Drivers are being warned they could be hit with hefty fines if they fail to keep their cars in a clean and tidy condition.
Many of us are guilty of leaving rubbish like fast food packaging, coffee cups, or empty drinks bottles in our cars from time to time – but if it all starts to pile up, this is when you could find yourself in a bit of trouble.
While it’s true that there’s no specific rule against having your car like a tip, and in some cases, it’s actually celebrated – especially with a woman from Manchester having been voted as having the “messiest car in the UK” last year – Brits are now being told to be aware that if your vehicle becomes too cluttered internally, it poses a potential risk to your ability to drive.
If a piece of rubbish lodges itself under the pedals, for example, then experts are warning it could be the cause of a catastrophic accident.
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Well, what kind of fines are we talking then?
Drivers are being warned they could receive a fine of up £5,000 for having a messy car / Credit: Clean Me
Well, rule 237 of the Highway Code states that all motorists must drive with care and attention, and a failure to do this could turn into a hazard – which would result in the person behind the wheel not meeting the standard required of a competent driver, and therefore not showing due consideration for other road users.
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If stopped by the roadside, a £100 fine and three points can be put on your licence.
Then for more serious offences, this could result in anywhere from three to nine penalty points, and a discretionary fine of up to £5,000 – all depending on the severity.
In the worst case scenario, if there is a fatal accident due to the lack of care from the driver, then they could not only be handed an unlimited fine and a driving ban, but they could even be facing up to five years in prison.
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Experts say a build up of rubbish could cause of a catastrophic accident / Credit: EuroCarParts
“Few of us can honestly say we’ve never left a little rubbish in our vehicles,” admitted Andrew Jervis, co-founder of online car repair marketplace, ClickMechanic.
“However, it’s important to be aware of all of the potential hazards that could arise.
“Empty drinks containers are certainly one of the most common, as they can move around as we drive, and if one manages to roll its way into the pedal area, it could spell disaster if it becomes lodged underneath the brake or distracts the driver.
“So it’s much better to keep your vehicle free from mess, as not only does it create a better driving environment, it could help prevent a terrible crash or severe consequences.”
Featured Image – RAC
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Shepherd’s pie named among classic British dishes that could be ‘extinct’ within the next decade
Emily Sergeant
Shepherd’s pie has been named among the classic British dishes that could be ‘extinct’ within the next 10 years.
From a hearty roast dinner on a Sunday, to a slap-up full English breakfast to start the day, classic British dishes have become staples on dinner tables across the nation, all known and loved for their comforting flavours and cultural significance… but apparently, Google searches for ‘shepherd’s pie recipe’ are down 55% in the past year, indicating that less and less people looking to create this traditional dish at home.
So with this in mind, air fryer giants Ninja Kitchen decided to carry out a new study by surveying 2,000 people and studying search trends for popular British dishes to uncover which meals are still loved, and which might be nothing more than a distant memory.
Shockingly, the new study revealed that shepherd’s pie could be facing extinction from early as 2027, with several other favourites dying out within a decade.
Shepherd’s pie takes the fifth spot on the top 10 list, as according to the study, the dish is experiencing a 0.76% weekly decline, and due to the fact only 5% of Brits would name it a ‘favourite’, this classic risks extinction by 2027.
Shepherd’s pie has been named among the classic British dishes that could be ‘extinct’ within the next decade / Credit: Dennis J Wilkinson | Steven Depolo
Another shocker on the list has to been the beloved veggie dish cheese and onion pie, which takes the ninth spot thanks to its 0.41% weekly decline in searches.
However, the majority of the other dishes making up the top 10 list tend to be regional delicacies or dishes that are popular within certain dietary preferences, such as Glamorgan sausage – which takes the number one spot, with a 2% weekly search decline – Tatws Pum Munud, a nut roast, and a vegan roast dinner.
57% of the nation would be sad to see British staples fade away, according to the study, but 31% do appreciate the evolution of food trends.
The study also revealed that the growing popularity of takeaway and convenience food is the leading reason why people are moving away from traditional classics such as shepherd’s pie, with nearly half (46%) of respondents citing it as their main reason.
Additionally, 15% reported that the cost of ingredients was too high, while 10% felt that British classics lacked flavour.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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Toxic Town – new star-studded Netflix drama series filmed in Greater Manchester airs next week
Emily Sergeant
A trailer and first look images for a gripping new Netflix drama series filmed in Greater Manchester have been released.
Viewers are being given a teaser of what to expect before it airs next week.
Produced by Charlie Brooker and Annabelle Jones, and based on one of the UK’s biggest environmental scandals, Toxic Town tells the story of the people at the heart of the 2009 Corby poisonings, that started decades ago in the 1980s, and focuses on a group of mothers who took on a David and Goliath-style battle for justice.
The four-part series written by acclaimed screenwriter, Jack Thorne, traces the years of the mothers’ fight and watches as a terrible truth comes to the surface.
Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood and Claudia Jessie star in TOXIC TOWN. Premiering 27 February.
Based on the true story of one of the UK’s biggest environmental scandals, the limited series follows a group of mothers fighting to bring a terrible truth to surface and justice for… pic.twitter.com/HgRoUKBIod
The cast of the new drama is seriously star-studded, with local Northern actors Jodie Whittaker – best known for Doctor Who and Broadchurch – and Stockport-born Aimee Lou Wood – who is best known for the Netflix series Sex Education, as well as the BBC sitcom Daddy Issues, and is currently starring in the third series of HBO’s The White Lotus – taking on the lead roles.
Robert Carlyle, Brendan Coyle, and Rory Kinnear are some of the other famous names playing pivotal roles in the show, alongside Bridgerton’s Claudia Jessie, Game of Thrones’ and Skins’ Joe Dempsey, and This is England’s Michael Socha.
New star-studded drama series Toxic Town airs on Netflix next week/ Credit: Netflix UK & Ireland
Show creator Jack Thorne called it the “cast of dreams”.
“I couldn’t believe that we were able to get these people, and that they were prepared to be part of this story,” he commented. “And boy, did they all deliver.”
“Each of them just brought something new that I’d never seen them do before,” Thorne teased ahead of the show’s air. “And when you’re with a cast that’s doing that consistently, it’s so exciting to watch and it’s so beautiful.”
Despite the story being set in the Northamptonshire town of Corby, the majority of this new series was actually filmed here in Greater Manchester – primarily in Bolton.
Over the last decade or so, Bolton has developed a ‘Hollywood of the North’ nickname as the town’s centre and wider borough’s historic buildings and architecture, and striking rural landscapes, have become a favourite for production crews looking to replicate other well-known worldwide locations such as London, New York, and even Moscow.
Camera crews for popular TV shows such as Peaky Blinders, Happy Valley, It’s A Sin, Brassic, The Stranger, Fool Me Once, and A Gentleman in Moscow have all rolled into the town in recent times.
Emily Sergeant -
7th July 2022 
