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Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Meet the new Mercedes-Benz SL400

This is our first photo of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SL400 luxury roadster, a model that effectively replaces the SL350 as part of a series of subtle changes brought to the SL lineup. The move aims to goose sales of the luxury roadster two years after it first hit showrooms. The SL400 is powered by Mercedes-Benz's twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 direct-injection gasoline engine unveiled in the E400 early last year.

Super Bowl MVP gets keys to new Corvette

Joe Flacco, 28-year-old Super Bowl MVP, got an extra surprise on Sunday after receiving his trip to Disneyland and a football signed by a boatload of pros. He was handed the keys to a new Corvette Stingray. Flacco was 22 for 33 passing in the game with 287 yards, three touchdowns and no picks.