1940 Ford Convertible Car Window Channel Kit '40 on 2040-parts.com

Major restrictions suggested for learner drivers

A NEW report on potential changes to young driver training could cut accident casualties by more than 4,000 a year. The report, from transport research group TRL, recommends teenagers should not be allowed to take their driving test until they are 18, rather than the current threshold of 17. They would have to have a 12-month "learner stage" beginning at 17 with a requirement for at least 100 hours of day-time and 20 hours of night-time supervised practice.

Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.

Hackers compromise Prius, seize control of wheel, brakes and more

As an enthusiast, you're probably already worried about an autonomous car ripping the joy -- and the steering wheel -- from your hands. Now, according to Andy Greenberg at Forbes, you also have to worry about hackers ripping the steering wheel out of your car's hands (boy, do we feel strange writing that). That's because a car's computerized systems are as prone to hacking as your malware-laden desktop.