than any other star sign, according to new research.

The study by accident management company Accident Exchange analysed 115,000 accidents.

Gemini drivers, born between May 22 and June 21 and known for their impatience, made up nearly 9% of all claims handled by the company.

Taureans, commonly thought to have stubborn temperaments, were ranked second, making up 8.84% of all drivers, with adventurous Arians third, accounting for 8.66% of the total.

The three most accident-prone star signs are from consecutive months of the year, suggesting drivers born between March and June are most at risk in their vehicles.

In contrast, quick-minded Scorpions and curious Sagittarians were the least likely to be involved in a vehicle collision, making up only 7.7% each of drivers involved in accidents.

Several celebrity drivers involved in recent motoring accidents back up the research. These include Courtney Cox (Gemini), Morgan Freeman (Gemini), Shia LeBeouf (Gemini), George Clooney (Taurus) and Jerry Seinfeld (Taurus).

Work parking space charges under attack

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is backing a campaign to stop local councils charging employers for providing parking spaces.

Nottingham City Council is currently awaiting approval from the Department for Transport to impose a Workplace Parking Levy (WPL). Under the scheme, any employer that provides more than 10 workplace parking spaces would be charged £185 per space per year, rising to £350 in four years.

The CBI has backed the STOP the Workplace Parking Levy campaign amid fears that if the Nottingham scheme gets the go-ahead it will be spread nationwide.

The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce has also attacked the plan. Chief executive George Cowcher said: 'It’s clear that a precedent might be set and, if it is, businesses across the country will have to dig deep in their pockets to pay the levy.

'Nottingham’s so-called blueprint for future transport income generation will cost jobs and it will force businesses to rethink their situations. It’s a tax on jobs and competitiveness.'

Motorist on 'trumped-up' charge

A motorist has been charged with assaulting a police officer by breaking wind and then fanning it at police patrolman.

Jose Cruz, was taken to a police station in West Virginia for a breathalyser test.

Police claim Cruz moved towards the officer 'lifted his leg and passed gas loudly. The gas was very odorous and created contact of an insulting or provoking nature.'

In his defence Cruz said: 'I couldn't hold it no more.'

Cruz was accused of battery on a police officer although prosecutors have since asked for the charge against Cruz to be dropped. He still faces charges on four traffic offences.

Lose your licence if you speed twice

Drivers will be banned after two convictions if they exceed the speed limit by 15mph in urban areas or 25mph on motorways, under a shake-up of road safety laws anticipated next month.

Currently drivers caught speeding receive three penalty points on their licence. However, the new rules will see penalties gradually increase the greater the speed the driver is clocked at.

It means, for example, that drivers will get six points on their licence if they are caught travelling at 45mph in a 30 mph zone, 55mph in a 40 mph zone or 95mph on motorways.

Simultaneously, the Department for Transport will also announce proposals for tougher drink-driving rules and the implementation of a £60 on-the-spot fine for careless drivers. Legislation will also be tightened on drug-driving.

All of the proposals will have to be ratified before becoming law.

Honda and Toyota's reputation greenest

Honda and Toyota have the best reputation as green car makers, according to a new survey.

Both scored almost three times as many positive mentions as their closest rivals, Lexus and Ford.

The poll of 2665 people by the Newspaper Marketing Agency (NMA) also found that two in three would happily change their car to reduce their emissions, while 51% were prepared to pay more for low-emission technology.

More than four out of five (83%) agreed that fuel economy was more important than high performance.

However, many remain confused by the jargon of greener living. More than a quarter of respondents had only a vague, or no, idea of what a carbon footprint was.

Around 20% did not understand the term 'greenhouse gases', and a similar number were confused by 'fuel efficiency' and 'CO2 emissions'.

MG production resumes

Full-scale production at MG's iconic Longbridge plant has resumed today.

Just 500 LE500 cars, based on a refreshed version of the old MG TF that was first produced in 1995, will be built. They are priced from £16,399.

The LE500 is powered by a 133bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine. It averages 35.8mpg and emits 185g/km of CO2.

It has rear parking sensors, air-con, an MP3-compatible CD, a body-coloured hardtop and leather sports seats.

MG's Chinese owners, SAIC, claims to have already sold 70 per cent of the 500 cars being built, and say that other variants will follow later in the year.

The first LE500s will be delivered to customers in September.

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Bangers more likely to get nicked

Older cars between 15-17 years old are almost twice as likely to be stolen as newer vehicles, according to research by insurer Norwich Union.

Company officials say the majority of claims it deals with are for cars worth less than £5000, and the bias towards older vehicles is because opportunist thieves are far more likely to target a car without an immobilizer or modern security system.

They also say that many car thieves don't steal to resell the cars, but merely because they need short-term transport, often to get home after a night out. As a result, they will target older cars which are easy to get into and start.

Data also showed that thefts are 25% more likely in December and January - probably due to the long hours of darkness - and diesel cars are 16% more likely to be stolen.

Cars parked on-street are 17% more likely to be stolen than a car on a driveway.

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Porsche Power

Porsche has launched a more powerful version of its Cayman coupe.

Called the S Sport, the new range-topper's 3.4-litre engine puts out 303bhp. That's 8bhp more than the Cayman S, and 58bhp more than the standard Cayman.

The new model should be able to handle the power, with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard. Bi-xenon headlamps, sports seats in leather and a sports exhaust are also included in the price.

The S Sport is available in different colours to the standard car, including the striking orange and green colour schemes seen on the 911 GT3 RS. The black painted alloy wheels, door mirrors and air intakes also differentiate the S Sport from the other Cayman models.

On the inside, the steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake lever are finished in Alcantara, and there’s a numbered plaque on the glovebox.

Just 700 Cayman S Sports will be built, with UK sales starting on September 13. Prices start from £49,890

Numbers up at British Motor Show

The British Motor show has been hailed as a great success by its organisers after revealing visitor numbers have increased on the inaugural event two years ago.

This year's show, which finished last Sunday, attracted 472,300 visitors, a 14% increase on the 2006 event at London's Excel.

There were 23 world debuts at the show, and 60 manufacturers exhibited 600 cars. As well as the metal on display, visitors could drive Mazdas on a handling circuit, go off-road in Land Rovers and listen to the likes of Alice Cooper and Blondie during evening rock concerts.

Show organisers say they are already preparing for the next show in 2010.

'No sooner has this show closed than we start planning the next one!' said the show's marketing director Kirsty Perkinson.

'We have had a terrific range of events and exhibitors this year, and we will have to work very hard to raise the stakes again in 2010, but we are ready for the challenge.'

Zero alcohol call for young drivers

The legal blood alcohol limit should be cut to zero for drivers aged 17-20, according to Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England.

Sir Liam stated that although the move would be unpopular with young drivers, it would improve road safety for all motorists.

Current data shows that 14 youngsters die each week in car accidents in the UK.

The current legal limit in the UK is 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. This is higher than most European countries.

Last year, there were over 1000 drink-drive accidents involving teenagers. Transport accidents are a leading cause of death for teenagers.

Sir Liam told the BBC: 'Young people have enough difficulty when they first start driving. They don't need the complication of drink as well'.

Research shows that alcohol consumption increases the risk of a crash for young drivers two-and-a-half times more than it does for older drivers.

Sir Liam said that enforcing such a move would not need a major increase in policing and would be a 'sensible public heath measure'.