THIS is the terrifying moment a helicopter crashes onto a freeway just feet away from shocked drivers in California.
Three people on board are in a critical condition after the Airbus lost control before plunging towards the busy road and smashing into the ground.
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A helicopter has crashed onto a California highwayCredit: ViralPress
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Emergency teams found the helicopter upside down on the roadCredit: Alamy
Footage showed the chopper flying low above Highway 50 near Howe Avenue in Sacramento.
Within seconds it started plummeting towards the ground with huge plumes of smoke seen billowing across the highway as it smashed.
Pictures from after the crash shows the medical helicopter upside down in the middle of the road.
Smashed glass and debris can be seen strewn across the highway as firefighters and cops surround the wreckage.
Motorist Davyd Bychkoviak was driving past just after 7pm local time (3am UK time) as the helicopter spiralled through the air.
Mr Bychkoviak said: “I’m still shaking. It was a brush with death.
“The helicopter crashed inches away from me. The dust kicked up into my face, and I could feel the wind of the propellers in the car.
“If it had crashed on the road there would have been multiple fatalities.”
The Sacramento Fire Department and Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter went down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 near Howe Avenue.
They added that it was a helicopter that provides air medical services.
REACH Air Medical Services later confirmed to ABC7 news that three of its crew were hurt in the crash.
Captain Justin Sylvia, from the Sacramento Fire Department, confirmed three people were “transported in critical condition” to local hospitals.
These included two females and a male made up of a pilot, nurse and paramedic.
No patient was on board at the time of the disaster, Captain Sylvia added.
Speaking at a press conference today he said: “There was one victim that was trapped underneath the helicopter… [with] the help of just civilians that were standing around, they were able to lift part of that helicopter out and get that victim out.
“There’s a pretty large debris field around that at this point.
“The lucky portion for us, I’d say, is the fact that the helicopter did not catch on fire.”
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Highway 50 near 44th Street was left at a standstill after the crashCredit: Alamy
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed into law a deal that will allow hundreds of thousands of rideshare drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while still being classified as independent contractors.
The legislation — a rare compromise between labor groups and Silicon Valley gig economy companies — grants collective bargaining rights to Uber and Lyft drivers, and follows years of political and legal battles over the job status of rideshare and delivery drivers.
The new law does not apply to other types of gig workers, including those who deliver food through apps like DoorDash.
Besides the collective bargaining deal, Newsom is also expected to sign a law backed by Uber and Lyft that would significantly reduce the companies’ insurance requirements.
Newsom, with his signing of the deal, drew a contrast with Trump’s posture towards workers and labor unions, with his administration banning collective bargaining at half a dozen federal agencies earlier this year.
“Donald Trump is holding the government hostage and stripping away worker protections. In California, we’re doing the opposite: proving government can deliver,” Newsom said in a statement. “That’s the difference between chaos and competence.”
Labor leaders from Service Employees International Union California, a powerful union that has been working for years to organize app-based drivers, say the deal is one of the largest expansions of private sector unions in 90 years, allowing hundreds of thousands of California gig drivers to gain a seat at the bargaining table.
It does so by exempting workers from the state and federal antitrust laws that normally prohibit collective action by independent contractors.
“The gig economy isn’t going away, but worker exploitation doesn’t have to be part of it.” David Green, SEIU 721 President and Executive Director.
Ramona Prieto, Uber’s Head of Public Policy for California, said in an emailed statement that the compromise “lowers costs for riders while creating stronger voices for drivers — demonstrating how industry, labor, and lawmakers can work together to deliver real solutions.”
Experts say the prospect of a union gives some gig workers their first-ever outlet to vent frustrations about workplace conditions. But how exactly does it work? And what are rideshare companies getting in return?
Here’s what you need to know:
What would it take for drivers to form a union?
Under federal law, employees in the U.S. can unionize by holding an election or reaching a voluntary agreement with their employers for a specific union to represent them.
The process for California Uber and Lyft drivers under the collective bargaining law, called Assembly Bill 1340, would be somewhat different.
A group can seek to be the bargaining representative for active drivers by collecting signatures from at least 10% of them. At that point, a group would be able to petition for access to names and contact information for all active drivers in California from the state’s Public Employment Relations Board, which is designated to oversee the unionization process.
With that contact list, the process of organizing drivers would in theory become easier. Once a group signs up 30% of active drivers, they could petition the board for union certification. If more than one organization is in the process of gathering signatures, an election would be held to determine which would represent drivers.
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), who co-authored the bill with Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), said the new process means drivers will be able to”bargain for better pay and protections, and help build a future where the gig economy works for the people behind the wheel.”
The law outlines a formula as to which drivers qualify as “active” based on a median number of rides they completed during the prior six month period, which determines who would be eligible to vote in the election.
It’s unclear at this point how many active drivers California has, as the number fluctuates, and rideshare companies do not release the information. Uber and Lyft will be required to submit data on active drivers to the state labor board on a regular basis under the new law.
That path to collective bargaining mirrors a ballot initiative approved by Massachusetts voters last fall that was also backed by SEIU, which allows drivers to form a union after collecting signatures from at least 25% of active drivers in the state.
Drivers affiliated with SEIU who supported the California bill said they spend long hours on the road, as many as 10 to 12 a day, but are not given the same protections as other workers. They say the law gives them an opportunity to negotiate their pay and other terms of their agreements with the companies.
“Drivers have had no way to fight back against the gig companies taking more and more of the passenger fare, or to challenge unfair deactivations that cost us our livelihoods,” said Ana Barragan, a gig driver from Los Angeles in a statement. “We’ve worked long hours, faced disrespect, and had no voice, just silence on the other end of the app.”
Some driver advocates have worried the law may not be strong enough to ensure that drivers can reach a fair contract.
Veena Dubal, a law professor at UC Irvine who studies the effect of technology on workers, had said the legislation does not clarify whether drivers would be protected if they collectively protested or went on strike, and doesn’t require that the companies provide data about wages.
“These are the crux of what makes a union strong and the very, very bottom line of what members need and want,” Dubal said. “That they couldn’t achieve those things — that’s a win for Uber.”
Michael Reich, a professor of economics and co-chair of the Center on Wage and Employment Dynamics at the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at UC Berkeley who has closely studied the gig economy and advised on driver-related legislation, called a potential driver union “a golden opportunity” and the pair of laws “a good deal for both sides.”
What did gig economy companies get out of the deal?
The insurance bill, backed by Uber and Lyft and introduced by state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo), would reduce the amount of insurance that companies like Uber and Lyft are required to provide for rides.
Uber said in a blog posted to its website, that the law helps to address “one of the biggest hidden costs impacting rideshare passengers and drivers in California.”
Currently, the companies must carry $1 million in coverage per rideshare driver for accidents caused by other drivers who are uninsured or underinsured. The companies have argued that current insurance requirements are so high that they encourage litigation for insurance payouts and create higher costs for passengers.
But beginning next year, passenger trips will instead be covered by $60,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per rideshare driver and $300,000 per accident.
Uber said it will maintain $1 million in liability insurance to cover injuries or property damage in accidents caused by their rideshare drivers, as well as insurance that covers the cost to repair the driver’s car, regardless of who is at fault for the damage.
The companies are also required to maintain $1 million in occupational accident coverage under gig economy law Proposition 22, which is supposed to help drivers with medical bills if they’re injured while driving, no matter who is at fault, Uber said.
What led to this point and how does Prop. 22 factor in?
After the California Legislature in 2019 rewrote employment law in 2019, clarifying and limiting when businesses can classify workers as independent contractors, Uber and Lyft went to the ballot in California, bankrolling an initiative to exempt their drivers.
When California voters passed Proposition 22, the ballot measure the companies funded in 2020, drivers were classified as independent contractors who, under federal law, do not have the right to organize. Proposition 22 had language that explicitly barred drivers from collectively bargaining over their compensation, benefits and working conditions.
But SEIU California argued that court decisions over Prop. 22 left an opening for the state Legislature to create a process for drivers to unionize, setting the state for lawmakers to introduce the collective bargaining bill. Uber and Lyft initially opposed the bill, until a deal was hammered out and announced in August.
Times staff writer Laura Nelson contributed to this report.
DRIVERS have been urged to make changes to their car’s air con that will save them thousands of pounds.
Experts have warned that not using your motor’s air con this winter could see drivers dealing with costly repairs or even fines of up to £1,000.
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Not using your motor’s AC this winter could see you slapped with a whopping fineCredit: Getty
Air conditioning isn’t just for cooling off in those hot summer months.
Many drivers may think switching off their air con in the winter will help save money – but the opposite is true.
It also works as a dehumidifier, preventing mould, odours, and health risks but only if it is used regularly.
If you don’t use it for a period of time it can lead to moisture build up, bacteria thriving and repairs can become costly.
And a misted windscreen can prove more than just a nuisance – it could land you with a £1,000 fine and three points on your license.
Using your air con is the quickest way to clear it and it will also regulate your heating and cooling to keep the motor’s cabin comfortable.
Car maintenance experts at Fixter have shared six expert tips on how to properly use your air con system during the colder months as well as maintenance tips.
Run your AC regularly
Their first tip is to run your air con regularly, even on cooler settings, a small habit that can save you from those costly long-term repairs.
Experts at Fixter recommend to use your air-con for 10 to 15 minutes once a week and occasionally on a colder setting.
This will keep seals lubricated, prevents mould growth and stops the compressor from seizing.
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Demist your windscreen
They also advise that you demist your windscreen fast to stay legal and avoid that hefty £1,000 fine.
They say that the quickest and safest way to clear fog or frost is by combining warm air with your air con.
This will reduce humidity while the heat will speed up defogging.
You should direct airflow at the glass and avoid using your recirculation mode.
Don’t skip your winter service
Even if you’re not blasting cold air, your air con is still working hard behind the scenes, experts at Fixter say.
A regular servicing will keep the air con system efficient and will prevent bacteria building up.
It will also reduce the risk of breakdowns when you need it most, they added.
Check your cabin filter and airflow
If your filters are clogged, your air con is going to have to do more work to demist your windscreen.
Fixter says a clogged pollen or cabin filter will restrict airflow, make your demisting slower and get your air con working harder.
And if your vents feel weak, it could also men your refrigerant is low – both are quick fixes if caught early but are expensive if ignored.
Don’t ignore unpleasant smells
If there are some unpleasant smells in your cabin, it may be a sign of a bigger problem.
Musty odours when you turn on your air con are usually caused by mould or bacteria, Fixter says.
This will affect cabin air quality as well as your health and can be fixed with a clean or filter replacement.
Clear your vents before driving
Fixter says that clearing your vents before driving is also crucial.
Snow or ice blocking your cars external vents can stop your air con from circulating air properly, forcing the fan to overwork.
You should always brush them clear before setting off.
More on motors
Whether it’s a weird noise or a check engine light, every driver knows the dreaded feeling of another costly trip to the mechanic.
Thankfully, a new middle aisle buy fromLidlcan help to save you money by ensuring one part of yourcaris always in perfect shape.
What should be in your winter car kit?
By Jacob Jaffa, Motors Reporter
Here’s what should be included in your winter car kit, according to the RAC:
SACRAMENTO — A popular perk for California drivers of electric and low-emission cars is coming to an end.
Beginning Oct. 1, motorists with a Clean Air Vehicle decal will no longer be able to drive solo in carpool lanes because the program was not extended by the federal government, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
The carpool benefit was promoted as a cost-effective incentive to encourage Californians to buy clean and zero-emission vehicles. More than a million motorists have applied for the decal since it became available more than two decades ago. There are roughly a half million vehicles in California with active decals, allowing them to use the carpool lane alone. Last month, the DMV stopped issuing new decals and warned that the program could be ending.
Extending the program would have required approval from Congress and President Trump.
“A Trump traffic jam is on its way to California and other states – all because Republicans in Congress decided to let a wildly successful bipartisan program expire,” Newsom said in a statement. “That’s Trump’s America: more traffic, more smog and a government more committed to slashing proven programs than solving real problems.”
California is one of 13 states offering the benefit. Vehicles that qualified included fuel cell electric, natural gas or plug-in electric cars.
Last year, Newsom signed a bill that extended California’s decal program until 2027, but the state will no longer be able to continue it without federal authority, the governor’s office said. According to the California Energy Commission, 25% of new cars sold in the state are zero-emission vehicles.
Drivers in electric and low-emission cars will only be able to use carpool lanes after the program expires if they meet the multiple occupant requirements. The reduced toll rates available in some areas to drivers with a decal will also end on Oct. 1.
California law indicates that drivers will not be cited for driving in the carpool lane with an invalid decal within 60 days of the program ending.
“Californians are committed to lowering their carbon footprint and these decals helped drivers be good stewards of our highways and environment,” said Steve Gordon, director of the California DMV, in a statement. “By taking away this program, hundreds of thousands of California’s drivers will pay the price. It’s a lose-lose and we urge the federal government to retain this program.”
DRIVERS of SUVs in England may soon face more stringent parking rules under a law inspired by the European Union.
Earlier this year, reports revealed that SUVs have become the most popular type of car in the UK – with sales data showing they accounted for a third of all new car registrations.
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A parking law that’s been introduced in Paris has sparked debate among experts and campaignersCredit: AFP
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The French capital now charges SUVs a higher fee for parking in a bid to discourage drivers from buying heavier motorsCredit: Getty
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With their increasing presence on UK roads, many argue that stricter regulations are necessary to tackle the impact of SUVsCredit: Getty
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SUVs are often criticised for their size, higher fronts and reduced visibility from the driver’s seatCredit: Getty
Given their growing presence on UK roads, many believe stricter regulations are needed to address their impact on safety, air pollution and public space.
According to Birmingham Live, experts and campaigners are calling for measures similar to those introduced in European cities, such as Paris, where parking costs for SUVs have been significantly increased to discourage their use and reduce pollution.
An hour of parking for SUVs in the Paris city centre now costs €18 instead of the usual €6, whilst in the outskirts the cost is €12 instead of €4.
For six hours, SUVs will be charged a whopping €225 – around £195 – instead of the previous €75.
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that the new parking rates for larger vehicles in Paris had reduced the number of SUVs using surface parking by two-thirds.
The French cities of Lyon and Grenoble have similar rules, as does Tubingen in Germany.
Dr Anna Goodman, an academic transport researcher and director of Transport for Quality of Life, said: “SUVs increasingly dominate our streets. In just two decades, the share of SUVs in English cities has grown tenfold.
“In London alone, the number of SUVs has swelled by around 720,000. This has important implications for congestion, public space, and road safety.
“The evidence is clear that SUVs increase road danger for people walking and cycling, particularly for children.”
Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities, added: “The sheer scale of car-spreading is staggering.
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“These oversized vehicles are not just swallowing our public space; they’re also far more dangerous, especially for children.
“If we want cities that are safe, breathable, and accessible, we have to get serious about tackling the rise of these urban land-hogs.”
SUVs are often criticised for their size, higher fronts and reduced visibility from the driver’s seat, making them more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.
They are also blamed for contributing to air pollution and climate breakdown due to their heavier, more polluting nature.
The UK’s current best-selling cars, the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai are all classed as crossover SUVs.
Barbara Stoll, senior director of T&E’s Clean Cities campaign, added: “A child is killed every day on our roads, yet cars are being made so large that children are invisible from the driver’s seat. How is that acceptable?”
“Thankfully, more and more city leaders are pushing back against car-spreading, standing up for what citizens actually want: safe, green streets without monster vehicles.”
DRIVERS are forking out £100s more on their car insurance by merely using a certain key word as their occupation.
Experts have revealed elderly drivers are facing substantial increases in premiums with costs rising by up to 50% in some cases – simply by marking themselves as “retired” on car insurance forms.
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Rising premiums leave retired drivers searching for solutions to cut costsCredit: Getty
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A simple change in job title could save you hundreds on car insurance – providing it’s done accurately and honestlyCredit: Getty
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Experts reveal tips to help elderly motorists navigate soaring insurance ratesCredit: Getty
According to research by Quotezone, car insurance premiums are rising for elderly motorists in the UK with retired drivers listing “retired” as their occupation.
On average, this is seeing premiums jumping from £492 to £733 annually.
To combat this, Quotezone suggests variations in job titles could potentially reduce insurance costs – as long as the descriptions remain accurate and honest.
For unemployed individuals, adding a more experienced driver to the policy might help lower costs, although they caution against “fronting,” which is illegal.
DialDirect points out that premiums tend to rise for elderly drivers because insurance providers often view them as higher-risk.
They added: “Car insurance premiums can begin to rise as you become older as insurance providers typically view elderly drivers as higher-risk individuals.
“Like the way in which drivers between the age of 17 to 25 are often charged more for insurance, so are elderly drivers.
“However, the level of risk attached to different ages will vary for different insurance providers so make sure you shop around for the best deal.”
GET COVERED
Car insurance in the UK is a legal necessity, with three main levels of cover available.
These are fully comprehensive insurance, which offers the highest level of protection, covering damage to your vehicle, yourself and third party, fire and theft.
Drivers warned over common car feature that quietly causes insurance bill to spike – you’ll pay more just for having it
There’s then third party, fire and theft insurance, which covers damage you cause to others, as well as fire damage or theft of your own vehicle.
And there’s third party only insurance (TPO), which is the minimum legal requirement that covers damage caused to others but not your own vehicle.
TPO, however, won’t compensate for any damage to your own car or for your medical expenses following an accident that you’re responsible for.
Planned strikes over pay, shift patterns and fatigue management are set to disrupt the London Underground tube lines from this week, with DLR staff also taking industrial action over ‘pay and conditions’
London Underground tube drivers are set to strike over pay(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
London is bracing for travel chaos this week as planned strikes over pay, shift patterns and fatigue management are set to disrupt the Underground tube lines.
Transport for London (TfL) confirmed that from Sunday, 7 September until Thursday, 11 September, tube services will be “severely disrupted, with little to no service expected”. There will also be no DLR (Docklands Light Railway) service on Tuesday, 8 September and again on Thursday, 11 September.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, which represents tube drivers, said they were taking industrial action over “pay, fatigue management, extreme shift patterns and a reduction in the working week”. They also confirmed that DLR staff would be striking in a separate dispute “over pay and conditions”.
Planned London Underground strikes will heavily disrupt travel this month (Image: Getty Images)
In addition to this, bus routes across London were disrupted due to strike action on First Bus services that took place from August 29 to 30, and again from September 1 to 2. Thousands of bus drivers, engineers and controllers at London United and London Transit, both linked to parent company First Bus London, are said to have taken action over “low pay and awful conditions”.
As strikes continue across London this week, we’ve taken a look at what London tube and bus drivers earn. Here’s everything we know…
What do TfL Underground tube drivers earn?
According to The Standard, a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request to TfL revealed that the yearly wage for a TfL tube operator, also known as a driver, in April 2024 was £65,179, while advanced operators pocketed £75,677.
The standard hourly rate for a regular operator was £35.70, while advanced operators took home £39.20 an hour. The overtime rate per hour for a standard driver was disclosed as £44.62 and £49.00 for advanced drivers.
It was also revealed that tube drivers typically work around 35 hours a week over roughly three and a half shifts.
What do TfL bus drivers earn?
TfL bus drivers are reported to earn between £15 and £20 an hour, depending on their experience. This is estimated to earn them around £31,000 to £37,440 annually.
What do Elizabeth line drivers earn?
Drivers on the Elizabeth line are reported to earn significantly more than the average tube driver after they secured a deal in February to boost their salaries to £75,000.
Amid the upcoming planned strikes, TfL confirmed that the Elizabeth line, London Overground, and trams will continue to run as their staff belong to a different union. However, they’ve cautioned that despite the services running as usual, they are expected to be extremely busy.
It’s also crucial to note that the Elizabeth line or the Overground may not stop at certain stations if they are shut due to the industrial action. Moreover, planned engineering works are scheduled on some Overground and Elizabeth lines during the strikes.
Everyone is urged to check their journey before they travel when using any service. You can do this on the TfL website here.
While we in the Sun Shopping team haven’t tested this car device ourselves, it comes with a wide range of features that are pretty impressive-looking for that low price.
It’s also gathered some rave reviews from happy drivers on Amazon.
It’s a 7-inch HD touchscreen that’s super easy to install: you just plug it into your car’s power outlet (it works with any 12-24V socket) and use either the suction cup or the base stand it comes with.
The screen itself is really sharp and clear.
It has a built-in speaker, but for a better sound experience, you can connect it to your car’s stereo using Bluetooth, an AUX cable, or by matching the FM radio frequency.
It works seamlessly with both iPhone and Android phones, so everyone can use it.
Basically, this gadget allows you to:
Connect wirelessly: Use wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto by connecting your phone via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Get real-time navigation: Send smart GPS navigation software, like Google Maps, from your phone directly on the screen.
Control with your voice: Use Siri or Android voice assistants to make calls, send messages, and control your music hands-free.
Mirror your phone: Cast your iPhone or Android screen to the large 7-inch display to watch videos or stream sports games.
Enjoy powerful audio: Play music through the device’s built-in speaker or connect to your car’s speakers for a richer sound.
One happy customer wrote: “Good, affordable and works perfectly.
“I bought this because it was affordable and I was curious to see how it would work in my car with navigation… I have to say, it performs much better than I expected.
“The screen size is just right, and installation was simple.
“I’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a budget-friendly CarPlay option.”
Another buyer said: “Great CarPlay screen. Easy to fix to the dashboard and set up either wired or Bluetooth with phone.
Works really well with iPhone. Really good clear display and plays music well. Touchscreen is good and great for maps.”
And a third customer noted: “Fantastic price, great for using Maps to navigate.
“Android screen mirroring works perfectly, brilliant for Netflix or Spotify.”
Amazon has this marked as the ‘lowest price in 30 days’, so we’re not sure if it’s a temporary deal or if the price is going to stay like this for a while.
And one final note: while you might be able to cast video to the device’s screen, please drive carefully, folks. Keep those eyes on the road.
Aonerex Car Stereo, £36.99 (was £45.99)
Head to The Sun’s shopping motoring hub for more news and deals for car owners.
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom and California lawmakers on Friday announced a landmark deal with Uber and Lyft to allow hundreds of thousands of rideshare drivers to unionize and bargain collectively while still being classified as independent contractors.
The compromise between labor unions and the Silicon Valley companies, backed by Newsom, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, would advance a collective bargaining bill through the Legislature along with a bill backed by Uber and Lyft that would significantly reduce the companies’ insurance requirements.
The deal is a major development in the years-long tussle between organized labor and Silicon Valley over rights for independent contractors.
Labor leaders from Service Employees International Union California, a powerful union that has been working for years to organize app-based drivers, said the deal is the largest expansion of private sector collective bargaining rights in California history.
“Labor and industry sat down together, worked through their differences, and found common ground,” Newsom said in a statement. The agreement, he said, will “empower hundreds of thousands of drivers while making rideshare more affordable for millions of Californians.”
With support from Rivas and McGuire, both bills are expected to sail through the Legislature before the session ends in mid-September. The agreement does not apply to other types of gig workers, including those who deliver food through apps like DoorDash.
The two bills “represent a compromise that lowers costs for riders while creating stronger voices for drivers,” said Ramona Prieto, Uber’s head of public policy for California, in a prepared statement.
The deal marks a new chapter in nearly a decade of tension between technology companies and state lawmakers over the employment status of the tens of thousands of Californians who do gig work for app-based companies.
“This moment has been a long fight for over a decade in the making,” said Tia Orr, the executive director of SEIU California.
After the California Legislature in 2019 rewrote employment law in 2019, clarifying and limiting when businesses can classify workers as independent contractors, Uber and Lyft went to the ballot in California to exempt their drivers.
When California voters passed Proposition 22, the ballot measure funded by Uber and Lyft, in 2020, drivers were classified as independent contractors and, under federal law, do not have the right to organize. Prop. 22 also explicitly barred drivers from collectively bargaining over their compensation, benefits and working conditions.
But SEIU California argued that court decisions over Prop. 22 left an opening for the state Legislature to create a process for drivers to unionize.
Earlier this year, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) introduced the collective bargaining bill, AB 1340, which Uber and Lyft initially opposed.
The bill allows drivers to negotiate their pay and other terms of their agreements with the companies and exempts workers from the state and federal antitrust laws that normally prohibit collective action by independent contractors.
Under federal law, employees in the U.S. can unionize by holding an election or reaching a voluntary agreement with their employers for a specific union to represent them.
The process for California Uber and Lyft drivers would be somewhat different. The bill says drivers can select a bargaining representative by collecting signatures from at least 10% of active drivers, then petitioning the state’s Public Employment Relations Board for a certification.
That path to collective bargaining mirrors a ballot initiative approved by Massachusetts voters last fall that was also backed by SEIU, which allowed drivers to form a union after collecting signatures from at least 25% of active drivers in the state.
Veena Dubal, a law professor at UC Irvine who studies the effect of technology on workers, said the compromise reached by California lawmakers may not be strong enough to ensure that drivers can reach a fair contract.
The bill does not clarify whether drivers would be protected if they collectively protested or went on strike, she said, and doesn’t require that the companies provide data about wages.
“These are the crux of what makes a union strong and the very, very bottom line of what members need and want,” Dubal said. “That they couldn’t achieve those things — that’s a win for Uber.”
Uber driver Margarita Peñalosa, 45, of Los Angeles, said she realized she needed a union after being temporarily deactivated from the app, and losing three days of income, when a passenger who reeked of marijuana left behind a lingering smell in her car that other riders then complained about.
“That experience made me realize how powerless we can be,” she said. She said she hoped that a collective bargaining process would create a “clear, fair appeals process” for rider complaints.
A Southern California group that counts some 20,000 drivers as members said they had lobbied for provisions to strengthen the bill — including protections that would give drivers the right to strike and more enforcement resources for the state board tasked with overseeing the process — but had been largely shut out of negotiations.
“We were not invited into conversations about this, and we were banging on the door,” said Nicole Moore, president of Rideshare Drivers United.
Representatives from SEIU and Wicks’ office met multiple times with Rideshare Drivers United about their proposals and discussed why some weren’t included, said someone familiar with the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly. For example, that person said, strike protections could open up the bill to attack for potentially violating antitrust laws.
“While we always give fair consideration to suggested amendments, not all are ultimately viable,” Wicks said. She added that her office heard from dozens of constituents and advocates over months of public debate, and “any suggestion otherwise is disingenuous.”
Despite the weaknesses in the law, Moore said, she still hopes that it will help, since right now, she said, drivers “have no labor rights and our wages are in the dungeon.”
“We will do what we can with duct tape and a few paper clips and a little extra wax to actually wage a fight,” she said.
The insurance bill, backed by Uber and Lyft and introduced by state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo), would reduce the amount of insurance that companies like Uber and Lyft are required to provide for rides.
Currently, the companies must carry $1 million in coverage per rideshare driver for accidents caused by other drivers who are uninsured or underinsured. The companies have argued that current insurance requirements are so high that they encourage litigation for insurance payouts and create higher costs for passengers.
The agreement instead calls for $60,000 in uninsured motorist coverage per rideshare driver and $300,000 per accident.
Cabaldon said that the changes would eliminate “outsized insurance requirements that don’t apply to any other forms of transportation, such as taxis, buses, or limos.”
With the power units being made simpler next year, will they generate more noise than presently (I accept they will never sound like they did up until 2013)? I consider it an embarrassment for the sport that the F3 cars (and Porsche Cup cars) that also race on the F1 weekends are louder than the main event – Raffi
The impression might be that the new engines being introduced next year should be louder because they will no longer have an MGU-H – the device that recovers energy from the turbo.
But I am told that while they might be a little louder than currently, they won’t be that different, because they still have turbos, which is the overriding impact on the sound.
As you may have read, there is a push from governing body the FIA at the moment to return F1 to older-style naturally aspirated engines, and that’s partly because of the noise.
Initially, this seems to have come from a whim of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with influence from Bernie Ecclestone and Christian Horner, rather than a reasoned opinion based on thorough research of the desires of the audience.
However, it does chime with concerns that exist about how F1 will look next year because of the energy-recovery demands of the new engines, which have close to 50% of their total power output coming from the electrical part of the engine.
From what I’m told about fan surveys done by F1, there is no widespread agreement on whether louder engines would be a positive.
Some – like Raffi – obviously think they would be.
But the F1 fanbase has changed a lot in recent years, and inside the sport there is concern that newer members of the audience – more women and children now come to races, for example – would not welcome engines that made so much noise as to be virtually deafening, that made ear defenders an absolute necessity, that stopped people having a comfortable conversation when the race was on, etc. Likewise the guests in the corporate boxes.
Equally, city races such as Miami and Las Vegas would be threatened if the cars suddenly became much noisier than was promised to residents when discussions about the races took place.
It would highly likely revive the complaints that used to take place in Melbourne about this, too.
The world has moved on in many different ways since the first decade of this century, and it’s far from clear that effectively turning the clock back 20 or 30 years would be a good idea, even if it was with the addition of a token hybrid element to the engines and sustainable fuel.
Talks are ongoing on the future direction of engines from 2030 or so onwards, but they are a long way from reaching a conclusion.
There is a sense that V8s might return – many manufacturers in F1 still make V8s for road cars. But most say a hybrid element is non-negotiable, and some – such as Audi – are currently insisting on a turbo, too. A conclusion is a long way away.
Some of the most sought-after road trips that Brits are keen to embark on this summer have been revealed for the ultimate staycation – from the stunning Scottish Highlands to the world-famous Lake District
Snowdonia National Park in Wales(Image: Getty Images)
The summer is in full swing, with many families looking for their next holiday getaway – but that idyllic location could be closer to home than you think.
Across the nation, there’s a collection of stunning destinations just waiting to be explored, and what’s more, they’re super easy to get to. Forget getting to the airport hours before your flight, ditch the 23kg packing limit, and avoid the stress, as staycations are dominating the summer holidays this year.
A new study from Škoda found that a whopping 83% of Brits are keen to explore more of the UK this summer, with many opting for driving holidays over trips abroad. The research also found that a number of these holidaymakers are prepared to drive more than 1,000 miles to reach their desired destination in the UK.
Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands(Image: Getty Images)
The benefits? Travellers are able to stop and look at the sights whenever they desire, choose what time to leave, and have no luggage limits. In addition, it’s a more adorable way to travel rather than catching a flight ot taking the train, especially if you have a big family, and you don’t need a passport!
With this in mind, Škoda has revealed the most desired summer road trip locations for this summer. From meandering up the Snowdonia National Park to taking a fresh water dip in the Lake District – there’s a staycation to suit everyone, no matter how adventurous you are.
One of the top locations to visit is the Scottish Highlands, home to some seriously spectacular landscapes. The breathtaking scenes are home to the mythical Loch Ness, not to mention the restaurant scene for foodies and towering mountains for intrepid explorers.
One traveller raved: “We spent our last few Junes travelling around Scotland with long days and plenty of wildlife… Considering your route, the Cairngorms are fab for red squirrel, red deer, eagles, grouse etc. We saw all of these plus some in the glens of the eastern Cairngorms earlier this year. If you’re headed up to Lossiemouth, seals, dolphins, gannets (esp if your route brings you near Troup Head). We saw a few dolphins at Burghead this June and folk around said a pod of orca were hanging about as well. Moray Firth usually have dolphins as well. Essentially, you can’t go wrong!” Another who drove the North Coast 500 hailed it “an amazing bucket list trip”.
The Lake District is no well-kept secret, known for its fresh water lakes, historic towns, and mountains that it’s become another favoured spot for summer staycations. It’s an England national treasure, and in fact, it’s now considered a world treasure, having been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One tourist who drove the famous Hardknott pass between Eskdale and Duddon Valley raved: “Views to die for,” while another added: “Amazing drive, I have driven some great roads here and in the USA. This drive is up there with the best of them.”
Keswick, Derwentwater in the Lake District National Park of England(Image: Getty Images)
A trip to the Yorkshire Dales is certainly one to add to the list. Whether you’re looking for a scenic hike, a steam train journey, or just plenty of breathtaking historic sites, museums, farms, and breweries, it has something for everyone.
Here’s the top 10 staycations recommended to visit this summer for your next road trip:
Across the U.S., “women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” Camiel Irving, Uber’s VP of U.S. and Canada operations, said Wednesday as the company announced its new feature to allow women to pick women drivers or passengers. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) —Uber said Wednesday its new feature will allow women passengers and drivers to avoid being paired with men on the ride-sharing app in a push to enhance safety.
Across the United States, “women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” Camiel Irving, Uber’s VP of U.S. and Canada operations, wrote in a release.
“We’ve heard them — and now we’re introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”
The pilot program is slated to begin next month in the United States. It will permit and prioritize a woman-to-woman match when they book or pre-book a ride, which can be a new preference in the app’s settings.
It also will allow a female driver the option to choose only another person of the same gender.
Irving says it’s about giving women more choice, control and comfort.
However, the option is not a guaranteed but does maximize the likelihood of woman-woman pairing.
The Uber pilot program will start American operations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Detroit.
It begins in the United States after the feature’s trial run in Germany, France and Argentina.
“Most drivers are men, so we’ve worked to ensure this feature was truly usable in different places around the world,” Irving added.
Uber in 2019 put out its women ride preference in Saudi Arabia after women were granted the right to drive the year prior, which saw the ride feature expanded to roughly 40 other nations.
That came after the global ride-sharing company was given a $3.5 billion Saudi investment in 2016.
It’s among a number of other safety features Uber unveiled in recent years.
It comes nearly a year after Uber’s competitor Lyft launched its own similar app options for women and nonbinary persons.
DRIVERS have been warned to brace for summer holiday chaos as a UK seaside hotspot is hit with months of road closures.
The Cornwall town will see significant travel disruption over the next four months as part of a gas work upgrade.
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Falmouth will see months of travel disruption for a gas work upgradeCredit: Alamy
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The upgrade should be completed by the middle of NovemberCredit: Getty
The £110,000 gas work upgrade will start in the Marlborough Crescent area of Falmouth later this month.
Utility company Wales & West said the upgrade work should be completed by mid November.
They said: “The gas emergency and pipeline service is starting the work on 24 July and, barring any engineering difficulties, it will finish by mid-November.
“The works are essential to keep the gas flowing safely to heat and power local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations.”
Traffic management will be in place throughout after the company liaised with Cornwall Council to plan the work.
The road closures will include:
A closure on Tregenver Road from the junction ‘Access to Garages and Rear of 16 to 25 Tregenver Road’ to the junction of Dracaena Avenue (July 24 – August 8)
A closure on Penmere Hill between the junctions of Kings Avenue and Tregenver Road (July 24 – August 8)
Rolling two/three-way lights starting on Penmere Road leading onto Theydon Road (August 4 – 29)
Rolling road closure on Theydon Road, from the junction of Penmere Hill to the junction of Margaret Place and Marlborough Grove to the junction Marlborough Avenue (September 8 – November 14)
Further traffic management will also be required between September and November.
Wales & West Utilities Natalie Raphael is managing this work and said: “We have been working with the council to plan these essential works. We know that working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area, and to make sure the gas network is fit for the future.
“We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.
All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand’s used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw
“While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Cornwall. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.”
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales.
Motoristshave been urged to take regular stops on their long journeys after analysis revealed a steep rise in fatigue-related crashes during the summer months.
National Highways issued the advice and warned that driver tiredness can lead to “dangerous mistakes”.
Drivers have been urged by the agency to plan breaks that go “beyond quick pit stops”.
They suggest activities such as exploring a nearby tourist attraction or beauty spot to ensure drivers are alert before they get back behind the wheel.
July 4 (UPI) — The United Parcel Service has announced that it is offering buyouts to full-time drivers as part of its execution of “the largest network reconfiguration” in the company’s history.
The plan was announced in a statement Tuesday, explaining it is “the first time ever” that they have offered full-time drivers the ability to volunteer to “receive a generous financial package if they choose to leave UPS.”
Specifics of the financial package were not revealed, but UPS said it will be in addition to any earned retirement benefits, including pension and healthcare.
“Each driver would have the ability to decide if this voluntary program is beneficial to their family and the plans they have for their future,” UPS said.
The company added the drivers’ union has been informed of the plan and that UPS remains committed to their 2023 agreement.
The union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, issued a statement rejecting the buyout plan as violating their commitment not only to protect 340,000 delivery workers but to create 22,500 more jobs.
“UPS is trying to weasel its way out of creating good union jobs here in America by dangling insulting buyouts in front of Teamsters drivers,” the teamsters general president, Sean O’Brien said in a statement.
“It’s an illegal violation of our national contract.”
In the five-year contract, ratified in August 2023, UPS guaranteed to fill at a minimum 22,500 permanent full-time jobs. The announcement of the buyout also comes as the union says UPS is failing to provide at least 28,000 air-conditioned vehicles to drivers by 2028.
“Our members cannot be bought off and we will not allow them to be sold out,” O’Brien said.
“The Teamsters are prepared to fight UPS on every front with every available resource to shut down this illegal buyout program.”
The announcement comes after UPS said in late April that they expected to reduce their workforce by about 20,000 positions during this year.
The first thing you notice in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Santa Monica office isn’t the full-size suit of armor from 2004’s “King Arthur” or the shelves lined with awards and celebrity photos. It’s the pens: dozens of ornate Montblancs, carefully arranged in display cases.
His wife gives them to him, Bruckheimer explains dryly. After nearly half a century of hits, what do you give the guy who has everything? “I sometimes write thank-you notes with them,” he says. Alongside neatly stacked copies of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times — which he says he still reads daily, in print — the pens reflect something ingrained in the legendary producer, a fondness for ritual, precision and old-school order.
Now 81, at an age when most of his peers are content to reflect on past glories in between tee times and early-bird specials, Bruckheimer still starts each day with a rigorous workout. (“I pick hotels based on the gym,” he says.) Then it’s back to doing what he’s always done: assembling the next blockbuster. Across more than 50 films — including culture-shaping hits like “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Top Gun,” “Bad Boys,” “The Rock,” “Armageddon” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” — his work has earned over $16 billion worldwide, cementing his name as shorthand for sleek, pulse-pounding entertainment. His elegant, brick-walled office, larger than the Detroit home where his working-class German immigrant parents raised him, stands as a monument to what that discipline helped build. “Our tiny little house was about as big as this room here,” he says, glancing around.
For Bruckheimer, success has never been about flash or chance. “The harder you work,” he says, in what amounts to a personal mantra, “the luckier you get.”
That philosophy is on full display in his latest production, “F1,” an adrenaline-fueled racing drama starring Brad Pitt as a retired Formula One driver lured back to the track to mentor a young phenom (Damson Idris) on a struggling team. Shot during actual Formula One races across Europe and the Middle East, and with a budget north of $200 million, “F1” speeds into theaters Friday with the kind of high-stakes ambition only someone with Bruckheimer’s track record could pull off.
Damson Idris, left, and Brad Pitt in the movie “F1.”
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
From the outset, the project, which reunites Bruckheimer with “Top Gun: Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski and screenwriter Ehren Kruger, sparked a bidding war among virtually every studio and streamer, ultimately landing as a co-production between Apple and Warner Bros.
“One of the reasons I went to Jerry,” says Kosinski by phone from his car, “is because I knew I was asking two massive corporations — Apple and Formula One — to work together. They’re both incredibly specific about their brands and how they do things. It took someone with Jerry’s CEO style of producing to be the diplomat in the middle and actually make it happen. He’s seen it all.”
Bruckheimer attributes the early frenzy around the project to the package’s pedigree: an appealing story, an A-list star and the global popularity of Formula One. But for Bruckheimer, it’s not just about star power or scale. “It’s emotional, it’s exciting, it’s got romance, it’s got humor,” he says. “It’s the reason I got into this business — to make movies that thrill you on that big screen, that you walk out feeling you’ve been on a real journey and got lost for a couple of hours. That’s the goal every time.”
Pitt’s character, Sonny, is in some ways a reflection of Bruckheimer: a seasoned pro forever chasing one more victory out of a sheer love of the chase. “Jerry could easily be on an island somewhere relaxing,” says Kosinski. “But he’d much rather be on set every day, meeting actors, hassling the marketing team, dealing with the studio. He just loves the job. His passion for it seems kind of endless.”
“F1” arrives at a moment when the Bruckheimer-style movie — star-driven, high-concept, engineered for maximum emotional impact — has surged back into fashion. In truth, it never entirely disappeared. But in an age of franchise fatigue, ironic tentpoles and streaming saturation, the earnest, four-quadrant spectacle had started to feel like a relic — until “Maverick” reminded Hollywood how potent that formula could still be.
The 2022 sequel didn’t just help bring moviegoing back to life after the pandemic; it earned Bruckheimer his first best picture Oscar nomination and raked in a staggering $1.5 billion worldwide. Even he didn’t see that coming.
“The early tracking said that you’re not going to get young people — nobody under 35 or 40 cares about this movie,” he remembers. “It ended up surpassing every possible metric. Anybody who tells you they know what’s going to be a hit, they don’t have a clue. You just don’t know.”
Tom Cruise in a scene from “Top Gun: Maverick”
(Paramount Pictures)
“F1” is not Bruckheimer’s first time around the racing track. Thirty-five years ago, at the height of his era-defining run with his late producing partner Don Simpson, he made “Days of Thunder,” a testosterone-fueled NASCAR drama that reunited the “Top Gun” team of Tom Cruise and director Tony Scott. The film epitomized the Bruckheimer-Simpson formula: glossy visuals, radio-ready soundtracks and MTV-style swagger. Tales of ballooning costs, nonstop rewrites, off-screen indulgence and on-set clashes swirled around the production, becoming the stuff of Hollywood lore.
Asked about the chaos surrounding “Days of Thunder,” Bruckheimer answers with his trademark restraint, the measured calm of someone who has spent decades managing egos, headlines and costly productions.
“There were definitely rewrites — that’s true,” he says. “As far as the budget going up, Paramount had a strict regime, and it’s not like you could go over budget easily. We wrecked a lot of cars, I’ll tell you that. I don’t think there was one standing at the end.”
Bruckheimer remembers the shoot as tough but exhilarating, a product of Scott’s notoriously seat-of-the-pants directing style. “Tony was just balls to the wall,” he says. “Joe [Kosinski] is balls to the wall too, but calculated. Joe’s got everything planned out. Tony would get on the set and see something over there and say, ‘We’re changing it, we’re going over there.’ It was a little more of a helter-skelter approach, but we somehow got through it. We held it together.”
By the time “Days of Thunder” was released in 1990, Bruckheimer and Simpson had spent nearly a decade together — a combustible but wildly productive run that had already delivered “Flashdance,” “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Top Gun.” Simpson, with his insatiable appetite for drugs and Hollywood excess, could be volatile and self-destructive. But Bruckheimer credits him with sharpening his eye for story and deepening his understanding of how the business really worked.
“I started in commercials — little 60-second stories — and Don was trained as a story executive,” says Bruckheimer, who began his career in advertising in Detroit and New York. “He was developing 120 projects every year so he knew every writer, every director. He had this great wealth of knowledge about the business: who’s good, who’s not good, who can talk a good game but can’t deliver. He was great with story and humor. He just was a genius at all this kind of stuff.”
The partnership was a crash course for them both: an informal academy with a class roster of two. “I went to school during those years — and so did he,” Bruckheimer says. “He didn’t know how to make a movie. He was an executive, so when he walked on set, all he really knew was not to stand in front of the camera. I picked up a lot of what he knew — and vice versa.”
“I’m sure I’ll be remembered somewhere along there — maybe not, maybe yes,” Bruckheimer says, reticent to dwell on legacy. “I’m still working picture to picture.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
If Simpson was the explosive, sometimes erratic half of the duo, Bruckheimer was always the steady one: disciplined, controlled, methodical. He’s known for rarely raising his voice. But he admits even he has limits. “I try not to,” he says. “I usually don’t. But when people lie to you, when they say something’s going to be there and it’s not and they keep giving you a bunch of bulls—, yeah, you can raise your voice a little.”
Following “Days of Thunder,” Simpson and Bruckheimer would go on to make several more hits, including “Dangerous Minds,” “Crimson Tide” and “The Rock” before Simpson’s death in 1996 at age 52 from heart failure related to drug use. “It’s unfortunate that we lost him,” Bruckheimer says softly.
After decades in the business, Bruckheimer says he has learned to choose collaborators carefully. “Life’s too short,” he offers. “We’re such a small business, your reputation follows you everywhere you go.”
When his team hires a director or an actor, he says, they always do their research. “How were they on their last movie? Brad has a phenomenal reputation. Will Smith has a phenomenal reputation — minus that,” he adds, discreetly alluding to the 2022 Oscars slap. “Tom Cruise too. I’ve worked with actors who just want to know when they can leave. I try to avoid that.”
The landscape of Hollywood, of course, looks nothing like it did during the ’90s Simpson-Bruckheimer heyday. Studios that once ran on instinct and big personalities now operate more like data-driven conglomerates, reshuffling execs and hedging bets in a fractured, streaming-dominated market.
“It’s changed a lot,” Bruckheimer says. “Streaming hit a lot of places hard. They spent too much money and now they’ve got problems with that. Some of the studios aren’t healthy. But the business, if you do it right, is healthy.”
For all the hand-wringing about collapse, Bruckheimer has heard it before.
“There always was doom,” he says. “When TV came in, people said nobody would go to the theaters again. When I started, it was video cassettes. Everyone said that’s the end. Then DVDs — that’s the end. I’ve been doing this over 50 years and that doom has been there every time a new technology shows up. And yet, look at what’s happened. Look at ‘Minecraft.’ Look at ‘Sinners.’ Look at ‘Lilo & Stitch.’ If you do it right, people show up.”
He reaches for one of his favorite analogies: “You’ve got a kitchen at home, right? But you still like to go out to eat. You want to taste something different. That’s what we are. We’re the night out,” he says. “And if we give you a good meal, you’ll come back for more.”
By any measure, Bruckheimer has already accomplished more than almost anyone in the business, with a far-reaching empire that spans television (“CSI,” “The Amazing Race”), video games and sports. In addition to big-budget tentpoles, he has occasionally championed more grounded, character-driven fare, from “Dangerous Minds” and “Black Hawk Down” to the recent Disney+ biopic “Young Woman and the Sea.” But for all his success, he has never stopped looking for the next story. A new “Top Gun” script is underway. “Days of Thunder” may get another lap. Even “Pirates of the Caribbean” is back in motion.
Bruckheimer ultimately credits the directors and actors — and the tight-knit team at his company — with keeping him in the game. “I’m just the guy who says, ‘You’re really talented. I want to work with you.’ ”
Even as a kid, he says, that was his gift. “I can’t focus the way a director or writer focuses — I’m too ADD. But I always put things together. I put together a baseball team and a hockey team when I was very young. I always had the ability to gather people around a common cause.”
As for thoughts of his legacy, he demurs. “I’m sure I’ll be remembered somewhere along there — maybe not, maybe yes,” he says. “I’m still working picture to picture. You’re only as good as your last movie. So you better be on your toes.”
Insurance for new drivers is, quite frankly, bonkers – but not if you buy a Ford Ka. This popular city car is in the lowest insurance group (group 1-10, says Parkers), which means it’s the lowest risk. Low risk = low premium.
It’s cheap to insure, but is it any good?
Absolutely! The reliable, affordable and quirky Ford Ka is a great first car. It’s economical to run, and the no-frills exterior and interior are perfect as you’re highly likely to add a few dents, scratches and damage yourself.
You can pick up a good quality 10-year-old Ford Ka for around £5k.
Dull but functional: Skoda Fabia
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The Skoda brand name has been revitalised since its VW ownership, with the brand now known for dull but functional cars that last.
The Skoda Fabia is a basic motor that’s also in a low insurance group, meaning it’s cheap to insure.
Driving is more fun than you’d imagine, with a strong and solid engine and a leisurely ride.
We recommend new drivers go for third-generation models (2014-2021) with the 1.0 litre engine if possible.
Prices for a bog-standard, 10-year old Skoda Fabia are around £3.5k and rising to £23,000 for a nearly new model.
German precision: VW Polo
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OK, so the older (2014-21) VW Polos and the Skoda Fabias share a common platform (PQ26) which makes them similar, but they’re not identical twins.
The Polo is a bit more refined, with better handling and a finer finish.
The driving experience is similar to a Fabia, with reviewers loving the 2009-17 version, praising its comfortable ride and classy looks.
You might expect to pay a premium, but you can pick up a 2015 VW Polo for £3,500.
Tiny tearaway: Fiat 500
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When it was launched, the Fiat 500 blew us all away. The micro-car is a 60s-inspired piece of design that’s as evocative as the Italian job. Slide inside (if you can fit) and it’s a surprisingly good drive.
The short wheelbase and small overall size make it feel fast on the road.
There’s not much luggage space and carrying passengers will be a problem, but it’s an ideal first car for urban motorists on a budget.
Its popularity keeps prices down. Basic models of the Fiat 500 can be picked up for a little over £3,000. Small price and perfect for small driers.
Money-no-object: Mini
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Who doesn’t want a Mini? The BMW reboot of the Mini has created a brand new icon, and we love it.
The ‘modern’ MINI is every bit as popular as the previous version, with almost 3000 for sale today on Sun Motors.
When the car looks this good, who cares what it drives like? (Take our word for it, it’s a fantastic car to drive and own.)
There are so many models to choose from, you could get lost for a long time. We recommend first-time drivers go for an older model, like this 2015 MINI Hatch 1.5 Cooper for a few litres of fuel under £5,000.
MINIs will wrack up a lot of miles, so don’t be put off by a model that’s done over 100k.
Instead, check the MOT history and service history, that’s a better indication of how a car has been cared for and will perform.
What is the best car for a new driver?
Personally, I’d go for a Dacia Sandero – because that’s what I drive. But I’m old.
If I were a first time car buyer, I’d try and find the perfect middle ground. That’s going to be a great looking car that’s fun to drive but cheap to insure and fill up.
My personal choice for the best used car for a first time buyer would be the Skoda Fabia.
If you can, take one out for a drive. It’s surprisingly spacious, stylish to look at and well built. Go for one with low-mileage and a full service history.
Why Sun Motors makes first-time buying easy
Sun Motors makes buying a new car easy. The AI feature and sophisticated search function enable anyone to find the right car for them at the right price.
When buying from Sun Motors, you’re dealing with dealers you can trust. All cars for sale have been checked over, with any faults or problems fixed.
Dealers will also offer a warranty, giving you peace of mind for thousands of miles.
Why would you buy from anywhere else?
New driver car buying FAQs
Car finance for new drivers: Can I get a used car on finance if I’m a first-time driver?
Of course first time drivers can access finance – but only if you’re over 18.
If you are, the amount you can borrow and the terms (including interest rate) will depend on your individual circumstances, including income, outgoings and credit history.
Sun Motors makes it simple to check eligibility and affordability of finance.
Our advice is to always read the small print and make sure you can manage all motoring costs, including car repayments, insurance, tax and (of course) fuel!
How much is insurance for a new driver?
New drivers can expect to pay £1500 or more for insurance, say finance experts Moneyshake.
The exact cost of car insurance depends on a huge range of factors, including your age and location, driving history, car make, model, age and value.
Before buying a car, you can use comparison sites to compare insurance prices. Don’t ever buy a car without knowing how much it’ll cost to insure, or you could face a nasty surprise.
What size engine can a new driver drive uk?
If you’ve passed your test, you can drive anything you want – as long as you can afford to insure it.
Our advice is to start with a small and safe car, then work your way up. Stats about new driver accidents are scary, so be safe and get a smaller car.
What to look for when buying a used car for the first time
Safety – Always buy a car from a trusted dealer. Check out old MOTs and ask the seller if the car has been written off and returned to the road. Walk away if a dealer won’t share this information.
Reliability – Being stranded by the roadside is no fun, so ensure the car has a full service history and all essential work has been done.
Economy – Smaller cars use less fuel, so start small.
Size – Don’t get a big car. New drivers are much more likely to get into accidents.
Cost of ownership – Consider the purchase price of the car and all running costs. Make a budget before buying a car.
Are used cars as safe as new cars?
Yes, used cars are as safe as new cars. Always check the MOT record and service history and, if possible, buy from a dealer. This will ensure your new used car is in the best condition it can be.
Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you’re looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.
DRIVERS are being warned they could face £100 fines as councils crack down on so-called ‘ghost plates’—illegal number plates intended to evade speed and bus lane cameras.
These plates often use reflective or obscuring materials to avoid detection by traffic enforcement systems.
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Drivers caught using ghost plates can expect to be hit with a £100 fineCredit: Getty Images – Getty
In Wandsworth, council chiefs are taking action to shut down the loophole.
These banned plates, often referred to as 3D or 4D plates, reflect camera flashes and can render a vehicle invisible to enforcement systems.
Council bosses have issued a stark warning about rogue motorists using ‘ghost plates‘ to avoid detection.
These plates, which are not legal for road use, are being used by some drivers to beat traffic rules and avoid fines.
Authorities are now ramping up efforts to stop them.
Two years ago, the head of the national Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system revealed that a shocking number of drivers – roughly one in 15 – could easily outsmart the system.
On leaving his post, Professor Fraser Sampson wrote to Transport Secretary Mark Harper expressing his frustration over the lack of government action on the issue.
To combat the problem, new cameras capable of spotting these ‘stealth’ number plates have been rolled out in some areas.
In Wolverhampton, local enforcement officers were equipped with upgraded technology during a strict clampdown last year.
Drivers caught using ghost plates can expect to be hit with a £100 fine.
In his letter to Mark Harper, Prof Sampson detailed how motorists were getting around the law using reflective materials, cloned plates, and other deceptive tools to avoid penalties for speeding, low-emission zone breaches, or bus lane violations.
According to Prof Sampson, the ANPR system has a 97 per cent success rate in reading plates but still produces 2.4 million incorrect readings daily.
That margin of error could mean innocent drivers end up being wrongly fined.
Prof Sampson has raised major concerns about the vulnerability of the system, which still depends heavily on readable number plates despite advances in technology.
He said: “For all its technological advancement and operational indispensability, the ANPR system still relies ultimately on a piece of plastic affixed to either end of a vehicle.
“Served by a wholly unregulated market, what my predecessor termed the humble number plate represents a single and readily assailable point of failure with the ANPR network being easily defeated by the manufacture and sale of stealth plates, cloned registration marks and other rudimentary obscurant tactics.”
He added: “The result is that the ability to frustrate the ANPR system remains staggeringly simple at a time when proper reliance on it for key public services such as policing, law enforcement and traffic management is increasing daily.”
What to do if you think you’re being scammed
The DVLA recommends you do the following:
Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] and The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it.
Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 as this will flag the potential scam to your phone provider.
Report scam or misleading adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority. You can report adverts found online, including in search engines, websites or on social media.
You can also report scam or misleading adverts to Google or Bing if you found them in search results
Contact Action Fraud if you think you’ve lost money or been hacked because of an online scam or fraud and you’re in England or Wales.
If you’re in Scotland and you’ve lost money because of an online scam or fraud, report the crime to Police Scotland.
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In Wandsworth, council chiefs are taking action to shut down the loopholeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
To Los Angeles City Council members searching desperately for cuts amid a budget crisis, the Fire Department’s emergency incident technicians are “drivers” whose main role is chauffeuring battalion chiefs to emergencies.
But LAFD officials say the position is much more than that. Emergency incident technicians are firefighters who play a key role in coordinating the response to fires, and losing them would put lives at risk, according to LAFD interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva.
“This is going to come back and bite us. This is not a matter of them just being a driver. It is not a driver. You have to just take that out of your minds of transporting someone somewhere,” Villanueva said, addressing the City Council’s budget committee at a hearing on Thursday.
Five months after the Palisades fire destroyed thousands of homes and prompted questions about whether the Fire Department was equipped to fight such a massive blaze, the budget committee moved forward with a recommendation to cut the emergency incident technician positions.
Of the 42 positions, 27 are currently filled. Those firefighters would not lose their jobs but would be reassigned, saving the city more than $7 million in the next fiscal year and about $10 million every year after that, according to City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo.
The city is facing a nearly $1-billion budget shortfall largely due to rising personnel costs, soaring legal payouts and a slowdown in the local economy. Mayor Karen Bass’ 2025-26 budget proposal, which suggested laying off more than 1,600 city employees, did not include reassigning the emergency incident technicians.
The budget committee, which stressed that the overall Fire Department budget is increasing, also recommended nixing Bass’ plan for creating a new unit within the department that would have added 67 employees to address issues stemming from the homelessness crisis.
At Thursday’s budget hearing, Councilmember Tim McOsker, who has two children who are firefighters, argued for cutting the emergency incident technician position, calling it “basically an aide.”
When Villanueva asked McOsker to put a cost on a firefighter’s life, McOsker said, “Invaluable.”
“I can say the same thing about very many of the 1,300 positions we’re cutting, because we’re also going to not be doing sidewalks, streets, curbs, gutters, tree trimming, changing out lights, making our communities safe,” McOsker added. “The reality is we have to balance a budget.”
The budget committee has sent its initial recommendations to Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso, the City Council’s top policy advisor, who on Friday will present the committee with a full menu of strategies for cutting costs while preserving as many services as possible. The committee is then expected to finalize its recommendations and send the proposed budget to the full council, which must approve a final budget by the end of the month.
On the way to a scene, a “command team” consisting of a chief and an emergency incident technician “might be responsible to provide direction to the rescue of a trapped firefighter or civilians, firefighter tracking, and handle the risk management of a rapidly escalating incident,” Capt. Erik Scott, an LAFD spokesperson, said in a statement.
“The more complex the incident, the greater the need for Emergency Incident Technicians to facilitate emergency incident mitigation,” Scott added, with the types of incidents including “structure fires, brush fires, multi-casualty incidents, earthquakes, train collisions, building collapses, active shooter, airport and port emergencies etc.”
Gregg Avery, who retired last year as a battalion chief after 37 years with the LAFD, said that during his career, emergency incident technicians were called aides, then staff assistants. But Avery thought of them more as partners. The four EITs who worked for him often helped him with strategic decisions, and he encouraged them to question his decisions and offer advice.
“The EIT happens to drive the car. But to call them a driver is a bit demeaning and a bit minimizing,” he said.
While an EIT drives a battalion chief to a fire or other emergency, both work the radios to develop strategies for tackling the situation, according to Avery and a video produced by the LAFD. They communicate with fire commanders, firefighters on the scene, police officers and agencies such as the Department of Water and Power and the U.S. Forest Service.
At the scene, they work with the incident commander to keep track of firefighters and other personnel — a crucial role in chaotic situations when forgetting a single firefighter’s location could be fatal, both Villanueva and Avery said.
But at the Thursday budget hearing, Villanueva struggled to articulate what EITs do when they aren’t responding to scenes.
“They visit fire stations and they deliver mail. They talk about the current events. If there’s any questions they need to be asked … the EIT will assist with those. They do staffing,” Villanueva said.
According to Avery, EITs act as liaisons between firefighters and battalion chiefs. Since they are firefighters themselves and members of the labor union, they can relate to the rank-and-file, Avery said.
The EIT positions were cut once before — in 2010, during another major budget crunch in the Great Recession. Since then, the department has been adding them back.
Avery remembers working without an EIT after the cuts.
“Emergency operations were profoundly different and not as good,” he said.
