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Thatcham Research has revealed the safest new cars that launched in 2021, with EV and Hybrid models among the best performers.

A total of five cars were highlighted by the safety research organisation, including the Skoda Enyaq, Mercedes EQS and Polestar 2.

The Nissan Qashqai and Toyota Yaris Cross also made the list.

Matthew Avery, Chief Research Strategy Officer, Thatcham Research comments: “It’s fantastic to see carmakers continuing to prioritise safety, with all but four vehicles tested by Euro NCAP in 2021 achieving a four or five-star rating. Most are rising to the safety challenge and it’s encouraging to note EVs are performing very well as a group too.

“As well as the development of active safety technology to help avoid crashes and protect vulnerable road users, we also welcome the continued introduction of passive safety innovations such as centre-airbags, which prevent occupants from colliding into one another during side impacts.”

The panel of judges who selected 2021’s safest cars includes: Thatcham Research’s Matthew Avery; Claire Evans, What Car? consumer editor; Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP secretary general; and Loughborough University’s Pete Thomas, Emeritus Professor in Road and Vehicle Safety.

Judges favoured affordable vehicles that will bring the biggest safety benefits to the greatest number of drivers. Of particular importance were robust ‘active’ crash-avoidance systems, effective ‘passive’ occupant protection features, well-delivered driver interface technology, and a commitment to standard fitment across the range.

Selections will now form the shortlist for the 2022 What Car? Safety Award. The overall winner and two runners up will be revealed on January 20.

The Mercedes EQS scored some of the best Euro NCAP test results of the year, impressing judges with its improved Safety Assist technology and occupant protection, including a centre console-mounted airbag to contain occupants during side impacts.

The top-selling Qashqai is one of the best-ever performing cars in Euro NCAP tests, achieving more than 90% in three out of four safety categories. Applauded for its Reverse Automatic Braking, Lane Support and Emergency Lane Keeping functions, the Qashqai’s popularity and price point offset the current absence of all-electric or hybrid versions from its range, according to judges.

The Polestar 2 is the first model from the new electric-car brand to be tested against Euro NCAP protocols and has all the safety features expected from a Volvo-derived EV. The car was commended for its impressive passive safety performance, due to its excellent body structure and very effective restraint systems.

Skoda’s Enyaq scored well in frontal offset testing, with the car engineered to minimise damage to other vehicles in a collision, and its Adult Occupant Protection score of 94% was the second highest of all the cars tested. Skoda is planning improvements to the Enyaq’s Lane Assistance technology, which judges felt was a little ‘over-zealous’.

The Toyota Yaris Cross was commended for its encouraging overall performance in safety tests and its affordability. Judges felt the car’s popularity will help democratise safety technology, allowing many motorists to access and benefit from recent innovations.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Almost half of fixed speed cameras are not working, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request answered by 26 out of 44 police forces.

Of the 1,092 fixed speed cameras, 523 are inactive. Wiltshire Police reported that they have no fixed or mobile cameras but just rely on handheld cameras.

Some areas – like North Yorkshire, Durham, and Northamptonshire – have no fixed speed cameras working at all. Some of the cameras started to be switched off 10 years ago when funding arrangements were changed, and they became too expensive to replace.

The findings, from a BBC Panorama investigation, come as death rates on UK roads have plateaued over the past decade, after previously declining for 30 years. The death rate on the country’s roads increased by 5% in 2020.

AA president Edmund King, who contributed to the programme, says the UK needs ‘more cops in cars’. 

“It is tragic that road deaths have plateaued over the last decade after a period of sharp decline,” said King. “These deaths are totally unnecessary and should not be happening.

“We have safer vehicles; we should have safer roads and safer drivers. It is a scandal that five people per day die on our roads. This is totally unacceptable.”

King says that almost eight times as many people are killed on the roads every single year than die from knife crime. “We cannot continue in this way,” he added. “There should be a national commitment from the Prime Minister down to end this carnage.”

The AA’s Yonder driver surveys over the past decade show an 80%-plus acceptance rate for speed cameras from drivers yet the situation today is a “total postcode lottery”, according to King

“Speed cameras are effective in reducing speeding but are only one part of the armoury and do nothing to deter drink, drugged and other forms of dangerous driving,” he said.

“We need a concerted effort to reduce road deaths and often basic measures like more road markings or improved junctions can help.

“But ultimately, we need five-star drivers, in five-star cars, on five-star roads, with five-star enforcement and five-star political commitment to reduce road deaths.”

Recent AA Yonder surveys show that more people appear to believe that it’s becoming easier to get away with motoring offences which must be down to a reduction in dedicated traffic police.

More than one in four (26%) say that in their area, there’s little or no chance of being stopped and punished for drink driving, or for speeding.

More than four in ten (42%) says there’s little or no chance of being stopped and punished for driving while using a handheld mobile phone.

More than half (52%) says little or no chance of being stopped for careless driving.

A report from the Police Foundation, ‘The Future of Roads Policing’, due to be published next month is expected to analyse the reduction in numbers of dedicated traffic officers.

Between 2010 and 2014 numbers of dedicated traffic officers fell by 22% and between 2015 and 2019, numbers fell by a further 18%.

It will also recommend that roads policing should be included in the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR) to make it a national priority so that the Home Office, police forces and Chief Constables are more visibly accountable for policing our roads. This recommendation is fully supported by the AA and DriveTech.

Another FOI request by Panorama provided answers consistent with the Police Foundation’s figures. Thirty-four of 44 forces confirm that in 2016, they employed 5,014 dedicated traffic officers; today that figure is down to 4,257 – a cut of 757 dedicated traffic cops; 15% in five years.

King concluded: “This leads to the conclusion that ‘cops in cars’ are essential. We have seen a correlation between plateauing road deaths and the decline in the number of dedicated road traffic officers. If some people think they will get away with motoring offences, they will take more chances.

“We should reverse this decline as traffic police are needed in this national crisis with five people dying on our roads daily. This is not acceptable on any level.

“The bonus, as well as saving lives on the road, is that more traffic police can lead to a reduction in general serious crime as serious criminal offenders are more likely to also be serious traffic offenders.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

RAC patrols attended more than 10,000 pothole related breakdowns last year, the highest since 2018.

It’s the equivalent of 27 breakdowns per day, caused by poor-quality roads.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “The rot appears to have well and truly set in when it comes to the country’s roads with our patrols going out to vast numbers of drivers who, through no fault of their own, are breaking down because of the wear-and-tear caused by potholes.

“This is ridiculous because it is almost entirely avoidable if roads were maintained properly. With drivers contributing so much in terms of tax to the Government the very least they deserve are roads that are fit-for-purpose.

“Inevitably we have plenty of cold weather still to come this winter and we fear that by the spring the number of drivers running into problems will rise even further. Not getting our roads into a decent shape is simply storing up more problems – and more expense – for the future.”

The breakdown company’s individual members experienced a total of 10,123 breakdowns for broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers through last year, 10% more than in 2019 (9,198) and 19% more than in 2020 (8,524).

Last year’s total represented 1.5% of all the RAC’s call-outs, which is up from 1.2% in 2020, 1.1% in 2019 and 1.4% in 2018.

In the last three months of 2021, which was characterised by generally mild, damp weather across much of the UK, drivers experienced 1,688 pothole-related breakdowns which represented 0.9% of all the RAC’s call-outs during the period.

The RAC Pothole Index, which analyses pothole-related breakdowns together with the seasonal effects of the weather to give a true long-term indication of the condition of the UK’s roads, now stands at 1.63, up from 1.48 at the end of September 2021. The RAC says drivers are more than one-and-a-half times more likely to breakdown after hitting a pothole today than they were in 2006.

Lyes added: “On National Pothole Day, our message to the Government is clear – it’s time the tide was turned when it comes to potholes and local councils are given the levels of funding they need to get their roads up to a reasonable standard.

“Clearly, promises of one-off pots of cash from the Government to fix the problem haven’t done the trick and we urgently need some fresh thinking. Ring-fencing a proportion of existing taxation and earmarking these funds purely for local roads over a long-term period would give councils the financial confidence they need to plan their road maintenance work, and finally break the back on this age-old problem. This is something we know would be popular with drivers.”

Research for the RAC Report on Motoring shows that the condition and maintenance of local roads is drivers’ top motoring related concern. Nearly half of respondents (46%) last year said the quality of local roads was a problem, up from 38% a year earlier.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new type of automotive battery technology could be used to increase the range of electric vehicles (EVs) by up to five times.

Scientists at the University of Michigan have developed a solution that enables lithium-sulpher batteries, which have a much higher capacity than the lithium-ion technology currently used in EVs, to be used in automotive applications.

Lithium-sulpher batteries were previously unsuitable for EVs as they could only be cycled (discharged and recharged) 10 times, rather than the 1,000-plus that’s required.

“There are a number of reports claiming several hundred cycles for lithium-sulfur batteries, but it is achieved at the expense of other parameters—capacity, charging rate, resilience and safety. The challenge nowadays is to make a battery that increases the cycling rate from the former 10 cycles to hundreds of cycles and satisfies multiple other requirements including cost,” said Nicholas Kotov, the Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, who led the research.

A new battery membrane, developed by the team, prevents premature degradation within the battery to achieve the required cycles needed to power a typical EV.

Kotov says that the design is “nearly perfect,” with its capacity and efficiency approaching the theoretical limits. It can also handle the temperature extremes of automotive life, from the heat of charging in full sun to the chill of winter.

Lithium-sulfur batteries can be produced more sustainability as sulfur is more abundant than cobalt, which is needed for lithium-ion units. The new membrane can also be produced by recycling old bulletproof vests.

The University of Michigan has patented the membrane and Kotov is developing a company to bring it to market. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Drivers are being handed an average of more than 22,000 tickets every day by private parking firms, new research suggests.

Companies issued four million tickets to British motorists between April and September 2021, analysis of Government data by the PA news agency and the RAC Foundation has revealed.

This was despite car use being more than a quarter below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in the early part of the six-month period.

If the rate of tickets continues, the total for the financial year will come close to the record high of 8.4 million set in 2019/20.

The figures show the number of times parking companies obtained records from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to chase car owners for alleged infringements in private car parks such as at shopping centres, leisure facilities and motorway service areas.

Each resultant ticket can cost drivers up to £100.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “If there is one sector of the economy which has been resilient during Covid then it is the private parking industry, which continues to attract new players and is on course to issue as many tickets to drivers this year as it did before the pandemic reached these shores.

“The sheer volume of tickets being issued is a clear sign that something in the current system isn’t working.

“We believe there are very few drivers who set out to intentionally break the rules and consequently get stuck with a bill for up to £100, particularly if all they were doing was dropping off some of the myriad parcel deliveries we’ve been ordering this year to an apartment block or industrial estate.

“Our advice to drivers is never ignore a parking charge notice. Read it carefully and, however strongly it’s worded, if it’s wrong, challenge it.”

Some 163 firms requested car owner records between April and September. The biggest buyer was ParkingEye with nearly 900,000 records.

The DVLA charges private firms £2.50 per record.

The agency says its charges are set to recover the cost of providing the information, and it does not make any money from the process.

The implementation of measures aimed at preventing drivers being mistreated by parking companies is awaiting ministerial sign-off.

They include a Government-sanctioned code of practice, a single appeals service, and a system of charges and penalties more in line with those levied by councils.

Here are the number of vehicle keeper records obtained from the DVLA by parking management companies since 2006/07, according to the RAC Foundation:

2021/22 (first half): 4.0 million

2020/21: 4.4 million

2019/20: 8.4 million

2018/19: 6.8 million

2017/18: 5.7 million

2016/17: 4.7 million

2015/16: 3.7 million

2014/15: 3.1 million

2013/14: 2.4 million

2012/13: 1.9 million

2011/12: 1.6 million

2010/11: 1.2 million

2009/10: 1.0 million

2008/09: 700,000

2007/08: 500,000

2006/07: 300,000

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Gridserve has increased the cost of charging an electric vehicle (EV) on its network, blaming spiralling costs impacting the energy sector.

Pricing for medium power chargers – typically 60kW – which are primarily located at motorway service areas is increasing from 30p to 39p per kWh with immediate effect.

However, it said that pricing for high power chargers – up to 350kW – located at its newly developed Electric Hubs (of which it currently has 13 in construction), is 45p per kWh.

It is also keeping pricing at 39p per kWh – even for 350kW chargers – at its Electric Forecourts thanks to onsite solar generation and battery storage which gives the company more control over energy and distribution costs.

Gridserve says that it recognises the better the economics are for using EVs versus petrol or diesel, “the quicker people will make the switch”.

It is why the company says it is investing in new solar energy and battery projects which help to protect customers against the type of price hikes and instability that is currently affecting the energy market.

Gridserve says it wants to revolutionise EV charging across the UK, following the acquisition of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway network in June 2021.

It is expecting to open more than 20 ‘electric hubs’, each featuring 6-12 x 350kW ultra high-power electric vehicle (EV) charge points with contactless payment, at motorway service stations across the UK by Q2 2022.

The majority should be installed by the end of March, with a further 50 additional electric hub sites set to follow. 

Two Electric Forecourts situated adjacent to major transport routes and motorways, including a flagship site at Gatwick Airport and Norwich, are also in construction, due to open in 2022.

Several additional Electric Forecourt sites now also have planning permission including Uckfield, Gateshead, Plymouth and Bromborough, with more than 30 additional sites also under development as part of the company’s commitment to deliver over 100 Electric Forecourts.

Gridserve’s price hike follows InstaVolt raising its prices from 40p/kWh to 45p/kWh from December 1, as a result of the increases in the wholesale price of energy.

BP Pulse also increased its prices from December saying that the charging network was “no longer able to absorb the rising costs”.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Handover is becoming an increasingly vital part of the vehicle delivery process as more fleets adopt electric vehicles (EVs), according to DMN Logistics.

The Birmingham-based national vehicle movement and inspection firm says handover is the driver’s best chance to find out as much information about their new vehicle.

With the increase in online vehicle transactions, many drivers may be less familiar with the actual functionality of vehicles with some only seeing their new car or van for the first time on delivery.

With operational differences and different driving and charging experiences, DMN says vehicle delivery operatives are best placed to inform, educate and offer quick and practical demonstrations during the vehicle handover.

Nick Chadaway, managing director at DMN Logistics said, “When taking delivery of your new EV you should take the time to become accustomed to the new vehicle and use the time with the delivery driver wisely. Our vehicle delivery operatives have had to adapt to new learning systems and therefore are best equipped to advise new car owners on how to drive an EV most efficiently.

“They are in the best position to ask for advice, and we suggest customers utilise their knowledge to gain familiarity and a better understanding of their new vehicle so that they feel more confident making the switch.

“It is vital to gain as much insight into the vehicle before getting on the road.”

DMN Logistics has outlined some key tips for drivers taking delivery of a new vehicle:

• Before the delivery of your new vehicle, think about questions you have about the car to ask the delivery operatives – they will be able to answer your questions as they drive these vehicles every day.
• Ask about the basic differences in driving an ICE to an EV, especially slowing down / braking. The answer should help you feel more confident in driving it for the first time.
• Ask about charging. Delivery operatives can explain the ‘handshake’ between the plug and the car so that you are aware of the correct technique to use to ensure efficient charging and no delays.
• Ask about any features included in the car to help with driving efficiency. Ask for a demonstration of the technology to gain a better understanding and real-time experience on the software.
• To help deter range anxiety, ask questions about expected mileage in relation to battery charge levels. The operative will be able to give you a ‘typical’ mileage on a certain percentage of charge. It is also a good idea to ask about eco-mode and how this improves range.

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Transport for London (TfL) increased the maximum fine handed out for red route contraventions to £160, from January 17.

A public consultation for the proposals was held between August 5 and September 19 ,2021.

The maximum penalty charge notice (PCN) for red route contraventions was £130, a fee that was set in 2011.

TfL says the higher fine level will be a more effective deterrent and will, over time, lead to a “reduced level of contraventions and help to keep the road network safe for everyone”.

The penalty charge will be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days and increased by 50% if paid after 28 days.

The increase brings the charges in line with the penalties for non-payment of the Congestion Charge and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, which are also currently set at £160.

TfL says any revenue raised through  penalty notices is invested back into London’s transport network, which includes investing in its road network to improve safety for all road users. 

There was a 26% increase in the number of PCNs issued for parking, loading, bus lane and moving traffic offences between 2016 and 2019.

Red routes make up 5% of roads but carry 30% of the traffic. Stopping is generally prohibited on these roads, outside of designated locations and times clearly marked by signs. 

TfL says failing to follow the rules and signs at junctions creates safety risks, disrupts traffic and creates congestion.

Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of Compliance, Policing, Operations and Security, said: “We are committed to keeping London moving safely and efficiently, and compliance on the Transport for London Road Network is essential in achieving those aims. Non-compliance impacts London’s air quality, creates safety risks, disrupts traffic and creates congestion for everyone.

“Increasing the penalty charge for contraventions on our road network in line with inflation will provide a more effective deterrent to drivers and improve the safety and reliability of the network.”  

TfL also recently announced that it intends to make its trial of 24-hour bus lanes permanent, after a trial found that extending bus lane hours on London’s busiest roads cut journey times and helped reliability, making bus use more attractive and helping to encourage more Londoners onto buses.

Natalie Chapman, head of policy for the south at Logistics UK, said: “Logistics businesses need road and kerbside access to deliver the essential items businesses and consumers in the capital need.

“Transport for London (TfL) has failed to identify in its research whether some businesses are receiving repeat fines due to the lack of safe and legal spots to load and unload deliveries that their livelihoods depend on.

“Without road design in place that supports logistics, this charge level increase will not provide the deterrent TfL intends, it will simply penalise some essential delivery and servicing activities.

“The costs of doing business in the capital are increasing already across the board, for example, the Congestion Charge is not returning back to its lower pre-pandemic level as was expected; now is not the time to add yet another cost without a clear strategy, particularly while London and the rest of the UK recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Shell has opened its first electric vehicle (EV) charging hub that replaces a traditional fuel filling station, in Fulham.

The South West London site features nine ultra-rapid 175kW charge points that are powered by 100% renewable energy.

István Kapitány, Shell’s global executive vice president for Mobility, said: “EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is as fast, convenient and comfortable as possible. This is exactly what Shell Fulham aims to offer.

“It joins our growing network of Shell Recharge sites at forecourts and other locations, our ubitricity on-street charging network, and our Shell Recharge Solutions for homes and businesses as we increasingly help EV drivers to charge wherever they need it.”

Shell Fulham features a sustainable design including a timber canopy with built-in solar panels, and roof and shop windows that employ double glazing with high insulating properties.

The hub includes a seating area, free Wi-Fi, a Costa Coffee cafe and a Little Waitrose & Partners store.

It serves as a global pilot for Shell and is the company’s first existing site to be converted to cater solely for electric vehicles.

Transport Minister Trudy Harrison said: “With more people making the switch to EVs than ever before, this is exactly the type of facility we need to help make the transition as simple as possible for drivers up and down the country.

“This Government has committed £2.5bn to vehicle grants and infrastructure to support the switch to EVs. In addition to Government efforts, it is equally encouraging to see businesses support the EV transition – and Shell’s new hub is a brilliant example of the UK’s huge effort to go-green and reach our important net-zero targets.”

With more than 130 full or hybrid electric vehicle models now available to buyers, EV sales in the UK are accelerating rapidly. In December 2021, 27,705 EVs were sold, making up 25.5% of all new registrations that month. For sales and utilisation of EVs to continue accelerating, Shell says investment in charging infrastructure will likewise need to grow apace.

Shell has previously stated an ambition to install 50,000 on-street chargers in the UK by 2025 through Shell-owned company ubitricity, and in July 2021 announced that up to 800 Shell electric vehicle charging points would be installed in as many as 100 Waitrose sites across the UK by 2025. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

More than a quarter (26.7%) of drivers have said they will try to avoid having an electric vehicle (EV) for as long as possible, according the results of a survey by Fleet Evolution.

An electric vehicle attitude survey, carried out by Aston University for the EV salary sacrifice and fleet management firm, has revealed a lack of knowledge and entrenched attitudes that still exist towards EVs

The attitude survey, which went out to around 10,000 drivers, fleet and HR managers, small businesses and private motorists, was designed to gauge views on electric cars and charging infrastructure, vehicle operating costs and the desire to switch to EVs. 

When asked about the Government’s ban on the sale of new ICE cars and vans by 2030, some 26.7% of respondents said they would continue to buy used petrol or diesel models for as long as possible after the ban came into force.

The majority of respondents (40%) said the next car they buy would be a diesel, followed by 30% who said electric.

Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech, said: “There are still a number of misconceptions around EVs, particularly the costs involved, and we found it quite staggering that over a quarter of people surveyed said they would never switch to an EV come what may.

“This is rather at odds with the Government’s decision to embrace an all-electric future as laid out in its Road to Zero strategy as it strives to achieve net zero by 2050.”

When asked what impact the introduction of a local Clean Air Zone would have on their commuting habits, some 32% said it would have no impact as they would choose to pay the charge on their existing vehicle, while a further 21% said they would switch to public transport rather than an EV.

Turning to attitudes to switching to an electric car and the factors that made people hesitate in making the transition, 36% of respondents said cost, 28% said range anxiety and 25% said lack of public charging.

Charging infrastructure was an area where lack of detailed knowledge was clearly apparent amongst most respondents, according to Fleet Evolution.

Two thirds (67%) of those surveyed said they did not live within five minutes of a public charge point. But, when further confidential checks were carried out on their postcodes, it was found that some 40% of those actually had one or more within a five-minute walk of their home.

Leech, added: “It was disappointing that cost was still seen as the major barrier to more widespread EV adoption given the wider availability of more affordable electric models.

“There also seemed to be a genuine lack of awareness that an EV acquired under a corporate salary sacrifice scheme is extremely cost and tax efficient given the current tax regime which is highly beneficial for electric cars.

“The lack of awareness over charging availability was something we have seen before but overlooks, not only the rapidly growing public charging network, but the benefits of having chargers installed at the workplace.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News