Category: News

Earlier in the year the team at Drivers Republic was boasting about their growth in traffic. Now, sadly, their most recent communication tells of their demise.

The following text was taken from their email update, received earlier today.

“Unfortunately this is our final newsletter since DR has closed its doors and will no longer be publishing the features and videos that we’ve become so renowned for.

There has been plenty of speculation across the internet about the reasons why this has occurred, and despite the first impressions that it must have been for financial reasons, nothing could have been further from the truth.

Thanks to the participation of our readers and the generous support of the automotive industry we were in rude health and looking forward to a bumper year, but differences in our vision about future priorities have led to a parting of ways.”

The DR team has presented motoring fans across the globe with quality reporting, photography and opinion. But, it looks like that’s that, then. Shame really.

The Telegraph reports that Police in the UK record the movements of every British motorist, on average, almost 100 times per year. That’s an amazing figure, especially when you consider these images can be stored for as long as two years, although access to the stored data does become more strict after 90 days.

It is calculated the combined forces across Britain capture as many as 3 billion images per year using Automatic Number Plate Recognition. With 34 million registered vehicles in the UK that’s a lot of snaps of the Average Joe that are being kept on file.

Police say the images can help them solve crimes by tracking the movements of cars that are suspected of being involved in criminal behaviour. Not surprisingly civil rights campaigners are starting to ask a few questions.

Charles Hendry, Tory MP for Wealden, said: “There is a balance that needs to be struck between fighting crime and infringing the freedom of the law-abiding public.

“We all accept number-plate recognition enables the police to track and arrest a significant number of criminals and to make our communities safer, but these increases are really startling.

“Law-abiding people should feel they can go about their business without being snooped on by the State.”

I wonder how long it will be before Australian authorities cotton on to this idea?

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk]

Here is a link to a superb image gallery from the recent 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed. You may remember last year’s gallery, and if you do, you will know that 54photography.com are capable of capturing some very fine images.

So, set aside some time and enjoy the 250 images on offer in this year’s set.

According to media reports Melbourne is suffering a dodgy fuel crisis. The contaminated petrol could force an engine replacement. The issue has prompted the industry body VACC, in association with Consumer Affairs Victoria, to release a special bulletin which advises motorists, in part, to “retain your proof of purchase, which may be a receipt or card transaction docket, identifying the time and date of purchase of fuel.”

The full release can be read after the jump.

[Pic: urbex]

Robbie Maddison has jumped across an open Tower Bridge in London. Upside down! Maddison crossed the 7.6m span on 13 July at 3am, London time, so as to minimise traffic disruptions.

The jump was a nice precursor to his birthday, which is today. Happy birthday Robbie!

Maddison has been taught well by his Mum, speaking after the jump he was grateful for the opportunity to pull off the stunt, saying “I love you London, thank you.”

Don’t try this at home kiddies.

[Source: ABC News | Flickr gallery]