Kilcreggan Garage

Hot Focus

TOP Gear magazine has crowned the Ford Focus ST estate Hot Hatch of the Year in its January edition.

In reaching the verdict, Top Gear took the 250PS Ford Focus ST to Russia, where the roads in and around Moscow proved the hot hatch's combination of everyday practicality with scintillating performance in all conditions - even the Russian winter.

"Despite knobbly winter tyres, this front-drive, estatey hatch with no mechanical diff simply won't understeer," wrote Top Gear's Matthew Jones, who drove a Colorado Red example 300 miles between Red Square and Chekhov.

"This isn't an official metric, but in mildly moist conditions it'll corner until the passenger window gets smeared with a photographer's face.  The ST estate really is a car for every mood, journey and road.

"It's a beautifully set up car, and when conditions allow, it's nothing but breathy, with progressive acceleration, comfortable but pin-sharp steering, and incorrigible handling. And the estate gathers up the best bits of so many niches."

Mark Ovenden, Ford Britain managing director, said:  "Our new and exciting Ford Focus ST estate breaks the hot hatch stereotype, which can mean compromising on space and everyday comfort. Top Gear recognised that the ST estate delivers on practicality and performance - as well as on price."

The new Ford Focus ST range starts from £21,995 for a five-door and £23,095 for an estate.

80mph trials must be fair

THE Association of British Drivers is exasperated to hear that the Department of Transport intends to trial 80mph motorway speed limits only on sections of motorway which have variable speed limits.

ABD spokesman Nigel Humphries explained: "Motorways with variable speed limits are invariably busy urban sections which carry far more traffic than they were designed for - these are the last places such a trial should be carried out."

The ABD wants to see fair trials carried out in a variety of locations around the country, on rural three lane sections of motorway, especially those sections with relatively low traffic levels including the M6/M74 from M6 J36 (A590) in Cumbria to where the M74 changes from 3 lanes to 2 prior to J12 (A70) in South Lanarkshire (approx 100 miles with multiple junctions).

Other possibles would be:

• The M69 in Leicestershire/Warwickshire between the M6 and M1 (14 miles with 1 junction).
• The M20 between J8 Maidstone and J9 Ashford in Kent (13 miles with no junctions).
• The M6 Toll which is significantly underused, and desperate to provide a benefit over the alternative and free M6 route.
• The M4 between J36 Bridgend and J38 Margam in South Wales (8 miles with 1 junction).
• The M4 between J19 (M32 Bristol) and J12 Reading (approx 65 miles with multiple junctions).
• The M5 between Weston-super-Mare and Exeter (approx 50 miles with multiple junctions).

Only if these trials prove successful should the trial be extended to other sections such as those with variable speed limits.

ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said: "It sounds as if the DfT are attempting to manipulate the results of the trial before the so called 'consultation' has even started.

"The Government must put a stop to sham consultations where decisions have clearly been made in advance. Only trials on free flowing sections of motorway will enable results to be properly assessed."

Dying for a drink?

BRITAIN'S top advanced driver, Peter Rodger is giving advice on avoiding the consequences of intoxication behind the wheel this Christmas time.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: "This time of year brings with it brandy pudding, mulled wine and Christmas parties.

"If you're heading out for a few drinks, make sure you have planned your journey home before you set off."

Rodger offers tips on driving over the Christmas period:

•     Don't try and calculate whether or not you have consumed enough to tip you over the drink-drive limit.
•     Drinks poured at home are usually larger than pub measures - don't underestimate how much you've had.
•     If you drive to a party and drink more than you expected to, don't risk it. Book yourself a taxi or arrange for a friend or family member to collect you.
•     If you are involved in a road accident you will be breathalysed - don't risk it, or somebody else's mistake could become your problem.
•     A drinking session the night before can easily put you over the legal limit the following morning. Organise alternative travel plans for the next day.
•     If you know someone has been drinking, don't let them give you a lift or drive home.

Rodger said: "A swift couple after work or a glass of wine with the staff lunch may seem harmless, but could have serious consequences if you get behind the wheel.

"It is not only about your safety, but the safety of other road users too.  It's not worth the risk, so choose one or the other - to drink or to drive."

Mike McAdam, founder of drink drive campaign ‘Don't be that someone'[1] said: "It's important that people of all ages, including 14-18 year olds, are fully aware about the dangers and serious consequences drink driving can have on individuals, families and whole communities."

To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM has launched a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter.

Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind - everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter. Check it out before you travel.

Drink drive limit change may not tackle worst offenders

THE Law Society has warned that proposals to reduce the drink driving limit in Scotland may not tackle the worst cases involving people who drive after consuming alcohol.

The Society was responding to the Scottish Government’s consultation “Reducing the Drink Driving Limit in Scotland” which proposes to use new powers given to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2012 to reduce the drink driving limit from 80 mg to 50 mg of alcohol per 100ml.

The Scottish Government estimates that just over 1 in every 9 deaths on Scotland’s roads each year involve drivers who are over the legal drink driving limit with an estimate of an average of 30 deaths on Scotland’s roads caused by drivers over the legal limit every year.

A final decision on possible changes to the drink drive limit is expected from Scottish Ministers next year.

Bill McVicar, convener of the Society’s criminal law committee said: “The Scottish Government is right to look carefully at Holyrood’s new powers and consider what action it can now take to tackle those who recklessly drive after consuming alcohol, risking fatal injury to themselves and others.

“While we are entirely supportive of the policy intent behind the proposals, and share the Government’s and the general public’s disapproval and concern for those individuals who choose to drive after consuming alcohol, the majority of convictions relating to drink driving involve people who are not only substantially over the current limit but people who arguably know they are over that limit.

"It should therefore be questioned whether any reduction in the existing drink driving limit will tackle the worst offenders.

“Transport Scotland publishes statistics on the numbers of cases where a driver has been found to be over the limit.  However, there is currently no information on the degree to which those with a positive reading have broken the limit.  Such data would be helpful in really understanding the whole picture.”