Garage-find Mini sells for £31,000

A tatty Mini, which sat unloved in a garage for 20 years, has set a new record after selling for £31,000 at auction.

Despite a non-functioning engine, faded paint and a lack of MOT or tax, the green Austin Mini Cooper S engine soared past its pre-sale estimated price of £8,000.

The car was snapped up by an anonymous collector at an auction run by Dorset based outfit Charterhouse, with experts crediting its original features for the eye-widening winning bid, which makes it the most expensive Mini Cooper S ever to be sold at auction.

Matt Whitney, head of classic cars at Charterhouse, explained why the car is worth so much: "The sheer originality of this car is what makes it so unique and valuable.

"Minis like this simply don't come on to the market much any more - they are incredibly rare. I would think there are fewer than a dozen of these cars existing in the world today.

"All of its features are original from the 1275cc engine with twin carburettors to its two-tone interior trim and body panels. It has the ultimate spec for a Mini."

Made in 1966, seven years into the model's production run, the Mini shows 75,000 miles on the clock and has had three registered owners.

The most recent owner bought it in 1968 and drove it around for 25 years before putting it in a garage in 1993, after replacing it with a Peugeot 205.

The car currently needs around £2,000 to get it into a roadworthy condition, but could be worth far more than £31,000 when fully up and running.

Charterhouse commented that a fierce bidding war started between collectors when the car went under the hammer. This is largely due to the Cooper S being one of the most sought after models in the Mini range, thanks to its more powerful 1.3-litre engine and the kudos of the Cooper badge, which marks the collaboration between Austin and former F1 car manufacturer John Cooper Cars

German police pull over "swimming pool-car"

German police got quite a surprise after stopping a car which had been uniquely converted into a swimming pool.

Built by a group called inventive party-boys, the car started life as a BMW convertible, and had been hollowed out, sealed and waterproofed. For extra realism, the interior was painted in swimming pool blue before being brimmed with water.

It was spotted by a lone motorcycle cop near Chemnitz, southern Saxony.

"I saw the strangest-looking convertible I have ever seen - a roofless BMW, without registration plates, bordered around the open top with wooden boards and fake plastic flowers. It was also full of water," he said,

 

All four occupants, including the driver were dressed only in swimming trunks, and "appeared drunk", with one lolling around on the boot with his feet dangling outside the vehicle.

After attempting to pull the car over, it sped off into a nearby car park, spilling much of its contents along the way.

Abandoning the vehicle, the occupants fled as police surrounded the makeshift lido and disabled it by disconnecting the spark plug leads and letting the air out of the tyres.

Eventually the driver returned to collect his shoes and wallet from the rear of the car, and was allowed to leave with them in exchange for a sample of blood.

He is now being investigated for drink-driving and driving an unregistered vehicle without insurance. It is uncertain whether driving a car full of water is a crime in Germany

Young motorist parks car on beach and returns to find it swimming

A young driver decided to park his Vauxhall Corsa on the beach in the popular coastal town of Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset at the weekend only to return to find it swimming in the sea.

Andy Laird, 19, from Walsall, West Midlands parked up his little run-around on the sandy surface and then walked up to the nearby Brean Down to enjoy a bite to eat and a drink with his family in the scorching temperatures.

But when the teenager returned to the beach at around 5pm, he found his set of wheels submerged by 3ft of water from the incoming tide as bemused swimmers frolicked around it.

A video, taken by local rescue charity Burnham Area Rescue Boat (BARB) shows Andy and his family circling the car as they decide what to do in such a bizarre situation.

Luckily, the vehicle was eventually rescued an hour later thanks to beach wardens and a team from BARB.

Embarrassed Andy said after the incident: "I was up on the Down enjoying a picnic and forgot about the tide coming in.

"It was a shock to come back and find the car had been surrounded by the sea.

"I am grateful to BARB and the beach warden for their help."

Hugh Lewis, 40, who owns a stall on the Burham sea front said locals were left stunned by the unusual sight.

He said: "We could see the tide coming in and we just waited for the worst to happen.

"It doesn't surprise me that they were Midlanders – they've probably never seen the sea before.

"How could they be that stupid? You have to laugh."

Local rescue teams are now advising motorists to check tide tables before venturing onto the beaches

Tyre safety key to motorway progress

Keep your tyres in check to help you stay safe on motorways – that is the message today from the Institute of Advanced Motorists after a total of 3,852 tyre-related incidents were reported on England's motorways between April and the end of June 2013  – an average of 1,284 per month.

Many motorists will often put off tyre repairs to save on costs. But it is actually cheaper to replace worn or damaged tyres where necessary, rather than waiting to face a burst tyre and having to be towed off the motorway.

As part of their Motorway Month campaign, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) offers advice for motorists on how to keep your tyres in check:

• P – Performance. You can monitor the state of your tyres through observation of the performance of your vehicle; grip, handling and fuel economy will all be improved with correct tyre care.
• A – Air pressure. It is essential that you check your tyre pressures on a regular basis for maximum performance. Low tyre pressure can cause increased fuel consumption as well as making them more susceptible to damage.
• C – Condition. Inspect tyres for any cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded in the tread.
• T – Tread depth. Monitoring your tyres' tread is essential for safety, particularly on wet roads. Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, although it is worth considering getting them replaced if they are below 3mm.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "Regular tyre checks are the best way to keep on top of maintenance and avoid those nasty surprises both to your vehicle and to your wallet."

But one day you could become one of the thousands unlucky enough to experience a tyre-related breakdown, so having a dry-run of changing your tyre at home can prove very useful and will mean you needn't rely so heavily on breakdown services, getting you back on the road quicker."

Incidents contribute to delays which cost the economy billions of pounds each year. According to the Highways Agency's national satisfaction survey, carried out between April 2012 and the end of March 2013, only 53% of respondents say they regularly check their tyre pressure.

Stuart Lovatt from the Highways Agency said: "Nobody wants to start their holiday off by having a breakdown that leads to them having to extend their journey time." 

By checking that tyres are still in good condition, drivers are helping to avoid incidents and the risk of delays, not only to their own journey but to those of other drivers." 

If you are carrying heavy loads, you will need to increase the air pressure in your car tyres to compensate. You can find the correct tyre pressures for heavy loads in your car's handbook.

Chairman of TyreSafe Stuart Jackson said: "Before setting off on their summer holidays, it's essential that drivers give their tyres a thorough inspection. It's particularly important to ensure tyres are correctly inflated in line with the vehicle manufacturer's settings, which may be different if extra passengers or heavy luggage is being carried. But remember to readjust your tyre pressures when you start to using your car normally again."

UK driverless cars trials to begin this year

Driverless cars are to be tested on UK roads later this year as part of a £28 billion road strategy unveiled by the Government.

A team from Nissan has been working together with researchers from Oxford University to develop the technology, which has until now only been tested on private roads.

Now the team has been granted permission from the Department of Transport for live road trials involving other traffic.

Motorists should not worry – although the cars are capable of driving themselves, a backup driver will be in the car should anything go wrong, and the trials will begin on lightly trafficked rural roads.

Internet giant Google has already been developing its own driverless car in California, kitting out a hybrid Toyota Prius with an array of lasers and sensors, which help it navigate a multitude of different types of road without incident.

The team from Oxford has instead plumped for an all-electric Nissan Leaf, which can currently drive itself over a pre-determined route, with a human driver able to regain control by hitting the brakes.

The trials of these driverless cars are based on the belief that motoring can be made even safer by removing the element of human error.

Alongside the launch of the tests, the Government also pledged another £500 million investment in electric vehicles as well as promising to widen major roads and resurface them in attempt to reduce road noise.

A three-fold increase in funding for motorways and A-roads has also been promised, which would be the biggest investment in the UK road network since the 1970s.

Motorist in car-dryer near miss

A motorist has narrowly avoided serious injury after the drying unit at the car wash he was using dislodged and fell to the ground.

27-year-old Ben Rowe was washing his Vauxhall at the Esso filling station in South Oxhey when he noticed the heavy metal dryer about to fall.

Slamming his car into reverse, Mr Rowe was able to move out of the way before it came crashing down, preventing both injury to himself and damage to the vehicle.

Speaking to the Watford Observer, Mr Rowe described the incident: "As I went to drive in there was a little light that said 'car wash not ready please wait'.

"A member of staff came out, went to the control box, did something and the light switched to 'car wash ready'.

"The dryer went over my car twice and as I saw it slip I slammed the car into reverse.

"I reckon it only missed me by five to six inches.

"If it wasn't for the fact it was at the end of the cycle and I had the engine on so I could reverse out of there it could have killed me."

In his haste to escape the car wash, Mr Rowe badly scratched his car – damage which Esso has offered to pay for.

The oil giant has also offered him £50 as a good will gesture. Something Mr Rowe feels was a token effort in a bid to keep him quiet after he threatened to highlight the safety issue to the media.

"They're trying to shut me up but it hasn't worked. In my opinion, health and safety checks were not made despite their area manager's assurances that they have been," he told AOL Cars.

"If a car wash is falling down around your ears, clearly the appropriate checks have not been made."

And, since the accident, Mr Rowe claims Esso has not been forthcoming regarding the damage done to his car.

"They originally said they would cover damage done to my car, but they've been completely silent in the week since the accident."

He was also perturbed by the rather nonchalant reaction by service station staff, given what could have been a potentially fatal accident.

An Esso spokesperson said: "We are working with the manufacturer to investigate the cause of an incident involving the car wash at our Sandy Lodge service station in Watford last week.

"Equipment failures of this kind are extremely rare, and the car wash will remain closed until this work is complete and the car wash system is passed fit to return to operation."

Garmin HUD Projects Directions Onto Your Car Windscreen

Garmin has unveiled an innovative new GPS device which can project directions onto a windscreen.

Using a smartphone running its StreetPilot and Navigon Apps as its 'brain', the unit displays directions and other information directly onto the windscreen glass.

The effect is a 'heads-up' style display which allows drivers to check their directions, without distractions from a bright screen located below their eyeline.

Above: The HUD projects the image onto a transparent film placed on the screen.

"HUD redefines the navigation experience by allowing drivers to find their way without taking their eyes off the road," said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales.

"Head-up displays currently have their place in select high-end cars, but HUD makes this technology available as an aftermarket accessory for any vehicle, at an affordable price."

Among its features, the Garmin unit tells drivers which lane to be in ready for the next turning, and will fade out music for turn-by-turn prompts.

The Garmin HUD is Bluetooth-enabled, and will be in US stores this summer for $130, or about £87 (UK price TBD).

The worst driving game ever comes to a smartphone near you

Long, arduous trips on trains and buses no longer have to be boring, drawn-out affairs as improved technology has moved handheld gaming on from pixelated snakes to full-blown, high octane experiences.

Young folk can enjoy a realistic football experience in FIFA, they can steal cars and beat up pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto and even play God and control an entire metropolis in Sim City

But one game that has recently made its way to smartphones looks to buck this trend and instead focuses on the more mundane side of life, earning it the title of "the worst game ever".

Desert Bus is sold as, "One man. One Bus. Three hundred and sixty miles of simulated post-apocalyptic desert and the endless struggle between man and nature personified."

But in reality, it is far less exciting as it requires the gamer to pilot a pixelated bus along a desert road from Tuscon to Las Vegas for eight hours solid.

If the bus ventures off the Tarmac and brushes the dusty gutter, the gamer must start again.

The game was the brainchild of American illusionists Penn and Teller in reaction to the anti-video game lobby who spent much of the mid-1990s complaining that computer games were damaging young minds.

The magic duo decided to create a game that replicated real life and prove how utterly pointless a game that reflects reality would be.

Desert Bus is now available as a smartphone app and those wishing to while away the hours staring at a pixelated steering wheel can head to the Apple Store or Google Play to get their 'open road' fix

Hot spell melts M25

The sun has been beaming down, the barbecues have been rolled out and the nation has been enjoying an injection of vitamin D. Unless, of course, you've been stuck in a traffic jam.

Temperatures reached 31.4C in places at the weekend and as a result, Sunday saw one of the country's busiest roads closed.

The surface of the M25 melted, bringing chaos to the thousands of commuters and holidaymakers heading to the coast to enjoy the sunshine.

Police were forced to close the clockwise carriageway, "due to severe damage to the road surface".

Emergency repair crews were dispatched to junction 23, near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire where they worked through the night to lay down a new surface. The Highways Agency warned commuters that they could face continued jams and slow moving traffic as the stretch of damaged carriageway required further attention.

Motorists reported a ridge forming in the road as the M25 sizzled yesterday while others spoke of cars "ploughing into" the melted road surface.

A spokesperson for the Highways Agency said: "It is too early to say exactly what caused the road to deteriorate in such a manner but right now the top priority is to complete the resurfacing work, which is at an advanced stage, so that the M25 can be re-opened."

It wasn't just the M25 that was giving up the ghost under such extreme temperatures, lorries were sent out to spread crushed rock dust on the melting tar surface of A48 in Wales too.

AA driving instructor has to be rescued... by RAC van!

There were red faces all around for AA bosses yesterday when it emerged that one of their driving school vehicles had to be recovered – by an RAC patrol!

The Ford Fiesta, emblazoned with the yellow and black livery of the AA, suffered a puncture during a driving lesson near Edinburgh, and as it had no spare wheel, the instructor was forced to call for help from his breakdown provider.

But due to a technical hitch, that provider turned out to be the AA's chief competitor, the RAC. An RAC Transit duly responded, towing the stricken car to the nearest garage so that a new tyre could be fitted.

An RAC representative said: "The AA Driving School vehicle got a puncture but like so many new cars coming off the production line, it wasn't carrying a spare wheel.

"The driving instructor called the AA, but for reasons unbeknownst to us, they weren't prepared to go to the rescue of the car.

"It turns out the car was leased to the AA by a company which was covered by the RAC – and so we happily obliged to help out."

A spokesperson for the AA confirmed that their driving school cars were leased from a third-party company.

He added: "When the driver phoned for help, there was a systems issue, and as a result he was put through to the RAC, which is the breakdown service used by the leasing provider.

"Had he been put through to us, we would of course have helped. We would never refuse service."

BBC show claims 'shocking' tactics from Kwik Fit mechanics

The BBC 1 show, Your Money, Their Tricks, carried out an undercover test of Kwik Fit mechanics for a programme broadcast tonight. They had ten cars assessed by two independent experts, and then sent the vehicles into branches across the UK for a free check on brakes and tyres. It said that in four of the ten cases, mechanics tried to press the drivers into getting unnecessary work done.

So what's going on, and how can you protect yourself?

 

 

The report

 

The show says that in all, the mechanics tried to push customers to have £700 worth of work on their cars. It claims that the work was ether unnecessary or not as urgent as the mechanics were making out.

The show also claimed that the mechanics did not carry out the full checks on seven of the cars. They failed to spot under-inflated tyres, and in one instance they missed a nail in a tyre.

Reporter Rebecca Wilcox said: "I was shocked by what we uncovered and disappointed that we found such a large well known company on occasions exaggerating the urgency and quoting for unnecessary work and not carrying out all the checks they promised and as a car owner and car lover this story was very close to my heart."

She added: "Working with our expert John was definitely an eye opener I wish I could have him with me whenever I need to put my car in the garage. I consider myself to be a minor petrol head and was very surprised by how easy it can be to be misled"

Response

Kwik Fit has disagreed with the allegations, it said in a statement: "From the limited information the BBC has provided in advance of its broadcast we, and an independent expert, seriously disagree with most of its findings." It also said that as a result of its response to the BBC, the programme has: "accepted that a number of its conclusions were wrong".

It added that: "We stand by the majority of the recommendations we gave, and completely reject the way the BBC has calculated the cost of work it has deemed 'unnecessary' by not considering how worn these parts were."

And it has offered to have one of the cars independently tested to assess the quality of the recommendations.

However, it admitted that: "In a few cases we fully accept that our staff could have been clearer with their communication; for this we apologise and are intent on improving how we communicate our advice to customers."

It said that recommendations for replacement parts reflect manufacturers' recommendations and advice and information from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, saying: "The wear of items such as tyres and brake pads is not an exact science, but we believe ours is a professional and responsible approach which focuses first and foremost on the safety of our four and a half million customers."

And it added: "We have zero tolerance of staff recommending unnecessary work and any proven cases result in disciplinary action. We have a whistleblower line on which staff can anonymously report any aspect of malpractice from their colleagues and a senior management team will investigate and act on any reports."

It also emphasised that the company has a customer satisfaction level of 98%.

The BBC spokesperson said: "We stand by the programme."

Stay safe on the motorway this summer

In 2012 there were 33,303 reported road collisions on the Highways Agency network, causing lane closures, significant costs and delays for thousands of road users.

With many people driving to the airport and to their holiday destinations in the coming weeks, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists), the RAC and the Highways Agency are advising on how not to become one of the unlucky ones who sacrifices time on the beach for time broken down.

• All drivers are looking to get to their destination without delay – but following too close to other vehicles on the motorway is not the way to speed up your arrival. In fact, tailgating is far more likely to lead to a collision. Always try to maintain a two second gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.
• If you are being tailgated, there are steps you can take to help prevent their bad behaviour becoming your burden: try not to react by accelerating, braking or swerving suddenly - this will reduce your car control and probably annoy the other driver. Remain calm and check your mirrors frequently to monitor the situation around you.
• When driving on the motorway in the UK, you should consider the left hand lane your 'base'. There are no set speeds for each lane, so on an empty motorway, you should always drive on the left, using the other lanes for overtaking slower vehicles. Many motorists stick to the middle-ground of lane two to minimise their lane changes, but this is not best practice and could irritate other drivers,.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "More than 33,000 people crashed on England's motorways and major "A" roads in 2012 – the equivalent of the entire population of West Somerset."

"A collision or breakdown on the way to the airport is a sure fire way to get your summer holiday off to a bad start. Just a few steps and precautions will ensure you're digging out your swimsuits sooner rather than later."

Steve Crosthwaite, head of the Highways Agency's National Traffic Operations Centre said:

"Crashes and the delays they cause lead to even greater frustration when the roads are already busy with holiday traffic."

"If the journey to the airport, ferry or beach is a miserable one it can really shatter the holiday mood. We encourage people to spend a little time before they set off checking the traffic and weather conditions so they are prepared and allow adequate time for their journey, including breaks."

"And if there is an incident on our network we will be doing all we can to inform road users and to get everyone safely on their way again."

RAC technical director David Bizley said: "We know from the RAC Report on Motoring 2013 that the biggest 'stress points' for motorists relate to the behaviour of other drivers. Seventy-four per cent of drivers we surveyed said they get stressed or angry because of people who drive too closely to them and 59 per cent get annoyed by drivers who don't pull over from the outside lane of the motorway to let other vehicles go by. These are two bad driving habits that we could well do without."

Sorry mate, I didn’t see you

Sorry mate, I didn't see you

Has another driver ever pulled out on you, seemingly without noticing you're there? Almost inevitably it's nearly always someone else's fault. Sixty per cent blamed the other driver.

SMIDSY, or 'sorry mate I didn't see you', is when a road user pulls out in front of another vehicle or road user, stating 'they just hadn't seen them'. Failure to look properly is the most frequently recorded factor in all accident types.

This type of incident is much more common for smaller vehicles: in the last six months seventy per cent of motorcyclists, and eighty per cent of cyclists reported being involved in a SMIDSY moment with a larger road user. 

This problem is also more dangerous for motorcyclists and cyclists, who are much more vulnerable without the protection of a car around them. Drivers must give them plenty of space, and be prepared for them to make sudden moves to avoid potholes and other surface problems, less obvious to car drivers.

Similarly, motorcyclists and cyclists need to keep room between themselves and other vehicles – creating space around your vehicle gives you more time to react to hazards.

Drivers should check their mirrors frequently, to keep an eye out for bikes approaching from behind. It's particularly important to check mirrors before changing direction, especially in traffic queues, when a motorcyclist or cyclist might be trying to get past. If they are, be tolerant and let them past– don't try to impede their progress just because you are stuck. But cyclists and motorcyclists need to ride defensively, and be prepared for other drivers to change lanes suddenly, especially when frustrated with the traffic. All road users need to look out for the body language of other vehicles – if another vehicle is slowing down or edging across a lane hang back. 

As a smaller road user it makes sense to do everything you can to be seen. Always ride assuming that other road users haven't seen you, and improve your visibility by positioning yourself where a car driver would be sitting when travelling in a straight line – this is where other road users will be looking.

All road users should check their lights regularly to make sure they are all working. Communication is key, and you can't give clear signals if you have a dead bulb, so test all your lights weekly. Motorcyclists and cyclists should wear big blocks of bright colour – broken up or patterned clothing effectively camouflages you. 

Drive or ride with the knowledge that another road user may behave irresponsibly, so you're ready to react when it happens. It doesn't matter who's fault it was if you damage your car, or more seriously are injured or injure someone else. 

Car dealership reaps benefits of female sales staff

A Kia dealership in Greater Manchester is feeling the benefit of a "woman's touch" when it comes to selling cars to female customers.

Despite being in the lowly seven per cent of female car executives, Kate Leach, a top-performing sales specialist at the Middlebrook Retail Park believes that female customers feel more comfortable around salespeople of the same sex, which can lead to a spike in sales.

Ms. Leach told the Bolton News: "The most popular car that women buy is the Picanto 1.0-litre in red.

"I sold eight of the Picanto City version in one week all to women recently.

"Women love that car - alloys, reversing sensors, air con and Bluetooth, the lot."

She added: "It's about listening to the customer's needs. If a customer plays golf then I'd recommend the estate car."

Ms. Leach's love of cars started at a young age when her granddad introduced her to the automotive world.

"He used to work on gearboxes and later worked as a driver for another showroom after he retired. I can also remember every car and registration plate that my granddad has had since the E-reg in the 80s."

Recent research has found that women make more informed choices when it comes to buying a used car compared to the opposite sex.

A survey by vehicle history providers HPI found that 51 per cent of females consult "a family member or friend who knows something about cars" before they make their purchase, compared with just 27 per cent of men.

There has also been a massive rise in the amount of women purchasing vehicles as according to the DVLA, female car owners now make up 40 per cent of the total UK market.

Ms. Leach is perplexed at how few female salespeople currently exist: "For some reason there are hardly any women doing this role," she said.

"I suppose it's seen as a man's job but I don't know why because I think I have the upper hand a bit - it's easier for a woman to speak to a woman isn't it? Woman to woman. They don't feel as intimidated somehow."

Taxpayer will no longer pay for drink-drive rehabilitation scheme

The Driving Standards Agency has announced changes to the Drink-Drive Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) to offer more consistent quality standards and wider availability of courses as well as transferring the full cost to the user rather than the taxpayer.

The courses can be offered to offenders who have been disqualified from driving for at least 12 months and aim to educate offenders and address their behaviour to endure repeat offences are avoided.

Road Safety Minister, Stephen Hammond, said: "We are determined to tackle the menace of drink driving and rehabilitation courses are an extremely effective way of ensuring drivers who have committed the offence of drink driving in the first place do not repeat their error.

"These changes will make it easier for courts to place offenders on these courses as well as ensuring more consistent standards and shifting the costs from the taxpayer to the offender."

Previously, the taxpayer picked up the bill for DDRS courses, which upon successful completion can reduce the period of disqualification by up to one quarter.

Driving Standards Agency Chief Executive, Alastair Peoples, said: "This scheme increases offenders' appreciation of the risks involved in their behaviour and the importance of separating driving from their consumption of alcohol.

"The measures we have announced will enhance the integrity and thus the potential success of the scheme. In turn, the likelihood of offenders re-offending is reduced with all the social and economic benefits that brings."

In 2012, approximately 45,000 offenders were referred to courses by the courts with nearly 24,000 successful completions.

The changes to the DDRS work alongside the government's other measures to tackle drink-driving such as making, from June 1 this year, the most dangerous drink-drivers pass a medical before they are allowed back on the roads

Time to end the motorway rip-off

Motorway Service Areas are charging up to four times the high street price for basic food and drinks, according to research conducted by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). 

Essentials such as a 500ml bottle of water cost £2.09 (95 pence on the high street in London) while the cheapest cheese sandwich cost £3.99).   

On the high street, the everyday shopper can expect to pay 25 per cent less than a service area user. At a popular high street newsagent, a standard size Mars bar costs £0.79 and a pack of Walkers crisps is priced at £0.95).

Motorists are dissatisfied with the value for money available at Motorway Service Areas but are left with little choice when making long trips around the country.  When asked to rate the price of food and drinks at Motorway Service Areas, more than half of respondents (51%) rated them unreasonable.

The survey also found that sixty-five per cent of respondents are most likely only to stop at Motorway Service Areas just to use the toilet facilities¹.

Price comparisons include:

• A medium white coffee - £3.09 (£2.10 London high street)
• A standard sized Mars bar - £0.95 (£0.79 London high street)
• A pack of Walkers crisps – £1.05 (£0.95 London high street)
• 500ml bottle of water £2.09 (£0.95 London high street)
• A basic cheese sandwich - £3.99 (£1.00 local high street)

London offers the most expensive white coffee at £3.09, while generally prices were around £2.50.

Fifty-four per cent of respondents consider the price of petrol at Motorway Service Areas unreasonable.

With petrol prices averaging about ten pence per litre more than at off-motorway forecourts the IAM is calling for a complete review of motorway prices, together with filling stations being forced to advertise their and their competitors fuel prices, as is the case in France.

The research also revealed that from one Motorway Service Area to the next, the price of petrol can vary by up to 10p per litre.

Cost of petrol per in pence per litre:

• Hopwood Park M4 – 144.90 (132.9 off motorway²)
• Corley M6 – 144.90  (131.9 off motorway)
• Michaelwood M5 – 142.90 (135.9 off motorway)
• Strensham M5 – 142.90 (133.0 off motorway)
• Pont Abraham, Wales M4 – 141.90 (133.9 off motorway)
• Forton M6 – 141.90 (133.9 off motorway)
• Sarn Park M4 – 133.90  (131.7 off motorway)
• Heston Services M4 - 144.90 (132.8 off motorway)
• UK average at supermarkets £1.31³

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: "Motorway Service Areas are supposed to be for motorists eat, drink and freshen up. It's very important to have a break every two hours and these costs will put people off stopping. Tired motorists pose a danger to themselves and other road users."

"17,000 people every year break down on the motorway simply because they have run out of fuel, which can cause lane closures and delays for everyone.  High petrol prices will put people off filling up.  Forcing stations to advertise their competitors' prices would drive costs down."