v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Page 72 • The HERALD • 29th January 2026 AUTOPAT A Family Business Established since 1982 PROMPT & EFFICIENT v Servicing v Mechanical Repairs v MOT’s - Petrol & Diesel v Air Conditioning Service Unit 3, Hardley Ind. Est., Hythe 023 8084 0163 • Latest 4-Wheel Computerised Wheel Alignment • FREE Wheel Alignment Check with Service • FREE Local Collection & Delivery BOOK ONLINE H Clutches H Diagnostics H Air Conditioning H 4 Wheel Alignment H H Cambelts H Service to Manufacturers Specification on all makes and models H BADMINSTON GARAGE HYTHE PHONE: 023 8001 9090 • EMAIL: mhbgarage100@gmail.com Web: badminstonsgroup.co.uk/hythe • F badminstonsofhythe 50 SHORE ROAD, HYTHE SO45 6GJ MOT & SERVICE CENTRE for Cars, Motorcycles,Vans and Motorhomes 145 Long Lane, Holbury SO45 2NZ Tel: 023 8024 3300 FOR ALL YOUR MOTORING NEEDS LOCALLY • Free fit batteries (most cars) • Free fit wiper blades • Battery chargers • Oils • Braking • Service parts • Tools/tool hire • Car paints • Engine management diagnostics/reset • Towing accessories • Number plates • Exhaust systems • Steering/suspension • Haynes manuals W: www.cobramotorcomponents.co.uk E: sales@cobramotorcomponents.co.uk Send your news to The Herald by email: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk Thousands of Lives To Be Saved Under Bold New Road Safety Strategy e rst Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade will save thousands of lives on the nation’s roads by tackling drink driving, improving training for young drivers, and introducing mandatory eye tests for older motorists. Launched on Wednesday 7th January, the strategy sets out an ambitious plan to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads by 65% by 2035, with an even more stretching target of 70% for children under 16. Approximately four people die on Britain’s roads every day, with thousands more seriously injured each year, but through targeted action on speeding, drink and drug driving, not wearing seat belts, and mobile phone use, thousands of these tragedies can be prevented. e Government will consult on lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales, which has remained unchanged since 1967 and is currently the highest in Europe. In 2023, one in six road fatalities involved drink driving, but a consultation will explore the use of preventative technology, such as alcohol interlock devices, and new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink or drug driving o ences. is could mean that, in future, some drink drive o enders might be required to have one of these giving learner drivers more time to develop their skills in varied conditions such as night driving, adverse weather, and heavy tra c. With the number of older drivers continuing to rise as Britain’s population ages, a consultation on mandatory eyesight testing for those over 70 will be launched, while options for cognitive testing will also be developed to protect all road users. New measures will also target the growing problem of illegal number plates, including ‘ghost’ plates designed to fool camera systems, while also cracking down on uninsured drivers and vehicles without a valid MOT. Over the past decade, 22 European countries have made more progress than the UK in reducing road fatalities, causing Britain to slip from third to fourth in European road safety rankings. is strategy therefore sets out a new approach to reverse a decade of stalled progress. e bold strategy adopts the internationally recognised Safe System approach, which acknowledges that while human error is inevitable, deaths and serious injuries are not. Rather than placing responsibility solely on individual drivers, the system ensures that road design, vehicle safety, enforcement, and education work together to protect all road users. A new Road Safety Investigation Branch will analyse collision patterns and inform prevention strategies, drawing on linked police and healthcare data to identify root causes and target interventions more e ectively. e strategy also mandates 18 new vehicle safety technologies, including autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. is will ensure drivers and road users in Great Britain bene t from access to these cutting-edge technologies and supports growth by requiring manufacturers to meet the same requirements across Europe. A new Road Safety Board, chaired by the Minister for Local Transport, will oversee delivery of the strategy, supported by an Expert Advisory Panel drawing membership from local authorities, emergency services, active travel groups, and road safety organisations. devices tted to their vehicle as a condition of being allowed to drive again. Inexperience behind the wheel is costing lives. Drivers aged 17-24 represent just 6% of licence holders but are involved in 24% of fatal and serious collisions. To address this, the Government will consult on introducing a 3 or 6 month minimum learning period, Continued on page 73
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