The Best Car Finance Blog In The World

The UK is among the top three European countries considered most ready for the switch away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric, new research suggests.

LeasePlan’s 2023 EV Readiness Index measures the preparedness of 22 European countries for electric vehicles (EVs) based on three factors: the maturity of the EV market, the maturity of EV infrastructure, and the total cost of EV ownership in each country.

The UK remained in the top 3 with an overall score of 36 out of 50, behind Norway and the Netherlands.

Maturity of the EV market increased by 19% (42 points) across Europe – with the UK increasing by 1 point – reflecting the overall improved penetration of EVs in European countries.

However, although EVs are still more affordable in most European countries compared to an ICE alternative, the total cost of ownership (TCO) maturity of EVs has slightly decreased by 6% (14 points). This is mostly driven by rising energy prices in 2022. 

Alfonso Martinez, managing director of LeasePlan UK, said: “It is great to see a significant improvement this year in the UK – we are more ready than ever before for the shift to EV.

“It is now essential that we keep this momentum going: this year’s Index shows drivers in the UK are ready and willing to make the switch to electric, and we must keep pressure on both European and UK Government to ensure a robust public charging infrastructure is available to all drivers – including commercial vehicle fleets, incentives for switching like low Benefit in Kind rates, and OEMs that are able to keep pace with demand.” 

LeasePlan’s report highlights how EVs held a 23% share of the UK’s car market is the highest scoring in terms of Government incentives.

The UK has also significantly improved charging infrastructure compared to the previous year with more than 71,000 public charge locations and over 13,000 fast charge locations per population. The second highest across Europe.

“The continued investment in charge points (including rural areas), electricity prices beginning to fall, and Government’s Budget that announced continued low rates of benefit in kind rates for EVs have all helped ensure electric remains cost comparative with a petrol or diesel equivalent,” continued Martinez. 

“We want every single driver in the UK to be able to go electric, and while this year’s results are promising, we still have work to do.”

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

ATS Euromaster is warning that fleets making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) need to prepare for a shift in the balance of service, maintenance and repair (SMR) spend.

EVs are expected to cost less to service, thanks in part to fewer moving parts and the absence of requirements such as oil changes, but tyre life expectancy is likely to change compared with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) fleet vehicles, says ATS.

The tyre and maintenance provider explains that this is down to a number of factors, including the bulk of the cars. The majority are heavy SUVs, which when combined with the weight of a large battery makes them extremely heavy, while regenerative braking may also have a role in shortening the tyre replacement cycle.

However, Mark Holland, operations director at ATS Euromaster, said: “The greatest influence on the wear rate of tyres is the driver.

“With EVs there does seem to be a tendency for drivers new to electric vehicles to make continued use of the exceptional acceleration offered – at least during the initial phase of the driver’s lifecycle with the vehicle.

“The data is very young at the moment and there’s certainly not enough to draw significant conclusions about tyre wear, but driver behaviour appears to be a significant factor.”

In a recent survey conducted by Michelin, nearly 60% of drivers said they enjoyed the accelerative power of EVs and used it at every opportunity where it was safe to do so or did so during the early phase of vehicle ownership before resorting to more moderate levels of acceleration.

Holland continued: “This strongly suggests to us that fleets should prepare for accelerated tyre replacement on EVs, certainly in the first phase of driver use. It seems the novelty of the EV driving experience is having an unexpected effect on tyre wear rates.

“We would also suggest that fleets actively consider driver training before handing over a new EV to a company employee to mitigate these issues, but also as part of a broader duty of care programme.”

Fleet guidance on EVs from ATS Euromaster

• Expect accelerated tyre wear, certainly during the initial phase of driver use
• Consider driver training as part of your fleet’s decarbonisation programme with an introduction to EV technology and the different driving characteristics of EVs compared with ICE vehicles
• Monitor tyre replacement and take preventative driver action if excessive tyre wear continues or explore alternative, EV-specific tyres
• As newer EVs appear on the market, consider moving your fleet away from heavier SUV style models to EVs with less weight, which will not only improve vehicle efficiency but also SMR cost pressures

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The UK Government is working with international partners to develop new laws for monitoring the health of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

The plans to make the fitting of battery state of health (SOH) monitors compulsory on all new EVs were discussed at last week’s meeting of the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA).

Abdul Chowdhury, head of vehicle policy at the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), explained that because the battery forms a large part of a used EV’s value and performance, providing information on its health would support consumers in making informed comparisons between vehicles and help alleviate concerns over battery degradation.

He said: “The UK government has been working with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and other international partners to develop technical regulations on SOH monitors and minimum battery performance standards and is currently analysing options for adopting these regulations into UK law.

“The EU is also considering options, and its Euro 7 proposals look set to bring SOH monitors in from July 2025.”

A battery state of health (SOH) is an estimate of a battery’s remaining total capacity, compared to the total capacity at the EV’s production.

The Global Technical Regulations on EV batteries developed at UNECE, where many international automotive standards and regulations are set, cover two key aspects.

The first is to mandate installation of SOH monitors on EVs which must be accessible to the consumer, meet accuracy requirements and be validated through in-service testing.

The second is to set a minimum performance standard of 80% SOH from 0-5 years old or 100,000km, whichever comes first, and 70% SOH for vehicles between 5-8 years old or 100,000 to 160,000km, whichever comes first.

Other areas where OZEV was looking to provide support to the used EV sector included providing standardised EV information to customers at the point of sale and helping to ensure that sufficient numbers of technicians were trained to repair EVs.

Chowdhury continued: “The used market is critical to the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and meeting our net zero ambitions.

“It is where 80% of all cars are bought and sold, and as we move from early EV adopters to a mass transition, its health is critical to ensuring a fair and equitable transition for all.”

Government support has included financial incentives to stimulate the new EV market and increase the supply of vehicles feeding through to the used market.

Funding for charge point infrastructure at homes, workplaces, residential streets and across the wider roads network is also supporting consumers to buy used EVs, added Chowdhury.

The potential for legislation around battery monitoring comes as an advisory group of battery experts is being assembled to explore ways of promoting greater confidence in the used EV market.

Organised by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), the half-day event – Battery health: supercharge your knowledge – will take place on May 16

At the VRA event, members heard that there are no Government plans for direct financial support for used EV purchases. However, it says that all policy options are continually under review and OZEV closely monitor the health of the used market and are always open to receiving any evidence.

“Used EVs continue to be among the most-discussed topics in remarketing and being able to hear directly from someone such as Abdul at the centre of Government thinking was fascinating and provided a high level of insight for VRA members,” said VRA chair Philip Nothard.

The event also featured a panel discussion on the used EV market and used vehicle supply in general featuring Phill Jones, chief operating officer at eBay Motors Group; Greg Smith, commercial director at Carshop Supermarket; and Michael Tomalin, CEO at both City Auctions Group and PurpleRock.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

New car registrations are expected to exceed previous estimates, while the used market continues to track towards surpassing seven million transactions this year, new analysis from Cox Automotive suggests.

Overall sentiment about the new car market has been boosted by 2022’s surprisingly strong performance and confirmation that Q1 of 2023 continued this positive trend.

As a result, Cox Automotive’s revised baseline forecast for the full year predicts it will end 2023 with 1,942,667 registrations, a 13.5% lift on last quarter’s forecast of just over 1.7 million.

The updated forecast indicates we’ll see 476,691 new registrations in Q2, a 16.4% improvement on the forecast published at the start of the year (409,378), while Q3 is on track to end with 558,803 new vehicle registrations.

Cox Automotive’s used car forecast predicts that the UK market will see 7,096,932 transactions during 2023, a 3.2% year-on-year improvement.

Q2 is expected to deliver 1,832,842 transactions, while Q3 is predicted to see 1,866,540 transactions.

Published in Cox Automotive’s latest AutoFocus insight update, the forecasts consider a baseline, upside and downside scenario for each market.

The baseline is, the company believes, the most likely scenario to materialise.

Philip Nothard, Cox Automotive’s insight and strategy director, said: “It’s heartening to once again unveil an upbeat sector forecast.

“So many challenges that have dominated our commentary on new and used markets for successive quarters are finally fading.

“That’s not to say that the road ahead is free from obstacles and the visibility is crystal clear, but we progress towards the halfway point of 2023 in a better position than many dared hope.”

He continued: “Our revised new vehicle forecast reflects the confirmation of 2022’s registration figures and evidence gathered throughout Q1 that manufacturers are returning to a ‘push’ market.”

More than 85 million cars and LCVs were manufactured in 2022, a 6.08% year-on-year increase and a drastic improvement on the lows of 77 million seen in 2020.

“With supply chains now approaching where they need to be, manufacturers can once again ramp up production and define the volume of vehicles that are supplied to the market, as opposed to the demand-driven ‘pull’ market we’ve experienced since the first lockdown,” added Nothard.

The new car forecast also accounts for the clearer picture the sector now has of the two most influential dynamics within the new market: the influence of EVs as a proportion of new registrations and the quicker-than-anticipated emergence of new Chinese brands in the UK.

The net result is a 20.4% year-on-year increase, which, for context, remains 15.9% behind pre-pandemic levels.

Nothard said: “We’ve reviewed all the relevant data points and remain confident in our existing forecasts.

“It would be understandable to look at what’s happening with new registrations and conclude that this performance will naturally translate over to the used market. Still, we must remember that most of today’s new vehicles will not be seen in the used market until 2026, and possibly longer still if predictions of fleets and private buyers retaining vehicles for longer prove to be accurate.

“We must also remember that the used market continues to be impacted by huge volume lost over the past three years; some 42 million fewer vehicles were made globally in this period compared to the previous three years.

“This equates to 2.3 million vehicles that should’ve entered the UK’s used market around now but never did. Nevertheless, the fact that we’re looking at completing more than seven million used car transactions this year is a very positive position to be in.”

The full details of Cox Automotive’s latest new and used car forecasts can be read in issue nine of its AutoFocus insight update. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Diesel drivers were overcharged by 16p per litre (ppl) at the pumps in April, according to new data from the RAC.

The price of diesel fell by almost 4ppl during the month, but the RAC says it still remains at least 16p more expensive than it should be as it’s now 6p cheaper than petrol on the wholesale market.

A litre of diesel closed the month costing drivers an average of 159.43p across UK forecourts while petrol was unchanged at 146.5p.

It was the sixth month that the average pump price of diesel has fallen, but despite this the RAC claims drivers and fleets are losing out because the wholesale price of the fuel was cheaper than petrol for all of April.

A litre of wholesale diesel cost 104.88p on 28 April – down 9p in the month – whereas unleaded was 111.25p (down 6p in April).

However, apart from in Northern Ireland where diesel averages 147.47p, diesel in the rest of the UK is still 13p more expensive on the forecourt. The RAC believes drivers should really be paying around 143p at the very most for a litre of diesel.

The cost of filling a 55-litre family car with petrol now stands at £80.60. The diesel equivalent is £87.69. If diesel was being sold at the fairer price of 143p it would save drivers £9 a tank.

At the end of April the average price of unleaded at one of the big four supermarkets was 142.99p – 3.5p cheaper than the UK average.

Diesel was 2.75p cheaper than the average at 156.68p – down 3p since the start of the month.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Diesel drivers across the UK mainland continue to lose out badly at the pumps. They’re paying 13p a litre more for the fuel than petrol, despite diesel being cheaper for retailers to buy on the wholesale market for all of April.

“We feel there should be an obligation on retailers to reflect wholesale price movements on their forecourts.

“Sadly, the only place this seems to happen is in Northern Ireland where a litre of diesel is, incredibly, being sold for 12p less than the UK-wide average.”

Williams explained: “Our data shows that the average retailer margin on a litre of diesel is a shocking 22p a litre compared to petrol which is around 8p.

“The long-term averages for both fuels is 7p which means retailers are making three times what they have in the past for diesel. This is hard for them to justify and equally hard for diesel drivers to swallow.

“Action at a Government level is badly needed to stop drivers being ripped off any longer. While we’re not in favour of prices being capped – as we feel this could lead to smaller retailers in rural areas not being able to compete and going out of business to the detriment of the communities they serve – we feel there should be an obligation on the biggest retailers to charge fairer prices in relation to wholesale market movements.”

He concluded: “We realise retailers need to make a profit but a margin of 22p on every litre of diesel can only be seen as outrageous and a slap in the face to those who depend on it, whether they’re consumers or businesses.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Ford has introduced the first hands-off driver assistance system that can be used on motorways.

BlueCruise makes its debut on the Mustang Mach-E and is approved for use on UK roads by the Department for Transport (DfT).

It enables hands-free assisted driving at speeds of up to 80mph.

The system monitors road markings, speed signs and evolving traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning, as well as to maintain safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead – right down to a complete halt in traffic jams.

BlueCruise is classified as a Level 2 autonomous system and can be activated on 2,300 miles of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales, designated as Blue Zones. Drivers must remain attentive at all times and are monitored by an infrared camera continually.

If the system detects driver inattention, warning messages are first displayed in the instrument cluster, followed by audible alerts, brake activations, and finally slowing of the vehicle while maintaining steering control. Similar actions are performed if the driver fails to place their hands back on the steering wheel when prompted when leaving a Blue Zone.

Owners of 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise via subscription. The first 90 days are included with the vehicle purchase and, thereafter, a £17.99 monthly fee applies.

Ford engineers undertook 100,000 miles of testing on European roads to validate latest-generation advanced driver assistance systems including BlueCruise and its supporting features, in addition to over 600,000 miles covered in the US and Canada before the system was introduced to those markets last year.

Validation drives in Great Britain helped prove out the ability to handle circumstances drivers encounter every day, such as worn-out lane markings, poor weather and roadworks.

Torsten Wey, manager for advanced driver assistance systems at Ford Europe, said: “There’s a good reason why Ford BlueCruise is the first hands-free driving system to be cleared for use in a European country: We’ve proven beyond doubt that it can support the driver while also ensuring that they keep their eyes on the road for their safety and that of their passengers while the system is active. That means BlueCruise can make other road users’ journeys more comfortable too.”

Driver monitoring system

Thatcham Research vehicle technology specialist Tom Leggett says that before BlueCruise can be enabled, a driver monitoring system (DMS), using infrared cameras positioned in the instrument cluster, will ensure that the driver has their eyes on the road.

“Crucially, the driver is not permitted to use their mobile, fall asleep or conduct any activity that takes attention away from the road,” he explained.

“This demonstrates just how important DMS is, not only in enabling current assisted driving technology like BlueCruise but also as we move towards fuller levels of automation in the future.”

He explained: “Although the vehicle can help control speed and position in lane, the driver is still wholly responsible for safety.

“It’s therefore no surprise that Ford and other car makers are looking to introduce technologies like this ahead of ‘Level 3’ automated lane keeping systems, which have experienced lingering questions around liability especially.”

Because BlueCruise users remain responsible and liable, says Leggett, a lot of the legal and technical complexities of automation and self-driving have been avoided, while still offering drivers a beneficial comfort feature that can reduce fatigue on long, monotonous journeys.

He concluded: “We would expect car makers to ensure safe adoption by way of driver education and clear messaging in the vehicle manual and on the dashboard.”

As of January 2023, car manufacturers are able to seek type approval to launch Level 3 technologies with expanded self-driving capabilities at speed of up to 80mph.

The rules previously capped the use of such systems to 37mph, but were not adopted by the UK Government. Ministers gave the green-light to allow self-driving cars last August.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Skid resistance, a critical measurement reflecting the friction between a vehicle’s tyre and the road surface, is indispensable for road safety as it directly influences a vehicle’s stopping, steering, and control capabilities. In the UK, the Department for Transport has set forth regulations prescribing minimum skid resistance values to guarantee safe driving conditions; however, considering the current condition of numerous roads, are these minimum standards being achieved?

Various factors can impact skid resistance, encompassing surface texture and material, road surface condition, tyre type and condition, and environmental conditions such as moisture, temperature, and road debris. Gradually, road surfaces can deteriorate and become smoother, diminishing skid resistance and amplifying accident risks, especially in wet or icy conditions.

This issue is already concerning for petrol or diesel vehicles, but driving electric cars on roads with potholes and low skid resistance can lead to disastrous outcomes.

Skidding-induced loss of control is a major contributor to numerous accidents (particularly on wet roads). Special focus should be directed towards carriageway surfaces with skid-resistant properties, especially in areas where braking is common, like intersections, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings, and bends or steep inclines.

Electric cars deliver instant traction to the wheels, which requires exceptional grip if skids are to be avoided and maximum range maintained as a result of adequate skid resistance.

Resurfacing UK roads is crucial to maintain safe driving conditions and avert accidents. The resurfacing process involves applying a new material layer, such as asphalt or concrete, over the existing road surface. This can restore skid resistance, enhance ride quality, and prolong road lifespan.

Additionally, resurfacing can improve road surface drainage, mitigating standing water and hydroplaning risks. Hydroplaning occurs when water accumulates between tyres and the road surface, causing tyres to lose road contact and making vehicle control challenging.

Several permanent and temporary fixes include:

Retexturing: Mechanical reworking of the current surface to augment frictional characteristics and skid resistance. Common methods involve removing material from the road surface using diamond grooving, shot-blasting, bush hammering, or high-velocity water blasting.

Resurfacing: Involves cost-effective thin surfacing treatments to enhance surface texture, wet road skid resistance, and seal the surface against water penetration while arresting existing road surface disintegration.

Surface Dressing: Applies a bitumen emulsion spray onto the road surface, followed by a layer of high Polished Stone Value (PSV) chippings.

High Friction Surfacing (HFS): Utilizes refractory grade calcined bauxite, a highly durable aggregate (with high PSV) for sustained skid resistance. HFS systems can be thermoplastic (hot-lay) or thermosetting (cold-lay) resin binders.

Porous Friction Course: A highly permeable asphalt layer with continuous voids, accommodating low to moderate rainfall intensities runoff. This material enhances skid resistance at high traffic speeds, minimizes water sprays, and reduces aquaplaning possibilities.

Alongside resurfacing, other measures to enhance skid resistance on UK roads include employing road markings and textures to increase road surface grip, refining drainage system design and placement, and performing regular road maintenance and cleaning to eliminate debris and optimize surface conditions.

In summary, skid resistance is a vital element of road safety, particularly for electric cars. Resurfacing UK roads is essential to preserve safe driving conditions. Consistent road maintenance and improvements can ensure that roads remain secure and navigable for all users. By Graham Hill

I’ve spoken about this a lot recently having had a test drive in a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Whilst it’s not perfect the build quality, materials and technology were easily a match for any prestige brand. As soon as people migrated from Mercedes and BMW to an unknown brand like Tesla the die was set.

Looking at the spec. and design of the VW ID7 I can’t see any traditional prestige car driver not being tempted by this amazing car. What do you think?

Volkswagen’s sleek electric ID7 upper-medium car will be almost five metres long and have a range of up to 438 miles, the manufacturer has announced.

The model, which is planned for launch this year in Europe, is one of 10 new electric models that will be launched by Volkswagen by 2026.

This year sees the introduction of a new ID3, the ID Buzz with long wheelbase and the ID7. An electric compact SUV and the production version of the ID2all are planned for 2026.

Thomas Schafer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said: “With the ID7, we are taking the next step in our electric offensive.

“Already by 2026 we will offer the widest electric range of all manufacturers in Europe – from the entry-level (ID2all) model for less than 25,000 Euros up to the ID7 as the new top model within the ID family.

“Our goal is to achieve an electric car share of 80% in Europe by 2030. As from 2033, Volkswagen will produce only electric vehicles in Europe.”

The ID7 is almost five metres long and the manufacturer says the powertrain has been designed to maximise range.

Depending on battery size it predicts WLTP ranges up to 700km and charging capacities of up to about 200kW.

The ID7’s cabin features a 15-inch infotainment system screen, an augmented reality head-up display, and a new air conditioning operating concept integrated on the top level of the infotainment system.

Other technologies available in the ID7 include a panoramic sunroof with smart glass which can be switched between opaque and transparent settings by touch control, as well as Climatronic front seats which offer cooling and heating as well as a drying function.

Travel Assist technology can support assisted lane changing on the multi-lane motorway at speeds above 56mph.

The ID7 can also independently perform assisted parking manoeuvres in different ways, including parking with memory function over a distance of up to 50m.

For this, the driver either remains sitting in the ID7 or monitors the parking procedure from outside the vehicle using the smartphone app.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.

There has been a 15.6% reduction in off-peak ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging since the start of the year, according to the March 2023 AA EV Recharge Report. 

Prices have fallen from 71p/kWh in January to 64p/kWh in March.

Furthermore, flat rate prices for slow chargers, which are traditionally found in residential areas where there is no dedicated off-street parking, dropped by 2p/kWh with the price sat at just a penny above the Energy Price Guarantee for domestic electricity costs (35p/kWh versus 34p/kWh).

Flat rate rapid charging costs, however, increased by 1p/kWh between February and March to 67 p/kWh.

Elsewhere, all other flat rate costs, peak and off-peak prices remained static.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “The second consecutive month of falling prices on the fastest types of charging is great news and is further boosted by flat rate slow charging almost meeting parity with domestic electricity costs.”

AA EV Recharge Report, March 2023 – Flat Rates

Charge Type	Speed	March (p/kWh)	February (p/kWh)	Difference (p/kWh)	Cost to charge to 80%	Pence per mile (p/mile)
Domestic	Up to 7kW	34	34	0	£13.60	7.64
Slow	Up to 7kW	35	37	-2	£14.00	7.87
Fast	8-22kW	53	53	0	£21.20	11.91
Rapid	23-100kW	67	66	1	£26.80	15.06
Ultra-rapid	+101kW	70	71	-1	£28.00	15.73

AA EV Recharge Report, March 2023 – Peak and Off-Peak rates

Charge Type	Speed	March (p/kWh)	February (p/kWh)	Difference (p/kWh)	Cost to charge to 80%	Pence per mile (p/mile)
Slow off-peak	Up to 7kW	37	37	0	£14.80	8.31
Slow peak	Up to 7kW	72	72	0	£28.80	16.18
Fast off-peak	8-22kW	57	57	0	£22.80	12.18
Fast peak	8-22kW	75	75	0	£30.00	16.85
Rapid off-peak	23-100kW	57	57	0	£22.80	12.81
Rapid peak	23-100kW	75	75	0	£30.00	16.85
Ultra-rapid off-peak	+101kW	51	52	-1	£20.40	11.46
Ultra-rapid peak	+101kW	64	67	-3	£25.60	14.38

Calculations based on adding 80% to a Vauxhall e-Corsa, 50kW, with a WLTP range of 222 miles. Adding 80% range equates to 178 miles of range. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government has introduced new rules to clamp down on utility companies for leaving potholes behind after carrying out street works.

New regulations came into force on Saturday (April 1) for a performance-based inspection regime to ensure utility companies resurface roads to the best possible standard after street works.

Ministers say that this will potentially prevent thousands of potholes from developing in the future.

Currently, about 30% of utility companies’ street works are inspected regardless of how well those street works are carried out. Under the new “street works regime” utility companies will be assessed on the quality of their road repairs after carrying out street works, with the best companies inspected less and the worse-performing companies inspected more, based on their performance.

As a result, companies that leave behind roads in poor condition could see 100% of their street works inspected.

With highway authorities now charging £50 per defect inspection and a further £120 for follow-up inspections, ministers are hoping that poor performing companies will now be incentivised to perform better to avoid incurring high financial charges.

While the average failure rate for street works by utility companies is currently 9%, some of the worst performers are failing inspections by as much as 63%.

Other reforms in the inspection framework include mandating better live updates on roadworks to help drivers plan ahead.

The move will focus on telecom companies in particular, which the Government says is the worst performing sector – responsible for nearly 13% of poor street work repairs.

The measures, it says, will ensure these companies are checked more regularly until they can bring about noticeable improvements.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said: “We’re investing more than £5.5 billion over this Parliament to maintain roads up and down the country, and today’s measures are yet another example of how this Government is on the side of motorists and other road users, leaving no stone unturned in the fight against the plague of potholes.

“The new street works regime is a victory for all road users, with motorists and cyclists able to enjoy smoother, safer, and less congested journeys as we continue to level up transport across the country and grow the economy.”

More than £14bn to fix backlog

The new regulations and funding come after a report highlighted how local authority highway teams in England and Wales require more than £14bn to fix the backlog of road repairs.

This year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey, published by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), made bleak reading for fleets facing costly repairs for pothole damage.

Average highway maintenance budgets across England and Wales increased by 4.5% to £25.8 million per authority. However, more than half (53%) of local authorities reported a cut or freeze in their highway maintenance budget.

In fact, when inflation is taken into account, the total highway maintenance budget of £4.33bn represents a cut in real terms.

The rising costs, due to these inflationary pressures, have resulted in engineers being forced to postpone or cancel road schemes to make savings.

The data also showed that in the last year, the gap between what local authorities received and what they said they would have needed to keep roads to their own target conditions and prevent further decline is now £1.3bn – a jump of more than 20% on last year’s figure and the highest amount reported in 28 years of successive ALARM surveys.

The Government announced an extra £200m for pothole repairs in the Budget. 

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “Potholes not only cause expensive damage to vehicles but are potentially lethal to those on two wheels.

“Utility companies have a responsibility to ensure roads are properly repaired after carrying out essential maintenance, but unfortunately far too many roads are left in a substandard condition.

“Introducing new regulations to encourage repairs to be done to a higher standard first time around will benefit all road users.”

Accurate data on live works

The new measures being announced by the Government also require utility companies and local authorities to provide the Department for Transport’s street manager service with more up to date and accurate data on live works, including at weekends.

Companies will be asked to provide information about when works start and stop at weekends and all local authorities must share start/stop information about their works.

This will update sat navs and other apps so company car and vans drivers are aware of where street works are and can avoid those areas.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News