Lane confusion

Although there is some outdated evidence that smart motorways can help with congestion, the primary factor behind them is of course, financial. A smart motorway is around 60% cheaper than traditional widening, so despite the very real safety concerns over smart motorways, it seems that they’re the preferred choice of the authorities.

Cashing in

It’s thought that around £41m has been raised by the use of smart motorways, purely through fining drivers for speeding and lane-infringement wrongdoings – using a lane when it’s closed.

No one argues that lane discipline is crucial to the safety of all motorists, workers, & breakdowns etc, but there needs to be more done to offer sanctuary to the stranded motorist; breaking down (during off-peak hours) on a smart motorway has been proven to be 216% more dangerous than on a conventional motorway.

The three-lane squeeze

Of course in the age of swingeing budget cuts, authorities must do all they can to save money, many local authorities are now implementing ‘spend to save’ programmes, but it does seem as though factoring in revenue from fines has become the norm so it’s unlikely that there will be a let-up in processing misdemeanours, and as we learnt before, this could be anything from a noisy car, through to distracted driving.

The rise of technology on our roads is a double-edged sword; on the one hand, it does help to protect the public from menacing drivers, or those drivers that see a car as purely a means of getting from A to B, with little thought or minimal input along the way, but the downside is that driving a car is becoming increasingly fraught with concerns over minor indiscretions with motoring laws, including speeding.
We’ve known for many a year that motorists are seen as the easy cash cow for bulking up the coffers, and that situation is only going to get worse, under the guise of ‘safety technology’. But at what point does safety end, and pure money-grabbing begin?

Where will these non-discretionary cameras lead us to? And how much impact will they have on the pastime of ‘motoring’? It could be argued that while they’re adding to road safety, they’re also dumbing down common sense, and driving skills, and of course, they’ll have a detrimental impact on the pleasure of driving – people just driving for the love of driving.

The modern way

Sticking by the rules

The statement comes as ministers intensify their preparations before the planned 31st of October departure date.

After Brexit, if you’re a driver from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, and you visit Ireland, you’d better make sure you’ve remembered to buy and affix a GB sticker to your motor if you want to gain entry.

The advice applies to all UK-registered cars, including those from Northern Ireland. No longer will it be adequate for your number plate to show the GB letters against a blue background. When we and the EU go our separate ways, the demand from Ireland that we display our stickers becomes compulsory as a condition under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.

Regarding an International Driving Permit (IDP), which is a permit that allows you to drive in countries where a UK licence isn’t enough, if you own a UK licence, you won’t need one to drive in Ireland. Even if the UK leaves without a deal, unless your visit to Ireland lasts for over 12 months, only then will you need an IDP.

It’s worth noting too, that if you get disqualified from driving while you’re in Ireland, you might also find yourself banned once you’re back home.

Bordering on ridiculous

Williams said:

‘While it might seem ridiculous that this will no longer be enough to let authorities know a vehicle is registered in the UK, the latest advice from the government is clear.

‘Anyone travelling to an EU country, including the Republic of Ireland, must display a separate white oval GB sticker on the rear of their vehicle.’

The RAC recommends that motorists prepare for further changes to the rules on overseas motoring, saying everything depends on what situations arise after Brexit and the deal we make (if any).

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that neglecting to display a GB sticker wouldn’t invalidate our motor insurance but still advised that we follow all the insurance conditions.

Prepare the way

You can apply for an IDP at the Post Office by taking along your full, valid, UK driving licence photocard, a passport standard photograph showing your recent, true likeness, and £5.50 for the application fee (payable with cash or by debit or credit card).

If you only hold an older paper licence, you must take with you your valid passport as proof of identification.

You could once apply to motoring organisations such as the RAC for IDPs but this stopped on the 1st of February this year. This means, if we have a no-deal Brexit, it’ll be more difficult to get a permit than it had before February.

If you need an IDP for Ireland, you’ll want the 1949 convention IDP, which is valid for 12 months and also covers you in Cyprus, Malta, and Spain. For anywhere else in the EU, you’ll need a 1968 IDP—valid for either three years or for as long your driving licence is valid (whichever is shortest).

Driving licence requirements vary across the world, so if you plan to rent a vehicle and you book in advance while in the UK, either ask the car rental company to confirm the driving licence requirements of the country you’re visiting or get an IDP as a precaution.

Remember, it’s our responsibility as drivers to check with the specific country’s driving authority about a country’s particular rules on driving.

Qashqai falling short

Nissan is aware of this issue and switched its battery supplier back in 2018, but there is still potential for around 60,000 people if not more who could be affected by this. As the batteries are lead-acid, this has huge ramifications for the environment due to the way they are disposed of. Car batteries have to be disposed of in certain ways, and someone who doesn’t hold a certificate can be prosecuted for trying to recycle or dispose of them.

The Qashqai also had an issue on it’s Body Control Module affecting cars built between April 2018 and February 2019, which Nissan say they have created an update and campaign for, but there are most likely cars out there that are still affected.

Nissan said “We’re aware of some incidences of battery failure and have taken steps to address this issue, including replacing our battery supplier, and voluntarily launching a campaign to update the Body Control Module software on Qashqais made between April 2018 and February 2019. We’re working with affected customers.”

It’s a Tesla nightmare!

One in ten Tesla Model X owners also reported faults, which Which? Attributes to an inherent design flaw. Across all brands surveyed Tesla had the highest percentage of cars in the three to eight-year bracket reporting faults, with 67% of owners affected by some fault.

Tesla said “We review every vehicle before it leaves the factory. Our warranties cover any repairs and replacements necessary for door handles for up to four years. Unlike other manufacturers, Tesla can perform repair work via mobile service, which can be done at a customer’s home or office.”

More issues uncovered

Seat said: Seat UK is concerned but, without details, we can’t identify and explain these results. A comprehensive warranty covering three years/60,000 miles is provided. Our service data will identify the need for workshop campaigns, which are issued as promptly as possible.

Older car models like the Ford B-Max also reported alarmingly high fault rates. 25% of automatic B-Max owners said they had a problem with their “Powershift” automatic transmission system.

Ford said: We’re aware of these issues and have previously updated our dealership network to resolve them for customers. We also extended the warranty for affected cars from three to five years/60,000 to 100,00 miles. Where owners aren’t covered, our Ford customer relationship centre (see ford.co.uk) will assess each individually on a favourable goodwill basis.

Similarly, nearly a quarter of BMW 5 Series Touring drivers said they had experienced a number of issues with their suspension.

BMW said: BMW conducts continuous quality surveillance of our in-market vehicles. Only a tiny fraction of customer contacts in the first half of 2019 were related to suspension issues of any kind; fewer than six in 10,000, across all our models, make any reference to suspension issues. If any customer wishes to discuss concerns, they can call BMW Customer Service.

Hefty motoring bills

Which? Are calling for manafacturers to go public with these faults and issue a recall for the cars affected. While some issues are not fatal, it is at the best interest of the company to fix these issues and do so for free, according to Which?

Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said:

“It is concerning that it has taken Which?’s survey of thousands of motorists to uncover what are in some cases inherent flaws with some of the UK’s best-selling cars. Owners should be able to trust that manufacturers will make them aware of these issues and offer a fix when they see a recurring problem.”

“It is vital these manufacturers make the public aware of these serious faults and ensure vehicle owners are not left out of pocket should the issues occur outside their warranty.”

The £1,248 car battery

As part of their investigation, Auto Express contacted three franchised service departments for 20 of the most popular models in the UK, including Volkswagen, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Vauxhall, if you’re a Toyota driver then you needn’t worry too much, for all the other brands … shopping around is key.

The Mercedes-Benz dealerships quoted between £315 – £1,248 (no, that isn’t a typo) for a replacement battery for a C-Class – same battery, same car, same procedure. Vauxhall dealerships (while not quite as wide open as Mercedes) were similar – the lowest price for a Mokka battery replacement was £98, the most expensive being £263.

For reference, Auto Express contacted a large independent chain for prices, the Merc came in at £165, so even their lowest official price is somewhat inflated, and yet the independent chain aren’t known for being gentle with pricing either.

Open pricing

Of course, these dealers aren’t actually doing anything illegal. Immoral perhaps, but not illegal. Some may argue that if you’re wealthy enough (or lacking in the sense department) to pay over £1,200 for a replacement battery, then that’s your issue.

But what about the elderly person that knows no better and has no one to support them? Living hand-to-mouth on their pension? That’s relying on the honesty and integrity of the franchised dealer where they bought the car some years earlier? If you think that sounds unlikely, it was for exactly that reason why I left the job of Workshop Controller at a main dealer.

The problem is that it’s a free market, you’re free to choose wherever you want, and unless you know the prices of the battery, and the labour charge, £300+ might actually seem reasonable. For what it’s worth, replacing a car battery typically takes less than 15 minutes. Although of course, that doesn’t include the ‘free check’ of the rest of the vehicle, which is the dealer’s chance to upsell their products and services for a little profit(eering).

Jonathan Burn, who led the study for Auto Express states: “The problem for the motorists is that the retail price of car parts is unregulated, and therefore there is little transparency or consistency in parts pricing, even within the same dealer networks”.

The cost of replacement

Nearly every one of us will face a replacement battery at some point in our lives, and this study shows that even between main franchised dealers, it definitely pays to shop around. Remember that the garage is making profit on the sale of the battery, along with labour charges, so there is always room for manoeuvre, and you should also remember that it isn’t just batteries; many manufacturers have something along the lines of a ‘wear parts’ catalogue, which allows the dealer to significantly discount any consumable product such as a clutch or brake pads, and batteries will also be included.

It’s all very well the Mercedes spokesperson saying that “We can only recommend a retail price for these parts, which means there could be a variation across retailers”, but the simple reality is that they could do more to protect their loyal customers from being ripped-off through their official network of dealers.

As I stated last week, very few businesses set out to barely break-even, but having the audacity to charge four times the amount of other official dealers is downright … wrong, and no one from M-B seems to be doing anything about it.

Personally speaking, I’d always ask the garage to give me a breakdown of the quote – parts and labour, ask them their hourly rate, and then work out how long they’re telling you it takes. If you’re at all unsure, speak to other garages, preferably a good independent, and then compare prices – you’ll get no less a service, the battery will have the same warranty, and the worst of it could be that your loafers will need a clean after kicking around a traditional workshop.

Just for the record, all three Toyota dealerships offered the same low price, £105.

What’s your view of official main dealers? Do you trust them? Is it the independents you don’t trust? Let us know in the comments.

How does it work?

When you spot a parking infringement, you simply open the app, video for evidence and then eFine takes care of the rest.

“The app lets a user know if they are in a partner council area before they record the infringement,” says Alex Mühlhölzl, Chief Operating Officer. “The data is not accessible by the user and is not stored on the user’s phone, it is sent to us and stored on an Azure system, meaning only the council associated with the infringement notice can see the video and decide if a fine should be issued. We don’t even see it.”

With this, you will also get a 25% share of the infringement notice when paid as an incentive and thank you for doing a parking officers job. eFine themselves also keep a 25% share to cover costs.

Who’s going to use it?

“Those that have a disability and get impacted by people parking on the footpath, those pushing buggies or elderly on scooters who have to go into traffic to get around the illegally parked vehicle,” says Alex.

“There is also the issue that some electric vehicles cannot charge because a combustion vehicle has parked in the charge point parking space. With councils investing millions in electric vehicle infrastructure, these charge points generate revenue that offsets this capital cost so every vehicle using it to charge matters.”

How can our councils benefit from it?

Other benefits include better traffic management and identifying risky spots sooner. Councils will also be able to ensure that parking wardens are implementing and inspecting reports from the general public as well as optimising the use of technology, something which some councils lack.

“It addresses the need for better management of traffic flow, vehicle and pedestrian, without the huge costs that are incurred by councils having to hire enforcement staff or outsource the service,” says Alex.

“We have a focus on traffic flow management, cars and pedestrians, and also pedestrian safety, and as such we are looking to prepare a template for councils that are looking to introduce pedestrian zones around schools without the financial burden of installing CCTV networks.” says Alex. “We are also looking to support councils who are looking at the initiative of fining households for leaving rubbish or bins out for days or weeks. This rubbish is often scavenged by animals and creates an environmental problem and bins on the footpaths create pedestrian traffic issues for the disabled and those pushing buggies or trolleys and those on scooters.”

Asking other pedestrians to report and send in images is something that has been trialled before with dashcam footage to some success but creating a CCTV network on mobile phones is a new suggestion and one that poses some questions.

GDPR?

A huge part of GDPR is providing users the tools to control their data, how it is collected and how it is stored.

In all areas where CCTV is filmed or parking wardens operate, a notice is displayed or residents are informed where this is in use through promotional information on websites etc.

However, with this app, no user of a car is going to know that they have been filmed and sent in, which contravenes GDPR. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the long term.

Parking the problem

Authorities say the UK has about 700,000 people on the autism spectrum, around 850,000 with dementia, and estimate about three million with anxiety disorders. With changes to the scheme meaning more eligible people, there may soon be millions of extra badge holders in England and Wales.

The government said they would give councils an extra £1.7million to help them cope with the expected increase in applications but admitted they didn’t know how many more people would become eligible.

A study by the comparison site Confused.com found—before the Blue Badge Scheme extension—only one council-operated bay existed for every 30 badge holders. Despite this, 74% of councils said they would not be building any more disabled parking bays.

Yet councils don’t show the same reluctance in increasing parking charges or introducing other methods that, while often increase road safety, make money from motorists.

Councillors justify things like higher parking fees because of budget cuts or they cite traffic congestion, but when Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) make councils over £326m in just 12 months, can’t the public ask why they can’t invest part of the money into more parking spaces for the disabled?

Besides not being enough disabled bays available to go around, the changes to the Blue Badge Scheme may mean more opportunity for badge fraud. The Local Government Association confirmed that theft of Blue Badges has risen 45% in a year and 600% since 2013.

It’s also estimated that 20% of badge holders misuse them, letting family and friends use their permits when they themselves aren’t in the vehicle. But they should beware; 60% of councils prosecute drivers for misusing disabled parking permits and the fine can be as much as £1,000.

Adding insult to injury

‘It’s clear that people with hidden and non-physical disabilities need badges. But confidence in the Blue Badge scheme is undermined by the fact that only a minority of councils take action against misuse.’
While charities and motoring groups have welcomed the change, they’re concerned the extension might cause a lack of parking spaces for other motorists—including those with physical disabilities.

Amanda Stretton, Motoring Editor at Confused.com, said:

‘Clearly more parking for Blue Badge holders is needed—30 drivers to one space is quite a challenge.

‘It’s no wonder some of these drivers have had to park elsewhere, and the number of people competing for spaces is only going to grow as more people can apply for a Blue Badge now.’

‘Drivers who misuse these spaces are making the problem even worse. They should be more respectful and leave them free for those who need them,’ she added.

Confused.com surveyed 2,000 drivers and found that 7% of the 1,300 drivers without permits admitted to having misused a disabled parking bay. Twenty-four per cent said they couldn’t find another space, 28% said plenty of other disabled spaces were available, and 36% said they used the disabled space because ‘they were only going to be quick’.

How to apply for a Blue Badge

If your application is successful, and you’re an English resident, the badge will cost you £10. Blue Badges are free in Wales, while those in Scotland must pay £20. Blue Badges are valid for three years.

In London, Blue Badge holders are exempt from the Congestion Charge.

Blue Badges entitle the holder use of disabled parking bays, free use of pay-and-display spaces, and up to three hours of parking on single or double yellow lines. Different restrictions apply for each local council so make sure you check the rules where you are.

Without a doubt, the updated Blue Badge scheme will make a huge difference in the lives of many people with hidden disabilities, more so for those people with ‘hidden disabilities’ who, until now, wouldn’t consider leaving the house.

As a person with ‘hidden disabilities’ myself, if I should ever feel the need to apply for a Blue Badge, it would reassure me to know that there would be enough suitable parking spaces available.