Welsh Government active travel ambitions are ‘a long way from being achieved’, says Audit Wales in a new report. There's been increased spending through the Active Travel Fund but warned that headline active travel rates have not improved in recent years. It said that better evidence was needed to track progress and assess value for money. ‘Active travel’ describes walking and cycling, possibly … [Read more...]
Call for highter fuel duties at pumps
The founder of a public charging network for electric vehicles wants petrol and diesel fuel duties increased. Asif Ghafoor, a veteran of infrastructure delivery and the co-founder and CEO of national charging network Be.EV said the increase would encourage the switch to electric vehicles while covering the shortfall in public finance which has happened since more evs have been purchased. The … [Read more...]
Welsh learner drivers are best in Britain, say Veygo
Welsh driving-test pass rates beat UK national average, but there are concerns over driving test changes. Veygo, part of the Admiral Insurance group based in Cardiff, showed Park Avenue Test Centre in Aberystwyth, is the top place to take your driving test, with 65% now passing their test at the centre. This marks the highest pass rate on record for the centre. With only 35% of all learners … [Read more...]
Weekend roadtest: GWM Funky Cat 1st Edition
The UK’s electric car revolution is becoming a bloody affair. From initially resisting the new technology on cost grounds including writing off established investments in petrol and diesel engine technology and having to develop hybrid or pure electric powertrains, along with making tens of thousands of workers redundant, manufacturers have struggled to convince buyers into showrooms or on-line … [Read more...]
E-scooters should be off Christmas lists
Loss adjuster CMA has seen a steady rise in e-scooter related claims over two years, mostly collisions involving other motorists, but also thefts. The increase is in line with Department for Transport figures showing the number of collisions involving e-scooters rose from 460 in 2020 to 1,352 in 2021. Earlier this month, a boy of 12 was killed in Birmingham, prompting the deputy lord mayor to … [Read more...]
Off-road vehicles seized by Welsh police
South Wales Police has seized off-road vehicles as part of Operation Red Mana. The Ely neighbourhood team were joined by officers from the Roads Policing Unit and the anti-social off-road team (#ASORT) and Cardiff Council at the weekend to tackle off-road bikes riding in an anti-social manner in Cardiff. The riders were reported in the Ely and Rumney areas and as a result, four off-road … [Read more...]
New Welsh speed law threat to deaf
Following the news that speed limits in built-up areas look set to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph in Wales from next year - a UK first that has caused some controversy among some drivers. Ministers say a 20mph speed limit will lower road collisions and traffic noise and encourage people to walk and cycle. However, will this lowered traffic noise be a problem to those who suffer … [Read more...]
Tradelines 27 April
Charging infrastructure will keep pace with the growth in the number of electric vehicles resulting from the EU tightening its clean car rules, shows new analysis. Up to 10.4 million public charging points could be installed across Europe by 2035 if car CO2 targets are strengthened in line with the EU's Green Deal commitments, according to the modelling by Transport & Environment. Analysts … [Read more...]
Fines and seizure warning over e-scooters
If you're tempted to buy an e-scooter for yourself or as a Christmas present this year, beware of the legal pitfalls which can result in fines, penalty points and its confiscation without compensation. The UK’s largest independent road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, is calling for more to be done to control the number of e-scooters being used illegally on public roads. This comes … [Read more...]
Dangers of private scooters – warning
There is a world of safety difference between e-scooter rental schemes and the use of private e-scooters, says the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS). Any evaluation of rental trials cannot and should not be automatically applied to regulations for private e-scooters. The safety of private e-scooters in the UK, an interim report from PACTS shows, that … [Read more...]
