News in brief

Green bin lorry....and more

Eco-friendly rubbish truck, driving licence increase, valuable theft risk.

Auto Express Car Reviews

18th April 2008

Hi-tech dumper is going green
Collecting bin bags has never been such a clean job – if they are being dumped in one of the world’s first hybrid refuse trucks!

A fleet of two of these eco-friendly lorries has just been unveiled by Volvo Trucks in Sweden. It claims they could cut emissions by 20 per cent, thanks to an electric motor mated to the diesel engine.

The battery power kicks in when the truck is pulling away from standstill and moving at speeds lower than 12mph.

To reduce emissions further, the trucks have a stop-start facility, which switches off the engine when they are at a standstill.

Driving licence prices increase
The cost of a driving licence has gone up. The DVLA has increased the rates for provisional licences from £45 to £50. Banned drivers will now also pay an extra £5 at renewal, while those disqualified for drink-driving are faced with a £90 bill for fresh paperwork.

There’s some good news if your licence is lost or stolen, as the fee for a replacement has dropped from £20 to £17.50. Motorists will still pay nothing for their first full GB photocard, and renewals for medical reasons or when drivers reach the age of 70 are also free. All the price changes apply to applications from 1 April.

Valuables still left on parade
One in five motorists displays over £150 worth of valuables in their car, making their vehicles gold mines for thieves.

Research by insurance company Direct Line found that one in 10 drivers also admitted to regularly leaving bills and bank statements in their vehicle – putting them at serious risk of identity fraud.

A further six per cent said they forgot to lock their car on some occasions. A Direct Line spokeswoman advised: “Motorists should take their possessions with them whenever they leave their vehicle unattended.