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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

The vast of majority of businesses (93%) replaced domestic business trips with virtual meetings during the pandemic, according to new research from the Department for Transport (DfT).

The survey, conducted by Ipsos Mori, reveals that almost half (44%) of firms had replaced all trips, 41% half or more and 8% less than half. Just one in 14 – 7% of businesses replaced none.

Business types most likely to have replaced any of their business trips with virtual meetings included large businesses (98%), medium sized businesses (97%) and businesses in London (84%).

Essential services businesses were most likely to say they had replaced all business trips with virtual meetings (55%).

Manufacturing and construction businesses were most likely to say they had not replaced any business trips with virtual meetings (16%).

AN ‘ADEQUATE’ REPLACEMENT

Half of businesses (50%) considered fully virtual meetings to be an adequate replacement for business trips; more than one-in-four (28%), however, did not.

A slightly higher proportion (57%) agreed that meetings with a combination of virtual and face-to-face attendees were an adequate substitute for business trips. One-in-five (20%) disagreed.

Large businesses (58%) were significantly more likely to agree that meetings with only virtual attendees are an adequate replacement for face-to-face meetings, those in Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland were significantly more likely to disagree (43%).

Large businesses (67%) and companies in the North (68%) were significantly more likely to agree that a mix of virtual and face-to-face attendees were an adequate replacement for face-to-face meetings – companies in the South (excluding London) were significantly less likely to agree (46%).

TRAVELLING FOR BUSINESS

The DfT survey suggests that proportion of employees travelling on business is expected to stay broadly the same post pandemic.

Companies expect an average of 38% of employees to be travelling for business, compared with 40% before the pandemic. Just 1% of the firms surveyed by Ipsos Mori said no employees will travel for face-to-face meetings.

The DfT data, however, suggests that the frequency of face-to-face meetings is expected to fall as virtual meetings will remain in the mix.

Two-fifths (41%) of companies said that they expect to make fewer business trips than before the pandemic (27% somewhat less, 14% far less) and more than a quarter (27%) expect to make more business trips (19% somewhat more, 8% far more).

Almost a third (30%) said they expected to make the same level of business trips.

Assuming restrictions are no longer in place, companies expect to be using a similar mix of main modes as before the pandemic, with a return to long-distance rail and domestic air travel, and a reduction in the proportion of car journeys compared to levels during the pandemic.

Companies said that they expect an average of 33% of trips to use car as their main mode of transport, compared with 29% pre-pandemic.

Meanwhile, 13% would choose to use long-distance rail as their main mode versus 15% pre-pandemic, and 11% would use domestic airlines compared with 14% before Covid-19 struck.

In terms of other modes, companies expect an average of 10% of trips to use local trains as the main mode versus 14% pre-pandemic and 11% during the pandemic.

The DfT says that 7% will use local buses, compared with 6% pre-pandemic and 4% during, and 5% will use taxis, which is an increase on the 3% pre-pandemic and 5% during.

Other modes, including cycling and walking will account for 3% of business trips, which is the same as proportion seen pre-pandemic and down from the 5% seen during Covid-19.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Nextbase has witnesses a 341% increase in the number of video clips uploaded to its National Dash Cam Safety Portal (NDCSP).

The platform, which launched three years ago, allows users to upload footage of dangerous driving. To date, more than 68,000 clips have been uploaded.

The footage is passed to relevant police forces, with the aim to improve road safety.

As lockdown restrictions began to ease in April, the portal saw 5,457 road traffic offences over the course of three months. This rate is double the three-month average since the portal’s inception. The past three months has also seen a total of 19,565 videos uploaded to the platform – 341% higher than average.

Bryn Brooker, head of road safety at Nextbase, said: “These stats show that the portal is needed now more than ever and, as we name today National Dash Cam Day, I would like to remind the public of the fact that Dash Cam technology can help other road users, as well as you and your passengers.

“If we all work together, with the police, to continue to identify the worst of the worst – those dangerous drivers that, put simply, should not be allowed behind the wheel – then we will continue to see motorists from across the country interacting with the Portal.

“This is why it was built, to make the roads of this country safer for those of us that are just trying to get from A to B and go about our daily routines. We have watched this platform grow from both a public and police perspective and are hugely encouraged by its continued appeal.”

Currently, 37 UK police forces are signed up to the NDSCP, with more in talks to join. Nexbase says the initiative has saved police 263,240 hours – the equivalent of over 29 years of police time. Fewer than one in five cases have resulted in no further action.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new type of catalytic converter is being developed that accelerates the removal of harmful nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from engine fumes.

Scientists at the University of Leeds are working in collaboration with catalytic converter manufacturer Cats and Pipes, to trial the new device.

The aim is to have a prototype fitted to a test vehicle by 2023, enabling its performance to be compared with current catalytic converters under real road conditions.   

The scientists believe the prototype, which uses a new synthetic materal, has the potential to revolutionise catalytic converter technology. 

Many conventional catalytic converters use platinum group metals as a catalyst, which convert harmful gases from an engine into nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

These metals are expensive, and they do not become effective until the engine is running with an exhaust temperature above 150 degrees centigrade. Traffic fumes in urban areas often come from vehicles operating at lower temperatures because they are either idling or moving at low speed. As a result, conventional catalytic converters under urban road conditions may be operating with less than 50% efficiency.

The synthetic material developed at Leeds is an effective catalyst at low and even ambient temperatures.

Dr Hu Li, associate professor in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Leeds, who is leading the project, said: “Among the biggest contributors to poor air-quality in urban areas are traffic fumes, from vehicles which are either stationary or moving slowly.

Current catalytic converters do an inefficient job in reducing emissions under those conditions. At Leeds, we are confident that the new catalytic material will out-perform existing technology.”

Called LowCat, development of the prototype will also investigate whether it is possible to commercially scale-up production.

Simon Clarke, Commercialisation Manager at the University of Leeds, said: “LowCat is a very exciting technology that appears to have significant commercial potential. We are very grateful for the support offered to us by the Science and Technology Facilities Council and we are looking forward to scale-up and prototype trials, with our industrial partner, Cats & Pipes.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

There appears to be no respite for consumers, fleets and company car drivers as petrol and diesel prices continue to rise this summer.

The RAC reports that another 3.4p and 2.7p were added to a litre of petrol and diesel, respectively in July.

Last month saw the largest rise in the price of unleaded since January and means on average a litre now costs 135.13p – a price not seen since late September 2013 – up from 131.76p at the start of the month.

Diesel meanwhile now costs on average 137.06p per litre, up from 134.36p. The price rises meant that last month was the most expensive July to fill up with petrol since 2013, and for diesel since 2014.

A driver filling up a 55-litre car with petrol now pays on average £3.08 more to fill up than they did at the start of June, and £11.47 more than they did a year ago. The picture is barely better for diesel drivers; filling a similarly sized tank now costs £2.90 more than at the start of June, and £10.46 more than it did at the end of July 2020.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Right now it’s hard to see what it will take for prices to start falling again.

“While we’re not past the pandemic by any means, demand for oil is likely to continue to increase as economic activity picks up again, and this is likely to have the effect of pushing up wholesale fuel prices, costs which retailers are bound to pass on at the pumps.

“Unless major oil producing nations decide a new strategy to increase output, we could very well see forecourt prices going even higher towards the end of the summer.”

Although there was little overall change in the oil price from the start to the end of July, it almost hit the $80 a barrel mark near the beginning of the month, reports RAC.

At supermarket forecourts the price of a litre of petrol is around 3p cheaper compared to the average (132.34p compared to 135.13p) and more than 16p less than at motorway service areas (132.34p compared to 148.78p).

“If there is any good news at all, it is that prices would need to rise significantly further – by a further 3p – to reach the highest prices we saw in 2013,” continued Williams.

“But that’s no comfort for the millions of drivers who are faced with paying so much more for fuel than they have done in many years.”

Alfonso Martinez, managing director of vehicle leasing company LeasePlan UK, suggests that drivers and fleets need to pay close attention to the rising cost of petrol and diesel, as this will likely continue as economic activity picks up.

“Rather than simply shrugging this off in an act of resignation, they should see this as a call to action,” he said. “Electric vehicles present a viable solution to the rising cost of fuel, with the cost to charge a typical mid-size model around 2.27p per mile – which equates to around £9 a month if you were to commute 20 miles a day for work.

“We’re now at a point where switching to an EV is both a benefit for the environment and your wallet.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Drivers and fleet operators are being urged to keep their cars and vans safe by the UK’s top police officer investigating vehicle crime.

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.

Police intelligence suggests that organised crime gangs are using relay technology to receive the signal from a key inside a house and transfer it to a portable device, allowing them to unlock and drive the car.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, said: “Whilst the rapid development of technology has dramatically improved the experience of drivers it has also allowed criminals to exploit weaknesses in electronic security.”

Sims explained that they are working closely with car manufacturers to help them “design out crime” by sharing intelligence and equipment seized from criminals. She said: “We are already making substantial progress in this regard.”

She continued: “I would urge drivers to take simple steps to keep their vehicle safe like storing your keys in metal tins or protective pouches that block the devices criminals are using. A return to basics like making sure your car is locked is worthwhile too.

“We know from research that some owners think that cars automatically lock – they don’t. Always double check before you walk away that it’s locked.”

Despite the recent small increase in this type of theft overall theft of, and from, motor vehicles was down by 21% in the latest ONS crime statistics.

In June, new research from Verizon Connect showed 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.

Police say they have made significant gains against these criminals and arrests are being made across the UK.

Just recently, Leicestershire Police secured the conviction of seven members of an organised crime gang who were involved in more than 50 keyless thefts involving vehicles totalling £2.4 million. They were jailed for a total of more than 30 years.

Earlier last month in Liverpool, five people were sentenced to a total of more than 23 years in prison after being convicted for a range of offences including the theft of keyless cars totalling around £2.6m.

Meanwhile, Cheshire Constabulary secured the conviction of a man for several car and key burglaries and he was sentenced to more than seven years imprisonment in July.

Sims added: “These crime gangs care little for the impact they have on ordinary people, but they should know that police are coming after them.

“We are carrying out proactive operations every single week and as recent results show, they can expect to spend a significant time in prison when we catch them.”

To prevent theft drivers can take simple steps like double checking a car is locked, keeping keys out of sight and away from windows and doors and storing key cards in a metal tin or security pouch.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The following article is aimed mainly at business car drivers but it is also relevant to consumers interested in the cost of running their EV so I’ve included it as the information is very useful.

EVs are becoming an increasingly popular option for business fleets, largely due to the associated cost and environmental benefits. Switching to an EV is an enjoyable experience, but many of the procedures will be new to drivers. Preparation is key and research will help businesses avoid being caught out with unnecessarily high charges.

For businesses considering introducing EVs into their fleet, it’s important to do some research on the available charging options and infrastructure. Accessibility, cost, and speed are all aspects of EV charging that differ from the experience of fueling a diesel or petrol vehicle.

In many ways, charging an EV is more convenient and cost-effective than fueling an ICE vehicle. However, there are a few pitfalls that drivers and fleet managers need to look out for.

Here, we outline the most important differences to expect between charging an EV and fueling a petrol or diesel car, to help businesses get the most out of their EV fleet.

Availability

Perhaps the most significant element of EV charging for businesses to consider is accessibility of charging infrastructure. Charger availability is improving all the time, but it’s still crucial for fleet managers to know the locations of the most convenient charge points for their drivers.

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There are plenty of charging infrastructure manufacturers that operate within the UK, and many offer charge points across the country. BP Pulse, ChargeYourCar, and Electric Highway all operate nationwide infrastructure for a combined nearly 10,000 charging locations.

In combination with almost 30 other mainstream charging providers, this figure increases to over 43,000 charging points at over 15,000 locations: that’s more places to charge an EV than public petrol stations in the UK. This is great news for businesses investigating an electric fleet, as increasing accessibility to charging infrastructure can directly help to alleviate range anxiety in drivers.

Moving forward, home-based EV charging will become more commonplace. Home charging will be a great option for businesses who operate their fleets primarily during the day, and can help drivers cut down on both charging time and cost. Home charging provides drivers with the ability to choose their own tariffs, tailored to their driving habits and frequency.

Cost

The cost of charging an EV is dependent on several factors, so it’s important to understand the differences to avoid high charges. Charging speed, membership fees and location all inform the final cost of charging each EV, and many manufacturers offer multiple payment plans to suit individual needs.

Monthly payment plans range from £4.99 to £68.00 per car, while yearly payment subscriptions can cost as little as £20. Most providers will also charge per kWh, depending on location – these prices range from 26p to 69p per kWh, and are generally discounted for subscribed members.

Even as EV charging is cheaper than petrol fuel, the UK government is still calling for more affordable options to make electric charging more accessible. The Transport Select Committee and MPs across the country are working together to help protect consumers from excessive charging costs that may hinder the accessibility of charging infrastructure. This includes providing charging options at workplaces and newbuilds, as property developers are called upon to include infrastructure in development plans.

Speed

EV charging speed presents the biggest difference in experience between charging an EV and fueling an ICE vehicle. The good news is that businesses can choose from a variety of charging options to suit driver needs and convenience.

EV chargers come in four widely available speeds: slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid. Slow chargers are ideal for businesses whose fleets operate primarily during the day and are perfect for home installation for overnight charging. These chargers generally take 10-14 hours to fully charge a vehicle.

For fleets that are constantly on the go, fast and rapid chargers are the best option. These chargers can take as little as 2.5 hours to charge and are offered by the greatest number of nationwide, public charging providers.

Ultra-rapid chargers are also available on six networks of public EV charging: BP Pulse, ChargePlace Scotland, Gridserve Electric Forecourt, Instavolt, Ionity, and Shell Recharge. This infrastructure can charge a vehicle in as little as 20 minutes and is perfect for high-demand fleets that travel across a wide range on a regular or daily basis.

Making the right decision

Businesses will need to start considering their suitability for an electric fleet sooner rather than later, as the 2030 ban is approaching fast.

Fleet managers should plan ahead to educate drivers on behaviour adaptations that will help avoid high costs and longer charging times – especially for those drivers who commute or work field-based jobs that require fleet vehicles.

Since usage dictates charging demand, businesses and drivers alike will benefit from knowing their most suitable charging options.

The most important aspect of this transition is research. Understanding the most sensible infrastructure for individual business needs will ensure a smooth transition – one that helps drivers learn the ropes of EV charging in a timely manner and keeps costs as a realistic level. By Graham Hill thanks to Business Car

Seven-in-10 drivers would like lower motorway speed limits in wet weather, according to new research from the RAC.

Road accident statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 246 people were killed or seriously injured on UK motorways in 2019 when the road surface was damp, wet or flooded

An RAC survey of more than 2,000 drivers suggest that 72% would like to see the standard 70mph speed limit on motorways reduced in wet weather to improve road safety and encourage better driving habits.

A third (33%) said the limit should be reduced to 60mph in the wet, less than one in 10 (7%) think it should be cut to 65mph, while almost one in six (17%) said they would like an even lower limit of 55mph or even 50mph. One in seven (14%) would like to see the limit cut but were not sure by how much.

France cuts its speed limits during inclement weather, with the 130km/h (80mph) limit reduced to 110km/h (68mph – a reduction of around 12mph).

Rod Dennis, from the RAC, said: “Statistically, the UK has some of the safest motorways in Europe but it’s also the case that there hasn’t been a reduction in casualties of all severities on these roads since 2012, so perhaps th

ere’s an argument for looking at different measures to help bring the number of casualties down.

“Overall, our research suggests drivers are broadly supportive of lower motorway speed limits in wet conditions, as is already the case across the Channel in France. And, while most drivers already adjust their speed when the weather turns unpleasant, figures show that ‘driving too fast for the conditions’ and ‘slippery roads’ are still among the top 10 reasons for motorway collisions and contribute to significant numbers of serious injuries and even deaths every year.”

Of the reasons given by drivers who advocate lower motorway speed limits in the wet, 78% said they felt lower limits would encourage some drivers to slow down, while 72% believed it might save lives, so is worth trying.

Two-thirds (65%) said slower speeds might improve visibility with less spray from moving vehicles, and half (53%) felt it would reduce overall vehicle speeds, even if some people ignored the lower limit.

Among the fifth of drivers (21%) who are against the idea of a lower motorway speed limit in bad weather, a majority said it was because most drivers already adjust their speed to the conditions (54%), or because there would be difficulty in defining when the new limit should apply (60%).

Four in 10 (42%) said many drivers choose to ignore existing speed limits anyway and a similar proportion (41%) thought drivers wouldn’t obey a lower motorway limit.

When asked whether a lower speed limit in the wet should be posted on stretches of motorway that already feature variable speed limit signage, including smart motorways, 73% of drivers were in favour, with 15% against the idea and 11% unsure.

“The overall success of any scheme would of course depend on sufficient numbers of motorists reducing their speed, but even just a proportion reducing their speed in the wet would be likely to improve the safety of the UK’s motorways,” continued Dennis.

“There would also be a number of practical hurdles to be overcome such as deciding what that lower limit would be, updating the Highway Code and fitting roadside signage to inform drivers of the new limits.

“Finally, it’s worth remembering that an increasing number of stretches of motorway no longer have permanent 70mph limits, as all smart motorways feature speed limits which are automatically adjusted to ease congestion based on traffic flow.

“With digital signs now so commonplace, arguably the means exist to conduct a trial to see whether there are safety benefits of setting different speed limits in inclement weather.”

Highway Code Rule 227 states that stopping distances in wet weather are at least double those required for stopping on dry roads.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a new version of The Highway Code will be published in the autumn.

Changes will include: a hierarchy of road users that aims to ensure road users who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others; and a strengthened pedestrian priority on pavements and when crossing or waiting to cross the road.

It will also contain guidance on safe passing distances and speeds and ensuring that cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead.

The overhaul of The Highway Code is part of a £338 million package to fuel active travel, announced on Friday (July 30).

Infrastructure upgrades, the changes to The Highway Code and new requirements to ensure that active travel schemes’ effects are properly assessed are among the raft of measures included in a new Summer of Cycling and Walking document.

Independent opinion polling and new research also published by the DfT shows that active travel schemes are supported, on average, by a ratio of two-to-one.

As the UK prepares to host COP26 later this year, these initiatives will play a key role in the Government’s drive to build back greener from the pandemic and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, says DfT.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps explained: “Millions of us have found over the past year how cycling and walking are great ways to stay fit, ease congestion on the roads and do your bit for the environment.

“As we build back greener from the pandemic, we’re determined to keep that trend going by making active travel easier and safer for everyone.

“This £338m package marks the start of what promises to be a great summer of cycling and walking, enabling more people to make those sustainable travel choices that make our air cleaner and cities greener.”

This announcement aims to build on the Prime Minister’s £2 billion gear change cycling and walking programme, which was announced one year ago.

As well as improving safety for cyclists, the Government is also aiming to make cycling easier and more accessible through a new scheme aiming to increase awareness of e-cycles and tackle barriers to their use.

An e-cycle support programme will be launched later this year and comes after the government has already provided funding to help 9 local authorities deliver e-cycle initiatives.

Other key measures included in the Summer of Cycling and Walking include plans to publish a new road safety strategic framework.

The Government has also recently announced that the new Active Travel England (ATE) commissioning body, which will hold the national cycling and walking budget, will begin work later this year. 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