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I’ve included the following report because it illustrates a point that I’ve been making for some time now that diesels are now cleaner than petrol cars and as we are years away from all cars being electric should they still be demonised and disregarded by drivers?

 

The fact is that whilst sales of petrol vehicles now massively exceeds the sale of diesels, if you are environmentally aware but not in a position to drive an electric vehicle should you immediately opt for petrol? Petrol emits more CO2 than diesel so if we’re not careful we will see the opening up of holes in the ozone layer – remember those? So read the report, aimed at the fleet industry, and draw your own conclusions.

 

Once the fuel of choice for the company car driver, diesel’s dominance among fleets has been on the wane for some time.

 

Its reputation tarnished and the attraction of tax-busting hybrid and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) difficult to ignore, numbers have continued to dwindle.

 

Industry leaders say they cannot see a way back for the embattled fuel and this is despite diesel beginning its fightback last year, when the first cars complying with the latest emissions standard began joining UK fleets.

 

Cars qualifying for the so-called RDE2 standard do not attract the 4% diesel company car tax surcharge, while fleets benefit from not having to pay the higher first-year rate of VED.

 

Shaun Sadlier, head of consultancy at Arval UK, says the savings from choosing a RDE2 diesel company car can run into “thousands of pounds” over a typical three-to-four-year lease contract.

 

“Fleets operating RDE2 cars also benefit from lower Class 1A NICs and first-year VED costs in comparison with a non-compliant model,” he said.

 

Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and BMW were among the first to offer RDE2 cars. Rob Morris, national fleet operations manager, at Mercedes-Benz, says that its RDE2-compliant engines were a “popular choice” with customers.

 

All Mercedes-Benz cars produced from this month (June) will meet the stricter standard.

 

Vauxhall has become the first volume manufacturer to offer the emissions standard across its range.

 

James Taylor, general sales director at Vauxhall, told Fleet News: “That means all new Vauxhalls avoid the 4% diesel surcharge on benefit-in-kind (BIK), offering savings to our customers of up to £22 and £43 per month for 20% and 40% taxpayers, compared with the same (non-compliant) models.”

 

STRICTER LIMITS

 

The on-the-road Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test was introduced alongside the new emissions testing regime, the Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), in two stages.

 

RDE1 was introduced in September 2017 for new car type approvals and applied to all new car registrations from September, last year. Vehicles compliant with this standard are designated Euro 6d-Temp. The stricter RDE2 standard came into force from January for new type approvals and will be applicable to all new cars, which will be labelled Euro 6d, from January 2021.

 

Cars certified to RDE1 (Euro 6d-Temp) must emit less than 2.1 times the Euro 6 NOx limit of 80mg/km for diesel and 60mg/km for petrol engines. This conformity factor tightens to 1.43 times for RDE2-compliant (Euro 6d) vehicles.

 

In 2023, it’s expected conformity factors will be removed, aligning laboratory and on-road emissions limits.

 

Alongside Vauxhall, other Groupe PSA brands have become RDE2-compliant, including all Citroën and DS diesel models, plus the majority of Peugeots now also meet the stricter emissions standard.

 

RDE2 models include all 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre BlueHDI-powered Citroëns and DSs, with manual and EAT8 automatic transmissions.

 

BlueHDi versions of the Peugeot 3008 and 508 have also qualified, along with the new 208 and 2008.

 

Martin Gurney, who is responsible for fleet and used vehicle sales for Peugeot, Citroën and DS in the UK, says Groupe PSA has been “working hard” to ensure its vehicles are compliant ahead of schedule.

 

He added: “These early announcements should reassure customers that we are committed to engineering clean and efficient powertrains for all drivers. The fact that most of our diesel models already meet the forthcoming RDE2 standards speaks volumes about the development that goes into our engines.”

 

BMW continues to add RDE2 models, while Hyundai says it will add further RDE2 engines to its line-up to join the i10, later this year.

 

Other manufacturers, such as Audi, Škoda, Renault and Kia, which do not currently have any RDE2 cars, say launches in the second half of the year will see compliant models come through.

 

But will a wider choice of cars, which avoid the 4% surcharge, be enough to halt the demise of diesel?

 

DIESEL’S DECLINE

 

The leasing industry is reporting growing interest from savvy fleets, but all admit the focus is shifting to zero emission motoring.

 

Figures from the Fleet News FN50 show that the proportion of diesel cars on the FN50 fleet – the UK’s top 50 leasing companies by risk fleet size – fell from almost two-thirds (63.4%) to almost half (50.5%) in 2019.

 

In terms of vehicles they had ordered, the flight from diesel was still more pronounced. Almost half of the cars ordered last year were petrol (47.6%), while only two-fifths (38.8%) were diesel.

 

Jon Lawes, managing director of Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, has seen a growing fleet interest in RDE2 diesel cars.

 

However, he says this is when there is a direct comparable alternative available for the model they want.

 

He explained: “WLTP has been responsible for the wholesale rise of CO2, irrespective of RDE categorisation, and, therefore, we’ve seen a continued negative shift in perception of diesel vehicles.”

 

WLTP CO2 values for company cars registered after April 6, which are typically higher than those derived from the old emissions testing regime for comparable vehicles, are now used for tax purposes.

 

Their use has coincided with a new company car tax regime to try to take account of the hike in emissions, which also includes a new zero percentage rate for battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

 

PLUG-IN INCENTIVES

 

Lawes says he expects a “continuing overall decline” in diesel market share as more fleets opt for plug-in hybrid or BEV alternatives.

 

However, he did offer a glimmer of hope for diesel powertrains. “We expect RDE2 models will cause this decline to plateau as this will provide a favourable cost-effective option for some sectors and drivers.”

 

David Bushnell, principal consult-ant at Alphabet (GB), said: “For those high mileage drivers, where diesel is still probably the number one choice for fleets, the selection of an RDE2 vehicle will clearly make sense in terms of personal taxation and national insurance costs.

 

“It’s also an existing technology that many drivers are comfortable using. But, even here, we’re seeing mild hybrid technology coming in to reduce drivetrains’ CO2 output.”

 

However, he says the “clear additional tax benefits” for choosing plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles, revealed in the Budget, will prove hard to ignore.

 

Chris Chandler, principal consultant at Lex Autolease, has seen a similar trend. He said: “The cost savings and environmental benefits of a plug-in hybrid or full electric alternative are more attractive at the moment.

 

“The main question we’re being asked by fleets on a daily basis is how they can start – or accelerate – their transition along the ‘Road to Zero’.

 

“The availability of RDE2 vehicles and how to optimise diesel fleets seems to be far lower down fleet managers’ agendas.”

 

GROWING INTEREST

 

Chandler’s comments appear to be backed up by the results of a recent Energy Saving Trust survey.

 

It revealed that one-in-three UK fleet managers expect half of their company car fleet to be electric by 2025, and seven-in-10 fleet managers are preparing to buy an electric car within two years.

 

Matthew Walters, head of consultancy and customer data services at LeasePlan UK, said: “From our conversations with fleet managers, it’s evident WLTP is still the main consideration when it comes to compliance-related tax savings and how this impacts the vehicle selection process.”

 

He expects sales of internal combustion vehicles (ICEs) to fall as electric vehicles become more available and increasingly affordable.

 

Lex Autolease has seen a significant increase in demand for plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicles over the past 12 months, especially since the 0% BIK tax announcement.

 

Chandler says a “good awareness” of wholelife costs in the market is driving the shift towards low and zero-emission driving.

 

He said: “Rather than pay 25-30% tax on a RDE2-compliant diesel vehicle, company car drivers seem to be more focused on taking advantage of the tax benefits of plug-in hybrid and pure electric cars.”

 

As a result, the UK’s largest vehicle leasing company, Lex Autolease, says it doesn’t anticipate increased availability and understanding of RDE2-compliant models will significantly slow the decline of diesel.

 

Chandler added: “RDE2-compliant models will simply account for a growing proportion of the existing diesel market.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.

Sanitisation costs for cars and vans bei g delivered and returning from garages are beginning to appear.

 

Dealers and garages are currently “working out” who pays the cost of sanitisation on cars and vans that are delivered to their new owners or undergo service, maintenance and repair (SMR).

 

There appears to be general agreement among all parties that vehicles will need sanitising thoroughly before they are handed over or handed back after service and maintenance to the customer or employee with a company car.

 

But who is to pay for cleaning products, PPE equipment and the time taken? These costs can’t simply be absorbed by the dealers and garages.

 

Tim Meadows, vice president and commercial director at Epyx, said: “This is a development that we are just starting to see through our 1link Service Network SMR platform, which is used by fleets totalling four million vehicles, as lockdown starts to ease.

 

“Sanitisation is becoming recognised as an essential part of almost any visit by a vehicle to a workshop. The car or van is potentially touched by many people as part of almost any SMR process, and the potential spread of infection needs to be minimised.

 

“However, that sanitisation has a cost and is starting to appear as a formal charge on some job sheets. The question is, who pays?”

 

Meadows says that garages “understandably” see it as an additional cost that they shouldn’t have to bear. “Their customers, equally understandably, feel the same,” he said.

 

The issue is especially acute where, on lower Service Maintenance and Repair bills, it could be interpreted as a disproportionate amount, added Meadows.

 

“If you are having £1,000 of work done, then a potential £10 item doesn’t stick out but, if your car is in the workshop for a MOT test or even just having a small repair, it becomes more noticeable.”

 

Leasing companies that already work on very small margins are working with dealers and manufacturers to arrive at a compromise to avoid increased delivery costs

 

Meadows continued: “Some of the fleets that use 1link Service Network have hundreds of thousands of maintenance jobs every year and adding £10 to each suddenly becomes a very large sum of money.

 

“Equally, this is a significant cost for garages to absorb. However efficient they become at sanitisation, this is something that takes time and money.”

 

Meadows believes that one thing that the industry had seen during the coronavirus crisis is a “very strong spirit of co-operation”.

 

“Everyone recognises that they are facing the same issues and they need to resolve them together,” he said. “We are sure that sensible solutions will be found to this problem.”

 

I agree, it’s not the end of the world, an extra £10 for most jobs is not over the top, it’s more the concern on the part of the customer that the sanitisation has been carried out. So many changes to our lives, not just in the short term but forever. By Graham Hill thanks also to Fleet News

Business travellers and commuters continue to steer clear of public transport, preferring to drive rather than travel by bus or train, new data from Transport Focus shows.

 

Having tracked transport usage over the past four weeks, the independent UK watchdog says survey results show public transport has remained consistently low.

 

Before the outbreak, 43% nationally used public transport at least a few times a month, while 80% used the car.

 

But just 2% of respondents said they had used a bus in the past week, which has remained unchanged since Transport Focus began its weekly survey.

 

In terms of trains and the London Underground, usage has again remained unchanged over the period, with only 1% of respondents saying they had travelled on either.

 

More than a third (36%) of respondents said they were avoiding public transport on Government advice, unchanged from the previous week.

 

Two out of five respondents (39%) said they would not use public transport for any reason until they felt completely safe.

 

However, almost one in eight said they would begin using public transport again when shops were open again or when their employer asked them to return to work.

 

During the first few weeks of the pandemic, there was much debate about the use of face masks.

 

Last month, the Government updated its advice and for the first time recommended their use in when in an enclosed space where social distancing is not possible.

 

Examples given include short periods indoors in crowded areas, such as when using public transport or visiting some shops.

 

Six out of ten respondents (62%) said think that wearing a face mask while using public transport should be a requirement in the most recent study. That was similar to the previous week’s result (63%) but has increased from the 51% seen in week one of the survey.

 

Until social distancing can be guaranteed on public transport, however, 71% said they would continue to avoid its use.

 

A consistent six out of 10 (60%) said they will more likely to drive in the future.

 

Driving retained its top spot, with 53% reporting usage of their car, unchanged from the previous week and a 5% increase on the 48% from a fortnight ago.

 

Drivers, however, are continuing to report an increase in the volume of traffic they are encountering, with 38% of respondents saying roads are ‘moderately’ busier in the past week – up from 33% in the previous week.

 

Traffic on the motorway, they say, is very light but local roads are much busier than they were a couple of weeks ago.

 

As lockdown restrictions are gradually lifted more businesses are re-opening and staff are returning to work. However, the proportion of people who say they expect to work from home more often in the future has increased since the survey was first conducted.

 

In week one, 40% said they expected to be spending more time working from home, compared to more than half (52%) of respondents now.

 

A Fleet News poll currently shows that two-thirds of respondents (66%) expect working from home to be their ‘new normal’ in the future. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government is being urged to invest in roads policing and fast track technology to catch drivers who flout traffic laws.

 

Some 1,800 people die on UK roads each year – more than twice the number of deaths from homicides and terrorism combined. A further 25,000-plus people are seriously injured.

 

However, over the past decade, the number of roads policing officers has decreased substantially.

 

While the total number of police officers has fallen by around 13% since 2010, there was a 22% reduction in the number of dedicated roads policing officers between 2010 and 2014, and a further reduction of 18% since 2015.

 

In 2019, dedicated roads policing officers made up only around 4% of total force strength.

 

Furthermore, of those dedicated officers, many are often ‘double-hatted’, with responsibilities for carrying out more than one policing function.

 

The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), in a report published today (Thursday, June 4), criticises successive cuts in roads policing.

 

It wants the Government to specify roads policing within its pledge to fund 20,000 additional police officers.

 

PACTS executive director, David Davies, explained: “The number of road deaths is more than twice the deaths from homicide and terrorism combined and breaches of road traffic laws are the biggest single cause of road deaths. This needs to be recognised in the Government’s priorities and resources for policing.”

 

Many of the casualties on UK roads result from a failure to comply with traffic laws – knowingly or otherwise, says the report.

 

Around two-thirds of collisions involve excessive speed, a driver over the legal alcohol limit, failure to wear a seat belt, or a combination of these factors. This does not take into account other offences, such as drug driving or hand-held mobile phone use.

 

Since 2010, the long-term decline in the number of road deaths and serious injuries has largely ceased, with many suggesting this is at least partly due to reductions in roads policing.

 

International research of the effectiveness of roads policing in increasing compliance with traffic laws and reducing road casualties, has been shown to cut some collision types by around a quarter.

 

A detailed analysis by PACTS of the ‘fatal 4’ offences (speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, and using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel) since 2010, shows that where enforcement has been increased, compliance has improved and casualties have dropped; but where cutbacks have affected enforcement, there has been little or no improvement.

 

The PACTS report – Road Policing and its Contribution to Road Safety – investigates links between roads policing, compliance with traffic laws and road casualties, and looks for ways to enhance the effectiveness of roads policing, ahead of a Whitehall review,

 

It says that the wider use of technology to “monitor, deter, detect and prosecute” should be exploited to help police target high-risk individuals and assist in improving compliance with seat belts, mobile phones, drink driving and other safety requirements – not just speed.

 

It is calling for a review of Home Office type approvals to allow for the development and implementation of technologies such as cameras with more than one purpose and evidential roadside testing equipment.

 

The report says that there is “clear public support” for enforcement of traffic laws and a desire for more visible roads policing.

 

“Use of speed cameras is supported by the majority, but with sensitivity,” it adds.

 

Figures from Lex Autolease showed that the volume of motoring fines and penalties incurred by company car and van drivers increased by 3%, last year.

 

Davis said: “The public support more enforcement. Roads policing provides double value: tackling those who drive dangerously often disrupts wider criminality.

 

“For example, Essex police found that almost half the drug-drive offenders had previous arrest records for serious crimes such as burglary, drug dealing and violent crime.”

 

GEM Motoring Assist has welcomed the recommendations made in the PACTS report.

 

GEM chief executive Neil Worth said: “Our members support more enforcement. The public supports more enforcement. The report highlights the success of roads policing in improving levels of compliance with traffic laws and reducing road casualties. Effective roads policing has been shown to cut some types of collision by around a quarter.

 

“We welcome this report and urge the Government to make roads policing a national priority.

 

“There should be no further cuts to roads policing – in fact we want an increase in the number of specialist roads policing officers who can support communities in ensuring there is no place for the minority of lawbreakers who pose such a threat to safety and security on our roads.”

 

The report also suggests the public should be involved to improve road safety, with schemes such as Operation Snap, which allows drivers to upload dash cam video evidence, proving “popular, manageable, and effective”.

 

Chief Constable Anthony Bangham, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for roads policing, welcomed the PACTS report.

 

“It comes at a time when a number of key institutions, including the Government and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services are also interested in how we police our roads,” he said.

 

“There are more than twice as many road deaths as homicides in the UK every year. This shows how significant road death still is.”

 

A road safety charity, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) promotes evidence-based policies to improve to road, rail and air safety.

 

It works with Government, Parliament, experts and stakeholders, and its founders were responsible to for the 1981 legislation which made it compulsory to wear a seatbelt in the front seat of a car. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

 

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by MoneySuperMarket has revealed that more than 3m (3,025,345) cars and vans had their MOT extended since March 30.

 

Broken down by EU class, that is 2,788,594 passenger vehicles and 236,751 light goods up to 3000kg – roughly 65,000 cars per day. MoneySuperMarket predicts there could be another 1m cars with MOT extensions by June 1.

 

MOTs are automatically being extended by six months if it was due to expire on or after March 30 and if its eligible. However, it has recently been updated on May 27, that a MOT extension will no longer apply if you take your vehicle for a MOT and it fails. Your vehicle will need to be fixed and pass its MOT before you can use it again.

 

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) highlights that safety remains its top priority and drivers are at risk of prosecution if found to be driving unsafe vehicles. Vehicles must be kept in a roadworthy condition and garages remain open for essential repair work.

 

Car servicing and repair company, Kwik Fit, has said it expects to see a significant demand in MOT requests post the six-month extension period, as current trends suggest that most drivers will wait until the MOT extension is over before arranging for their MOT to be completed.

 

As a result, there will be a significant demand for MOT tests in October, November and towards the end of 2020, putting pressure on capacity, the company says.

 

According to statistics provided by MoneySuperMarket, of all MOTs due this year, 18% were due in April and May. Data based on drivers using the MoneySuperMarket car monitor, showed that October is expected to be the busiest month as 15% of all MOTs are due in within the month.

 

However, Kwik Fit says it is taking measures to increasing capacity at more than 500 MOT test centres across the UK and would encourage drivers to book the MOT in advance of the extended due date, especially if the vehicle is being used more regularly during that time.

 

Kwik Fit estimates that 25% of fleet drivers who could have deferred their MOT have still had a test on their vehicle. However, most drivers it would have expected during the weeks since the introduction of the MOT extension have chosen not to visit, due to the restrictions in place for lockdown.

 

New research by Kwik Fit also revealed that almost 1.1 million unroadworthy vehicles are set to return to the roads as lockdown begins to ease. An estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which would have received a six-month extension, would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had they undergone a MOT.

 

Dan Joyce, fleet director at Kwik Fit, said: “Of the fleet vehicles which received an automatic extension, our experience tells us that around one in five would have failed a test if they had received one.

 

“Therefore, our on-going message to drivers whom have been using their vehicle or will now start to use their vehicle again whilst lockdown restriction are eased over the coming weeks and months, is to consider the roadworthiness and general condition of the vehicle prior to using it again more regularly.”

 

Kwik Fit have continued to offer MOT slots throughout its network during the MOT extension period and says that although volumes have significantly reduced during this time, it has seen some demand for MOT’s from key workers and people using their vehicles to continue with essential journeys during lockdown.

 

Three quarters of a million MOT tests still carried out in April

But despite the MOT extension, three quarters of a million tests were still carried out in April, figures from Motorway.co.uk have revealed.

 

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) made by the car selling comparison website showed that 746,157 MOTs were carried out in April 2020, down 80% on March 2020 – where 3,723,524 motorists took their vehicles for a MOT.

 

Perth in Central Scotland saw the biggest drop in MOTs last month, with tests down 85.7%, in comparison to March. Inverness saw 85.6% fewer MOTs in April, than in March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than 20,000 motorists in the Birmingham area (21,324) took their vehicles for a MOT in April, and 18,170 tests were carried out by garages in the ‘S’ postcode area (Sheffield) last month.

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Buttle, director at Motorway.co.uk, said: “These figures from the DVSA show that despite motorists having the opportunity to postpone their MOT test, many have chosen not to do so. There could be several reasons why; with general car maintenance, ongoing value and safety issues likely at the forefront of many drivers’ minds.

 

“Saying that, the number of MOTs in April was still substantially lower than March figures, and we expect to see a similarly low level of testing in May, as lockdown restrictions have only been eased slightly this month.”

 

Automotive aftermarket ready to deal with MOT demand when 6-month exemption is lifted

New automotive aftermarket sector-specific guidance to ‘keep millions of vehicles roadworthy’ has been published by the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF), Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

 

The UK automotive aftermarket sector has signalled its readiness to cope with increased demand for MOT tests, service, maintenance and repair with the publication of Covid-19: Industry Guidance and Best Practice for Automotive Aftermarket.

 

Although workshops have been allowed to stay open throughout the lockdown, helping to keep vehicles roadworthy for essential journeys, guidance will help companies of all types and sizes in the aftermarket operate safely while minimising the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

 

Mike Hawes, chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “It is timely that the aftermarket can assure customers and colleagues that it is ready to re-open safely to ensure workers’ vehicles remain roadworthy.”

 

The best-practice guidance covers the entire aftermarket sector, including workshops, warehouses, mobile operations and parts distributors and covers every aspect of their operations, from clear communications with customers and colleagues to social distancing, sanitisation and hygiene, and collection/delivery of vehicles from vulnerable owners.

 

It is designed to complement government advice and help the aftermarket sector demonstrate safe practices for employees and customers across all points of interaction. It comes as vehicle mileages start to climb and the sector calls for an end to the six-month MOT extension.

 

Hawes said: “With government advice stating that workers should avoid public transport when returning to work, the use of private cars is likely to rise more sharply than it already has over recent weeks. Given many of these vehicles have been idle for weeks, a reconsideration of the six-month MOT extension needs to be made as soon as possible.”

 

The vital role of the aftermarket sector in supporting safe mobility of the UK workforce has been underlined as the IMI echoes the SMMT call for the six-month exemption to be scrapped.

 

Steve Nash, chief executive officer at the Institute of the Motor Industry, said: “There are serious risks in the extension remaining in place now. If vehicles are coming back onto the roads in volume it is vital for all road users’ safety that they are roadworthy.

 

“The other issue is that if all motorists wait up to six months from when their MOT expired to get their vehicle tested, there is going to be a big backlog of tests in the Autumn and Winter which could significantly overwhelm the sector. That’s without considering the likelihood of the market shrinking because many businesses are unlikely to be able to survive without work coming in.

 

“The SMMT’s proposal to scrap the extension makes a lot of sense for road safety and will be a vital boost for a currently beleaguered sector.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

• DVLA has recorded a 20% rise in the number of scams reported
• These are all cons linked to DVLA services, such as vehicle taxation
• Some 1,538 fraud cases were raised to the agency in the final 3 months of 2019
• It provided examples of common scams that have been used in recent months

 

Motorists are being targeted by fraudsters using a range of different scam tactics in a bid to trick them into handing over money.

 

That’s according to a fresh warning by the DVLA last February, which has provided examples of scams it has been alerted to and traced in recent months.

 

There has been a 20 per cent rise in fraud attempts handed to the DVLA, with 1,538 reports made to agency in the last three months of 2019, new figures show.

 

Car owners have alerted the DVLA to a number of different con tactics being employed by scam artists.

 

Motorists have said they have been swindled out of money and targeted by fraudsters using fake DVLA websites, emails, texts and social media messages.

 

It has warned drivers that these are becoming more prominent, having received 1,275 scam reports in the final three months of 2018 – some 263 fewer than in the final quarter of last year.

 

To raise awareness of the types of fraudulent communication motorists might receive, the DVLA has released images of recent scams it has been alerted to.

 

It hopes this will help motorists be aware of what to look out for and issue a clear warning that if something offered online or by text message appears too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.

 

Scammers are targeting unsuspecting customers with links to services that don’t exist and messages of tax refunds, all of which are fake.

 

The reports also show that driver and vehicle documents are for sale on the internet.

 

The agency says anyone who is concerned about any calls, texts, emails or suspicious activity online, to always report these to the police via Action Fraud immediately.

 

DVLA chief information security officer David Pope said: ‘We’ve released examples of real life scams to help motorists understand when a scam is at work.

 

‘These websites and messages are designed to trick people into believing they can access services that simply don’t exist such as removing penalty points from driving licences.

 

‘All our tax refunds are generated automatically after a motorist has told us they have sold, scrapped or transferred their vehicle to someone else so we don’t ask for anyone to get in touch with us to claim their refund.

 

‘We want to protect the public and if something seems too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. The only trusted source of DVLA information is GOV.UK.

 

‘It is also important to remember never to share images on social media that contain personal information, such as your driving licence and vehicle documents.’

 

A spokesperson for Action Fraud added: ‘This can be a stressful time of year, sorting out finances for the year ahead. Fraudsters are aware of this and are using different ways to trick people.

 

‘Taking a couple of minutes to familiarise yourself with a few simple online safety tips can be significant in protecting yourself from becoming a victim of online fraud.

 

‘You should always be cautious when sharing personal information online and avoid being scammed by only using GOV.UK for government services online, such as the DVLA.

 

‘If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to us.’

 

Note: If you want to see the sample emails being sent out go to the original article by clicking here:

 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-8037209/DVLA-says-cons-used-fraudsters-trick-motorists-handing-money.html

 

By Graham Hill thanks to This Is Money

DriveTech is helping to fill the gap with online speed awareness courses after a classroom-based option was halted due to coronavirus.

 

Having reconfigured course delivery online via the Microsoft Teams platform, it has delivered classes to 22,000 motorists helping them avoid a police prosecution.

 

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for Roads Policing suspended classroom-based speed awareness courses for 12 weeks in March.

 

More than 1.2 million drivers attended a speed awareness course last year. The courses usually cost between £80 and £100, but motorists avoid paying a Fixed Penalty Notice or picking up penalty points on their driving licence.

 

DriveTech, which works in partnership with police and UKROEd, had to move rapidly to rebook around 50,000 classroom delegates bookings prior to the lockdown, to avoid motorists facing the alternative of prosecution, points and fines.

 

With revised digital course content needed, and DriveTech’s body of 175 trainers needing upskilling to deliver the virtual online experience, it says that the challenge was considerable.

 

Five weeks on from the first day of digital course delivery on March 27 (a week after lockdown measures affected venue participation), DriveTech says it is delighted that online course capacity is now matching the former levels of classroom supply.

 

Des Morrison, director of police business at DriveTech, said: “We reflect now on a pretty hectic few weeks, but it is satisfying to now see our digital delivery performing well and with some excellent customer feedback – both from our police force customers, delighted by our professional response in a crisis, and delegates.”

 

DriveTech is now delivering the three mainstream courses digitally – National Speed Awareness, National Motorway Speed Awareness, and What’s Driving you? and delegate feedback, as measured by Net Promoter Scores (NPS) has been at world class levels, it says.

 

In addition to placing the first priority on satisfying a backlog of delegates already booked onto a venue-based course, DriveTech is now taking bookings for new delegates from across the country.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The number of vehicles requiring recovery due to pothole damage has increased rapidly according to the RAC.

 

It rescued almost 3,500 motorists with pothole damaged cars in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of 64% on Q4 2019.

 

The number of cars damaged by potholes requiring recovery, between January and March, is 4.5% higher than in the same period last year, despite the Coronavirus lockdown reducing the number of vehicles on the road in the last nine days of the March.

 

Breakdowns resulting from damaged shock absorbers, broken springs and distorted wheels – that are most likely to be attributable to poor road surfaces – made up 1.6% of all the RAC’s call-outs for its individual members.

 

This was considerably up on Q4 2019 when the figure stood at 0.9% and marginally up on the same period a year ago – 1.5%.

 

The RAC’s Pothole Index suggests the overall standard of the roads has improved a little as the Index currently stands at 1.6, down from 2.3 in the same period last year and slightly down on Q4 2019 (1.7).

 

This does mean however that drivers are still 1.6 times more likely to break down as a result of pothole-related damage than they were back in 2006 when the RAC first started collecting data.

 

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The jump in pothole-related breakdowns from the last three months of the year to the first quarter of the next year is always the largest as winter weather has the greatest effect of all in wearing down our roads.

 

“Many parts of the country suffered very wet weather conditions throughout February. It’s still likely that the storms and floods were major factors in why the number of pothole-related breakdowns was higher than the same period last year.

 

“In his Budget in March, the Chancellor committed to funding our local roads and it is clear that the economic recovery as the UK emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic will need to be built on solid infrastructure – which of course needs to include good quality roads.

 

“Moreover, it will also be interesting to see if lower traffic volumes during the UK’s lockdown will help prevent further deterioration of roads as fewer wheels going over weaknesses in the asphalt should contribute to less surface wear.”  By Graham Hill Thanks To Fleet News

Electric cars are driven for 26% more miles in their first three years on the road than petrol models, research from the RAC Foundation has found.

 

The analysis, which pre-dates the steep fall in road traffic seen since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, is based on the MOT data for 516,936 vehicles.

 

It found battery electric cars cover an average of 9,435 miles per year over their first three years, compared to a petrol car’s 7,490.

 

Diesel cars are driven the most, and cover an average of 12,496 miles in each of their first three years.

 

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Unsurprisingly people with diesels have been doing most mileage, probably seeking better long-distance fuel economy, but this study is also evidence that battery-electric powered cars are not just trophy vehicles signalling their owners’ green credentials but prior to the lockdown were racking up the miles as everyday transport.

 

“Tens of millions of people still drive petrol and diesel-powered cars, but this data suggests that owners of electric cars have found them to be a practical proposition, running up the sort of big annual mileages that many of us need to do, challenging preconceptions about their range and the ease of re-charging.

 

“The next big question is what will happen when the Covid-19 lockdown ends?

 

“Some say our travel behaviour might change quite dramatically as we’ve mastered on-line meetings in place of the office routine, but any ongoing desire for social-distancing might yet draw us back to our own cars for the trips we make once the travel restrictions are lifted.”

 

The research found a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid – the most common PHEV on the road – averages 12,500 miles a year.

 

RAC Foundation reports the battery electric Tesla Model S covered an average annual mileage of 12,392, the Nissan Leaf 8,241 and the Renault Zoe 5,736.

 

The analysis also found there was a big difference between petrol and diesel versions of the same model. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued guidance towards the end of last month that a car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date could be extended by six months if it was due on or after March 30.

 

The DVSA currently carries out 30 million MOTs a year through 23,000 test centres. But, with all this summer’s MOTs effectively being pushed back into the autumn/winter period, that could put unprecedented pressure on the system and leave drivers scrambling to find MOT slots.

 

Terry Hiles, general manager at Licence Check which is now part of the Ebbon-Dacs Group, said: “The six-month MOT extension raises concerns about the potential backlog of tests that will need to be carried out later this year.

 

“Centres will be twice as busy as normal during the autumn/winter period as 12 months’ demand will be effectively shoehorned into a six-month time frame.

 

“Employers will need to have in place robust systems in place to ensure MOTs are carried out on the new dates rather than the regular anniversary date that they may have become accustomed to.

 

“So MOT reminders and alerts to drivers will be vitally important.

 

“MOTs will need to be attended to once lockdown ends and many drivers may need a prompt to help them remember the new expiration date.

 

“One option could be to sign with the .gov.uk website for its text message reminder service so that drivers are sent reminders of their new date.”

 

Currently, some 10% of vehicles fail an MOT due to defective brakes, 13% for suspension faults and 8% for illegal tyres.

 

With a percentage of the nation’s cars not being MOT’d for a further six months, the chances of some of them being driven in an unroadworthy state could rise dramatically.

 

Drivers could face fines of up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition, regardless of whether they are being operated under a six-month MOT extension or not.

 

The DVSA’s official guidance on its website says that insurance will still be valid, that drivers can still tax their vehicle and the vehicle’s record will be updated so the police can see they have a valid MOT during the six-month extension.

 

But insurance cover is likely to be invalidated if the vehicle is driven in a dangerous or defective state and the emphasis is on drivers to keep their vehicles in a roadworthy condition.

 

The DVSA advice is to take your vehicle to be repaired at the nearest open garage if it’s unsafe. These are allowed to stay open during the Coronavirus outbreak.

 

Licence Check said this uncertainty puts the onus on employers, especially those with large numbers of grey fleet drivers who use their own vehicles on company business, to have in place robust systems to ensure that vital checks are being carried out,  such as MOTs, as soon as possible once lockdown is over to ensure continuing compliance. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News