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120mph in 20mph zone! - No need for speed!

SPEEDING offences across the UK have increased year on year, as data reveals 1 motorist was caught driving at 120mph in a 20mph zone. New Freedom of Information data, obtained by Confused.Com, revealed Police reported 2.5m speeding offences in 2019; that's a 7% increase compared to 2018 - with some drivers reaching as much as 500% over the speed limit. According to the data, the Metropolitan Police recorded 1 motorists driving at 120mph in a 20mph zone in 2019. However, this isn't the fastest speed recorded in 2019. South Yorkshire Police recorded 1 driver hitting 162mph on a 70mph road.

Speed Zone	Fastest Speed	Police Force
20mph	120mph	Metropolitan Police
30mph	115mph	Thames Valley Police
40mph	114mph	Hertfordshire Police
50mph	145mph	West Yorkshire Police
60mph	138mph	Humberside Police
70mph	162mph	South Yorkshire Police

As the data reveals the extent of speeding offences throughout 2019, further research suggests that we could see another increase in 2020, despite the current lockdown conditions.

As we enter week 6 of lockdown, roads are notably quieter as drivers refrain from using their vehicles. But further research from Confused.Com shows that people have become more aware of other drivers speeding. According to the research, 20% of UK drivers have seen or heard more cars speeding since being in lockdown. And this could be down to fewer people on the roads, with 42% drivers believing people are more likely to speed if the roads are quiet. 36% already believe people are taking advantage of the empty roads.

However, according to the research, there seems to be some misunderstanding that the lockdown conditions means they're less likely to get caught. That's according to 30% of UK drivers. But motorists should remain mindful of their driving habits, as FOI data reveals that 44% of speed cameras are turned on, either permanently or temporarily. And while Police resources are understandably stretched under the current conditions, drivers are still very likely to be caught if they are breaking the law.

If a driver is caught speeding, they'll be on the receiving end of a minimum ₤100 fine; an expense no doubt drivers could do without during this challenging time. And based on this minimum amount, drivers caught speeding last year would have paid an eye watering ₤250 million in speeding fines, collectively. However, in some cases, drivers can expect to be paying a significant amount more, suggesting this total could be a lot higher.

A new law introduced in 2017 meant that drivers could pay up to 175% of their weekly salary. However, without 1 clear sum for all offenders, this can be confusing to know how much they can expect to pay. To help drivers understand just how much they could be forking out for going even a few miles per hour over the limit, Confused.Com has created a speeding fine calculator, which calculates the fine based on their salary and the severity of the offence.

However, this isn't the only confusion drivers face around speeding laws. According to Confused.Com's research, more than a quarter of drivers (27%) say they don't know if they can get away with driving 10% above the speed limit. While, on the opposite end of the scale, 10% motorists are confused around whether you can be penalised for driving too slowly. As drivers scratch their heads over speeding rules, Confused.Com partnered with GoSafe to provide some clarity on the most confusing speeding questions in its guide to speeding and the law.

The majority of UK drivers (80%) admit to having broken the speed limit at least once, with 17% doing so frequently. And, worryingly, 53% of motorists think it's acceptable to speed under some circumstances. 59% of these think it's okay if it's an emergency, while 24% think it's acceptable if there aren't any other cars on the road.

However, speeding is an extremely dangerous offence under any circumstances, putting road users at risk. But according to further research by Confused.Com, there are many ways it has affected offenders. 58% of drivers who admit to speeding have never been caught. But of those who have, 40% of them found it has led to a increase in their insurance and 6% found it had impacting on their ability to apply for certain jobs.

While, under the current circumstances, the empty roads might make it feel safer to ramp up the speed and get home that bit quicker, any accident, big or small, could be stretching emergency services resource even further. According to Confused.Com's research, 57% of UK drivers feel angered at people speeding because of the additional pressure this puts on emergency services. While a hefty fine is severe enough to deter people from putting their foot down, it's clear there are many more consequences they could be facing.

Alex Kindred, car insurance expert at Confused.Com, says:- "At times like this, when there are fewer cars on the road, it might be tempting to take advantage. But, as our research shows, nearly half of speed cameras are always switched on; so you're less likely to get away with it than you might think. Ultimately, speed limits are in place for a reason; to keep road users and pedestrians safe. And with the way speeding fines are calculated, you might face far heftier fines than you realise, with the potential of paying up to 175% of your weekly income. However, it can be confusing to know exactly how much this could be. To see how much this could set you back, our speeding calculator works out the cost of a fine, while highlighting at what point you could be hit with a ban."

Why might the Prime Minister's choice of baby name might have a big impact on his son's future?

AS the nation tries to predict the name that Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds will choose for their new arrival, research conducted amongst British parents, teachers and children, has revealed that the choice of name for a child can have a big impact on how they are perceived, and even their chances of success. The research found that boys named Jack are the most likely to misbehave, with almost a quarter of those researched agreeing that this is the UK's naughtiest name. It seems that bad behaviour is also closely connected to intellect, with those named Jack also expected to be the least intelligent. By contrast, boys named George are considered to be the brightest, with over 1 in 10 claiming that this is the most intellectual name of all of those included in 2019's top baby names list. George is also associated with kindness, with both teachers and children considering boys with this name to be kind hearted. The research, which was conducted by leading name label manufacturer, My Nametags, also found that a child's name can have a significant impact on a child's success in later life. Using data from trade bodies, University databases and court records, the company found that there are strong patterns amongst the names of Britain's highest achievers. David was found to be the most common name amongst the UK's highest earners, with the name emerging top amongst millionaires. The name also appeared most amongst Police Officers, Lawyers and MPs, including:- Boris's former friend, at Oxford, David Cameron, suggesting that this might be the perfect name if the Prime Minister has plans for the youngster to follow in his footsteps. It's those named James and Thomas that appear most commonly at the UK's top universities, whilst Steve and Peter are the top names amongst men leading FTSE 100 companies. John is the most common name amongst Doctors, with 500 more registered Doctors named John than any other name in Britain. However, the PM should proceed with caution when considering this name, as it is also the most common names amongst criminals in the UK. Men named William are most likely to be creative types, often becoming artists and Authors; whereas those called Chris are the sportiest in the country, with this name appearing frequently amongst British Olympians, Sir Chris Hoy being a prime example. Commenting on the findings, Lars B. Andersen, who is the Managing Director at My Nametags, said:- "We supply nametags to thousands of parents across the UK every year so have a huge amount of insight into current trends and opinions around baby names. Like everyone in Britain, we are eagerly awaiting the announcement of Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds' new baby's name, which got us thinking about the huge impact that a child's name can have on society's perception of them, as well as their chances of success later in life. We were interested to discover that these stereotypes are formed from a very young age, with children and adults quick to make judgements about children based on their 1st name alone. What's more, the research suggested that a child's name can have a genuine influence on their future path, with strong patterns emerging amongst the names of those in certain careers. This can make the process of naming a child daunting, but we're sure it's a challenge that the Prime Minister will take in his stride. We can't wait to find out what the new arrival is called."

TeenStar 2020 is going online and international!

THE TeenStar competition is the biggest search for teenage and pre-teen singers attracting over 9,000 entries each year in the UK, with prizes and opportunities for young artists looking to develop their talent. And it's now going online and international!

TeenStar auditions are now being held online and anyone from around the world has the chance to audition and perform in front of thousands. The competition is exclusively for 19 year olds and younger. Age categories are split to include pre-teens 12 and under and late teens 13 to 19 years old.

Auditions and shows will be streamed live across the TeenStar social media, including:- Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, plus partner platforms. Auditions will give contestants the chance to showcase their talent in front of industry judges.
Audition dates now released!

Applications to enter this year's competition are now open, with auditions beginning in June. Places are limited so make sure you enter now for your chance to win!

Win a place in the grand final! If you make it through the auditions, you'll gain a place in the live shows, with the chance to compete at the spectacular Grand Final and win the prize of ₤5,000!

in 2019 TeenStar winner was Teah who was crowned champion at The O2 in London.

The TeenStar singing competition is brought to you by Future Music, the company behind the discovery of artists such as Warner Music's Birdy, Columbia Record's Lucy Spraggan, Union J's Jaymi Hensley as well as Courtney Hadwin finalist of America's Got Talent. Plus, the winner of ITV's The Voice, Molly Hocking and BBC's All Together Now winner and UK's Eurovision representative Michael Rice.

TeenStar is now open for applications, so if you're a pre-teen or teen singer and think you've got what it takes, for more information and to enter go to:- TeenStarCompetition.Co.UK.

Roberts Bakery is supporting Merseyside's Rescue Mission with bread donations

THE UK's largest charity fighting hunger and food waste appealed to the food industry to step up and divert more surplus and donated food to charity. As the Coronavirus situation develops rapidly, demand for its services has increased. In response, Roberts bakery made its 1st weekly delivery of donated loaves to FareShare Merseyside's Speke depot last week, which will then be redistributed to some of the 219 charities and community groups that work with vulnerable people across the region.

Stuart Spencer Calnan, Roberts Bakery Managing Director, said:- "Times are tough for everyone, and especially so for the most vulnerable in our communities who rely on FareShare Merseyside to feed them and their families. We simply had to get involved by supporting them in the tremendously important work that they undertake. In terms of scale, even before the outbreak of Covid-19, FareShare Merseyside provided thousands of meals a week through its charity partners; reaching breakfast clubs, women's refuges, homeless hostels and luncheon clubs for older people. We're delighted that we're able to do our bit by donating such a daily staple as bread. We hope to see many more manufacturers and retailers to support the charity's appeal."

Alyson Walsh, FareShare Commercial Director, said:- "We're incredibly grateful for Roberts bakery's generous donation of bread during this crisis, which will be sent to organisations getting food onto the plates of vulnerable people, as well as onto the doorsteps of people with serious health conditions and families facing financial hardship."