News in brief

Youth road death toll on increase, finding the spare and a Caravan-tastic idea to KO thefts

Auto Express Car Reviews

09th July 2007

Child deaths on UK roads have risen by 20 per cent. The increase, from 141 children in 2005 to 169 last year, was revealed in the latest Government figures. Most vulnerable were young cyclists, among whom fatal accidents soared by 55 per cent, to 31. There was also a 13 per cent rise in deaths of adolescent pedestrians, to 71.

TOP stolen car recovery system Tracker has been developed for caravans. The £399 set-up warns of unauthorised movement using VHF radio frequency tracking, and helps monitor the van’s whereabouts. Of the 27,000 caravans built annually, around 5,000 are stolen and never recovered. Since 1993, the firm, based in Uxbridge, Middlesex, has located £350million worth of cars.

MORE than 2.5 million drivers don’t know where their car’s spare wheel is, and nearly one million wouldn’t recognise a low oil level warning light. Shock research from breakdown firm Green Flag found woeful mechanical knowledge like this is leaving UK motorists stranded by the roadside unnecessarily.