'Unlimited driving tests for £31' advert is banned

A website's advert has been banned by the ASA for advertising unlimited driving theory tests for £31, when it charges almost double the price

Learner drivers are being misled by online adverts, the ASA has ruled Photo: PA

An internet advert claiming to offer unlimited driving theory retests for £31 has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for its misleading information, as the actual cost was £59.50.

A Google sponsored search result for the website www.book-your-theory-test.co.uk stated: "£31 Book Your Driving Theory Test Unlimited Retests Until You Pass!".

However, the Driving Standards Agency challenged the advert for its misleading information as the advertiser charged £59.50 for "unlimited retests", as well as a compulsory booking fee of £8.50.

The complaint was upheld by the ASA after it agreed that the advert was misleading for its claims that its theory test cost £31, when in fact it charged a minimum of £39.50 because of the compulsory booking fee - and this should have been included in the headline price, the authority said.

Furthermore, the "unlimited retests" claim was made next to the price of £31 under the Google sponsored search advert, yet a consumer has to pay £59.50 to receive unlimited retests, and this was only made clear on the website itself.

Drivers urged to switch off phones

Drivers should tune in to road safety by turning off their mobile phones, according to campaigners.

The message, part of a campaign from the Brake charity, comes at the start of Road Safety Week, and is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Brake wants to see drivers turning off their phones or putting them in the boot and also urges everyone to refuse to speak on the phone to someone who is driving.
Survey carried by Brake, with Specsavers and mobile workforce management solutions company Romex, revealed:
* 575,000 UK drivers have points on their licence for using their mobile phone at the wheel or being otherwise distracted;
* Of these, 6.5% have totted up six points or more;
* 62% of children aged 7-11 report being driven by a driver talking on a phone and 79% have spotted drivers on mobile phones outside their school or home.
Brake also highlighted research showing that 98% of drivers are unable to divide their time without affecting performance and  mobile phone use at the wheel along with eating, drinking and smoking are all proven to increase the risk of a crash.
Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: "We're living in an age when being constantly connected is the norm. More and more of us have smartphones, and find it hard to switch off, even for a minute.
"While there are enormous benefits to this new technology, it's also posing dangerous temptations to drivers to divert their concentration away from the critical task at hand, often putting  vulnerable road users in danger.
"Many people who wouldn't dream of drink-driving are succumbing to using their phone and other distractions while driving, oblivious that the effect can be similar and the consequences just as horrific."

Driving test age rise considered for teenagers

 

Learners can currently take a driving test aged 17

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Ministers are due to publish a Green Paper this year after considering the Transport Research Laboratory's report.

It recommends a one-year "learner stage" beginning at 17, during which drivers would have to total at least 100 hours of daytime and 20 hours of night-time driving  practice under supervision.

Learners can then take their test at 18 and, if they pass, will get a probationary licence and have to display a green "P" plate.

During this stage, drivers will face the curfew and all those under 30 will be banned from carrying any passengers also under 30.

Other proposals under consideration for young drivers are a ban on all mobile phone use, including hands-free phones, and a lower alcohol limit.

After the 12-month probationary period, drivers will automatically graduate to a full licence and unrestricted driving.

Statistics show that more than a fifth of deaths on British roads in 2011 involved drivers aged 17-24.

The report suggests implementing this new system could cut annual casualty numbers by 4,471 and save £224m.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Young drivers drive around 5% of all the miles driven in Britain but are involved in about 20% of the crashes where someone is killed or seriously injured.

"We are committed to improving safety for young drivers and reducing their insurance costs - that is why we are publishing a Green Paper later in the year setting out our proposals.

"This will include a discussion about how people learn to drive.

"The research report has been produced by the Transport Research Laboratory under commission by the Department for Transport and it, amongst other things, has informed the Green Paper."

Proposals welcomed

RAC Foundation motoring research charity, director S. Glaister, welcomed the proposals.

He said: "Young people are four times more likely to die in a road accident  than as a result of drink or drugs. "Yet, as a society we seem to turn a blind eye to the carnage. If this was any other area of public health there would be an outcry.

"This is about ensuring their long-term safety and mobility. Not curtailing it."

 

President of motoring organisation AA, Edmund King said the proposals were addressing the problem of young drivers in the "wrong way".

"You should prepare young drivers to be safe when they get their licence rather than give them their licence and then restrict them," he told BBC's Breakfast.

He said he would like to see mandatory lessons on motorways, in rural areas and in bad weather, and warned of the problems of policing the restrictions such as carrying young passengers.

Julie Townsend, of road safety charity Brake, welcomed the report, saying it was further recognition of the compelling case for graduated driver licensing.

She urged the government to act "swiftly and decisively" to commit to the system to help reduce the danger young drivers posed to themselves and others.

Currently drivers in England, Scotland and Wales need to pass a theory test, then a practical test before they can apply for a full driving licence. The minimum age to hold a full car licence is 17, or 16 for some people claiming mobility benefit.

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Learners can currently take a driving test aged 17

Continue reading the main story

Ministers are due to publish a Green Paper this year after considering the Transport Research Laboratory's report.

It recommends a one-year "learner stage" beginning at 17, during which drivers would have to total at least 100 hours of daytime and 20 hours of night-time driving  practice under supervision.

Learners can then take their test at 18 and, if they pass, will get a probationary licence and have to display a green "P" plate.

During this stage, drivers will face the curfew and all those under 30 will be banned from carrying any passengers also under 30.

Other proposals under consideration for young drivers are a ban on all mobile phone use, including hands-free phones, and a lower alcohol limit.

After the 12-month probationary period, drivers will automatically graduate to a full licence and unrestricted driving.

Statistics show that more than a fifth of deaths on British roads in 2011 involved drivers aged 17-24.

The report suggests implementing this new system could cut annual casualty numbers by 4,471 and save £224m.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Young drivers drive around 5% of all the miles driven in Britain but are involved in about 20% of the crashes where someone is killed or seriously injured.

"We are committed to improving safety for young drivers and reducing their insurance costs - that is why we are publishing a Green Paper later in the year setting out our proposals.

"This will include a discussion about how people learn to drive.

"The research report has been produced by the Transport Research Laboratory under commission by the Department for Transport and it, amongst other things, has informed the Green Paper."

Proposals welcomed

RAC Foundation motoring research charity, director S. Glaister, welcomed the proposals.

He said: "Young people are four times more likely to die in a road accident  than as a result of drink or drugs. "Yet, as a society we seem to turn a blind eye to the carnage. If this was any other area of public health there would be an outcry.

"This is about ensuring their long-term safety and mobility. Not curtailing it."

President of motoring organisation AA, Edmund King said the proposals were addressing the problem of young drivers in the "wrong way".

"You should prepare young drivers to be safe when they get their licence rather than give them their licence and then restrict them," he told BBC's Breakfast.

He said he would like to see mandatory lessons on motorways, in rural areas and in bad weather, and warned of the problems of policing the restrictions such as carrying young passengers.

Julie Townsend, of road safety charity Brake, welcomed the report, saying it was further recognition of the compelling case for graduated driver licensing.

She urged the government to act "swiftly and decisively" to commit to the system to help reduce the danger young drivers posed to themselves and others.

Currently drivers in England, Scotland and Wales need to pass a theory test, then a practical test before they can apply for a full driving licence. The minimum age to hold a full car licence is 17, or 16 for some people claiming mobility benefit.

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True Cost of Deisel

British Drivers  are having  to pay 4^th highest diesel prices in the world.

The average pump  price in the UK  is 141p per litre, only behind Norway, Italy and Turkey.

In  contrast, drivers in Venezuela can fill their tanks with diesel for the equivalent of 1p per litre. While pump prices in UK may be high, diesel drivers in many other countries are worse off, as motorist in UK only spend about  7.9% of their monthly disposable income

World’s Most Expensive Diesel

	Country	Price per Litre	Avg m’thly income	Avg. m’thly diesel spend	% Spent on Diesel
1	Norway	150p	£2707	£142	5.2
2	Italy	147p	£1366	£139	10.2
3	Turkey	144p	£525	£136	25.9
4	UK	141p	£1700	£133	7.9
5	Israel	138p	£1170	£130	11.2
6	Sweden	135p	£1962	£127	6.5
7	Denmark	133	£2177	£125	5.8

World’s Cheapest Diesel

	Country	Price per Litre	Avg m’thly income	Avg. m’thly diesel spend	% Spent on Diesel
1	Venezuela	1p	£320	£0.95	0.3
2	Iran	2p	£320	£1.89	0.6
3	Saudi Arabia	5p	£1194	£4.74	0.4
4	Libya	10p	£380	£9.47	2.5
5	Bahrain	10p	£723	£9.47	1.3
6	Turkmenistan	13p	£160	£12.31	7.7
7	Qatar	15p	£2601	£14.21	0.6

 This data was compiled by looking4Parking.com, from range of sources.