I would like to bring to the attention of your readers some of the implications of the changes in Vehicle Excise Duty proposed for next year relating to cars from 2001 onwards with automatic transmissions.

For many months Mature Times' readers have been commenting on the use, abuse and availability of Blue Badges. Meanwhile, the Commons Transport Committee admitted today that the award of blue badges had become a "postcode lottery", and that the adherence by local councils to Blue Badge operating guidelines was "patchy". They have therefore called for a review of the eligibility criteria to take in a wider range of people with mobility difficulties.

With prices at the petrol pump now at least 110p a litre, online insurance company swiftcover.com has calculated that owners of the UK’s 27.9 million cars could save a collective £8bn on fuel costs (£290 each) each year by adopting more economical driving habits.

In the 60s and 70s, having "the latest reg" was a widely recognised symbol of wealth and status. Not so today it seems...

Cheers for Walter J.Bourne, last month's letter re car insurance companies. I have myself just received a rip off 35% increase in my insurance premium  But here is a different silver rip-off - this time from the DVLA.

ASDA has become the first supermarket to fine drivers if they park in bays designated as disabled and parent and child spaces.

Research has shown that not only are 20% of accidents cause by sleepiness, but death tolls from sleep-related incidents are three times higher than other accidents, presumably because the drivers do not swerve or apply their brakes. Now Saab have developed a Driver Attention Warning System, designed to designed to help reduce these figures by alerting  the driver as the risk of drowsiness or inattention is detected.