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Long-term changes to the way people work could result in more employees becoming grey fleet drivers.

As the lockdown is slowly lifted, employers are wrestling with what the ‘new normal’ might entail, including where staff will work in the future.

Millions of employees have been working from home during the pandemic and many expect that, with technologies like Miscrosoft Office Teams and Zoom allowing people to connect virtually, it’s a trend that will continue.

A Fleet News survey showed an overwhelming majority of fleet decision-makers – close to three-quarters (73.4%) – were working from home; one in 10 were dividing their working day between the office and home, and just 15.4% were still in the office full-time.

The latest picture will be revealed in the June digital edition of Fleet News, which will be published next week.

Meanwhile, a separate Fleet News poll suggested that for many, some two-thirds (68.1%) of respondents, working from home will become their ‘new normal’.

Paul Hollick, co-chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), warns this could have significant consequences for fleets, with more employees joining the ranks of those that drive their car for work, the so-called grey fleet.

Employers have a legal obligation to ensure that grey fleet vehicles are reasonably safe to use, are fit for purpose and are lawfully on the road.

Companies also typically pay Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) to reimburse fuel used in the course of a work trip at 45p per mile.

“Grey fleet could become a bit of a battleground, because of Covid-19,” warned Hollick. “Employees won’t be office-based (in the future), they’ll be home-based, which means their contract of employment might be changed.

“If the employee is classed as home-based rather than office-based a journey from home to the office will then become a business trip.”

Furthermore, Hollick says that, with people wary of public transport, employees are turning to used vehicles in the sub-£3,000 bracket to stay mobile, which could end up being driven for work purposes. 

New figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show how hard public transport has been hit. Journeys by national rail are 8% of typical levels and London tube use stands at just 14%.

During the first full day of lockdown (Tuesday, March 24), car use fell to less than half (44%) of the expected level. Light commercial vehicle (LCV) use stood at 55%, HGV use at 84%.

Three months later and the day after retail outlets were allowed to open for the first time on Monday, June 15, car use had risen, but was still only at 70%. Van use and HGV use had grown to 84% and 92%, respectively.

In line with Government advice to avoid public transport, cycling use has doubled during some weekdays and trebled at the weekend.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

One in 10 cars on the road could be classified as having ‘dangerous defects’, according to analysis of the latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data by BookMyGarage.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that defective tyres were a contributing factor in 17 fatal accidents in 2018 and caused a total of 459 accidents in the year.

Faulty brakes were also to blame for more than 500 accidents and 15 fatalities.

Karen Rothberg, managing director at BookMyGarage, said: “It was a sensible policy during lockdown, when vehicle use was limited, but the whole point of the MOT is to make sure dangerous vehicles are not on our roads for the sake of the driver, passengers and other road users.

“The Government is taking a serious safety risk now though and we urge motorists to take a common-sense view.”

Following the DVSA announcement that it is ending the MOT exemption on August 1, BookMyGarage said, “millions on could still be driving without a valid certificate until end of January 2021”.

Vehicles were granted the six-month exemption from MOT testing in March, to help slow the spread of the virus.

However, as the lockdown is gradually lifted, all cars, motorcycles or vans due a MOT test from August 1, will now be required to get a test certificate.

The RAC has warned that hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to be tested this summer could end up causing a backlog if drivers take advantage of the six-month extension.

BookMyGarage expects the average failure rate during 2020 to increase as a result of the exemption.

Testers classify failures as minor, major and dangerous defects, with one in three vehicles failing their MOT every day in normal conditions.

The most dangerous defect recorded by more than 65,000 MOT testers across the UK between July and September 2019 were tyres, which made up 58.1% of all dangerous defects recorded, followed by brakes (29.3%), suspension (5.5%), chassis (2.4%) and lights (2.0%).

Two-in five (40%) fleets have postponed non-essential service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work, during the coronavirus crisis, according to a Fleet News survey.

Five million fewer MOT tests carried out in April and May 2020 than in the same months last year, according to DVSA figures.

BookMyGarage is advising motorists not to risk ‘maxing out’ on the August 1 exemption if they can, and get their vehicles tested as soon as possible.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

If you suffer from illnesses that could affect your ability to drive, you’re required by the DVLA to inform them.

However, while some might be quite obvious, the DVLA has a list of health conditions that you might be surprised to learn put you at risk of a £1,000 fine if you don’t declare them.

Car hire comparison site StressFreeCarRental has scoured the full list of conditions to find the less obvious ones you should know about…

Diabetes

If you have diabetes that is treated by insulin, and the insulin treatments last more than three months, you must inform the DVLA. This also applies to gestational diabetes, or if you are at risk of low blood sugar, known as hypoglycaemia.

Vertigo

While most people associate vertigo with being at height, this is specifically known as ‘height vertigo’. Regular vertigo sufferers can get attacks anywhere, making it feel like the world around them is spinning. If you suffer from sudden, disabling, or recurrent vertigo you must tell the DVLA.

Déjà vu

This is something mostly written off as an odd feeling that you’ve been somewhere before, but it can be much more serious. The DVLA must be informed if you suffer from seizures or epilepsy that cause déjà vu.

Sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition that causes the throat to relax and narrow during sleep, which can cause difficulty breathing. It’s one of a number of sleeping disorders that the DVLA must be told about, including narcolepsy and cataplexy.

Labyrinthitis

Labyrinthitis has nothing to do with mazes, it’s actually an inner ear condition that causes dizziness, nausea and loss of hearing. Since all of these things could affect your ability to drive, you must inform the DVLA if you have it.

Heart palpitations

This condition results in the sufferer becoming more aware of their heartbeat, which may feel like it’s pounding or fluttering, or perhaps beating irregularly. While the NHS says they are usually not a sign of something serious, the DVLA requires you to declare if you regularly suffer from them.

By Graham Hill thanks to AOL Cars

What is the minimum vision standard required to drive on UK roads? And how can you check your own eyesight before driving?

Your eyes are obviously a crucial tool for driving a car safely, and the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency) lays down detailed rules describing the standards of vision required for driving a car in the UK.

Drivers have their vision checked when they take their driving test, but from that point on, it’s the responsibility of individual drivers to report any problems that develop with their eyesight to the DVLA.

You should NOT drive a car if you believe that your eyesight may fall below the required standard. If you need to confirm that your eyesight is up to standard, visit an optician, and definitely do not drive there, no matter how far.

Standards of vision required for driving

The basic eyesight standard required for driving is simple. To drive a car legally in the UK you must be able to read a car number plate from a distance of 20 metres.

If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses for driving, you should be wearing them when you attempt to read the number plate, and the number plate should be of the current design that’s been standard on UK cars since September 2001.

In addition to this basic requirement, you must have a visual acuity measurement of at least 6/12 (or 0.5) on the Snellen scale, again while wearing any glasses or contact lenses that you need for driving.

While this sounds ominous, if you’ve visited an optician, the Snellen scale will be familiar to you as the wall chart with the rows of letters or numbers that get smaller as you read down. This chart is used to measure visual acuity, your central vision that you use to see detail.

Normal visual acuity is called 6/6, which means that from 6 metres away (the first number) you can read all 6 lines of the chart. Someone who could only read the first line of the chart would receive a rating of 6/60 which means that from 6 metres they could only read what someone with normal vision could read from 60 metres away.

If the second line of the chart is the ‘36’ line, someone with standard vision could read it from 36 metres, but if your Snellen score was 6/36 you would only be able to read it from 6 metres.

The 6/12 minimum vision standard for driving a car in the UK means that you can read from 6 metres what someone with standard vision could read from 12. This is half the distance, hence the conversion to the decimal 0.5.

Driving test eyesight check

Before your practical driving test, the examiner will test your eyesight by asking you to read the number plate of a parked vehicle that’s 20 metres away. If you can’t do this, then your test is immediately over and you will not be permitted to drive the car. Your provisional driving licence will also be revoked.

If you reapply for your driving licence, the DVLA will ask you to take a full eye test with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) which will take place at a local driving test centre. You’ll have to pass this before you get your licence back and then pass the number plate eye test before you take your practical driving test.

Online driving eyesight tests

There are a number of online driving eyesight tests that you can find on the Internet that may give you some idea if there is a problem with your eyesight.

However, these have no diagnostic value and should not be taken as the only indication of whether you’re safe to drive.

A better course of action is to test yourself by trying to read a car number plate from 20 metres and contacting your doctor and the DVLA if you struggle to do so.

What if there’s a problem with your eyesight?

There is no mandatory retesting of driver’s eyesight in the UK, and it is the driver’s responsibility to report any deterioration in their eyesight to the DVLA.

If you believe that your eyesight has diminished to the point that you are no longer safe to drive, or if you have any concerns that this could be the case, you should not drive a car. See a doctor and have your eyesight evaluated before getting behind the wheel.

If you do not tell the DVLA about any medical condition that affects your driving, you could be liable for a fine of up to £1,000 and you could be prosecuted if you are involved in an accident.

The DVLA publishes a list of health conditions that can affect your driving that may be useful to check whether you need to contact them. If there’s any doubt, however, contact your doctor before driving.

Eyesight tests for HGV and bus drivers

The eyesight standards required to drive an HGV or a bus in the UK are more stringent than for cars. To get your HGV licence, you must have a visual acuity of at least 6/7.5 (or 0.8) on the Snellen scale in your best eye. Your worst eye must be at least 6/60 (or 0.1).

If you take the test wearing glasses, their corrective power can’t be more than 8 dioptres and you must have an uninterrupted visual field of at least 160 degrees. This field of vision must include an extension of at least 70 degrees left and right plus at least 30 degrees down.  By Graham Hill thanks to Auto Express

Volvo has limited all its new cars to a maximum speed of 112mph, as part of its commitment to road safety.

 

The Swedish brand announced the initiative last year and started limiting vehicles from the beginning of 2020.

 

As well as the speed cap, every Volvo car will now also come with a Care Key, which allows Volvo drivers to set additional limitations on the car’s top speed. The new initiative is similar to the Ford MyKey, which enables owners to set a maximum speed and other restrictions, such as loud the stereo can be turned up.

 

“We believe that a car maker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety,” said Malin Ekholm, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “Our speed limiting technology, and the dialogue that it initiated, fits that thinking.

 

The speed cap and Care Key help people reflect and realise that speeding is dangerous, while also providing extra peace of mind and supporting better driver behaviour.”

 

The top speed limit has proven to be controversial since it was announced, with some observers questioning the rights of car makers to impose such limitations through available technology.

 

From 2022, all new cars sold in the UK must be fitted with a speed limiter linked to traffic sign recognition or GPS data, however they can still be overridden by the driver.

 

The Volvo system has no override, meaning flagship models such as its S60 and S90 T8 twin engine variants may be less desirable when compared to rivals, which are limited to 155mph.

 

Volvo says that above certain speeds, in-car safety technology and smart infrastructure design are no longer enough to avoid severe injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident, however.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A new ‘smart’ traffic light system is helping to reduce waiting times for drivers across the South East.

 

Seven towns across Kent and East Sussex have benefited so far from new technology, which was successfully trialled by electricity firm UK Power Networks in Maidstone, last summer.

 

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, the firm has worked with local councils to use the new smart traffic lights across Marden, Orpington, Crowborough, Twickenham, Maidstone and Dover.

 

The temporary traffic lights, which are sometimes necessary, to cater for roadworks use something called the ‘autoGreen’ radar system. It automatically detects congestion and makes continuous adjustments to the phasing of the traffic lights to maximise traffic flow, all without the need for an operator’s intervention.

 

Each site is different, it says, but this form of artificial intelligence adapts to the situations it monitors, creating safer, more efficient and less stressful journeys and local environments.

 

The trial in Maidstone revealed that in heavy traffic autoGreen reduced journey times between 8% and 12%, rising to 27% to 41% in congested conditions, with some 15-minute periods cutting journey times by half.

 

Other benefits to motorists and councils included less impact on surrounding infrastructure and reducing the environmental impact of queuing traffic. It also improved safety for workers on site, by reducing their exposure to pollution, safety risks and occasional abuse, it said.

 

Paul Dooley, streetworks performance manager at UK Power Networks, explained: “Our trial in Kent using this technology was well received.

 

“We were able to demonstrate the tangible benefits and help to alleviate environmental concerns. There was a greater increase in cars passing per hour. This in turn led to shorter journey times along with an overall improvement in air quality.”

 

Dooley says that the system accurately tracks vehicle movements and uses this information to optimise the operation of the lights, varying the decision-making algorithms and timings.

 

He concluded: “Our long-term aim is for this type of smart traffic lights to be deployed whenever we need to do roadworks that affect traffic, across Kent and the other areas that we serve, in future.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Drivers who leave their vehicle’s engine running while parked face a £20 fine after Lambeth Council introduced the penalty to improve air quality.

 

Drivers who allow their vehicle engines to run “unnecessarily” when parked in the London borough will be asked to turn off their engines, and if they fail to cooperate, will be issued with the fine from Monday (May 18).

 

The move builds on previous anti-idling events in the borough to raise awareness and educate drivers on the effects of idling, it said.

 

Councillor Claire Holland, Lambeth’s deputy leader  and cabinet member for sustainable transport, environment and clean air, said: “Cleaning up toxic air is an absolute priority for this council.

 

“Poor air quality is a huge health risk to our residents, and engine idling is a major contributor. We are determined to tackle the issue and are confident these new measures will help encourage people to change their behaviour so that everyone in Lambeth – particularly young children due to the effects on their development – is able to breathe clean air.”

 

In Lambeth, Waterloo, the Southbank, central Brixton, Clapham and the Vauxhall Gyratory have been identified as idling hotspots.

 

Outside schools, hospitals, taxi ranks and coach bays have also been flagged as key locations for drivers committing idling offences.

 

Between February 2018 and September 2019 wardens in Lambeth told 2,044 drivers to switch off their engine while stationary, of which 2,017 drivers complied with their advice and 27 people did not.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Euro NCAP has announced a series of new safety tests into its programme, which have been labelled as “game-changing” by Thatcham Research.

 

Vehicles launched in 2020 will undergo the new tests later this year, which are designed to “address long-standing needs in occupant protection, improve post-crash protection and promote the latest advanced driver assistance technology.”

 

A key change is the implementation of a new moving barrier to the moving car frontal crash test. It replaces the offset-deformable barrier test, which has been used by Euro NCAP for the last 23 years.

 

This new test evaluates the protection of occupants inside the car while also assessing how the car’s front-end structure contribute to injuries in the collision partner.

 

“The objective is to encourage makers of larger vehicles to share some of the burden of the impact with smaller vehicles. Historically SUVs and other big cars have offered very good protection to their occupants. However, the smaller vehicles they sometimes crash into can fare less well,” said Matthew Avery, director of research Thatcham Research and Euro NCAP board member.

 

In the new compatibility test, if the larger vehicle is too stiff in an impact scenario, it will be penalised accordingly. Avery says this levels the playing field for all vehicle sizes, which is a “win-win for road safety”.

 

Side impacts account for the second highest frequency of death or serious injuries. The latest updates to this area of the safety assessment include adjustments to the near-side barrier test speed and mass, increasing the severity of the test.

 

Euro NCAP will, for the first time, evaluate far-side impact protection, focussing on driver protection and the potential interaction between driver and front seat passenger. With the latter test, the protection offered by new-to-market countermeasures such as centre airbags can be adequately verified.

 

The organisation has also added new, more challenging, test scenarios to rate AEB technology for cars and vulnerable road users, including back over situations and turning at a crossing. In addition, the first step is taken to evaluate Driver Status Monitoring systems, designed to detect driver fatigue and distraction, as part of the Safety Assist assessment.

 

Post-crash safety too plays a vital role in crash survival. In partnership with CTIF, the International Association of Fire & Rescue Services, Euro NCAP developed new rating rules to promote better post-crash safety.

 

Manufacturers will be rewarded when rescue information is accurate and easily available. Euro NCAP also checks ease of extrication, electric door handles, etc. and endorses advanced eCall functions.

 

Avery said: “These are the biggest changes to Euro NCAP’s impact testing protocols in a decade. Chief amongst them is the new ‘compatibility’ impact test. For the first time there will be two moving elements to the head on collision: the test vehicle and barrier.

 

Most importantly we will not only look at the intrusion occurring to the vehicle being tested, but also to the new Mobile-offset Progressive Deformable Barrier.”

 

In addition, a new ‘THOR’ mid-sized dummy will be used in the tests. Avery continued: “The THOR dummy is the most advanced we’ve ever worked with. It makes the new test especially challenging for carmakers, as the dummy more closely represents a human.

 

The previous dummy we used was designed for impact scenarios that are less common today, while the THOR dummy is far more complex and sensitive and can record abdominal injuries.

 

“As a result, carmakers not only have to tune vehicle restraints and structures to accommodate for THOR’s sophistication, but there is also the new barrier to consider.” 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