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DVLA Introduces New
Photocard Driving Licence
The DVLA has introduced a new photocard driving licence in the United Kingdom.
As with its predecessor, it is the size of
a credit card and contains a wealth of
information.
This includes the holder’s full name,
date of birth, the types of vehicle he/she is
entitled to drive and the licence’s period
of validity, e.g. February 2014 to February
2024.
But the new format has various security
enhancements which make it harder
for fraudsters to copy. The picture of the
motorist is now engraved by laser into
several layers of the surface. This black
and white image – which replaces the
colour photo on the older style licence
- cannot be altered without seriously
damaging the licence and damage
makes it worthless as a trusted means of
identification.
Furthermore, part of the surface is
raised and this elevation can be detected
via touch. The licence also incorporates
optical variable ink that appears to
change its colour according to the angle
it is viewed, e.g. gold to green. The new
style licence is issued to newly entitled/
qualified motorists and those who request
an update. The latter include people
with expired licences and changes of
circumstance, e.g. new address, etc.
Motorists with the old look photocard
licence are not obliged to upgrade except
in these circumstances.
Van users to be hit by unrest in Ukraine
The continuing unrest in the Crimea soon led to warnings of higher fuel prices.
“Firms should not be surprised when pump prices rise,” said Steve Clarke, marketing
manager for The Fuel Card Group, “because oil is such a sensitive, volatile market.
We saw price hikes of
varying duration following
the invasion of Kuwait,
when Hurricane Ike hit
Texas and after Chavez died
in Venezuela. Anything
upsetting the status quo in an
oil-producing region, even a
simple currency fluctuation,
will impact prices.”
But Steve advised van users
not to panic. “Fuel prices
occasionally fall for a while,
but the historical trend is
always upwards. The only
sensible action is to ensure
that you are always paying
as little as possible for fuel in
the first place.” Following a
brief period of lower forecourt
prices at the beginning of
2014, they were already rising
again before Russian troops
were seen on Ukraine streets.
Steve added: “Nobody running
commercial vehicles should
ever be paying anywhere near
pump prices, when having the
right fuel card would mean a
saving of up to 4p per litre.”
AVOCET SETS SIGHTS ON MIDLANDS
WITH PASKIN APPOINTMENT
Avocet Hardware has
appointed Karen Paskin
(pictured) as its new business
development manager for the
Midlands.
The Brighouse-based
company is currently seeking
to re-establish its position as
the leading player in the home
window and door security
market and sees business
development roles as a key part
of its future success.
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MAR/APR 2014
Dr Tinkle Jain, a director of
Avocet Hardware, said: “Our aim
is not just to return Avocet to the
market leading position it once
held, but to eclipse this and
become the company to turn to
for all home window and door
security needs.
“To do this we need the
very best people pushing the
business and its products
forwards and Karen’s knowledge
and experience in retail and
field sales, and as a key accounts
manager is the ideal mix for this
kind of role.”
Karen’s career started in the
early 1990s, selling windows into
the retail market for Staybrite
Windows. She then went on to
work across a range of different
markets in field sales roles, prior
to becoming a key account
manager for grouphomesafe.
Commenting on her
appointment, she said:
“This role combines the best
elements of sales and account
management and as such
presents me with a challenge
that I’m delighted to be given
and am passionate about
making a success of.”
http://www.avocet-hardware.
co.uk/ or call 01484 711700.
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk