This week’s government ambivalence over the longstanding 2030 EV sales deadline is potentially “damaging for fleets” who are committed to electrification, says FleetCheck. Peter Golding (below), managing director at the leading fleet software provider, said that prime minister Rishi Sunak’s equivocation when asked about the deadline by an interviewer had set alarm bells ringing across the … [Read more...]
Features
Holidaymakers praise foreign roads
The great holiday getaway is underway and an overwhelming majority of UK drivers think the roads they’ve driven on in other European countries put the UK’s potholed-plagued streets to shame, according to new RAC Europe research. As many as 72% of drivers who have experience of driving abroad think the condition of roads – such as the number and severity of potholes – is worse in the UK than in … [Read more...]
Flintshire council identifies roads for 30mph limit
In preparation for the implementation of Welsh Government’s new 20mph legislation on 17 September 2023, Flintshire County Council, has over recent months, undertaken an assessment of local roads against current national guidance. As a result of this assessment sections of a small number of roads have been identified that have the potential for existing speed limits to be increased above … [Read more...]
Drink-driving is rising again
There were 260 deaths on Britain’s roads in 2021 where a motorist was over the drink drive limit – an alarming increase of 18% over the previous year and the highest since 2009. Drunk drivers accounted for 17% of all road deaths. The year-on-year rise reflects the impact of the pandemic lockdown taking many cars off the roads and reducing mileages of those who still drove, but the results also … [Read more...]
Wales has happiest drivers in UK, say LeaseCar
Drivers in Wales have been rated the happiest across the whole of Britain with the least amount of pothole claims, over 21,000 miles of roads and some of the lowest crash and traffic rates across the board. Highest amount of traffic levels, most amount of roads (miles), total number of collisions and the collective sum of all pothole claims, have all been analysed. Each region was given a nominal … [Read more...]
Flash cars reflect personal image, say owners
Britain cossets a nation of flashy drivers. One in three (34%) UK drivers say it is important to have a car under five years old, particularly for men (40% men and 28% women) and under 55s (42% under 54s and 25% over 55s). The survey of 2,000 UK drivers, commissioned by InsuretheGap.com also found that one in three (34%) describe their car as part of their “personal image” (39% men and 29% … [Read more...]
DVLA review is underway to cut costs
An independent review has started into the DVLA, headquartered in Swansea & employing 6,000 staff. The Government want it to fall in line with other departments and agencies to make a 5% cost savings and hopes the study will be completed by the end of this year and report early in 2024. Janette Beinart, non-executive director of the Cabinet Office and National Highways, will lead the … [Read more...]
Range Rover is UK’s most polluting vehicle
Britain’s most polluting and cleanest cars have been revealed. But they are nowhere near as dirty as those on American roads. In the USA, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 6.2V8 Supercharged 4x4 emits 3,319kg of CO2 annually, closely followed by the Ford F-150 Raptor and Mercedes-Benz G-Class G 63AMG. In Britain, the Range Rover Sport 3.0 HSE DV6 pushes out 1,607kg of CO2 a year, the BMW X5 … [Read more...]
Car makers concerns over recycling laws
The EU has unveiled its End-of-life vehicles Regulation to boost vehicle circularity while pushing ambitious recycled content targets. ACEA is concerned that the proposal could duplicate or complicate existing rules and industry best practices on sustainable design. Law makers must instead ensure a coherent regulatory environment that enables manufacturers to scale up vehicle circularity … [Read more...]
EV complaints rising, reports troubleshooter
Motorists' complaints about electric vehicles and dealers selling them are rising, reports The Motor Ombudsman. The latest increase may be put down to a greater number of consumers getting behind the wheel of pure battery-driven models, and the cost of living crisis driving more individuals to recoup financial losses, as pressures on household budgets continue to build. The … [Read more...]