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Michelin has launched its all-season tyre, the new Michelin CrossClimate 2.

The CrossClimate 2 builds on the success of the CrossClimate+, Michelin said, and combines the benefits of a summer tyre in terms of wet and dry braking performance, with the traction and braking benefits of a winter tyre in terms of wet weather grip and driving on snow or in low temperature conditions, it said.

Scott Clark, executive vice-president, automotive, motorsport and member of the Michelin Group executive committee, said: “Since its launch, the original Michelin CrossClimate has had a radical effect on the European all-season tyre market, which has since enjoyed annual growth more than 19%, in addition to being the only segment to have kept growing during lockdown.

“Over the next five years, it is expected to expand at a rate of more than 16% per year. Safer, longer-lasting and more economical, the Michelin CrossClimate 2 is a further illustration of the Group’s All-Sustainable strategy.”

The 3PMSF (3-Peak-Mountain with Snow Flake) logo on the tyres sidewalls confirms that it can be used in winter in countries where winter tyres are mandatory.

Michelin said this means that for drivers who take their vehicles to mainland Europe during the winter months, there will be no need to swap onto winter tyres, and back again, each year.

The CrossClimate2 is available in 105 sizes – a 40% increase compared to its processor – for vehicles with 15- to 20-inches wheels.

Michelin said its technologies ensures high performance through the whole life of a tyre, down to its tread depth marker and its low rolling resistance helps save on fuel, energy and materials.

Michelin said its CrossClimate 2 – both new and worn – came out on top in six out of nine tests (chiefly braking and traction performance tests) in 2020 and 2021. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

New car registrations fell by 22% in August, the lowest performance for the month since 2013.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that 68,033 cars were registered in August 2021, as the automotive sector continues to be constrained by the global semi-conductor shortage and issues caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

While August is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for new car registrations, ahead of the important plate-change in September, last month’s registrations were down 7.6% on a 10-year average.

Registrations by business and fleet buyers fell by double digits in the month with fleet purchases down 27.5%, a loss of 12,627 units. Private activity held up better, registrations dropping 15.2% to 33,771 units, meaning that just shy of half (49.6%) of all sales in August were driven by private consumers.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “The global shortage of semiconductors has affected UK, and indeed global, car production volumes so new car registrations will inevitably be undermined. Government can help by continuing the supportive Covid measures in place currently, especially the furlough scheme which has proven invaluable to so many businesses.”

Jamie Hamilton, automotive director and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, added: “As the semi-conductor shortage continues, even as far as Q2 2022, new car sales will be impacted. All eyes will be on September, with plate change months traditionally leading to some of the biggest months for new car sales. Whilst there will be consumer interest in the new 71-plate, some in the industry are tempering their expectations. Dealer pre-registrations are significant contributors to September’s figure but the motive to pre-reg may be lower-than-normal, as some manufacturers have softened dealer targets and are currently only building to order, anyway.”

Demand for the latest battery electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles, however, surged, up 32.2%, 45.7% and 72.1% respectively. In fact, demand for PHEVs has outpaced BEVs in five of the last six months since changes to the Plug-in Car Grant, affecting BEVs, were introduced in March. There are now some 130 plug-in models on the market.

Meryem Brassington, electrification propositions lead at Lex Autolease said: “The growth in electric and hybrid vehicles is encouraging as ever. The journey to move towards net zero is set to be strengthened even more with the closing of a Government consultation later this month to set the bar on how environmentally friendly a hybrid vehicle has to be to remain on sale post-2030. These positive changes will be crucial to ensuring that even more of the vehicles on the UK’s roads post 2030 are genuinely sustainable and contributing towards the UK’s net zero ambitions.”

The mini segment was the only car bodystyle to see growth, up 30.7%, but with just 902 registrations it is a segment prone to greater fluctuations.

So far this year, UK new car registrations remain up 20.3%, to 1,101,302 registrations, an increase of 185,687 units with BEVs and PHEVs at 8.4% and 6.6% market share respectively. However, this performance is measured against the Covid-hit 2020 market, when showrooms were closed for much of the year.

Total registrations in 2021 are 25.3% below the 10-year average for the period January – August, according to the SMMT.

Lucy Simpson, head of EV enablement at Centrica Business Solutions, added: “Despite the downturn in overall registrations, it’s encouraging to see EV adoption continue to go from strength the strength, with battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounting for 30% of the new car market.

“With the 2030 phase-out date for the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles now firmly set in stone, encouraging EV uptake needs to remain our top priority. The government’s recent Transport Decarbonisation Plan and other commitments have put down a strong marker for the UK’s electrification journey, however we must ensure that EVs remain accessible for all. This includes speeding up the roll-out of on-street charging to avoid large swathes of the population being left behind on the road towards an electric future.”

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A guide to everything you need to know about speeding, from fines to the cameras the police use.

There was a time when fixed and average speed cameras didn’t exist, and the most likely way of accruing endorsements (now better known as penalty points) on your licence was to miss seeing the local policeman pointing a ‘speed gun’ at your car as you edged above the posted limit. Those days have long since passed, and the rise in digital technology now means that drivers are faced with a plethora of different roadside devices.

How can I be caught speeding?

There are a variety of different speed-detecting technologies on British roads today. Here are the most common.

Truvelo

All speed cameras have to be coloured bright yellow by law and the Truvelo is no exception. Most commonly mounted on a pole at the side of a single or dual carriageway, the Truvelo uses a front-facing camera to record your speed, backed up by a matrix of small squares painted on the road. (Secondary evidence of speed is required with all fixed-position cameras.)

While images of motorcycle numberplates can be tricky to capture, due to their lack of front registrations, the Truvelo can identify drivers of other vehicles, adding a further layer of evidence if a prosecution is disputed. More recently, a Truvelo D-Cam has been launched for motorway applications, with front- and rear-facing capabilities.

Gatso

The name that most of us are familiar with, the Gatso first graced our road scene in 1991 and is a rear-facing camera, meaning that it records your vehicle after it’s passed the camera unit, with two images taken in quick succession. Like the Travelo, the images are supported by secondary evidence of speed provided by painted ‘dashes’ on the road surface. These dashes may be found on both sides of the road next to the camera, but the Gatso will only record your speed in the direction in which it is facing.

SPECS

SPECS (average speed check cameras and speed enforcement) units measure your speed over a set distance, via two banks of cameras. Most commonly found through roadworks, or where there is a lower than normal speed limit, they use automatic numberplate recognition (ANPR) to identify vehicles. As you pass the first set of cameras, your vehicle’s details are recorded, and if your average speed before reaching the second cameras is above a set threshold, a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) will be automatically generated. (See below.)

HADECS 3

The catchily named Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System 3, or HADECS 3 for short, is most commonly found on smart motorways, mounted on the overhead gantries that carry variable speed limit alerts. The camera’s limited use of yellow cladding and the fact that it is a fraction of a Gatso/Travelo’s size mean that it can be easily missed, especially if you’re travelling at 70mph. HADECS 3 is rear facing, and once again it uses painted dashes on the road as secondary evidence of a vehicle’s speed. It also adapts to posted, mandatory speed limits that can vary depending on road conditions.

Mobile speed camera units

It’s not uncommon for the police to monitor vehicle speeds at known accident hotspots using mobile units – quite literally, vehicles with miniature Gatso cameras pointing through their rear windows. These are often found parked in laybys or above dual-carriageway or motorway bridges and have a range of up to one mile. The police also have access to handheld radar- and laser-controlled devices that can be used at a variety of locations.

How will I know if I’ve been caught speeding?

If you’ve been caught speeding with a hand-held device, or one installed in a moving police car, you could be asked to stop there and then. In this case, the police have two options: they can either give you a verbal warning and send you on your way, or they can issue you with a fixed penalty notice (FPN). But if you’ve been caught speeding by a remote device, the registered keeper of the vehicle will receive a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) and section 172 notice by post within 14 days of the offence. The section 172 notice then has to be returned within 28 days, providing details of the driver who committed the offence. A fixed penalty notice (FPN) will then be issued to the driver, or if the offence is deemed serious enough, a court summons.

What kind of penalty can I expect?

If you receive an FPN, you can either plead guilty or not guilty to the offence, with each decision triggering its own process. A guilty plea will generally carry a fixed £100 fine and three points added to your licence. Depending upon where you were caught speeding, there will be different ways to pay the fine, which can be found here.

However, you may be offered the option of paying instead for a speed awareness course (typically costing a similar amount to the fine itself), which will avoid the addition of points to your licence. Certain caveats exist, though. The police will decide if it’s appropriate to your offence (so it tends to be offered for more minor transgressions).

And it will only be offered if you’ve not been on such a course in the past three years. It’s also worth noting that not all police authorities run speed awareness courses, so this option is by no means a given. 

The situation becomes more complex if you plead not guilty, though. Of course, if you’re convinced of your innocence, then it’s the right and proper course of action and it will probably involve a trip to court. But if you lose your case, you could be fined more and receive more penalty points.

Excess speed bands and your weekly income make up the fine

In 2017, the speeding penalty system was overhauled, with larger fines for drivers charged with excessive speed. If you are prosecuted in court, the amount you are fined and number of points you receive (or the disqualification period) will firstly be determined by the speed you were travelling over the posted limit, as shown here.

But as you can see from the last line, the actual fine is ‘personalised’ depending on your average gross weekly income.

For example, based on a driver earning the UK average income (2020-21) of £29,600:

Speeding at 81-90mph in a 60mph zone = £428-£713 fine plus 4-6 penalty points

Speeding at 66mph+ in a 40mph zone = £713-£998 fine plus 6 penalty points

There are a further three bands (D, E and F) that deal with more extreme transgressions, which may include excessive speed where the driver is: on bail; has existing convictions; in charge of a large vehicle; heavy load; towing; carrying passengers; driving through a heavily pedestrianised area.

It’s also worth noting that if you’ve only held a full driving licence for less than two years, it will be revoked if you reach six or more penalty points.

On the upside, mitigating factors, such as it being a first offence, or being of ‘good character’, may help reduce the fine and penalty. The court may even take into account speeding for a genuine emergency.

Either way, under any circumstances, there is a £1000 fine cap for all speeding offences, apart from those committed on motorways, where it increases to £2500.

How many points do I need before I lose my licence?

Even less serious speeding offences can cause you to lose your licence. If you accrue 12 or more penalty points in a three year period – potentially four minimum-fine/points offences – you could end up with a six-month ban. And this could have further repercussions. If you’re disqualified for 56 days or more (see also the more serious single-offence bans, above) you’ll need to apply for a new licence, and this may even entail retaking your driving test.

How will speeding penalties affect my car insurance?

Insurers will generally regard drivers who’ve accrued penalty points for any offence – including speeding – as a higher risk and will likely impose a higher premium as a result. While penalty points for speeding are generally only valid for three years as far as totting up endorsements and a potential ban goes, they remain visible on your licence for four years. Most insurance companies will ask you to declare any motoring offences in the past five years, and if you withhold information, it could affect a future claim, so it’s important to be honest when searching for new quotes.

Top 10 speeding trivia

Would you be surprised if we told you that the world’s first speeding fine was issued in the UK? Well, it was. Driving his new Benz, Walter Arnold was nabbed at four times the national speed limit in Paddock Wood, Kent.

That the limit was just 2mph and the year, 1896, explains a lot. To make matters worse for Arnold, he was reprimanded for not having a red flag waver walking in front of him, too.

And from one extreme to another… The UK’s fastest speeder was caught in 2015 travelling at 192mph in a Nissan GTR. A 28-month custodial sentence followed and Northamptonshire police banned him from driving for 10 years.

But you don’t need anything exotic to get your collar felt. In 2003, an off-duty policeman was caught driving his unmarked Vauxhall Vectra at 159mph on the M54.

It wouldn’t have been as much as the hapless Swiss driver had to shell out, though, after he hit 85mph in a 50mph zone driving his Ferrari Testarossa. Swiss authorities base fines on your financial worth, and with £14.1 million in the bank, this driver ended up with a £180,000 ticket.

But that was nothing compared with another Swiss millionaire who managed 180mph on local roads in his Mercedes-AMG SLS and set a new speeding fine world record at $1,001,400 (£727,166).

Both the above would have got away with it if they’d come to the Isle of Man, where no speed limits apply (although dangerous/careless driving is still an offence, as is breaching local speed limits through built-up areas). Other speed-limit-free havens are Germany’s autobahns (for now) and Australia’s Northern Territories.

But not Dubai. Driving a rented Lamborghini Huracán, a British tourist managed to trigger 33 speed cameras while joyriding through its downtown area, generating $48,000 (£34,847) in speeding fines, before fleeing the country and leaving the rental company to sort out the mess.

If you live near Bristol, though, it takes only one speed camera to extract mega-sums in fines. A camera positioned on the city’s M32 motorway captures on average 50 speeding drivers each day, and over a three-year period relieved them of £5.7m.

Showing slightly more lenience, Poland has the highest speed limits in Europe, at 140km/h (87mph), and in the US, Texas’s Highway 130 allows 85mph before fines are imposed. But the world’s highest speed limit is 160km/h, or, tantalisingly, 99.4mph, in the UAE.

But like it or not, speed cameras in the UK are now part of our motoring life, and with 7000 of them positioned around the country, only Russia, Italy and Brazil have more on their roads. By Graham Hill thanks to Autocar

Between 210 and 250 people were killed in accidents in Great Britain where at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit in 2019, figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) suggest.

The number of fatalities was broadly in line with figures for 2018.

An estimated 7,800 people were killed or injured when at least one driver was over the drink-drive limit. This represents a fall of 10% from 8,680 in 2018 and is the lowest figure recorded.

The total number of accidents where at least one driver was over the alcohol limit decreased by 9% to 5,350 in 2019, the lowest number of drink-drive accidents recorded.

In 2019, the number of killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties in drink-drive accidents rose while all casualties fell.

This, says DfT, was because the number of seriously injured casualties in accidents in which at least one driver or rider failed a breath test rose, while the number of slightly injured in these accidents fell compared to 2018.

RAC head of policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While there will be much interest in the 2020 casualty figures when they come out to understand the impact of the Covid lockdowns on drink-driving, these figures still represent a rather chilling reminder that in the region of 250 people are killed by drink-drivers on Great Britain’s roads every year, a figure that’s barely fallen since 2010.

“Clearly, much more needs to do done, and one area we’d like to see progress in is around cutting reoffending.

“A report by PACTS found that nearly one-in-five drink drive offences are carried out by repeat offenders, something that could be tackled with the introduction of alcohol interlocks.”

The prevalence of drink-driving in road deaths has fallen over time. In 1979, 26% of road deaths occurred in accidents where at least one driver or rider was over the drink-drive limit. This had fallen to 15% by 1989.

Since then, the percentage of road deaths that are drink-drive related has varied between 12% and 18%. In 2019, the rate was 13%.

The proportion of killed or seriously injured (KSI adjusted) casualties in drink-drive accidents has varied between 5% and 7% since 2005. In 2019, the rate was 6%.

The central estimate of the number of drink-drive casualties of all severities in 2019 is 7,800, a fall of 10% from 8,680 compared to 2018. This is the lowest level recorded.

It is estimated that around 5% of all casualties in reported road accidents in 2019 were involved in accidents in which at least one driver or rider was over the drink-drive limit.

In 1979, 9% of road casualties occurred in accidents in which at least one driver or rider was over the drink-drive limit. This has fallen to 5% by 1992 and has mainly varied around 5% since then.

Hunter Abbott, managing director of personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense, said: “The fact that testing is at its lowest level on record should be ringing alarm bells. Police carried out just 285,380 roadside breath tests in England and Wales in 2019 – less than half the number in 2008.

“All convicted drink drivers in Northern Ireland are now automatically referred to a rehabilitation course – to educate them on the potential consequences of their actions. This should be introduced in the rest of the UK as soon as possible.”

In a poll conducted by AlcoSense, more than a third of motorists (36%) think their ability to drive is only impaired if they are actually over the legal drink drive limit. But, according to AlcoSense you are 13 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash if you are at, but not over, the limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Even with 10mg per 100mL of alcohol in your blood (one eighth of the limit) it is 37% more likely than when completely sober, research shows, it says.

Drink-drive casualties by country and English region

The percentage of all casualties which occurred in drink-drive accidents was the highest in Wales at 6.9% followed by England at 5.1% and Scotland at 4.6%.

Within the English regions, the casualty rates varied from 7.0% in the East Midlands to Greater London at 2.9%.

Since 2010, the proportion of casualties that occur in drink-drive accidents has been higher in Wales than in England or Scotland.

Casualties in drink-drive accidents by sex

In 2019, 78% of drink-drive accidents involved male drivers or riders over the legal alcohol limit.

Some accidents will involve both male and female drivers over the limit, and sex is unknown for some drivers.

However, males make up 69% of drivers (excluding pedal cyclists and horse riders) involved in all accidents where the sex of the driver is known.

In 2019, 67% of casualties in drink-drive accidents were male compared to 60% in all reported road accidents.

Casualties in drink-drive accidents by age

A higher proportion of casualties in drink-drive accidents were aged between 25 and 59 than in all reported accidents in 2019 (63% in drink-drive accidents compared to 56% in all accidents).

The same was true for people aged 16 to 24 (23% in drink-drive accidents compared to 19% in all accidents).

Older people (aged 60+) represented a lower proportion in drink-accidents than accidents overall (8% in drink-drive accidents compared to 14% in all accidents). By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Vehicle thefts increased in the first half of the year as lockdown restrictions began to be lifted, according to new data from Tracker.

The volume of theft activity had increased by almost a third (32%) by the end of June, compared to the start of the year, it says, with Range Rover and Land Rover models remaining the top choice among criminals.

Tracker recovered more than £4.2 million-worth of stolen vehicles from January to June, of which 4x4s accounted for £2.6m.

The highest value car stolen and recovered during this period was a Range Rover Sport worth £94,000 in May, with Range Rover and Land Rover models accounting for 29% of the total stolen vehicles recovered by Tracker in the six months.

“Our latest figures show that – just like in 2020 – as prolonged periods of lockdown eased, theft of vehicles increased,” said Clive Wain, head of police liaison for Tracker.

“May was a particularly busy month for criminals who made up for lost time. The total value of vehicles we recovered in May was almost three times higher than in January, with an average vehicle value of more than £31,000, compared to just £13,000 in the first month of the year.” 

KEYLESS CARS TARGTED

Keyless cars also continue to be frequently targeted by criminals. Tracker’s latest data reports that 92% of the stolen cars it recovered January to June were taken by tech-savvy thieves compromising the signal from the vehicle’s key fob.

Added to this, insurers have revealed that keyless vehicles account for almost half of all reported ‘theft of vehicle’ claims.

The exploitation of keyless technology by criminals has become such a concern for police that the UK’s top police officer responsible for investigating vehicle crime recently issued a nationwide warning encouraging owners to better protect their vehicles.

Provisional figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) show a 3.1% increase between May 2021 and June 2021 in vehicle crime, with a large part of this increase from keyless theft.

Wain continued: “Now that almost all restrictions have formally lifted, all car owners need to be aware of the risk and take steps to protect their vehicles, beyond relying on a factory-fitted alarm.

“Visible physical deterrents that help dissuade many would-be criminals include alarm systems, wheel clamps and steering locks.

“Those with keyless entry vehicles also need to safeguard their key fob, for example, keeping them inside a metal container that blocks the key’s signal so it cannot be extended to remotely unlock and start the vehicle.

“Unfortunately, even with multi-layers of protection against theft in place, the most experienced thieves and organised criminal gangs will take measures to bypass barriers if the potential payoff is worthwhile.

“Once a vehicle is stolen, a Tracker device is the best possible way to help the police quickly locate and recover it before it is broken down for parts or sold on.”

Separate research from research from Verizon Connect suggests that stolen vehicles or equipment costs fleet-based businesses an average of £12,250 each year.

For businesses with more than 100 vehicles, the cost is even higher, with the data suggesting fleets lose, on average, £21,000 each year.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Fleets face delays of more than a year for company car orders as well as changes to original specifications as vehicle manufacturers grapple with the shortage of key components, including semi-conductors.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has warned leasing companies that lead times for 53 model variants are now in excess of one year.

The cars affected include versions of the 2022 model year Jaguar E-Pace, Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, and Land Rover Defender.

“Although these can remain open for quoting and ordering on your systems if you choose, your supplying Retailer will not be in a position to accept orders for these derivatives due to extended lead times,” said the briefing note from JLR.

However, the manufacturer added that a large number of models are still available for order, including the Jaguar I-Pace and F-Type, as well as alternative derivatives of the delayed cars, including plug-in hybrid versions of the E-Pace, Discovery Sport, Evoque and Defender 110.

In an official statement, JLR said, “Like other automotive manufacturers, we are currently experiencing some Covid-19 supply chain disruption, including the global availability of semi-conductors, which is having an impact on our production schedules. We continue to see strong customer demand for our range of vehicles.

“We are working closely with affected suppliers to resolve the issues and minimise the impact on customer orders wherever possible.”

Fleet customers, said JLR, should address any questions to their local retailer.

Mercedes-Benz specifications removed

Facing the same supply issues, Mercedes-Benz has removed specification features from certain models “from late June production and until further notice,” in order to limit delivery time delays.

The wireless charging of mobile phones, hands-free access to the boot (by kicking under the rear bumper), multibeam LED headlights and certain audio systems are among the features to disappear from the standard specification of certain cars, with AMG-line derivatives particularly affected.

Read how a shortage of raw materials ‘threatens price and supply’ of new vehicles

A statement from Mercedes-Benz said that all customer groups are affected by the current delays.

“Regardless of the model, we take into account how long a customer has been waiting for their vehicle and try to prioritise accordingly,” it said.

“Nevertheless, handovers to customers are strongly dependent on the individual equipment and the short-term availability of parts.”

Customers can check the specification of their car can do so via the Mercedes-Benz Online Showroom (shop.mercedes-benz.co.uk), or by speaking to their retailer.

As a leading global manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz AG expects that the worldwide shortage of supply of semiconductor components will continue to affect its business in the second half of this year.

In its latest editorial, Cap HPI said component shortages of semiconductors, steel, rubber and even foam were affecting different manufacturers’ production to varying degrees.

“Manufacturers are prioritising registrations in their most profitable channels, namely retail, meaning less short-cycle rental, company cars and demonstrators are being registered,” it said.

“They are also diverting build slots to the most profitable models due to component supply issues and removing some items from cars, allowing fewer semi-conductors to be required.”

The impact to JLR and Mercedes-Benz from the semiconductor shortage comes as Toyota announced a 40% cut in worldwide production in September.

It had planned to produce almost 900,000 cars next month but has now said that will be reduced to 540,000 units.

Every car- and van-maker is being impacted by the computer chip crisis, with some delivery times for vehicles. Almost 95% of fleets responding to a Fleet News poll said they were experiencing vehicle delays.

Fleet decision-makers were warned at the start of the month that the global semiconductor shortage will have a greater impact on the automotive industry than the pandemic.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Four-in-five drivers mistakenly expect to be warned by their vehicle when advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are faulty, research from Autoglass suggests.

Despite a clear majority (72%) of drivers understanding that ADAS can help to reduce accidents, the research warns that millions of drivers could be relying on their dashboard to tell them when something is wrong.

However, ADAS technologies currently do not have the capability to alert the driver if they have not been correctly recalibrated or recalibrated at all, for example following a windscreen replacement, or if a minor accident has caused them to be knocked out of alignment, says Autoglass.

Chris Abbotson, national sales manager at Autoglass, explained: “Advanced driver-assistance systems are dramatically improving road safety, but they can only do so if the sensors are properly recalibrated by a skilled technician.

“It’s incredibly dangerous for a driver to be in charge of a vehicle if the onboard sensors are either not recalibrated or not recalibrated correctly, as they would likely be relying on safety systems that are unable to accurately identify hazards on the road.”

ADAS technologies, which include safety features such as blind spot warning, parking sensors and lane keep assists, are found on more and more fleet vehicles in the UK and are increasingly relied upon for the safety of drivers and other road users.

ADAS sensors need to be recalibrated correctly after a windscreen replacement to ensure they are functioning as the manufacturer intended them to. As it stands, only half (48%) of UK drivers realise this is the case.

Autoglass says it is important that fleet managers check that the ADAS sensors on the vehicles in their fleet are recalibrated after any windscreen replacement and that they are recalibrated correctly to minimise the risk of accidents.

Overall awareness of ADAS features amongst drivers also remains concerningly low, with only 33% having heard of advanced emergency brake systems, and only 21% aware that vehicles can automatically recognise traffic signs.

The research highlights that more must be done to educate drivers about managing the systems to ensure these advanced safety systems function correctly, says Autoglass.

“When choosing partners for any windscreen work, fleet managers need to ensure they are working with the best technicians who have received the latest training to ensure they are capable of correct ADAS recalibration and are aware of the latest technologies in vehicles,” said Abbotson.

“All technicians at Autoglass complete the IMI accredited ADAS training to ensure they can replace windscreens and recalibrate the ADAS sensors in one appointment, minimising downtime for vehicles and reducing the risk for drivers.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

If you are ordering a new car next year, you and fleet decision-makers are being urged to prepare drivers now for vehicles being fitted with intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology from next year, says FleetCheck.

The European Commission has provisionally agreed that all new vehicles sold in Europe will be fitted with a speed limiter as a legal requirement from July 2022.

The regulation also mandates all new cars that have already launched be fitted with ISA technology by July 2024.

The UK is likely to follow the new road safety regulations, despite leaving the EU, as it has retained most EU laws for new cars.

Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet management software specialist, says the move should be seen as significant opportunity to enforce a safety message on speed.

“Thankfully, macho attitudes towards speeding that were once quite common among drivers of company vehicles have reduced considerably in recent years,” said Golding. “However, speeding tickets are still pretty common, as any fleet manager will tell you.

“Our view is that the introduction of ISA technology is a moment that employers should be seizing as an opportunity to make clear that there is no corporate leeway when it comes to speeding and the dangers it represents.”

The speed limiter technology uses GPS data and/or traffic-sign-recognition cameras to determine the maximum speed allowed in an area.

It then limits the engine’s power and the vehicle’s speed to that limit, but it is possible to override the system by pressing hard on the accelerator.

Golding says that, with the first ISA cars, vans and trucks now less than a year away, this is a good moment to adopt a “zero tolerance approach” to excessive speed.

“With the long lead times currently being experienced by fleet operators, vehicles being ordered within the next few months will potentially arrive with ISA fitment, so this is very close to being a live fleet issue,” he continued.

“Our view is that this should be presented to drivers as a genuine benefit. Firstly, these are safer vehicles – reduced speed means fewer accident and fewer serious accidents. Secondly, it will potentially remove the chance of you picking up a speeding ticket.”

Research undertaken by the EU shows that drivers like ISA-equipped cars because, in everyday driving, sticking to the speed limit becomes one less thing to worry about. “We are sure that this will soon become the case among drivers of company vehicles,” said Golding.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Software experts have discovered numerous security flaws with a range of smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers.

They were able to remotely switch the chargers on and off, remove the owner’s access and lock or unlock the charging cable.

Devices from Wallbox and Project EV – both approved for sale in the UK by the Department for Transport – were found to be “lacking adequate security” by researchers at Pen Test Partners.

Speaking to the BBC, Vangelis Stykas, a cyber-security researcher, said: “On Wallbox you could take full control of the charger, you could gain full access and remove the usual owner’s access on the charger. You could stop them from charging their own vehicles, and provide free charging to an attacker’s vehicle.

“Project EV had a really bad implementation on their back end. Their authentication where it existed was pretty primitive, so an attacker could easily escalate themselves to being an administrator and change the firmware of all the chargers.”

He says changing the programming on the device would allow an attacker to permanently disable the charger, or use it to attack other chargers or servers.

Hackers could also infiltrate a home network, in cases where the chargers were connected by Wi-Fi.

Pen Test Partners believes that multiple chargers could also be controlled at the same time using some of the vulnerabilities it found, which could potentially be used by an attacker to overload the electricity grid in some areas and cause blackouts.

The company assessed charging units from Project EV, Wallbox, EVBox, EO Hub, Rolec and Hypervolt.

Most of the faults have now been addressed, however charge point owners are advised to install the latest software updates to the devices.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Up to 800 Shell electric vehicle (EV) charging points will be installed in as many as 100 Waitrose shops across the UK by 2025.

Each site is expected to have six 22kW and two 50kW rapid charging points so customers can charge their vehicles while they shop.

The first charge points are expected to go live early next year and will represent Shell Recharge’s first move into ‘destination charging’, whereby customers charge their vehicle while it is parked at a location they are primarily visiting for another activity such as shopping.

Shell’s ambition is to grow its Shell Recharge-branded network to 5,000 charge points on forecourts and other locations by 2025.

Bernadette Williamson, general manager Shell UK Retail, said: “This is great news for EV drivers across the UK, knowing they can easily, quickly and reliably charge up at Shell charge points while shopping at Waitrose.

“We want to make EV charging as hassle-free as possible and support our customers wherever they want to charge.”

Waitrose executive director, James Bailey, added: “We’re delighted to bring our customers 800 new charging points for electric vehicles, including new rapid charging capabilities, as the UK moves more and more towards a sustainable transport network.”

The charge point deal comes as a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation has found that some areas of the development of the UK’s charging infrastructure are facing problems which will hinder the roll-out of electric vehicles (EVs). 

It says that this could impact the Government’s plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and its wider commitment to make the UK net zero by 2050.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News