A-road lighting is to be turned off in South Gloucestershire over night, bbc.co.uk reports.

As an extension to its night lighting scheme, South Gloucestershire Council is to switch off lamps along its minor roads in an attempt not only to reduce energy consumption, but to save money too.

Britain's motorists have been warned against the dangers of driving whilst using a mobile phone.

Julie Townsend, who is the deputy chief executive of road safety charity Brake, has claimed that using a hand-held phone whilst on the road is as dangerous as driving whilst drunk.

It could take 11 years to repair all of the English road network's potholes, due to lack of funding and huge backlogs, according to Sky News.

Those in Wales will reportedly need to wait even longer, possibly up to 17 years before their roads will be in a good condition. It's enough to persuade motorists to consider robust 4x4 hire, in order to avoid the vehicle damage or personal injury that numerous drivers are complaining about currently.

A new study has revealed the changing preferences when it comes to the type of vehicles driven by men and women.

According to research by insurance giant Aviva, women are now more likely to be found behind the wheel of large off-road vehicles than men - who are increasingly favouring smaller runarounds.

The statistics suggest that this is in complete contrast to a few decades ago, when it reportedly would be less common for women to drive an off-road vehicle or approach a 4x4 hire company.

The organisers of Europe's biggest 4x4 exhibition are launching a brand new show at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.

The Eastnor Land Rover Show will take place over the weekend of August 25th - 26th and will feature a range of historic 4x4s, including rare or prototype models.

Events such as these provide a perfect opportunity for off-road vehicle enthusiasts to learn more about the history of the 4x4.

The winner of a EuroMillions haul has suggested one of his first purchases could be a Range Rover Sport.

Gareth and Catherine Bull, from Mansfield, won more than £40 million on the continental lottery at the weekend. Since then, the couple has been weighing up what to do with the cash, according to Chad.co.uk.

They want to give some of their money to charity and loved ones, but Mr Bull has earmarked some of the funds to get himself a Range Rover Sport. Those who aren't lucky enough to have one big shouldn't be too jealous though, as they can easily ride the off-roader by using 4x4 hire services.

Today has been hailed the "busiest day for breakdowns", The Independent reports.

People attempting to drive back to work following an extended Christmas break should check their batteries in advance of their journey - that's the advice of two breakdown recovery companies.

Green Flag has highlighted that cars are far more likely to break down in the winter and as a result, they are expecting 50 per cent more calls today, due to flat batteries. The AA is anticipating 15,500 calls from stranded motorists.

Holidays in England proved popular in 2011 as cash-strapped Britons preferred to stay at home, reports Travel Daily UK.

Overnight stays by domestic holidaymakers in England increased by four per cent between January - August this year, according to figures released by the national tourism board, VisitEngland.

While cheap B&Bs, or caravanning holidays complete with 4x4 hire may have been appealed to those trying to save cash this year, it doesn't mean that holiday spending stopped altogether. In fact, spending in England grew by 12 per cent compared to the same period in 2010.

The Highways Agency plans to complete over 500 miles of roadworks before December 23rd to ease travel over the Christmas period, reports Fresh Business Thinking.

It has pledged that 118 roadwork projects on the country's A roads and motorways will be finished ahead of the Christmas weekend, with several other lane restrictions suspended until January 3rd.

Temporary traffic lights and lane restrictions will only remain where they are necessary for driver safety. This includes widening work on the M25 and M1 near Luton.

A group of 4x4 quad vehicles have been assembled in order to keep the streets of Southend free from ice and snow this Christmas, Wirralonline.com reported.

The move was made by the local council and cost approximately £55,000. Although the quads are well-equipped for wintry weather, the council may decide to go for regular 4x4 hire too, to provide a helping hand and rescue the quad drivers, should they become snowed in.

Buckinghamshire Council has appealed for locals to use their 4x4 vehicles to help vulnerable people combat any icy weather conditions this month.

According to Mix96.co.uk, the appeal was made by many council representatives - who may actually decide to boost their efforts by invest in 4x4 hire, too.

I

t is crucial that people are psychologically prepared for the onset of winter and possibly icy conditions, according to a representative from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Simon Elstow, a driver training specialist at the organisation, explained that it is all about respecting the weather and realising that people may need to alter the way they drive to combat the effects of challenging roads, reported motoring.co.uk.

"Being mentally prepared as well as having the right equipment is vital, so think about last year, what problems it caused you, and what you need to do to overcome them if they come this year," he said.

The IAM recommends that people drive in higher gears on ice as it will lessen the likelihood of wheel-spin, while checking whether a long-term car hire model features ABS or ESP systems will also influence driving technique.

Motorists should ensure they follow recommended driving tips no matter what car they drive this winter, claims independent.ie.

A change to the way people handle their car was described as being more important than whether or not they have an off-road vehicle, even though this feature can be very helpful at times.

The news provider noted that panic-buying a 4x4 is an expensive way to combat the extreme conditions that are common during the colder months, since the four-wheel-drive function may not be as useful for the rest of the year.

This situation might prompt many drivers to opt for 4x4 hire - but even if they do sign up for an all-terrain vehicle, this should not stop them from altering their driving style to account for snow and ice.

Drivers are being urged to make time for winter to ensure they are prepared for any winter conditions which may affect their car, reports hgvuk.com.

While the Highways Agency is preparing for the winter by sending out "500 state of the art winter vehicles on stand-by" and harbouring stocks of more than a quarter of a million tonnes of salt, drivers need to take their own precautions on their vehicle.

Depending on the contract length, it is likely this will affect those tied down to long term car hire, so carrying an emergency driving kit will be helpful if a vehicle breaks down to the blustery conditions.

Land Rover has reigned supreme as the UK's favourite 4x4 maker in an online poll by MSN Cars.

Nearly 40,000 people cast their vote in the August poll, which posed the question: 'Which firm makes the best '4x4' type cars?'

The British firm, which is known for models such as Freelander, Discovery and Defender, blew the competition out of the water; commanding a massive 54 per cent share of the user vote.

Land Rover has reigned supreme as the UK's favourite 4x4 maker in an online poll by MSN Cars.

Nearly 40,000 people cast their vote in the August poll, which posed the question: 'Which firm makes the best '4x4' type cars?'

The British firm, which is known for models such as Freelander, Discovery and Defender, blew the competition out of the water; commanding a massive 54 per cent share of the user vote.