Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Sunday, 03 January 2010

BBC News

• Drivers warned of icy roads riskMotorists are urged to take extra care, with warnings of icy roads, particularly in north Wales.
• Motorist killed in crash with busA driver is killed when her car is involved in a crash with a bus in the south Wales valleys.
• Scrambler boy remains 'critical' A 10-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after the scrambler motorbike he was on was in collision with a bus.
• Motorists face £15 'victims levy'Motorists in England and Wales fined for minor offences may have to pay an extra £15 under a scheme to support victims of crime.
• Increase in rail fares criticisedRail passenger watchdog Passenger Focus has criticised a rise in fares averaging 1.1%, which has come into force.
• Pirates seize UK ship off SomaliaA UK-flagged cargo ship with 25 crew, including eight Bulgarians, is hijacked off Somalia, the second in a week.

The Independent

• Are planned airport scanners just a scam? The explosive device smuggled in the clothing of the Detroit bomb suspect would not have been detected by body-scanners set to be introduced in British airports, an expert on the technology warned last night.

The Observer

• Fines to include extra victim levyMotorists caught speeding or given a parking ticket among those set to pay an extra £15 to fund support servicesPeople who commit minor driving offences and antisocial behaviour face paying bigger fines to fund a government scheme for compensating victims of crime.Since 2007, a £15 surcharge has been added to fines for those convicted of crime, with the cash going to finance support services.Ministers now want to extend the levy to on-the-spot fines and fixed penalty notices.This would include motorists caught speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or anyone give...

The Scotsman

• More chaos as big freeze continuesThe freezing weather brought widespread chaos as heavy snow created treacherous driving conditions and caused a number of sporting events to be cancelled.

The Telegraph

• Motoring review of the decade - 2000 to 2009 With most of our working lives at Telegraph Motoring involving the close scrutiny of time and distance, we should point out that it has only been 10 years since we were partying like it was 1999 and worrying that our engine computers would catch a fatal dose of millennium bug.
• British-flagged cargo ship hijacked off Somali coast MV Asian Glory, which can carry 4,000 cars, has an international crew of 26. Foreign Office said no British nationals were on board.
• Muslim MP: security profiling at airports is 'price we have to pay' A Muslim MP has opened up divisions within the Islamic community by saying it is reasonable for Muslims to be singled out for extra airport security measures following the Detroit bomb attempt.

Times Online

• Air passengers face two body searches Extra body searches, new restrictions on moving around aircraft and greater use of sniffer dogs are among the security measures being planned by Britain following the Christmas Day bomb plot.

Mail Online

• Wounded troops offered jobs guarding UK ports

The Mirror

• UK-flagged cargo ship hijackedA British-flagged cargo ship has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia, officials said.
• More chaos as big freeze continuesThe freezing weather brought widespread chaos as heavy snow created treacherous driving conditions and caused a number of sporting events to be cancelled.

London Evening Standard

• UK-flagged cargo ship hijackedA British-flagged cargo ship has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia, officials said.
• More chaos as big freeze continuesThe freezing weather brought widespread chaos as heavy snow created treacherous driving conditions and caused a number of sporting events to be cancelled.

Wales Online

• Woman driver dies after collision with busA woman has died after a road crash in the Gwent valleys involving a car and a bus.

Peterborough Telegraph

• More freezing conditions expectedThe Arctic start to the new year is set to continue for the first half of the month with fresh snowfall, severe frosts and ice on the roads in East Anglia, forecasters have sa

Reading Evening Post

• Driving instructor caught using mobile A driving instructor using a mobile phone while driving was one of more than 50 motorists caught in a road safety check in Reading earlier this month.

C.N.N.

• Comment: What we can do to help keep the skies safeThe year was just a few hours old as bleary-eyed passengers turned up at Gatwick Airport near London, destined for all corners of the world. Battling fatigue and trying hard to overcome the excesses of the night before, folks, especially those traveling to the US, were bracing themselves for the security fallout from the attempted bomb attack in the U.S. on Christmas Day.
• At least 10 killed in India train crashTen passengers died in a train collision blamed on fog and a power failure in northern India on Saturday, rail officials said.
• Obama promises justice for Christmas terror plottersPresident Obama on Saturday linked the man accused in a botched Christmas Day airline bombing to an al Qaeda affiliate based in Yemen.

International Herald Tribune

• What to Expect as T.S.A. Tightens Airport SecurityTravelers are advised to brush up on the security agency’s rules before heading to the airport.

Other News Sources

• UK cargo ship seized by pirates A UK-flagged cargo ship with 25 crew has been seized by pirates off Somalia, media reports say.Related StoriesHaye reveals Africa appealPirates hijack UK-flagged chemical tanker
• Obama ties failed plane attack to al-Qaeda Barack Obama has said that it appeared the man suspected of trying to bomb a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas was a member of al-Qaeda.Related StoriesBrown beefs up anti-terror securityPresident Obama's new year messageSuicide bomber attacks Pakistan volleyball gameDanish police shoot man at home of cartoonistWootton Bassett 'defiant' over Islamic march plans