Motorists now face having their car towed away if it is parked on the pavement in a crackdown on this driving offence by police. Any vehicle which has been parked on a pavement in a way that causes an obstruction is at risk of being removed due to it being potentially dangerous for pedestrians, pushchairs, mobility scooters, and the visually impaired.
This warning has originated from police officers in Oldham who have flagged that motorists parking on the pavement in one area, in particular, is forcing people into a hectic road. Those found to be leaving their cars where they create an obstruction will receive a ticket first, and then their vehicle will be towed away if the car is not removed or they park there again.
Parking issues in Oldham
A stern warning has been sent to motorists by Oldham police as they have found that cars being parked on the footpaths just below Greenfield Station on Shaw Hill Bank Road have been obstructing the walkway, which has both caused excessive traffic and meant that people have had to walk in the road to get around them. It seems that drivers are parking here and then catching the train to work for the last leg of their journey and parking here to avoid paying to park in the rail car park.
Cars parked here will now receive a fixed penalty notice and face being towed, which will cost the offending motorist a £70 parking fine and £250 to recover a towed vehicle from the police.
But Oldham isn’t the only place in the country with the same issue. All over the UK drivers are resorting to parking on pavements to avoid paying to park in the proper areas that may also be further away.
Wider concerns about vehicles obstructing pavements
The main concern of parking on or across pavements is that it can cause an obstruction which means that those using mobility scooters or wheelchairs, or individuals who are visually impaired, could be trapped on the pavement and forced to move around the vehicle and into the road.
This has resulted in a spokesperson from the charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind suggesting that the Government should make parking on the pavement a clear offence as it can be hazardous for those who rely on the pavements to travel safely and without risk.
A study by Co-Op Insurance last year revealed that that 39% of British drivers are guilty of parking on pavements and 17% have done this because they have seen others do so. In addition to this, almost three-quarters of those in the study said that parking on the pavement often offers the best or most suitable option as they have limited places to park, especially when they have multiple cars per household.
Pavement parking law confusion
Laws around parking on pavements in the UK seems to confuse motorists as the Highway Code states that it is only London where people definitely cannot park on pavements, whereas in the rest of the country this offence is dealt with on a case by case basis.
Rule 244 of the Highway Code says that drivers “must not park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it”, which means that you could be punished at the discretion of the police. There is no obligation for police to issue you with a fine.
To add further confusion, it has been illegal to drive on the pavement in the UK since 1883, which anyone parking on the pavement would have to do to leave their drive if there is a pavement in front of it as many houses have converted their front gardens into car parks for their home
If you are caught parking on the pavement you can be fined £70, and the maximum fee for causing a significant obstruction is £1000, although there are no figures on how likely it is that this fee would be enforced. We could not find any record of anyone receiving a fine for obstruction by parking on the pavement.
Our advice is to plan well ahead and try to avoid parking on pavements. Use handy services like Just Park, that enables you to pay a low fee to park on someone else’s drive quickly and easily.
What do you think about parking on the pavement? Are there any situations in which you think that parking on the pavement is a suitable option? Let us know in the comments below.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have voiced their concerns over the loan default rates for high-risk borrowers as interest rates rise. One area of particular worry is the subprime car finance industry.
The FCA has looked at the growing levels at which borrowers with poor credit ratings are defaulting on car loan payments. They feel that if the economy was to worsen in the next few years, it could act as a tipping point which could trigger a massive spike in loan defaults, similar in scale to the housing market crash of 2008.
Growing problems
The FCA report looked at arrears and defaults on car loans and found they had increased somewhat, in particular for ‘higher credit risk consumers.’ Their concern is that borrowers are being issued high-interest loans when they have a poor credit rating and brokers are making huge profits without considering the problems the borrower could face.
The FCA is sending out mystery shoppers to assess the customer journey process in purchasing a car. These shoppers will check whether lenders are complying with regulations and make sure they are giving consumers enough information about the loans they are taking on and more importantly, declining those who fail to pass their credit checks rather than providing easy subprime credit to those they know may not be able to afford it.
Ongoing enquiry
The latest report is part of an ongoing enquiry into the car finance industry that the FCA announced in April 2017. At the time, it said it was concerned about a ‘lack of transparency’ in the industry and was conducting a full enquiry. The results of this are due in September, but the FCA has issued an interim report with some findings. Generally, the report’s findings are positive, but there are worries about this particular area.
Jonathan Davies, executive director of supervision for the FCA said the news was good so far, but the highlighted problems with poor credit rate consumer defaults are something worth watching. In current favourable credit and economic conditions, the problem isn’t a big one, but their worry is if things take a downward turn with Brexit, the situation could get a lot worse quickly.
Debt level concerns
The FCA report is just one that highlights a growing concern about a time bomb of borrowing. Debt levels in the UK are close to the peak from September 2008, and a ‘significant’ number of households are in so much debt that even a small change in circumstances would mean they were in financial trouble.
Bank of England figures show that consumer credit rose 9.3% in the year to January 2018, a slight decline on the previous period but still close to the pre-Financial Crisis levels. While circumstances are different to a decade ago, there are still worrying numbers of people that are close to being in too much debt, the FCA admitted.
Car finance is highlighted, but other areas also show potential problems. One in five mortgages is interest only, taken at the height of the credit boom by people with little equity in their homes and not much disposable income. These won’t mature until the 2030s. Arrears and default rates are still low, but if the economy takes a downward turn, these problems could escalate.
New car finance
Another area of concern is that new finance contracts now account for 88% of the new car registrations in 2017, compared to just 59% in 2008. The average value of those contracts has also increased from £13,500 in 2013 to just below £15,000 in 2016.
This paints a picture of people buying a more expensive car on finance, putting down a smaller deposit and having potential repayment problems down the line. The most significant area of growth remains among those with higher credit ratings, but those with lower credit scores were more likely to run into trouble.
Personal contract purchase agreements or PCPs are a popular option for people due to their low monthly repayment, but these types of agreements are particularly vulnerable to the change in economic status. And with the uncertainty around Brexit still firmly in the mind of the FCA and others, there is a concern that people who are just affording their car payments now may find it impossible if things take a downward spiral in a post-Brexit no deal environment.
What do you think about car loans being given under high-interest rates and low credit terms? Is the FCA overreacting to this and blaming the threat of Brexit or their concerns valid and real? Let us know in the comments below.
In the Autumn Budget, a range of changes to vehicle excise duty (VED) were announced that impact many motorists. But a new survey by Confused.com shows that 90% of us don’t really know how these measures will affect us when the changes happen. And with rises to cost of an annual VED being potentially as much as £500 for some larger new diesel vehicles, some motorists could be in for a nasty surprise in the coming months when they renew their road tax for the new year.
New vehicle excise duty rules
The most important changes announced in the last budget was around vehicle excise duty and the new rules mean that they will increase for owners of new diesel cars from April 1st. The change could see some vehicles paying more than £500 in tax in the first year of ownership.
A recent survey showed that 87% of drivers were unclear about the changes or were unaware that the new diesel duty system was coming in. The new rules not only apply to diesel cars bought from April onwards but will mean all 17-plate diesel vehicles will be one tax band higher. The aim of ministers is to put people off buying new diesel vehicles as much as possible.
Diesel increases
Many diesel vehicles will be around £20 a year more expensive, but the bigger models will see a significant hike in cost for the first year on the road. Even the most efficient diesel model, the Peugeot 208 1.6-litre BlueHDI Active 75 which produces as little as 78g/km will be affected. This is despite it being the cleanest non-hybrid or electric vehicle on the market.
Some of the premium diesel vehicles such as the Mercedes Benz GLE 350d AMG 4Matic and the Range Rover 4.4 SDV8 could see their first year’s car tax rise from around £1,500 to around £2,000 when the new rules come in.
It is not just the big luxury vehicles that are being hit. Affordable family cars such as the Hyundai i800 PMV and the SsangYong Rexton SUV will also fall into the increased bracket with car tax costs rising by £500 a year.
Apart from penalising diesel drivers, the aim of the new VED rules was to simplify the system and make it easier to see how much you would be paying. It followed the increase in VED for the first year, introduced in April 2017.
The new system is as follows for existing car owners:
• £140 a year for petrol or diesel vehicles
• £130 a year for alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrids or LPG
• £0 a year for zero CO2 emissions
This means that electric cars worth less than £40,000 will have no car tax. All vehicles worth £40,000 or more will have an added surcharge of £310 on top of the standard rate for five years. After this period the charge will drop back to standard rates.
The government also said that from 2020, a third change to car tax will take place with the bands being adjusted to match the latest fuel economy tests. This measures emissions outputs from the new style tests that have been implemented since September last year.
Survey results
According to the survey from Confused.com not only do 90% of drivers they spoke to not understand the new changes, but some also had no idea that the first year’s tax would cost more than other years. For those who were aware, it does seem to have had an impact on their buying choices.
Three in five said they wouldn’t be buying a new diesel for their next vehicle and around one third said this was directly due to the increase in tax. 46% of the survey group felt uncertain about purchasing a diesel vehicle as they were unclear how it would be worked out financially for them.
Experts also believe that this isn’t the end of surcharges or increases in costs for diesel drivers. As the government works towards their aim of banning new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, more steps will be taken to discourage drivers – or make it too expensive to buy them new, or perhaps even second hand.
What do you think of these changes to VED? Are the Government tackling one problem at the expense of not hitting the other main causes of NOx, such as public transport, trucks, ships and central heating systems? Let us know in the comments below.
New reports show that fuel card usage amongst UK businesses is at its highest ever levels, with it now being a £7billion a year sector. Fuel expenditure is one of the largest expenses for any size company and more firms than ever are seeking ways to keep fuel costs under control.
What is driving growth in fuel card usage is a wave of new technology in the form of easy to use telematics software that tracks payments quickly and easily that also allows you to track expenses for HMRC fuel mileage payments compliantly. However, most companies feel that the primary benefits of fuel cards remain the fuel price discounts and the coverage of stations where they are accepted.
Fuel card growth goes global
Europe dominates the global fuel card market accounting for 28% of all market share, and the UK is a leading sector. In 2016, over 156,000 new cards were issued, totalling 3.3 million fuel cards in active circulation in the UK. Of those cards, 82.0% will be held by fleet vehicles and 18.0% by CRT vehicles.
Total fleet card volumes rose by 3.8% to 3,686m litres continuing an upward trend that started in 2013. That growth is also the same in the rest of the world. The global fuel cards market was valued at almost $267 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach around $401 billion by 2021.
Fuel card features
The growth of fuel card usage is also driven by the added value features that most fuel cards now contain.
Many fuel card providers offer a range of features apart from purchasing fuels such as payment of tolls, parking and reporting tools; access to real-time data; prediction of expenses; VAT recovery; breakdown assistance; payments for lubricants, vehicle accessories, car washes, food and refreshments.
Such value-added services help fleet managers minimise fraudulent claims, improve fuel management, and drive the growth of the fuel cards market. Furthermore, suppliers also send out latest news, offers and updates on fuel prices to enable customers to obtain more value from their cards.
The availability of real-time data in telematics also enables fleet managers and drivers to receive regular updates on fuel prices at locations throughout the country, helping buyers to identify outlets that offer the lowest possible fuel prices as they drive.
Fuel prices rise
Over the last two years, we have seen a gradual increase in UK fuel prices, which is another important factor leading to a rise in fuel card usage. Since January 2016, the price of crude oil has risen consistently, and it is now around at the $60-65 per barrel mark. The crude oil market price directly affects the price of fuel that we pay in forecourts. There are several factors behind the price increase, but the main reason is due to a controlled reduction in the global production of oil, agreed by OPEC, Russia and the USA.
With trends looking like the production of oil will fall, and the price of oil continues to rise, it looks there will be a slow but continued rise. Unless something drastic happens, fuel prices are most likely going to continue to rise. This is why it’s more important than ever for businesses to look at ways to ensure fuel costs are lowered, such as via fuel cards.
Fuel card technology trends
The good news is that the future for the fuel card industry looks as promising as ever if they can tackle one of its more fundamental problems: fossil fuels running out by 2050!
Payment for Electric Vehicles (EVs) is at its formative stages, but it’s only a question of time before someone launches a fuel card for fleets of EV cars or trucks.The market for electric fleets is non-existent at the moment, but Tesla has already had so many advance order for their electric trucks that they have a three-year waiting list.
Other forms of technology are soon to reach fruition in the fuel cards market, improvements in telematics technology appear to be the greatest real benefits.
Angad Singh, a procurement specialist at Technavio, “Suppliers in the market are increasingly embedding telematics interface and reporting facilities in fuel cards to improve the efficiency of fleet management. This brings about the transparency of fuel spend across the fleet as well as helps improve driver behaviour with regard to fuel spending.”
Fuel card feedback
Fuel Card Services is one of the UK’s leading providers of fuel cards. There are thousands of products out there, so finding the right ones for your business can often be hard. Fuel Card Services provides a free and impartial advice service to PetrolPrices members, where after a short consultation they can advise on the best deals to suit your business and staff.
Here are some other companies that have worked with Fuel Card Service and their feedback:
“Cost management is essential, and Fuel Card Services offers us much more than our former supplier. We now pay significantly less than the pump prices we were previously charged and no longer have to pay a transaction fee every time that a driver refuels. If we ever need anything, I always call our dedicated account manager, Rachel, and get fast, friendly help. Talking to the same person every time is so much better than joining a call centre queue to talk to a random stranger.” Jane Dodd, Accounts Director, Barwit Control Systems
“The continuing cost savings are significant, and the excellent personal service makes a real difference. For a successful and growing organisation, in a dynamic industry, the ability to make changes quickly and easily is important. Fuel Card Services is better [than our previous supplier] in every way, from the personal service to the real cost savings.” Fred Joseph, Assistant Fleet Manager, JCDecaux
“Our Shell fuel cards mean that we regularly pay up to 4p per litre less than pump prices, regardless of where the drivers refuel. As a bonus, being notified each Friday of our fixed diesel price for the coming week is a real help in cash flow planning. Even better, we do not have to factor in the transaction charges and network fees that other suppliers charge.” -Martin Drury, Managing Director, Sandwich Express
PetrolPrices fuel card offer
PetrolPrices customers get their first-year fee free with Fuel Card Services, equating to a saving of around £9 per driver. Once you have filled in a short form that takes 1 minute, an adviser will call you to discuss your specific needs and provide you with a free quote for your business. Just click on start now to begin the form.
Men have long said that women are the worse drivers. Women have vigorously defended their abilities behind the wheel. But new research does back the claim that women are worse drivers than men – but men shouldn’t gloat just yet.
Motor insurance company, Diamond, recently did some research into accident statistics and found that nearly half a million accidents a year were caused by women applying their make up while behind the wheel. Other causes were more to do with busy lives – 10% of accidents involving woman drivers occurred while on the school run compared to just over 1% for men for instance.
Women driver stress
Solicitors admit they have seen a 50% rise in the last year in cases where women have approached them because they are facing charges of driving without due care and attention. A classic example of this was a woman in her 40’s who had driven into the back of another car on a busy road and was facing a charge. She was distraught having never been in trouble before, but she was having marital problems and wasn’t concentrating properly at the wheel.
Driver stress caused by busy lifestyles appears to be a leading cause of accidents among middle-aged women. If you combine a driving experience with children in the car that are causing disruption with a stressed mum, this can lead to higher stress and more minor accidents.
Demands of life
A study from the University of Michigan also concluded that women were more likely to be involved in an accident. They looked at 6.5 million car crashes and found a higher than anticipated number of cases, involving two women drivers in a collision. They also found that women have more problems with crossroads, T-junctions and slip roads.
The RAC admit not to have studied the situation themselves, but a spokesperson said that they did find the figures unsurprising. Women are under higher pressure, often juggling tasks and responsibilities. This scenario is backed up by the fact that it is middle-aged women who are responsible for the highest number of cases.
Solicitors representing these women tell a similar story – work, running the home, looking after the children and mental health can all build up and affect concentration. Most of these women are running into trouble for the first time.
Problem-solving not working
Anxiety specialist, Dr Sandi Mann from the Mind Training Clinic in Manchester, pointed out that many women are juggling different aspects of their lives and the mind wanders to problem-solving. It is okay when you are out walking but can be potentially lethal when you are driving a car.
Alcohol is another factor that can lead to problems. Research from Insurance, Revolution, discovered that driving convictions handed to women see more than one third being for drink driving offences committed by the 45 to 60 age group.
Men are likely to be younger, with one-third of these convictions awarded to the 25 to 34 age group. For men of the middle age group, the most common offence is speeding. They are more experienced motorists and think they can drive at higher speed, thus breaking the law.
For women, 64% of convictions are for more serious motoring offences including causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence. Experts say this is because some women use drink to help them cope – female professionals have a high rate of alcohol problems but are often well hidden behind a controlled exterior.
Dealing with the problem
Dealing with all aspects of life is a big problem for women drivers. And, getting the children to behave in the car can be a significant factor too as many women say driving and dealing with their children leads to accidents. According to the Supernanny website, the key for parents is to create a routine that settles the children and rewards their good behaviour. It makes for quiet and relaxed car journeys.
While men may feel somewhat vindicated in the figures, showing that women are involved in more accidents than they are, maybe the bigger question is what we can do to help these women? Whether it is helping to manage the stresses of life or merely taking the school run a little more often, maybe men can help women lower their accident rates, and everyone stays safe.
Are women drivers worse than male drivers? Is this there are more distractions when women drive then men do? Is it really a fair comparison of driving ability? Let us know in the comments below.
New documents published by the European Commission show that they will reject UK driving licences as being valid for use in the EU after Brexit and intend to charge a fee for drivers in the form of a driving permit to be able to drive on the continent.
In the report, it seems that after Brexit formally happens, there will no longer be ‘mutual recognition of driving licences, vehicle registration documents and certificates of professional competence for drivers. All current EU law-based rights, obligations and benefits cease, meaning that our current driving regulations in relation to driving in the EU will change, but to what extent is currently unknown.
If no negotiations for licence recognition are put in place, then UK drivers may have to register for an International Driving Permit (IDP) to be able to drive in the EU member states. While contingency plans are being put in place to help protect British drivers, there will most certainly be a change to our driving laws as Brexit negotiations go through, which the EU state “is a consequence of the UK becoming a third country in the road transport sector.”
After Brexit happens, anyone who wants to drive in EU member states might have to register for an IDP. The International Driving Permit – an official multilingual licence, would need to be shown if pulled over when driving in the EU. These are currently in place around the globe, with 140 countries currently recommending or requiring one. Because Britain is becoming what is known as a ‘third country’ which is simply a country that is not part of the EU, we will have to anticipate this change.
As well as potentially stopping drivers from bringing their cars abroad, the new agreements may also prevent you hiring a car with a UK licence. It is thought that an additional permit may be required to allow you to hire a car and a further cost. At the moment, hiring a car in Europe has the same restrictions as in the UK and no charges, but it looks like that could all change after Brexit.
UK licence compromise proposal
The Department for Transport (DfT) responded to these new suggestions and regulations by saying that they will look into creating a deal with the EU of ‘mutual licence recognition’ as that is ‘in the interest of both sides.’
There is a suggestion that by next year, ministers may have the ability to charge and restrict drivers who are bringing their cars into the UK from abroad, allowing a two-way exchange of regulations. These restrictions would most likely be the same as what would be placed on British drivers; the need for an IDP, higher restrictions on hiring a car in the UK and potentially higher charges to bring a car in.
If UK law similarly restricts European drivers, then that will cause a loss in tourism revenue and the economy will be affected, hence the DfT push to gain mutual licence recognition. If we gain mutual licence recognition, it could potentially negate the need for an IDP when driving in the EU and a special permit for EU car hire. However, there still may be a possibility that one would be required as an extra layer of protection for both sides.
The UK has already started to plan, with plans to ratify the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic to allow drivers in all member states, excluding Germany, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. If the UK also ratifies and transposes the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic into our national law, then those five countries will be included so that UK driving licences should be accepted in the EU.
A DfT spokesman said, “ratifying the Vienna Convention will guarantee that UK driving licences will be accepted throughout the EU when held with the relevant supporting IDP.” These plans, however, are only in case the DfT mutual licence recognition is not in place in time and provide a safety net for UK drivers. It also works in the case of a no deal, to allow basic connectivity in the transport sector.
UPDATE On the 20th March at 9:32am the government announced their official plans on ratifying the Vienna convention, meaning that the plans to introduce IDPs, as outlined in this article are officially confirmed. For more information, please head here
What do you think the government should do here? Should British drivers have to use an IDP after Brexit? Should we equally demand to see an IDP from EU drivers arriving in the UK? Let us know in the comments below
If you thought that using a council-owned car park was expensive, the bad news is that it is going to get worse. Car park spaces and residents’ permits are set to increase with some costing as much as 45% more than last year, and the previously free Sunday parking rules may also be removed or tightened.
The aim is for councils to use the fees to plug holes in their budgets and potholes literally, but the result is putting more pressure on motorists. The average council car parking charges are due to increase by a whopping 25%, which is 8 times the current rate of inflation. On top of this increase, local councils are upping council tax from April by 3.5% on average so it really is a massive kick in the teeth to residents.
The picture around the country
Many local newspapers are already reporting on the increases in their areas, building an image of price increases around the UK.
Bournemouth residents are facing a rise from the middle of March with most tariffs increasing by 50p, while town centre car parking will start from £2.50 for two hours. The annual permit will rise by around £10 a month, with the highest cost increase soaring from £750 to £890. The changes will make Bournemouth the most expensive place to park in the area.
Despite opposition from other parties, the Labour council in Bristol passed a new budget that included the re-introduction of Sunday parking fees. These were abolished in 2012, but the council has decided to bring them back. New fines for driving in bus lanes are also expected to bring in £100,000 in extra income.
Dover is another council introducing Sunday parking charges and, along with other increases in the cost of parking, are expecting to bring in another £200,000 in funds to the council coffers. Brighton council have left most of their parking costs untouched, but visitor permits have increased by 50p while parking for up to four hours or more in Regency Square.
Cheltenham is one place where substantial parking cost increases have been approached, with those using the town centre car parks seeing a 45% increase in the cost. Areas such as High Street and Sherbourne Place will see a rise from £5.50 to £8 to park up to four hours or more.
Thanet Council has increased their parking by an average of 20p an hour, but some spots have increased by 90p an hour while free parking on Saturdays, at the Royal Harbour car park, has been removed entirely. Reading council plans to expand on-street pay and display meters by 10p per tariff band and scrapping free evening and Sunday parking in the town centre.
Flintshire authority is also proposing new charges for parking including a new all day £1.50 charge. It is still cheaper than neighbouring areas, where it can cost up to £7 a day to park in the town centres for the day. Leicester council have so far announced that they are limiting residents to four permits per household and new visitor parking permits will be introduced costing £30.
Abandoning the town centre
The worries about the effects of the increased car park charges go beyond the simple cost for motorists. MP, Sir Greg Knight, was one to voice concern about the damage to high streets as people switch their shopping to out of town centres with free parking.
He pointed out that the problems facing businesses, from online shopping, could be made worse as people find it too expensive to shop in the town centres. It could drive more companies into liquidation, where businesses are based in smaller town units rather than large out of town ones.
The price rises will certainly deter many from driving into town centres, which could have the unintended knock-on effect of killing off small, independent shops and businesses in the process. What is perhaps most frustrating is the arbitrary nature of these increases without Government being able to intervene and block what they see as excessive increases if they are against the public interest. But of course, the Government is utterly silent because they know these increases are because of their own spending cuts with local councils who are forced to tax residents more.
Ignoring recommendations
In fact, the increases to parking charges are a direct ignoring of the recommendation from an independent report commissioned by the government in 2011. Held by the retail guru, Mary Portas, it recommended free parking in town centres as a way to stimulate the local economy.
Instead, councils seem to have opted to try and grab yet more money from motorists who are already facing an increase in the number of fines that councils can collect. Councils hit back saying that they need to raise funds, if essential services are to be maintained, and insist that increased charges will be funnelled back into the transport network, to repair potholes that are at record levels and other road improvements.
How angry are you at these price rises on parking by local councils? Who do you think is ultimately to blame for this? If the funds raised were used only for fixing potholes and improving roads would you be happy to pay the charges? Let us know in the comments below.
The end of February saw a landmark announcement from German law courts. In a significant ruling, older diesel cars will now be banned from some German city centres. The move is aimed at reducing pollution levels to hit EU targets, which are a leading cause of toxic fumes and associated deaths from respiratory diseases.
However, the legal course of banning just older diesel cars is unlikely to happen in UK cities. The Government and councils are taking a “clear air approach” by looking across a range of types of solutions, such as charges and fines. Oxford City Council is the only city to take the German line and consider banning all polluting vehicles by a set date.
Focused German ban
The German solution to the problem of poor city air quality saw the cities of Stuttgart, Leipzig and Dusseldorf legally ban older, more polluting diesel cars from the areas of the cities most affected by pollution. The ruling creates a precedent for other cities across Germany to consider taking similar moves – despite the government saying they are against the move.
The case was brought by environmental group DUH after 70 cities across Germany were found to have exceeded the limits set by the EU for nitrogen oxides (NOx). Diesel emissions contain nitrogen oxides, and these particles relate to causing respiratory disease.
UK “clean air” position
Here in the UK, there is little momentum to follow the move, although there are the same legal obligations and targets from the EU to reduce pollution levels here as in Germany. The UK government is set on a different path including creating clean air zones where polluting older diesel cars will be charged to enter or park rather than banned outright
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has created the idea of clean air zones as the quickest way to bring down pollution levels. Currently, Oxford is the only local authority considering a German-style blanket ban.
The Oxford idea
The city council are currently looking at banning all non-zero emissions cars from the city centre. Under the plan, all taxis, buses and light commercial vehicles, as well as cars, could be banned from certain areas if they pollute in any way. This would be put into force by 2020 and would extend to cover the whole city centre by 2035.
Councillor John Tanner, Oxford City Council Executive Board Member for A Clean and Green Oxford, said: “Toxic and illegal air pollution in the city centre is damaging the health of Oxford’s residents. A step change is urgently needed; the Zero Emission Zone is that step change.
“All of us who drive or use petrol or diesel vehicles through Oxford are contributing to the city’s toxic air. Everyone needs to do their bit – from national Government and local authorities to businesses and residents – to end this public health emergency.
“The County and City together are proposing a staged Zero Emission Zone from 2020 in the city centre, with additional measures to bring down chronic pollution in St Clement’s Street, High Street and St Aldate’s. Everyone who uses Oxford centre has the right to breathe clean air.”
Other ways to deal with the problem
Italy’s capital Rome is another city that plans to ban diesel cars by 2024 from the city centre. Rome is one of the most congested cities in Europe and with its many ancient monuments, pollution is a risk to people and also to its heritage.
Other cities including Paris, Madrid, Athens and Mexico City are looking at the possibility of a diesel ban by 2025. The Mayor of Copenhagen in Denmark is taking a bolder move – he wants to ban diesel cars by as early as next year from the city centre.
Falling numbers
The future looks bleak for diesel but also petrol cars. The government has already announced a ban on both by 2040 for new vehicles and many local authorities are planning measures much before this. London’s Congestion Charge and T-Charge zones are examples of schemes already in place.
With pressure from the courts to do something about air quality, there is growing pressure on the government to do something. Moreover, with diesel sale numbers falling rapidly, the future does not look bright for diesel. It may soon be vanishing from our streets altogether although blanket city bans do not look to be on the horizon here in the UK – just yet.
What do you think about German moves to outright ban older diesel vehicles instead of a toxicity charge to enter or park? What do you think about Oxford’s plans? Are they the right approach or do you think its impractical? Let us know in the comments below.
For many years, the aim of the Government and the motor industry has been to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which are recognised as a primary cause of global warming and damage to the ozone layer; these harmful emissions have been in decline. However, the average figure for 2017 shows that for the first time since this realisation, levels of CO2 from new cars has actually risen.
The underlying cause of this rise is drivers are trading in their old diesel cars, and while only a tiny percentage are buying electric or hybrid cars, the vast majority are buying petrol driven cars with larger engines that emit more CO2 than earlier models.
Worrying emissions figures
According to figures, emissions from new vehicles sold in the UK have risen for the first time since records were started. The Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) figures show that the CO2 emissions from new cars rose in 2017, as more buyers move away from diesel vehicles, for fear of higher taxes and running costs as well as the steep depreciation in their value.
The results were not a complete surprise as figures towards the end of 2017 predicted that there would be a rise in emissions for the first time in 19 years, but the confirmation still caused shock. The report highlights the cost of the “anti-diesel crusade”, which includes new surcharges for new cars, and councils being allowed to implement punitive measures against diesel cars entering cities or even parking are planned across the UK.
The average emissions emitted from new vehicles sold last year was 121 g/km. This is only a small 0.8% rise on the previous figures, but it is the first upward movement in two decades.
Missing EU emissions targets
According to the figures, the stalled progress on the climate change means that the UK may face missing out on the CO2 targets for 2021. EU restrictions say that the industry needs to reduce the average vehicle emissions to 95 g/km by 2021, requiring that each year the output declines by 5.9%. This means that the slight increase is a much bigger problem when taking into account the decrease goal.
The main reason behind this changing figure is the decline in the number of diesel vehicles being bought. Diesel sales are down by 8% across Europe, and there’s a 17% decline in new diesel registrations in the UK. This decline means that manufacturers are starting to pull diesel as an option in their ranges.
Porsche announced that it is stopping all diesel variants in its range with immediate effect. FCA who own Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Maserati, are also expected to announce a similar move this week that will take effect from 2022.
Part of this is the new emission tests that were introduced last year. These have made it more difficult to get vehicles to reach the required Euro 6 standard. It also means that the chances of diesel remaining an option in the future are looking increasingly unlikely.
Large switch to petrol SUVs
Environmental action group, Greenpeace, was quick to release a statement highlighting the UK motor industry was to blame for the negative CO2 results. Clean air campaigner for the group, Paul Morozzo, said that the ‘SMMT was trying to shift blame’ and that the industry had failed to table the carbon emissions from cars.’
Part of the problem is that there is a large shift from diesel to SUVs, and this had a negative impact on CO2 levels as these vehicles often release more of this pollution. Greenpeace also disputes the idea of ‘clean diesel’, and they believe that there’s no better alternative. According to them, there should be a focus on making clean electric vehicles that are ‘affordable and accessible for all.’
The switch from diesel to petrol, which typically emits more CO2, shows that people are not yet seriously considering electric cars as an option. One survey from Auto Trader showed that 59% of diesel and petrol car buyers in the last six months did not opt for electric because of the upfront costs and no increase in grants from the government, to reduce premiums associated with zero emissions models.
This shows that if the Government is serious about the switch to electric, more needs to be done to make it appealing to drivers, rather than just telling them about the perils of CO2 emissions.
What do you think about the first increase in CO2 emissions in 19 years? Do you think that the Government is to blame for this supported by local councils or is the car makers for lying about diesel in the first place? Let us know in the comments below.
Although drivers usually leave their MOT until the last minute, this month it could be a dangerous tactic as nearly half a million cars are due their first MOTs in March and this is in addition to older cars which also need their MOT done during this time. If a driver does not have a valid MOT certificate, they will not be able to drive their vehicle until they do.
Kwik Fit, who are the largest MOT tester in the country, has said that records will be broken this March as mechanics will have to deal with an onslaught of bookings brought on by a spike in new car sales from March 2015. As these new cars reach the end of their period without needing an MOT, they will need to get their first MOT approved at garages across the UK.
Record new car sales
Almost 20% of all new cars are bought in March so that people can get hold of the first new registration plates of the year. The system was changed a few years ago to one where we get two different registrations per year instead of just one in September to ease the pressure on the motoring industry.
With a record 492,774 cars registered in March 2015 needing their first MOT in March 2018 in line with Driver and Vehicle Standard Agency rules, it is feared that there will be a potential backlog at MOT test centres as they struggle to complete all the tests that are required. There is also a risk that some drivers may not receive a valid MOT certificate in time to drive.
Implications of not having an MOT certificate
This intense demand means that people may struggle to book their MOT if it is due this month, and the impact of not having an MOT and driving your vehicle without a valid certificate is very severe.
Firstly, if you are caught without a valid MOT, you will face a fine of up to £1000, which is far more than the average cost of having the test carried out on your vehicle. The only time that you can drive without a valid MOT certificate is when you are driving to a pre-booked test, which you will need to prove if asked by the Police if they stop you.
In addition to this, driving without a valid MOT invalidates your insurance, so if you are involved in an accident you will need to pay for the damage yourself, even if your car is written off. An MOT checks that your car is safe for use on the road, so by putting it off you also risk causing a possible fatal accident which could also involve innocent parties.
With these financial and safety risks to consider, it is certainly advisable to ensure that you leave plenty of time this month to have your car’s MOT carried out so that you can avoid any severe consequences.
Book your MOT early
You can book your MOT a month before its expiry date to avoid the last-minute rush, and give yourself time to have any repairs carried out should your vehicle fail. The anniversary of your MOT will stay the same, so it will technically be valid for 13 months.
If your car fails its MOT, you will only be able to drive it away from the test centre if its previous certificate is still valid, unless it is deemed ‘un-roadworthy’ in which case you will need to have it fixed before you can take it home.
So if you have been putting off booking your MOT, but it needs to be completed in March, we suggest that you move it to the top of your to-do list to avoid missing out on securing an appointment which will be in high demand across the country.
Are you a driver with a new car who has an MOT due in March? Have you booked it in already or are you finding it difficult? What would you do if you did not get a valid MOT certificate in time? Let us know in the comments below.
