Consulatation on 20mph speed limit

BIRMINGHAM City Council has launched a public consultation on plans which could see around 90% of roads in the city given a 20mph speed limit. The authority believes the "20 is Plenty" scheme, costing around £7 million, would make residential streets safer and transport networks more sustainable. Key routes would keep higher speed limits under the long-term proposals, but public feedback is also being sought on whether the 20mph scheme should also be considered for busy high street shopping areas, around schools, leisure facilities, hospitals and public transport interchanges.

BMW X5 trio spied testing near Spartanburg

Autoweek reader J. Monroe spotted a camouflaged BMW X5 convoy somewhere on Interstate 26, which just so happens to run near the German automaker's Spartanburg, S.C., plant (one of the X5's production sites). Despite a strategic application of BMW's dazzling, swirly vinyl wrap, the lines of these X5s were identical to those on the models available now.

Catalytic converter thefts double in three years

Associated Press Thefts of catalytic converters from cars have more than doubled in less than three years, according to an investigation by the BBC. Data compiled from 40 police regions across the UK reveal that in 2012 a total of 8,947 catalytic converters thefts were reported, compared to 3,957 similar cases recorded in 2010. On Bing: see pictures of catalytic convertersStreet sweepers to mine UK roads for precious metals A car’s catalytic converter reduces its harmful exhaust gas emissions by initiating a chemical process to neutralise many toxic substances emitted from the engine.