Cost of motoring down; no-one believes it

Many of us appear keen to be told that EVERYTHING IS WORSE by a media keen to sell us whatever we want to hear, even when it might just be better. Of course, as Jeremy Clarkson amply demonstrates, if we drive we’re that much more likely to believe that we’re somehow being persecuted.

The cost of motoring has fallen by 18 per cent in real terms over the past 20 years, despite the price of fuel rising by 210 per cent in that time, an RAC report says.

The motoring group takes inflation into account and says cars are now cheaper overall and need less money spent on them than they did two decades ago. But 60 per cent of 1,116 people surveyed actually thought higher costs were the biggest change in motoring since 1988.

… The RAC report suggests that road rage and inconsiderate driving are seen as more of a nuisance by motorists than congestion. Even so, more than half of drivers think Britain's roads will be gridlocked in the next 20 years—despite the average annual mileage of British drivers dropping from 10,200 in 1988 to 9,070 in 2008. [BBC]

N in the W #2

Peer’s apology over racist phrase

A Tory frontbencher has apologised after using a racist phrase during a House of Lords debate.

Lord Dixon Smith retracted the remark in the chamber, saying: “I apologise, my Lords. I left my brains behind. I apologise to the House.”

The 73-year-old said later the phrase “nigger in the woodpile” was in common use when he was younger.

But Labour MPs called for him to be sacked, with one saying the remark was racist and “deeply offensive”.

A spokeswoman for Conservative leader David Cameron said: “This was not an appropriate thing to say and it was absolutely right that he apologised to the House.” She said he would not be sacked from the front bench over the comments. [BBC]