Russia set for drink-driving ban

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, has approved a complete ban on drink-driving.

President Dmitry Medvedev called for the ban last December. He said allowing a small amount of alcohol in the blood encouraged drivers to consume more.

The measure is expected be approved in the upper house and become law.

Alcohol is blamed for many traffic accidents in Russia, but opponents of a total ban say that more often poor roads are to blame.

Heavy drinking is seen as one of the main reasons why one in three Russian men dies before retirement age. Click on the link for full story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/10489048.stm

Hands free Twitter coming for Ford drivers

Hands-free tweeting is coming to Britain. New technology being fitted to some Ford cars will give drivers Twitter updates read out loud to them robotically while they’re driving. Future versions will enable drivers to dictate their own tweets via a voice recognition system without taking their hands off the wheel.

Read the full story on Times Online

Wigan star Charles N’Zogbia in driving test arrest

From the BBC

Wigan Athletic footballer Charles N’Zogbia has been arrested over allegations that someone else completed the written part of his driving test.

He was held on suspicion of causing fraud by false representation as he turned up at Sale Driving Test Centre in Greater Manchester on Wednesday.

The French winger, 23, was at the centre to sit the practical part of his test when he was arrested, police said.

He has been released on police bail until 3 June.

Read the full article