21 December 2009
Hand held mobile use on the increase
|
More drivers are using hand-held mobile phones than before tougher penalties were introduced in 2007, according to research by TRL (Transport Research Laboratory).
Now road safety charity Brake has called on the Government to ban all kinds of mobile phone use in vehicles as it says it is the distraction of the call, not the holding of the phone that causes the main danger
The fourth annual London mobile phone survey by TRL saw researchers observe drivers of cars, taxis and vans at 33 locations in London. A total of 11,851 cars and taxis and 2,410 vans were observed.
A significant increase in the use of hand-held mobile phones was observed for the drivers of all vehicles. In general trends have shown an increase in hand-held mobile phone use since 2007 when fines were doubled to £60 and three penalty points introduced.
In addition, hands-free phone use has also increased considerably for all vehicles, in particular for taxi drivers, since the first TRL survey in 2006.
A cut in the use of hand-held mobile phones by car, taxi and van drivers in London could have saved an estimated 470 road deaths and serious injuries and the number of slightly injured casualties could have reduced by 3,287, according to the report. It also suggested that the reduction in road deaths and casualties could have triggered savings of £174 million.
The study showed that in 2006 2.6% of car drivers used a hand-held mobile phone. While that figure dropped to 1.4% in 2007 it has steadily climbed to 2.8% this year. Similarly with taxi drivers the study found 1.1% using a hand-held mobile phone in 2006, dropping to 0.7% in 2007 but now up at 1.6%.
Van drivers are more likely to use a hand-held mobile phone (2006: 3.8%). However, while that percentage dropped to 1.8% in 2007 it has now reached 4.5%.
An increasing number of drivers are using hand-free phone, which although not illegal to use while driving are viewed as equally dangerous in terms of motorists being distracted and not concentrating on the road ahead.
In 2006, 1.2% of car drivers were observed talking on a hands-free phone and that figure has steadily increased to 4.8% this year. Similarly with taxi drivers the figure has risen from 0.8% in 2006 to 14.3% this year and for the number of van drivers the figure has increased from 1% four years ago to 9.9% this year.
|
16 December 2009
Powerful tax incentives for the take-up of electric cars and vans from April 2009
|
Powerful tax incentives for the take-up of electric cars and vans from April next year, and the confirmation of a further tightening of company car benefit-in-kind tax from April 2012 means that the Chancellor is driving fleets and company car and van drivers ever further along the ‘green’ route.
Company car tax thresholds will tighten by a further 5 g/km with effect from April 6, 2012 with the graduated table of bands extended downwards to start at a new 10% rate, it was revealed in this week’s Pre-Budget Report.
The 10% company car benefit-in-kind tax rate will apply to cars emitting up to 99 g/km of carbon dioxide and replaces the current 10% band for company cars emitting 120 g/km of CO2 or less.
The company car tax changes build on those for 2010/11 and 2011/12 announced in the spring Budget.
As a result, from April 6, 2012 the 15% company car tax threshold will kick-in at 120 g/km with a new 14% rate at 115 g/km, a 13% charge at 110 g/km, a 12% charge at 105 g/km and an 11% charge at 100 g/km.
ACFO welcomed the statement with a spokesman saying: “ACFO has for many years been advising members and all fleet operators that to keep operating costs under control low emission vehicles were the optimum choice. Fleet best practice clearly supports a positive approach to the use of low carbon cars and vans.
“Fleet decision-makers and drivers who continue to fail to heed these warnings will not only see their tax bills rise but they will also see their fuel bills soar as fuel costs increase. Low emission vehicles deliver first-class MPG, reduced costs and lower tax charges.”
|
07 December 2009
Drink and drug laws to be tightened??
|
The Government is considering tightening the law on drink and drug driving following the appointment of an independent expert to examine the issues.
Sir Peter North will advise on the case for changes to the drink driving limit, which could see it reduced to 50 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - the equivalent of a single pint of beer or a large glass of wine - as well as on whether there is a need to tighten the law on drug driving.
Road safety groups and motoring organisations have called for a reduction in the UK drink-drive limit from 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood for many years.
For both drink and drugs, the study will also consider the likely impacts of any changes on driver behaviour, and the practical steps needed to support the introduction of any new or revised offence.
Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis said: “Road safety has improved significantly in recent years - 1,000 fewer people now die on the roads in a year than in the mid-1990s - and Britain now has one of the safest road systems in the world.
“But we need to cut further the number of tragedies on our roads. Drink driving killed 430 people last year and research suggests drug driving is a key concern for the public.
“To reduce drink and drug driving accidents there may be a case for further strengthening the law. I have appointed Sir Peter North to provide me with independent advice on lowering the drink drive limit and tackling drug driving through a new offence.”
Sir Peter will report back to the Government in March next year. The Department for Transport will then consult on its findings and publish a final road safety strategy.
|
Grey fleet mileage rates way above AMAP rates
|
The ‘grey’ fleet - employees who drive their own cars on business trips - is here to stay but much can be done to improve risk and cost management, according to British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association chief executive John Lewis.
Employers should prevent staff from using their own vehicles for business unless they can give proof that their car is roadworthy and insured, said Mr Lewis speaking at the first Office of Government Commerce (OGC) Annual Grey Fleet Conference.
He told delegates that they needed to adopt a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on staff unable to prove that their vehicle was properly maintained and insured or give details of their driver licence status.
He also warned that some organisations were paying far too much in mileage payment rates, thus giving staff an extra incentive to drive more business miles.
He said: “Many employers are giving mileage payments of 50, 60 or even 70p per mile, which is far above the maximum tax free AMAP rate of 40p per mile.
“Mileage allowances should be based on fuel, the cost of maintenance and any loss of value through driving extra miles. They should not include these additional costs, which are borne by the owner of a private car regardless of whether they are using it at work.
“Our own estimates suggest that a realistic AMAP rate for the average ‘grey’ fleet car would be more in the range of 20-30p per mile.”
He also urged fleet operators to review their organisation’s business travel plans and look at other options to own car use such as teleconferencing, public transport and vehicle rental and leasing.
|
