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Phone use penalty 'could double'

THE PENALTY for using a mobile phone while driving could be doubled under proposals being examined by the Government as part of a safety drive, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has called for offenders to be handed six points on their licence rather than the present three, meaning a ban from getting behind the wheel if caught twice in three years. Mr McLoughlin said it was an "interesting suggestion" that he was considering in an effort to end the "appalling" number of people killed and seriously injured in accidents where a phone was being used in the hand.

Last summer of speed?

If you want to enjoy driving on the unlimited-speed German autobahn, you might want to get in gear. If the opposition Social Democratic Party wins in this September's elections, party leader Sigmar Gabriel promises to form a coalition with the Green Party -- and both say they'll limit autobahn speeds to 120 kmh (about 75 mph), the German publication Bild is reporting. Not so fast, says the SDP's actual candidate for German chancellor, Peer Steinbrueck, who said he saw “no reason” to reignite the long-running debate over autobahn speeds, Bild reported.

Renault Megane gets a bit of a facelift for 2014

The Renault Megane range (pictured) gets a bit of a facelift for 2014 The Renault Megane has been given a facelift for 2014, but it’s not exactly a major overhaul. All the Megane models – Hatchback, Coupe and Sports Tourer – now gets the new family front bumper with its extended air vent, much like the bumper on the new Renault Clio. The bonnet also gets a tweak with a new Renault badge, there’s a new set of elliptical headlights and some new daytime running lights. There are specific changes for the GT and RS models too, with ‘GT’ or ‘RS’ added to the new Renault logo on the bonnet.