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All drivers and especially fleet operators are being advised to proactively protect their vehicles and drivers, following a crash for cash report from the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB).

SmartDrive Systems, a provider of in-vehicle camera systems, says the report must act as an urgent wake up call to any operators not using camera footage as part of their accident management process.

The IFB report identifies more than 170,000 insurance claims potentially linked to cash for crash gangs, out of 2.7m claims made between October 2019 and December 2020.

“A number of our fleet customers, particularly those operating vans on last mile delivery, have found themselves particular targets of this criminal behaviour,” said Penny Brooks, managing director of SmartDrive Systems.

“The term ‘fraud’ doesn’t begin to capture the nature of crash for cash offence,” she added. “These people are weaponising vehicles and attacking commercial vehicle drivers. This is physically dangerous; it is highly stressful and it can shatter a driver’s confidence. Not to mention the cost to the fleet operator. “

Crash for cash scams can range from paper-based fabrications, or vehicles being damaged behind closed doors, through to those where collisions are being caused by fraudsters.

IFB investigations have found single gangs can be behind thousands of orchestrated collisions in some areas, with the combined value of their fraudulent claims running into the millions.

The Midlands, North West and London were highlighted as particular problem areas by the IFB, with Birmingham named the most dangerous city in the UK for collision scams.

A proactive video solution can provide protection against these scams. The SmartDrive system captures 10 seconds of footage before and after a collision, giving an unarguable narrative. The driver can also manually activate the cameras for recording events or self-protection.

Footage is offloaded via the cellular network in near real time, preserving the data and speeding First Notification of Loss (FNOL), claim process and claim dismissal.

Brooks said: “We have helped our customers dismiss literally thousands of fraudulent cash for crash claims this way and save hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“If all commercial vehicles had a suitable camera system, we could drive these criminals off the road, for good. Our drivers are a precious resource and we should do all we can to protect them.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

In order to stop the massive increase in ‘crash for cash’ claims the Government has introduced new rules which should help to avoid illegal claims. The following report was aimed at those running fleets of cars but it equally applies to all drivers.

Following a long wait, the whiplash reforms finally came into effect from 31^st May 2021.

The reforms will simplify compensation for victims and clarify processes around claims.

But if your business operates with vehicles on the road, there’s a few things you’ll need to know about the changes.

There is now an official definition for the term ‘Whiplash Injury’ under the reforms:

• A sprain, tear, rupture or lesser damage of a muscle, tendon or ligament in the neck, back or shoulder, or
• an injury of soft tissue associated with a muscle, tendon or ligament in the neck, back or shoulder
• An increase in the small claims track limit for pain, suffering and loss of amenity for road traffic accident  injury claims has been made from £1,000 to £5,000 for accidents on or after May 31, 2021.

There is clearer guidance over the compensation levels to be awarded. There will now be two set tariffs for whiplash injuries up to 24 months.

These tariffs are fixed at lower levels compared to awards made previously:

• A lower tariff under Regulation 2(1)(a), where there is no psychological injury.
• A combined upper tariff under Regulation 2(1)(b), which includes minor psychological injuries.

Individuals injured in a road traffic accident will now be able to use a free online service provided by Official Injury Claim (OIC) to manage their claim directly, rather than involving claims management companies or solicitors.

This OIC portal service will run separately to the existing Ministry of Justice (MoJ) site but will remain integrated with other systems such as the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

Compensators / insurers now have 30 working days to decide on liability, and to have all evidence uploaded to the OIC portal if liability is disputed.

To ensure that an accurate and informed decision can be made regarding liability, compensators will need to receive relevant documents and evidence as early as possible. These may include:

• A signed statement of truth from the defendant driver providing a detailed account of events
• Any dashcam, CCTV or video footage or details of where it can be obtained
• Photographs of the accident scene / damage
• Any independent witness statements or details of witnesses to be contacted
• Tachograph or tracker data if available
• Details of any emergency services that attended, including reference numbers or contact details
• Any additional relevant documents

Failure to comply to the 30 working days deadline will lead to an automatic admission of liability, so it is vital that the MID is kept as up to date as possible to enable correct signposting of claims.

The changes are likely to be welcomed by commercial fleet operators.

Fixed compensation awards, at lower levels than previously, are expected to reduce the cost of claims. And legal costs will no longer be recoverable for most whiplash claims.

This should benefit businesses with vehicles on the road, particularly those operating large commercial motor fleets.

To reap these benefits, it’s important that vehicle operators have the necessary processes in place to notify their insurer as early as possible following an accident, and to be able to provide all the documents and evidence needed to make a prompt decision.

Failure to upload the evidence required within the new timeframe, particularly if liability is disputed, is deemed an automatic admission of liability, so could potentially impact on claims costs.

Fleet operators should make sure they have familiarised themselves with the new process in case of claims.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Toyota is offering new and used customers a service-activated warranty called Relax, which can be applied until the vehicle reaches 10 years or has covered 100,000 miles. 

All Toyota and Lexus models qualify as long the age and mileage criteria are met, including passenger cars and light commercial vans and pick-ups.

They do not have to have been purchased from a Toyota or Lexus centre – second, third and even fourth-hand vehicles traded privately or from other outlets are eligible, potentially enhancing the residual value (RV) of vehicles when defleeted.

There is no requirement for a vehicle to have a history of servicing at an official centre in order to qualify for the warranty; it will be applied from the date the vehicle is serviced at a Toyota or Lexus centre.

Rob Giles, Toyota (GB) customer services director, said: “This is a game-changing proposition that redefines the manufacturer warranty, giving our customers the reassurance and value of cover for up to a decade of motoring.

“There are compelling business benefits to be gained as well, with Relax connecting us with more owners, building loyalty and giving our network partners the opportunity to maximise value chain opportunities in both sales and after sales activities.”

The new warranty applies to every type of powertrain and Toyota says that there are no complex clauses, exclusions or caveats.

All new Toyota vehicles will be sold with a three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty as standard, while at the same time Toyota Relax will be made available to all Toyota owners when they have their vehicle serviced at an official Toyota centre.

For Lexus, the existing three-year/60,000-mile new vehicle warranty remains in place.

The Relax warranty is automatically activated on the completion of a scheduled full or interim vehicle service at an official Toyota or Lexus centre.

Customers can extend their Relax warranty by an extra 12 months/10,000 miles, year after year, until the 10-year/100,000-mile limit is reached.

On vehicles that have service intervals every two years, the cover is for 24 months/20,000 miles.

Ewan Shepherd, director of Lexus in the UK, said: “The foundation for this exceptional level of protection is the essential quality, durability and reliability of our vehicles and our commitment to delivering customer-first service.

“As well as rewarding existing Toyota and Lexus owners, our Relax programme will also strengthen the appeal of our vehicles to new customers, equally whether they are considering a new car or a used model.”

The Relax warranty covers the same parts and labour as the three-year manufacturer’s warranty provided on new Toyota and Lexus vehicles and the one-year manufacturer warranty that’s standard with approved used vehicles.

It does not include wear and tear items, bodywork, paint, interior trims and maintenance parts.

A vehicle health check is part of the service package, which includes all mechanical and electronic parts, which helps potential problems to be detected at an early stage. Any existing defects present at the time of service are excluded from the warranty.

If owners are concerned about potentially having to pay for significant repairs when bringing their vehicle to a centre for service for the first time, Toyota’s Drive Now, Pay Later scheme is available to spread costs over a suitable period of time, it says. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.

‘Self-driving’ vehicles fitted with Automated Lane Keeping System (ALKS) could be permitted on the roads later this year, in the wake of a government consultation on the safe use of the technology.

The UK government has set out how vehicles fitted with ALKS technology will be allowed to use the roads. It said it would work to facilitate a data sharing agreement between insurers and manufacturers, and to ensure manufacturers provide sufficient driver information to help them understand how to safely use automated vehicles.

A separate consultation on changes to the Highway Code to clarify rules on safe use has been launched, proposing to add a new section setting out expectations for users of automated vehicles.

Driverless cars expert Ben Gardner of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “The introduction of ALKS is likely to be the first of many gradual steps as we see increasing levels of autonomy in road vehicles. However, at this stage, it will not be possible for drivers to reap the full benefits of these advanced driving features as other existing driving laws will also need to be reviewed and, if deemed appropriate, amended or withdrawn altogether.

“Arguably the current speed restrictions could limit how frequently this technology is deployed and prohibitions on using handheld devices whilst at the wheel will remain in force. As a result, in the short term, drivers will not be fully released from their driving responsibilities and free to do other tasks,” Gardner said.

“However, as regulatory reviews continue and new advanced driving features come to market, we will begin to see a phased evolution of what road vehicles are technically and legally capable of doing – together with the benefits of increased productivity and, more importantly, reduced congestion and accidents,” Gardner said.

ALKS controls a vehicle’s movement without the need for driver intervention and is designed to keep a car in its motorway lane at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour – for example when there is heavy, slow-moving traffic.

The system can only be activated through a deliberate action by the driver and when the driver is in the car’s driving seat and available. It can also only be used on roads where pedestrians and cyclists are not present.

The government launched a consultation into the use of ALKS on motorways last summer and received 186 responses (45 page / 2.4MB PDF) from individuals and organisations, including from manufacturers and insurers.

Although respondents felt that drivers needed to understand ALKS capabilities and limitations to use it safely, only a minority proposed mandatory training. Respondents said manufacturers had a responsibility to ensure drivers understood how to use vehicles, and there was widespread support for a public awareness campaign to educate all road uses about ALKS.

The proposed new section in the Highway Code on automated vehicles sets out the requirements for drivers. It notes that drivers are not responsible for automated vehicles when they are driving themselves, and drivers do not need to pay attention to the road in these circumstances. However, they do need to pay attention to instructions about when it is appropriate to engage the self-driving function.

Drivers should remain in the driving seat if a vehicle is designed to require them to resume driving after being prompted to, and are still responsible for the vehicle being in a roadworthy condition.

Drivers will be permitted to perform other activities if they are using vehicles that can safely drive themselves. The government said it intended to consult later this year on amending the regulation concerning the use of screens in vehicles, and would consider changes to the use of screens by drivers of automated vehicles.

The government is also planning to commission research to scope the technical requirements needed for enabling motorway-based automated driving systems to operate at higher speeds and change lanes. By Graham Hill thanks to Pinsent Masons

Police forces have recovered more than 1,000 stolen catalytic converters and arrested more than 50 people.

The joint operation to tackle catalytic converter theft, codenamed Goldiron, was coordinated by the British Transport Police (BTP).

Police forces joined experts from the Joint Unit for Waste Crime (JUWC), led by the Environment Agency, Smartwater Group, and motor industry, to carry out synchronised enforcement action, intelligence-led site visits, forensic marking and educational events.

Over a five-day period last month, officers and partner agencies made 56 arrests, visited 926 sites, stopped 664 vehicles, recovered 1,037 stolen catalytic converters and 297 items of stolen property; and identified 244 offences.

During the visits and checks, officers searched for stolen metal and examined trader’s financial records to ensure they were complying with the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

The JUWC also coordinated a series of waste site inspections to ensure businesses held environmental permits and met other legal requirements.

Furthermore, catalytic converter marking demonstrations were also held to educate and encourage drivers to protect their vehicles. More than 1,610 vehicles were forensically marked by officers and partner agencies.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for metal crime, BTP Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle, said that the “positive results” are testament to why it’s vital to share information and specialist knowledge to disrupt those operating in this area of crime.

“By taking a multi-agency approach, we are maximising our ability to identify those who are involved in catalytic converter theft, making it harder for them to sell stolen metal and gain from their criminal activities,” he added.

Catalytic converters clean harmful gases before they exit a vehicle’s exhaust pipe and are stolen for the precious metal they contain. These metals have surged in value recently, leading to organised crime networks to commit more offences.

A national conference took place in November last year to create a cross-agency plan focussed on prevention and detection and this was the second week of action that has taken place since.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for vehicle crime, Cheshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms, said: “Policing and law enforcement agencies will continue to focus on catalytic converter theft and ensure that this low risk/ high-reward crime is relentlessly targeted, and offenders are brought to justice.”

The RAC and Ageas say that vehicles parked during lockdown are being targeted by criminals stealing catalytic converters for their precious metals.

There has been a “marked rise” in the theft of catalytic converters since the start of the first lockdown just over a year ago, says Ageas Insurance.

Three-in-10 of all theft claims reported are now related to catalytic converters. Before the lockdown catalytic converter theft only accounted for around one-in-five.

Toyota is working with police and Smartwater to covertly mark the catalytic converters on more than 100,000 cars in an attempt to deter thieves.

The initiative is costing the car maker more than £1m and will be provided to existing Toyota owners for free.

Police say that reports of catalytic converter theft should be made as soon as possible to increase the chances of detection.

People are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the police by calling 101, or 999 if an offence is in progress. If you spot something at a railway station, contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The Government is being urged to honour a commitment made in its road safety action plan to increase the penalty for not wearing a seatbelt.

In the plan, launched in July 2019, the Government said people caught not wearing a seatbelt would face penalty points on their licence as well as a fine.

The offence has long been endorsable in Northern Ireland, where drivers who fail to ensure a child in a front or rear seat is not wearing a seatbelt also face points on their licence. However, these tougher sanctions do not apply in England, Scotland or Wales.

GEM chief executive Neil Worth explained that official figures show that, despite compliance rates of 98.6% among car drivers, more than one in four (27%) of those killed in cars were not wearing a seat belt – amounting to more than 200 deaths.

“Seatbelts reduce the risk of death by 45% for drivers and front seat occupants. They also reduce the risk of serious injury by 50%,” he said.

“Research shows time and again that seatbelt laws increase seatbelt use, and therefore reduce deaths and serious injuries.

“We have seen mobile phone penalties for drivers rise in recent years, and if seatbelt offences were dealt with in a similar way, we believe would see a significant and immediate reduction in the number of drivers and vehicle occupants killed and seriously injured on our roads.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Toyota is working with police and Smartwater to covertly mark the catalytic converters on more than 100,000 cars in an attempt to deter thieves.

The initiative is costing the car maker more than £1m and will be provided to existing Toyota owners for free.

Rob Giles, Toyota (GB) director of Customer Services, said: “Catalytic converter theft is a very serious problem in the UK and the effects on victims of this crime are emotional as well as financial.

“We’re pleased to be starting this initiative, working closely with the police, not only to help them with their efforts to combat this crime but also to send a clear message to criminals that if they choose to target a Toyota or Lexus car there is now a far higher chance of getting caught.”

Toyota hopes that the marking programme will dissuade rogue scrap metal dealers who are happy to pay cash for stolen converters, now that the risk of being caught is greater than before.

Thieves are targeting the catalytic converters in older hybrid models, like the Toyota Prius, because the catalyst in a hybrid has a lower work load than in a non-electrified vehicle, meaning it is in better condition.

In more modern Toyota and Lexus cars the catalysts are of a different design and are not typically targets for theft as a result.

According to Ageas Insurance, three-in-10 of all theft claims reported are now related to catalytic converters. Before the Coronavirus lockdown, catalytic converter theft only accounted for around one-in-five.

Catalytic converters contain a honeycomb coated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium which help to filter harmful gases from the vehicles’ exhaust systems.

The RAC says that when the global value of these metals increase it usually leads to a spike in thefts. Prices of rhodium hit a record highs earlier this year, up more than 200% since March 2020.

Toyota is offering the Smartwater marking free to all Toyota and Lexus owners, who simply need to call their local Toyota or Lexus retailer to arrange a visit.

It has also issued 20,000 Smartwater kits to police to support their local anti-catalyst theft initiatives. The company is also working with the AA, Toyota’s road-side partner, so its patrols can point customers to where they can get a free kit.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Vehicles parked during lockdown are being targeted by criminals stealing catalytic converters for their precious metals, according to the RAC and Ageas.

There has been a “marked rise” in the theft of catalytic converters since the start of the first lockdown just over a year ago, says Ageas Insurance.

Three-in-10 of all theft claims reported are now related to catalytic converters. Before the lockdown catalytic converter theft only accounted for around one-in-five.

Ageas reports that most thefts have happened while cars have been parked at home, either on the driveway or the road. However, the insurer says that in a very small number of cases thieves had targeted vehicles in supermarket car parks while the driver was shopping.

“Drivers are often oblivious of their vehicle’s catalytic converter being stolen,” said RAC spokesman Simon Williams. “Our patrols are often called to attend cars that have suddenly become excessively noisy. On investigation it’s very often the case that the car’s catalytic converter has been stolen.”

Part of a car’s exhaust system, catalytic converters contain a honeycomb coated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium which help to filter harmful gases from the vehicles’ exhaust systems.

The RAC says that when the global value of these metals increase it usually leads to a spike in thefts. Prices of rhodium hit a record highs earlier this year, up more than 200% since March 2020.

The RAC is recommending drivers and fleets get in the habit of taking extra precautions to guard against this type of crime.

With, most offences taking place at night, the RAC says it makes sense to park a vehicle in a well-lit and residential location or a garage if available.

“When away from home, look for car parks that have security patrols and are covered by CCTV,” added Williams. “It’s also a good idea to look for the ParkMark logo at car parks as this shows they have met certain security standards.”

However, as Ageas’ data shows, Williams says that even taking sensible precautions may not necessarily make you immune to this type of crime.

Robin Challand, claims director at Ageas, said: “While catalytic converters are just one component of a car, their theft can often result in a driver’s car being written off.

“We hope that by shining a spotlight on this type of crime, we can arm motorists with the information they need to protect their vehicles.”

The warning for fleets from Ageas and the RAC comes after CompareTheMarket reported that catalytic converter thefts had increased across England, last year.

It analysed police data which revealed London has the highest instances of catalytic converter thefts over the three-year period, and each individual year, with a total of 15,237 from 2017 to 2020. Birmingham saw the second-highest amount of thefts.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Hyundai Ioniq models have been found to pass their MOT test for the first time more frequently than any other car.

In a study compiled by What Car?, the electrified model came out on top with a 96.18% average first time pass rate.

The Ioniq sits above the BMW i8, which is also powered by an electrified powertrain, achieving a 95.97% pass rate.

What Car? analysed more than 745,000 anonymised MOT records published by the Department for Transport to find out the models that had the best rate for passing the MOT test at the first attempt*. Models aged from three to eight years old and with a sample size of at least 100 cars were included in the study. 

Korean, Japanese and German models dominate the top 10, while the Jaguar F-Type (2013-present) is the highest-placed British model in the study sitting in 14th place with an average MOT pass rate of 90.83%.

The Tesla Model S (2014-present) is the highest ranking pure electric vehicle, in 26th place, with an average pass rate of 89.94%. Although there are many premium models in the top 50, there are also several affordable small cars, including the Peugeot 108 (2014-present) and Toyota Aygo (2014-present).

What Car? has also ranked the top and bottom brands for MOT pass rates. As well as achieving the highest average pass rate, Porsche is the only brand to gain a pass rate of more than 90%. Although Ssangyong has the lowest MOT pass record, its result of 76.98% means that more than three quarters of its models passed their MOT the first time.

Steve Huntingford, editor of What Car?, said: “One of the first things used buyers do is check a vehicle’s MOT record to see how well it’s been maintained and if it’s suffered lots of faults. Our extensive study reveals the models with the best MOT pass rates, ranging from large SUVs to city cars. Buyers can use it to help them choose the most dependable models.

“Although the top 50 list contains several prestige cars, that tend to have lower mileage and immaculate service records, it’s reassuring to find some budget and family cars in the mix.”

The full list can be viewed at: www.whatcar.com/news/top-50-used-car-buys-based-on-mot-pass-rate/n22897

What Car? Top 10 list for MOT first time pass rate:

Ranking	Make and Model	Average MOT test pass rate	Average mileage at MOT test
1	Hyundai Ioniq (2017-present)	96.18%	22,710
2	BMW i8 (2014 – 2020)	95.97%	21,738
3	Porsche Boxster (2012 – 2016)	94.10%	22,243
4	Lexus NX (2014 – present)	93.82%	32,413
5	Porsche 911 (2012 – 2019)	93.72%	20,484
6	Porsche Cayman (2013 – 2016)	92.94%	23,224
7	Porsche Macan (2014 – present)	92.91%	32,289
8	Mazda MX-5 (2016 – present)	92.62%	16,399
9	Lexus RX (2016 – present)	91.95%	27,721
10	Mazda CX-3 (2015 – present)	91.91%	25,652

Top 10 manufacturer MOT pass rates 

Rank	Brand	Average MOT test pass rate	Average mileage at MOT test
1	Porsche	91.15%	32,041
2	Tesla	89.94%	44,613
3	Lexus	88.72%	44,081
4	Subaru	88.46%	39,427
5	Honda	88.41%	35,809
6	MINI	87.45%	33,641
7	Audi	87.25%	46,791
8	Skoda	86.58%	45,932
9	Jeep	86.52%	35,224
10	Mazda	86.32%	40,941

Bottom 10 manufacturer MOT pass rates

Rank	Brand	Average MOT test pass rate	Average mileage at MOT test
1	Ssangyong	76.98%	37,911
2	Dacia	78.17%	39,401
3	Citroen	79.72%	38,207
4	Renault	80.20%	37,194
5	Alfa Romeo	80.73%	42,443
6	Vauxhall	81.20%	42,565
7	Fiat	81.22%	33,404

By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Road safety organisation, GEM Motoring Assist is calling for new ways of assessing whether a driver is medically fit to hold a licence.

The call supports the latest report issued by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC), which criticises current approaches to assessing driver medical fitness.

GEM is urging individual drivers to ensure they take responsibility for their own safety and fitness to drive. Family members should also be wise to the early signs of unsafe driving in their senior relatives, says GEM.

The starting point for establishing fitness to drive in the UK – and in many other European countries – is still an assessment based on age, despite studies showing that specific medical conditions, substance abuse, mental disorders, epilepsy and diabetes are also important factors when it comes to medical fitness to drive, according to GEM.

Neil Worth, GEM chief executive, said: “This report confirms that mandatory age-based screening of older drivers is ineffective in preventing severe collisions.

“It is concerning that the only requirement in law for anyone aged over 70 is to declare every three years that they are fit to drive.”

GEM says that an age-based self-certification system should be replaced by regular medical examinations for drivers of all ages, with checks on eyesight, hearing, vision, and blood pressure.

Worth added: “However, in the absence of an effective re-testing framework, it’s vital that we each take responsibility for our own safety.

“We want as many people as possible to enjoy the freedom of the open road as drivers, but safety must be the priority.”

GEM also warned fleet and business managers of the ‘increased likelihood’ of distracted driving when drivers get behind the wheel again amid the lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News