August 2025

August bank holiday,  the A3 southbound is bumper-to-bumper with families heading to the New Forest and the coast, while the northbound lanes are full of people coming home from Goodwood Revival in their classics. It’s the busiest time of the year for us here at Lodge Automotive in Liphook, and this summer everyone seems to be talking about one headline: a new study showing that the German Autobahn now has an average speed of 93 mph on unrestricted sections.

Germany has over 1,300 km of motorway with no fixed limit, yet their fatal accident rate per mile travelled is lower than ours. How? Superb road surfaces, rigorous driver training, and a culture where you move over or get flashed (and fined). It’s made us think hard about the stretch of the A3 that runs right past our workshop, a road we all know well, with its sweeping bends and sudden slowdowns at the Hindhead Tunnel.

We might only have a 70 mph limit, but the way some people drive you’d think they were auditioning for the Autobahn. Tailgating, late braking and middle-lane hogging cause far more danger here than pure speed ever does in Germany. And when the surface is wet or there’s debris after a lorry shed its load, the results can be horrible.

The German example shows that freedom and safety can co-exist, but only with discipline and properly maintained cars. That’s why we’re offering free brake, tyre and light checks throughout August, no appointment needed if you’re passing the garage, because whether you’re doing 70 on the A3 or dreaming of 150 on the Autobahn, you need to be able to stop and be seen.

July 2023

The ULEZ scheme was first introduced in a bid to improve air quality in and around London and reduce the number of deaths due to air pollution. From August, the scheme is due to expand to all London boroughs and will mean drivers will need to pay a daily charge (£12.50) to enter Greater London and the city border up to Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. According to TfL (Transport for London), most vehicles in the capital are ULEZ compliant but the Mayor of London is worried about low-income families. Therefore, anyone receiving child benefit and small businesses will now be able to apply for financial support. To find out more about ULEZ and check if your car is compliant, please visit https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/cars.