Incidents of drink-driving are on the increase, around 7% up typically, and yet some areas are seeing a 26% decrease in arrests for the offence.

Budget cuts are affecting all aspects of policing; the West Midlands force has just 302 working breathalyser kits to share between 3,500 officers.

Road deaths have increased by an average of 20% since 2017.

Drink driving

In January 1966, the new Road Safety Bill was introduced, part of that bill concerned alcohol levels for drivers, although the breathalyser wasn’t introduced until a year later. In the intervening years, cases of drink-driving have reduced dramatically; 1979 saw 19,740 prosecutions, thirty-five years later and the numbers are less than half – 8,740 in 2015.

Despite those numbers, incidents of drink & drug driving are now on the increase – drink-driving offences are the highest they’ve been since 2012, and yet the number of tests carried has been significantly reduced – 563,427 in 2011, to just 325,887 in 2017.

But then with a 12.8% decrease in actual ‘feet on the beat’, is it any wonder that criminals are getting away with more?

John Apter, chairman of the National Police Federation states: “The number of motorists stopped for drink & drug driving, using a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt has dropped by 52% since 2011, but I don’t believe that the reduction is due to people no longer carrying out the offence, it’s simply that they aren’t being caught”.

“We are just being stretched so far that we no longer have the budget to target certain areas, like roads policing”.

Societal change

It has taken decades for drink-driving to become so stigmatised to the point of a change in society, from it being seen as ‘the norm’ through to being concerned about it due to the legal repercussions, to actually condemning those that still think they pose no risk while under the influence.

But a number of high-ranking officials are worried that drink-driving will become more acceptable again, due to the lower incidences of prosecution; Richard Cooke, chair of the West Midlands Federation believes that people could view it as a lesser crime, thanks to the de-prioritisation of prosecution. The reality is that the police (and society) still view it as completely unacceptable, it’s just that “colleagues are constantly reporting that they have difficulty getting hold of a working kit when they need it”.

Budget cuts

The BBC has calculated that since 2010, funding for the police has been cut by around 20% in real terms, despite promises from the government with regards to an extra £450m in ring-fenced funding. The problem partly stems from where that funding is found.

Half of the £450m will be made up from council tax, but this requires all the councils to increase their individual Council Tax rate to the maximum allowed, so the reality is that the ‘guaranteed’ funding isn’t … guaranteed.

Police resource, both in terms of workforce and equipment is at an all-time low. Depending on which statistics you believe, the number of officials has fallen from an all-time high of 177,600 in 2010 to just below 150,000 in 2018, some even put the figure as low as 122,000.
A recent survey found that around half of the population believe they haven’t seen a police officer in their area for more than a year.

Automated policing

It’s clear that budget cuts and restrictions are affecting the policing of our roads, perhaps it’s no wonder that automated technology like safety cameras are taking over the day-to-day infringements, but even with smart tech that can monitor distracted driving, it needs a trigger – someone actually speeding.

Drunk driving may not necessarily trigger a safety camera, and even if it does, today’s tech can’t tell that the driver is over the blood-alcohol limit, so it’s a feasible concern that some motorists will take their chances and risk lives while doing so.

There’s no simple answer, but it does lead us back to last weeks report on Huawei filing papers for technology that can detect a drink or drug driver in an autonomous car; perhaps their technology could be put to better use?

Of course, it could still be construed as a huge civil rights issue, but perhaps this is a case where the needs of the few, outweigh the needs of the many? Just how far should society go in order to eradicate drink-driving completely?

The budget cuts mean that forces are having to prioritise their workload, and police numbers are dwindling, it’s easy to envisage a day that only the most serious of crimes will be investigated by the police, perhaps with a secondary, privatised force investigating all other crimes.

Can society eradicate drink or drug driving? Would you accept a mandatory anti-drink-drive system in your car? Or should the government change priorities? Let us know in the comments.

Every year people in the UK spend an astonishing £78billion on insurance premiums. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) report that more than four out of five people have at least one insurance policy—with home and car insurance the most common.

On Friday, the regulatory body, the FCA exposed how renewing car insurance with the same company could end up costing consumers £130, outraging campaigners and MPs. This leads us to ask; with the price of motoring ever increasing, can drivers still afford to be loyal?

The cost of loyalty

Insurance is a business famous for securing customers with offers that appear to be bargains, only to raise their premiums every year, resulting in drivers who don’t switch policies ending up paying far more than those who comparison shop.

Yet, if insurers charged all customers the same cheap prices offered to new customers, they wouldn’t make any profit. If they charged costlier, but higher rates to everyone, they’d lose customers to firms who continue to offer low introductory premiums. It’s a vicious pricing circle.

The FCA released figures showing how motorists who stay with the same insurance company for eight consecutive years may end up paying over £130 more than those customers who switch to a better deal every 12 months.

Their most recent figures also show that a driver who compares prices saves an average of £64 each year.

Years with an insurer and average yearly saving if you had switched

One year: £64.49
Two years: £65.47
Three years: £77.92
Four years: £77.91
Five years: £96.53
Six years: £88.93
Seven years: £63.54
Eight years: £130.83
Source: Financial Inclusion Commission/Financial Conduct Authority, via the MailOnline

Figures from the price comparison site GoCompare, show that switching to a different car insurance provider can save you a huge £268.69, yet despite knowing, by shopping around, they might make savings, a huge 65% of drivers renewed with their existing providers in 2018.

‘Shocking figures’

James Daley, Managing Director of the consumer group Fairer Finance, said:

“The more loyal a customer is, the more they get ripped off and the higher price they pay. This isn’t easy to solve.

“Price-comparison websites create fierce competition for new customers, and firms are looking to recover the money they lose on cheap introductory offers by getting it from customers who stay with them.”

Towards the end of last year, after a ‘super-complaint’ by Citizens Advice, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that loyal customers paid £4billion too much for certain financial services, with around 12million overpaying on their insurance.

Labour MP, Wes Streeting said:

“Good companies should recognise and reward loyalty from their customers.

“These shocking figures are a reminder of why shopping around is really important to get the best value for money.”

Car insurers have also received criticism for charging customers more to pay their premium monthly rather than in a lump sum each year—charging interest, like a loan. Experts believe large insurance firms earn up to £500million each year from this practice.

Time well spent

As customers, we still let insurance companies get away with overcharging us, because so many of us don’t realise it is happening, or switching provider seems too much effort. There are also people who don’t or can’t access the internet to aid them in their search.

To find a better deal:

Look at your latest policy paperwork (or email if you took out the policy online and you receive only paperless communication) to check what you’re paying. Even if your insurer was the cheapest last year, you shouldn’t assume the price they are offering is still competitive.

Check to see what your existing insurer would charge you if you were a new customer and, if you’re unhappy with the difference, contact your provider and tell them you’ll switch to another insurance firm unless you get a better deal.

If your current insurer won’t reduce your premium, begin your policy shopping using a price comparison tool. There are many comparison sites available and, depending on how much time you can devote and how much motivation you have, a good place to begin is with Confused.com — one of the leading comparison sites available.

Independent research carried out last year by Consumer Intelligence shows that shopping around could save 51% of car insurance customers £272.24.

Make sure you’re searching for a like-for-like policy and that you understand any charges, exclusions, penalties, and the terms and conditions. And always check the small print!

Once you’ve signed up for a new policy, set yourself a reminder for a week or two before the policy expires, allowing yourself time to shop around to get the best deal and not risk driving uninsured.

Do you think insurance companies should stop offering new customers bargain prices if loyal customers have to pay higher premiums? Do you comparison shop every year? Tell us your views in the comments.

Car production was down 9.1% in 2018 due to numerous factors, including Brexit, lack of demand for diesel and strict emissions laws causing delays.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was the hardest hit, with a 15% drop in production, with just under 450,000 cars leaving the factory, down from the 530,000 that left in 2017.

Brexit and the car industry

Brexit has been a cause of uncertainty for British car makers, with them closing plants, slowing down production, or in the case of JLR, suspending it completely for two weeks in their Solihull plant.

Back in July the CEO of JLR, Ralf Speth, said that a no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for car makers as they rely on a “free, frictionless, seamless logistics” system. One part missing from the production line could cost them as much as £60 million a day, he went on to warn, speaking of the implications that Brexit could have on their company.

“We, and our partners in the supply chain face an unpredictable future if the Brexit negotiations do not maintain free and frictionless trade with the EU and unrestricted access to the single market,” Mr Speth said.

“We urgently need greater certainty to continue to invest heavily in the UK and safeguard our suppliers, customers and 40,000 British-based employees.

A bad Brexit deal would cost Jaguar Land Rover more than £1.2bn profit each year. As a result, we would have to drastically adjust our spending profile. We have spent around £50bn in the UK in the past five years, with plans for a further £80bn in the next five.”

Demonisation of diesel

Thanks to the lack of incentive from the government to remove diesel cars, the backlash from consumers against diesel cars has risen drastically, with the market share for diesel shrinking to under a third last year compared with over 40% the previous year.

Industry experts have commented on the U-turn by Nissan to move production of its X-Trail from Sunderland to Japan as not as a marker on Brexit, but instead the heavy regulations on diesel that are being brought in. Michael Gove’s promise to wipe all petrol and diesel cars off the roads by 2040 has further discredited diesel cars.

Labour’s eagerness in the early 2000’s to incentivise diesel has unfortunately had a much larger backlash than anyone could’ve ever anticipated. With the revelation back in 2015 over VW’s dieselgate scandal the industry was thrown into a state of confusion and even now is still working on a plan to recoup losses. The promise of lessening the CO2, higher MPG, less time between fills and reduced exhaust emissions. After the discovery of the damage that NOx had on humans, and the dangerous particulates that were being emitted into the atmosphere, most governments went down the electric car route, promising efficiency and zero emissions. The small incentives they did offer were only accessible by those with more money, and the average Joe who had bought a diesel with the previous incentives couldn’t afford the new electric cars and their charging. Those who can afford an electric car are reaping the benefits, but with the government now reducing grants and lowering incentives, it’s up to the car manufacturers to make affordable, practical and long range EVs.

Toyota has shunned electric, preferring instead to use hydrogen, where they have got it to the point that they have to create mechanisms to slow down the cars as they are too fast for everyday driving. Hydrogen is also cleaner to produce, and the emissions can benefit the environment. The main issue with hydrogen is safe storage, as it is very reactive to the environment.

Some of the reasons for shunning electric in the UK include the strain on the National Grid, which is powered by fossil fuels, and therefore any significant increase in pressure will just burn more fossil fuels and almost negate the effect of introducing electric as the predominant fuel.

Strict emissions laws

In a bid to reduce excess pollution in crowded city centres, local councils have increased the enforcement of city centre driving to the point that it has affected jobs. Industry experts attribute some of the job cuts in JLR, Nissan et al to the strict and tight regulations.

In April, there will be a ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) in place in central London meaning that any car that doesn’t meet the standards will have to pay £12.50 a day to enter and drive within the limit.

On top of this, some cities are now introducing another charge for every parking space at an office that isn’t an EV space to discourage people from driving to work as the company will have to foot the bill.

It seems that we need to fully appreciate what the car industry provides to our country. It totals 4 percent of the nations total output, totalling £60.5 billion annually. If this trend continues, it will impact the whole country drastically.

What do you think of the production slump? How can the UK rescue the falling production? Let us know below

Chinese tech giant, Huawei, has recently filed a patent with the European Patent Office for what could amount to some of the most intrusive technology to be fitted to a vehicle.

It’s capable of detecting whether a driver is drunk, but also whether that driver is frustrated, drowsy or distracted. It can also recognise weapons, drugs and even a phone with text on the display.

Currently, the patent is for autonomous vehicles only, which in itself seems a moot point; the day that vehicles are truly 100% autonomous means there will be no driver ‘in charge’ of the vehicle, so why the technology?

The system will have the capability to decide for itself the best course of action, which ranges from warning the occupants, deactivating the controls or even calling the police.

Self-driving cars

Autonomy and self-driving are closely linked, but not necessarily the same thing, although for many motorists it’s the difference between branded or supermarket fuel – close enough that there’s no real distinction.

Self-driving cars are very much in their infancy – they still have the ability to wow us with their capability, to make headlines when one does something out of the ordinary, and yet they still need to have the human element, ‘just in case’.

Some industry experts are predicting that the first truly-autonomous vehicles will on the road as early as 2021, and the question remains – who will be in charge of them? The operator? Occupant? Owner? With the argument that any occupant will effectively be using a service akin to a taxi or ride-share, surely it doesn’t matter whether they’re distracted or drunk?

The defining point here is the definition of ‘Autonomous Vehicle’.

Sci-Fi

Science-fiction would have us believe that true autonomy comes without a steering wheel, almost a lounge-style cabin, and nothing to do but hold high-powered business meetings, or play with the onboard technology.

So will we still have the human element, and if so, does that necessitate a law against being in one drunk?

The National Transport Commission of Australia (NTC) believes that drink-driving laws need a shake-up.
In a discussion paper, the NTC states that “there is a clear-cut” justification for changing the laws regarding drink or drug-driving because there is no possibility that a human could drive a dedicated autonomous vehicle. “The situation is analogous to a person instructing a taxi driver where to go,” says the NTC.

Data privacy

It would seem as though Huawei, who manufacture no autonomous vehicles of their own, may have found a back-door entrance to scrutinise, store and potentially use personal data. Just as the Amazon Alexa listens constantly to every conversation you have, logs your preferences and buying habits, so too could Huawei.

Imagine a system that’s fitted to your car, that logs each journey, whether you have a penchant for a tipple, or even a cigarette, your mood when driving, the times you frequent the pub, supermarket or gym and then reports back to your insurance company (who for the sake of convenience, cover your life insurance as well).

Your insurance premium gets automatically adjusted, you have an accurate log of behaviour and movement, and anything remotely ‘questionable’ is all recorded, easily accessed by the police or insurance companies.

Perhaps this is what Motorola had in mind when they filed for a patent for a self-driving police car/courtroom, that placed the accused on trial via video link, with those found guilty being autonomously delivered to the nearest jail.

Road safety

Of course we’re in favour of road safety, and technology being used appropriately could make a big difference to accident rates and fatalities, but this kind of technology comes at the cost of privacy, some may even say infringing on our rights.

For those that disagree with this viewpoint, that believe a giant tech company would never abuse such exclusive and intimate detail of our lives, you’ve only got to look at the largest social-media platform (with over 1 billion users), and their understanding of privacy to see that this is a very real concern.

It’s understandable that the authorities are investing in technology to help make roads safer – the ‘yellow vultures’ may not be the answer, just the same as the majority of safety cameras, but with ever-increasing budget cuts, manpower is dwindling and technology is taking over. We just need the right type of technology.

Whether there is any validity to the patents (both Huawei and Motorola), the technology exists to make it happen, but we’re a short step away from an autonomous lifestyle, governed, measured and reported on.

What do you think to the ingress of technology in the automotive world? Do you see a need for such a system? Should we just sit back and let progress take its course? Let us know in the comments.

New figures show that hundreds of the UK’s top-selling cars are at risk of theft by criminals who use technology to hack into keyless systems. Four out of five of the UK’s most popular cars are on the list of the models vulnerable to such crimes.

Independent consumer advocate, Which? analysed the results of data from the motoring organisation General German Automobile Club (ADAC), a to show the impact of so-called keyless or ‘relay’ attacks, on the nation’s five best-selling cars.

Vehicle thefts up almost 50%

Lots of new cars now have keyless entry systems. With the touch of your hand, you can open the door, ridding you of the need to fumble for keys inside pockets and bags. If the vehicle also has a keyless start-stop function, you need only press a button to start the engine.

Yet, cheap gadgets available online, enable thieves to fool these systems into allowing them to unlock and steal—or steal from—vehicles in minutes.

The Office for National Statistics figures released last week showed that, between 2017 and 2018, police in England and Wales received around 111,999 reports of vehicle theft—an increase of 48.7% in just five years compared to the 2013-2014 figure of 75,308 stolen vehicles. This equals 300 stolen cars each day—or one every five minutes. In only the five months from April to September 2018, there were reports of almost 60,000 vehicle thefts.

While car theft is much lower than it was in the 1990s, experts say the number of thefts is rising in line with increased use of keyless technology. Another factor may be the government’s cuts to the policing budget, which has meant numerous police forces have had to reduce the number of officers they employ. There has been a 15% reduction of police officers since 2006, with 5,975 officers lost between 2013 to 2018 alone. Police presence hasn’t been this low since the 1980s.

ADAC tested 237 car models with the keyless unlock and start function and found security flaws in 230 of the models. Models from over 30 brands could be unlocked and started by using a relay attack, including BMW, Peugeot, and Volvo, while a further four models could be either unlocked or started.

Which? found the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai, and Ford Focus are all among the cars vulnerable to this kind of theft. Only the Vauxhall Corsa was not susceptible because it is not available with keyless entry or ignition.

Only three keyless cars ADAC tested were impervious to relay attacks because they use technology that can determine the distance from the vehicle with more precision. These cars, all manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover, were the 2018 Jaguar I-Pace; and the latest Discovery and Range Rover models.

‘An ongoing battle’

Which? say criminals have used the relay attack for several years but that the number of keyless thefts has soared because carmakers have done nothing to protect their cars from relay attacks. They claim car manufacturers have “sacrificed the security of scores of modern cars for the sake of convenience”.

Editor of Which? magazine, Harry Rose said:

“With more than one car being stolen every seven minutes, it’s important that people can feel confident in the security of their vehicle.

“The fact that so many cars on the road are susceptible to keyless theft simply isn’t good enough.

“We want manufacturers to up their game when it comes to making their vehicles safe from theft.”

It’s unfortunate that it’s not just the owner who suffers when somebody steals their car. An increase in car theft figures carries the potential for the likelihood of increased premiums for every person paying for car insurance. So, are manufacturers doing enough to protect their customers?

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Chief Executive Mike Hawes, says:

“Industry takes vehicle crime extremely seriously and any claims otherwise are categorically untrue.

“New cars are more secure than ever, and the latest technology has helped bring down theft dramatically with, on average, less than 0.3% of the cars on our roads stolen.

“Criminals will always look for new ways to steal cars; it’s an ongoing battle and why manufacturers continue to invest billions in ever more sophisticated security features—ahead of any regulation.

“However, technology can only do so much and we continue to call for action to stop the open sale of equipment with no legal purpose that helps criminals steal cars.”

Gone in 18 seconds

Car thieves carry out keyless theft by operating as a pair, using two devices; a relay amplifier and a relay transmitter. These devices pick up on the electromagnetic signals transmitted by the keyless fob from inside the driver’s home.

One thief, holding the amplifier, stands close to the building they suspect the keyless fob to be. The amplifier detects the key fob’s signal, amplifies it, and sends it to the transmitter held by the second thief who stands next to the car they plan to steal.

The car detects the signal and unlocks in the same way it would if the key fob were near the car, allowing the criminals to start the car using the push-button ignition. In under one minute, the criminals could drive your car away, all without your key leaving your home. In fact, Which? says theft via relay attacks can take a mere 18 seconds to complete.

To protect yourself from becoming a victim, consider using a Faraday cage to protect your key. Made of layers of metallic material, these work by blocking the signal. You can find various key wallets and containers online. Don’t forget to protect your spare key too. If you want still more protection, consider using a steering lock.

Owners of older Mercedes cars can switch off the keyless signal by double-clicking the lock button on the key and owners of some Mazda and Peugeot models can have the keyless entry system disabled for free by contacting their local dealer.

Have you been a victim of keyless car theft? Is it worth forgoing the security of your car for a small convenience? Tell us in the comments.

For those sceptics of EV’s, there’s a new kid on the block that could change your mind. The new Kia e-Niro tackles two of the most common issues that people have with; range and charging speed.

With a listed range of 282 miles, tested against the rigorous WLTP standards, and a fast charging to 80% in just 54 minutes, it seems it could help to pacify even the biggest cynics.

Family-friendly crossover

The e-Niro is a family friendly car, designed in a crossover style, allowing it to take a particularly unique stance in the market. However, it’s most appealing features aren’t the sleek and smooth design, instead, they come from the 382-mile range on the WLTP urban cycle.

Design-wise the car is a futuristic dream, with elements of practicality. The blue highlights on the front of the car help to emphasise the electric but also the ‘Clean and High-tech’ overarching plan for the car. With the drawn-back headlights, to an almost cat eye silhouette, the side profile of the car looks elongated and aerodynamic. A far cry for some from the rectangular look of the Skoda Karoq.

The charging port is cleverly camouflaged in the front closed “tiger-nose” grille and blends seamlessly into the overall look of the car. The de-bossed Niro logo is the only giveaway as to where the charging port is.

In terms of in-car storage, the boot is an impressive 451 litres, bigger than the majority of similar cars, and even comes with a storage spot for the charging cable below the boot itself.

Range and performance

The notoriously harsh WhatCar? Real Range tests showed that the Kia e-Niro matched the performance of the far pricier Jaguar I-Pace with a range of 253 miles. Saying that the listed WLTP tests for the e-Niro are higher than the I-Pace, making it much better value for money.

The range for the e-Niro is listed as 282 miles for combined driving on the WLTP, and on the urban cycle, it lists at a huge 382 miles. This is for the long-distance 64kWh battery, which as far as anyone is aware is the only battery available in Europe for the e-Niro, but there is a lower range 39.2kWh battery available in Korea, and other countries.

When it comes to speed, the e-Niro is much quicker off the blocks than other similar models. The 0-62mph is 7.5 seconds, but those who have tested have said that even the lightest touch on the accelerator can send the wheels spinning on the dryest of roads.

The range is one of the biggest purchase factors of this car, it’s the first relatively cheap electric car that can directly compete with some similarly priced combustion engines. For families who are looking at a more affordable electric car, or who have been put off by the lower range can now make the move to electric.

Charging it up

Charging has been another big concern for many people, but using a 100kw charger can take the battery to 80% in just under an hour, which is equivalent to around 250 miles, so all apart from those doing multiple miles a day can suffice for up to a week on one charge.

Like all electric cars, using a fast charger all the time isn’t the best for the battery, but every now and then it won’t harm the car. 100kw chargers are often found in public pay to charge spots, so it might cost you a bit to get to a good spot, but overall, it shouldn’t be too bad.

The e-Niro has regenerative braking so when you are decelerating or coasting you get some of the power back into the battery, meaning the car can maintain charge while driving. Predictive driving assistance looks at the navigation system and determines the level of energy regeneration needed based on upcoming road conditions.

Our view

Over Christmas, we released a report that we had written on electric vehicles and whether they were worth it. While this data was collected last year, the core issue we found was the peripherals weren’t ready for electric cars. This was reflected in a recent statement in response to the news that an electric car had been awarded Car of the Year, by the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). They said “While it is great news that an electric car has been awarded Car of the Year, the UK needs to develop a truly visible, national charging network to help more drivers make the switch from petrol and diesel. Our National Infrastructure Assessment includes recommendations to achieve just that and make sure the UK is ready for this growing market, including offering subsidies to support rural and remote areas and getting councils to allocate a portion of their parking spaces for potential future charging points. This would ensure that this growing demand for electric cars isn’t halted by a lack of the charging infrastructure needed.”

For those living in urban or suburban areas, the Kia e-Niro is the perfect first electric car, with a reasonable price, range and charging capabilities. However, for more rural areas, it doesn’t look like it’s ready just yet, through no fault of the car makers, simply the infrastructure.

The Kia e-Niro is released for sale in the UK in April, but if you want to start enquiring about test drives, quotes or brochures, then why not have a look at one of our partners CarKeys. They can save you up to £3000 on the cost of a new car, and are sure to have some great deals on the Kia e-Niro when it is launched in a few months, with a starting price of £33,000. If you’re interested, have a look here: https://landing.carkeys.co.uk/car/kia/e-niro?affiliate=CXK-Affiliate-Ge-General-Buy-Petrol%20Prices

What do you think of the Kia e-Niro? Would the range and charging points convert you to electric? Let us know below

“A poll tax on wheels” – Edmund King president of the AA.

In what seems to be yet another indirect tax on the motorist, a number of local councils are investigating proposals to charge up to £1,000 per parking space for businesses within their catchment area.

The Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) is already in force in Nottingham, and cities such as Bristol, Cambridge and Reading, along with the London boroughs of Brent, Camden and Merton are looking to introduce similar, all under the ‘anti-pollution’ tag.

Going green

It’s true that Britain has one of the highest congestion levels in western Europe, and according to a number of government sources, it’s that which is causing the rise in pollution; slow moving traffic. Strange that The City of London Corporation is looking to slow traffic down in a bid to help the air-pollution level.

At least ten councils are considering the WPL, and in Scotland, both Edinburgh and Glasgow have made it clear that they want to introduce it, but not everyone agrees. In 2018, Greater Manchester rejected a proposal for a workplace parking levy, and just recently, Robert Halfon, Conservative chairman of the Commons education select committee branded it as madness.

“This is complete madness. It’s yet another tax on the motorist, and all it will do is hit working people with the cost of living. It’s entirely the wrong thing to do”.

Edmund King agrees: “We need incentives on electric vehicles, not a tax on work to drive businesses out of town, or out of business. Workplace parking levies could become the new poll tax on wheels”.

How it works

While there is still some debate over the final revenue structure and pricing, the expected charge is between £500 – £1,000 pa, per space, and it will only be charged to those companies with more than ten parking spaces available to their employees. Nottingham currently charges £387 pa, but around 50% of the businesses charged, pass it directly to their employee.

What isn’t clear is what would happen if all of the employees decided to use another form of transport to commute; would the business still be charged? Or how could they dispute the charge?

Since its introduction in 2012, Nottingham has raised a further £53.7 million in revenue. While some reports say that CO2 levels have fallen by as much as 33%, it’s widely accepted that this isn’t solely due to the WPL. Public transport usage is now among the highest in any UK city, but it’s also worth pointing out that Nottingham City Council is the majority shareholder of the local bus company.

Further still, there is a possibility of a conflict of interest; matched funding is a common source of income for any council, this means that councils introducing the WPL could use that as a way of generating further monies – anywhere up to £3 – £4 per £1 brought in locally, meaning that an ulterior motive may have some influence in the decision.

The true cost

A study by Centre for Cities looked at just how councils can raise further revenue, from basic taxation through to more subtle methods, such as the WPL. They go on to say that although the workplace parking levy may be less efficient at raising revenue, or even reducing congestion, a London-style congestion charge is politically more contentious and expensive to establish.

They also suggest that councils need to start thinking about new revenue streams now before the ‘traditional link between increase in road use and fuel duty revenue weakens’.

While the workplace parking levy is being considered, let’s call it what it is – a tax on the motorist – we should understand that city centre retail businesses and manufacturing / commercial businesses are already struggling under the weight of financial obligation, and in all ways, this will further that strain.

Even passing the cost on to an employee would mean a higher chance of that employee looking for work elsewhere, leading to admin, onboarding and training costs. Using Nottingham as an example, 500 companies are affected, these companies bring in £9,000,000 pa in WPL charges, or £18,000 each as an average.

While one can agree that congestion is bad, or that air-pollution levels are in need of some serious help, if we’re genuinely looking toward the green argument, then surely the way forward is to incentivise cleaner technology, not punish those that are already struggling to fund a cleaner vehicle?

What do you think of the WPL idea? Is this just another indirect tax on the motorist? Let us know in the comments.

With the judgement on whether you are able to drive placed on the driver’s shoulders, it begs to pose the question, is the current law fit for purpose as the average population age rises along with life expectancy?

More dangerous than ‘boy racers’

However, Edmund King, president of the AA, said “We wish the Duke of Edinburgh well. Many commentators use high profile car crashes involving elderly drivers as a reason to call for bans or restrictions on older drivers.

If driving restrictions based on age and safety were introduced, we would be more likely to restrict young drivers rather than older drivers.

Young, predominantly male, drivers are much more likely to crash within six months of passing their test than older drivers within six months of hanging up their keys.

He went on to say “The decision to hang up your keys is a tough one but should be based on personal advice from your GP and family rather than being based on some arbitrary age,

We all age differently and the car is an essential lifeline for many elderly people.”

The law and older drivers

There is no law on repeated eye tests, which makes it easy for you not to notice that you need glasses. Over the past few months, there has been a big push for eye tests every so often to be made compulsory under UK law.

Unless you have a declarable medical condition, there is no law on medical fitness or a medical assessment, apart from those driving minibuses or any large commercial vehicles.

Advice for older drivers

They encourage drivers to drive during daylight and avoid unknown routes unless necessary. Only two weeks ago we reported that collisions due to cautious drivers are up by a third, and those who are driving in unfamiliar areas are often much more cautious.

Once you reach the age of 60, you are automatically entitled to a free eye test. It is worth booking in and taking advantage of this, as it can help to detect other medical conditions, not just your eyesight.

Keep fit by doing 15-20 minutes of exercise a day. Whether this is a short walk through a local park, or attending a class at your nearest gym, keeping fit will make sure your joints are mobile and can help with coordination, both useful skills for driving.

Get a drivers assessment or speak to a local driving instructor for a one-off lesson that you can use to make sure you are aware of the roads. With this, you also get a professionals opinion on how you drive and things for you to watch out on. The Older Drivers Forum has a great collection of courses by professional bodies such as the Fire and Rescue service, the Insititute of Advanced Motorists and more. The aim of these is not to criticise your driving but instead to make sure that you are confident on the roads, and to keep you driving for longer.

Take a look at your car. Is it the most appropriate for your needs, and have your needs changed? What may have been a luxury, good-looking car may now need to turn into something that is easy to get in and out of, clear speedometer and bright enough lights.

Sgt. Heard from the Older Drivers Forum said that those who have a eye test and driving assessment regularly are less likely to crash or be involved with a collision, so it is worth investing in these things before it is too late.

Every year, car manufacturers recall around a million vehicles for safety checks or repairs, under the vehicle safety recall scheme. One in 13 cars on UK roads right now has had a safety recall issued but has not had the issue resolved.

In an interview with motoring magazine Auto Express, The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) who, together with car manufacturers and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) oversee the recall scheme on behalf of the government, said they now want the MOT test to include a check for recalls, to encourage owners to act on recall notices sent out by manufacturers and make sure that owners are not driving vehicles with dangerous issues they don’t know about, unaware.

Total recall

There were significant changes made to the MOT last year; with stricter emissions checks and new defect categories. Over one million UK cars have failed the revised MOT test because of a fault that categorised as ‘dangerous’ under the new rules introduced in May 2018. These more rigorous assessments judge these vehicles to pose an ‘immediate risk to road safety and/or a serious impact on the environment’. With around 2.39 million cars with outstanding safety recalls in the UK, this latest change could mean even more vehicles failing.

Safety recalls most often involve issues with airbags, brakes, fuel, steering, seatbelts, or an issue which causes the risk of fire. These defects are difficult to find during routine maintenance and can—as defined by the DVSA—involve ‘sudden and catastrophic failure’, with little or no warning to enable the driver to take preventative action.

Many drivers are unaware their car is subject to an outstanding safety recall because the manufacturer wasn’t able to contact them because of a change of registered keeper or because of a non-notification of a change of address. Locating the owners of second-hand vehicles is more difficult because it‘s almost impossible for car manufacturers to find the owners who use independent businesses for the servicing and maintenance of their cars instead of using franchised garages.

By law, dealers must check for outstanding recalls before the car leaves the forecourt, but, because no law exists to force owners to fix dangerous faults, if you buy from a private seller, it’s possible the owner ignored a past recall.

Ironing out the details

When interviewed by Auto Express, Neil Barlow, Head of MOT Policy and the MOT Service Manager at DVSA said the DVSA will work with the Department for Transport to decide how they can adjust the MOT system to cover outstanding future safety recalls.

“It would make logical sense where appropriate for the MOT to be aligned with the safety recalls system,” Mr Barlow said, adding, “work will need to take place to minimise the time between the repair being carried out and a database being updated.”

So, should drivers have concerns over facing possible instant MOT failures? Mr Barlow said owners needed ‘reasonable time’ to get any recall issues fixed and that the DVSA “has to also ensure that motorists have fair warning of newly added recalls,”, and that manufacturers ‘harmonise’ the way they record safety recalls “so that all vehicle types are covered”.

Auto Express also spoke to President of the AA, Edmund King who expressed:

“Generally, the recall system in the UK works quite well.”

“The MOT system should be used to flag up to owners recalls that haven’t been acted on, as advisory notifications,” he said and added that safety recalls “should only lead to an automatic fail if the recall fault is a major safety risk or has already been flagged up at a previous MOT.”

In Germany, recall checks are already part of their equivalent of the roadworthiness assessment and the car only fails the check if the registered keeper has not acted on the recall issue by the time the garage retests the vehicle.

How safe is your car?

If your car’s manufacturer recalls your vehicle for a safety reason, the manufacturer will send you a letter telling you why it’s being recalled and what you need to do next. You shouldn’t have to pay for any repairs or parts.

If you find a serious defect that affects the safety of your vehicle, one of its parts, or an accessory, report it straight away. You must give details of what happened and provide the vehicle registration; the make, model, and year of the vehicle; the current mileage, if the car has a manual or automatic gearbox, and whether engine uses petrol or diesel. Include any photos you have of the defect.

By law, you‘re responsible for making sure you keep your vehicle in a safe condition. If you don‘t get your vehicle inspected and fixed, you not only put yourself and others at serious risk, but you may invalidate any insurance claim you make. For driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition you could get a fine of up to £2,500, three points on your licence, or receive a driving ban.

In February 2018 the DVSA launched a vehicle recall checker where you can check to see if your car needs to go back to the manufacturer to resolve any issue. You only need to know the vehicle’s registration number.

Have you ever received a safety recall notice for your vehicle? Are you in favour of the proposed changes to the MOT? Let us know your views in the comments.