Almost half (48%) of drivers do not trust new driverless technology, with women less likely to trust it than men (men 43% and women 54%). Over 55s (58%) are more than twice as likely to mistrust it compared to under 35s (28%). The Opinium survey of 2000 UK drivers, commissioned by InsuretheGap.com, a provider of Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance, found that only 9% say they would … [Read more...]
Education
Overcrowded Welsh trains cause concern
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, has demanded answers after images emerged of commuters being cramped, and unable to social distance, on trains across the Welsh rail network last weekend. Commenting, she said, “Ensuring there are top-notch safety measures to prevent COVID-19 is still more important than ever, yet images emerging of passengers being cramped like … [Read more...]
Wales’s lowest electric vehicle charging grant take-up in UK
Wales had the lowest uptake for electric car home charging grants, according to figures from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. The demand for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme’s (EVHS) in Wales amounted to just 319 grants per 100,000 homes last year. The highest take-up of EVHS, which provides 75% of the cost of installing electric vehicle charging devices at domestic properties, was … [Read more...]
As traffic surges back on roads beware drunken drivers
Road traffic during weekdays is finally back to pre-Covid levels. Data from the Department for Transport shows that on Friday 28 May, movements for all motor vehicles were at 104% of the equivalent weekday in February 2020 for the first time since the lockdowns began. Traffic had slumped to 35% of usual weekday levels in early April 2020. However, travel by national rail is currently just 45% … [Read more...]
Vans will have to carry more miles, warn ATS Euromaster
Fleets will need to keep their new vans in service for longer than planned because of the component shortages affecting vehicle production across the board from cars to heavy trucks. With van production slowed or suspended thanks to lack of microprocessor chips, lack of available product means fleets will not be able to replace vehicles that would normally be de-fleeted during the coming … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 June
cinch reports there’s been an unprecedented upsurge in searches for convertibles from ever-optimistic Brit car buyers looking to purchase a car that will allow them to literally feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. From 4 January to 26 April, cinch saw a 303% increase in convertible car views, with views steady ever since and last week alone convertible searches spiked … [Read more...]
Newslines 28 May
A unique sports suspension calibration and body styling with distinctive interior trim is available in the new Bentley Bentayga S. It’s the first S trimmed luxury SUV from the British marque and uses the 550ps 4.0V8 turbo-petrol engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox. It reaches 60mph in 4.4seconds and has a 180mph maximum. A split sports exhaust, dark tint headlamps, S-badges and paint … [Read more...]
Fleets expressing RV concerns over petrol & diesel models
Customers are already beginning to express residual values fears over buying new diesel or petrol cars and vans thanks to the prospect of rapid electrification, FleetCheck is reporting. Through its sister Fleetfind operation, the fleet software company helps its client base source vehicles, and says that buyers are concerned about the prospects for internal combustion engine (ICE) models in the … [Read more...]
Tradelines 26 May
The next bank holiday weekend will see an estimated 10.8m leisure trips taken by car, suggests new RAC research, but if the sun shines there’s likely to be even more trips which will inevitably cause jams. While the figures indicate drivers have firm plans to take around 7.2m trips to see friends and family between Friday and bank holiday Monday – with Saturday and the bank holiday itself busiest … [Read more...]
Drunken drivers caught at rate of 700 a week
Car leasing company Moneyshake found that in the first three months of 2021, 8,476 drivers have been banned after drink driving – over 700 per week and that was before pubs reopened, according to DVLA data. Driving under the influence could see you with a driving ban of at least 12 months (3 years if you are convicted twice within 10 years), an unlimited fine and even imprisonment for 6 months … [Read more...]