Asda has been trialing e-bikes from Electric Assisted Vehicles (EAV) to make home deliveries in Cambridge.
The Oxfordshire-based micro-mobility manufacturer had its 2Cubed commercial vehicle put to the test over a two-week period by the UK supermarket.
Asda says it is looking for solutions to assist in making deliveries in proposed pedestrianised areas and low emission zones.
Simon Gregg, vice president of the online grocery at Asda, said: “It was great to see the reaction to the e-bike when we took it out on the road – it was really well received and definitely was a talking point at the store and with our customers.
“As we look to the future of retail we have to consider new and innovative ways to continue to offer great service to our customers whilst navigating things like low emission zones and pedestrianised areas.
“A solution such as this would allow us to get into town and cities where access is limited, using either roads or cycle lanes.
“It’s been great to collaborate with the team at EAV and put their eCargo vehicle to the test.”
EAV’s 2Cubed ultra lightweight commercial vehicle is capable of transporting 10 tote boxes containing the equivalent of a weekly shop for two customers .
“The eCargo concept has already proven to be more efficient than any van within an urban parcels and packages logistics scenario,” claimed Adam Barmby, founder and CEO of EAV.
“Working with Asda to reduce the environmental impact of grocery, and to make those deliveries more accessible, in towns and cities has been a great test for our new 2Cubed vehicle and one we’ve been really keen to participate in.”
The 2Cubed has been designed to carry both bulk and weight while retaining its ability to move around quickly and efficiently within towns and cities.
Cool temperatures can either be maintained by cool bags and insulated packaging or by using the EAV Cool fully temperature controlled Cool-Cargo transporter.
Although the EAV Cool unit was not tested by Asda, this ensures that groceries reach the customer completely fresh and with no reduction in product quality.
“EAV developed a prototype EAV Cool some time ago and it’s proved very successful as a development vehicle in the tests we’ve used it for,” continued Barmby.
“Moving from parcel logistics to groceries is a logical pathway for EAV and it allows us to advance our technology maintaining ambient temperatures in our cargo bays.
“More importantly, it hugely reduces the environmental and emissions impact of vans and cars which are currently being used by supermarket chains and other businesses within urban locations.
“In a post-Covid world, where home deliveries have really become the norm, the shift to lightweight commercial deliveries is vital if we want to continue our efforts in improving the environment.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
Electric cars are set to treble their market share in Europe this year, but an environmental campaign group is warning the UK could face long lead times in 2021.
Despite the pandemic, electric vehicle (EV) sales have surged since January 1 and will reach 10% this year and 15% in 2021, says Transport & Environment (T&E).
But, with carmakers having to meet targets to reduce the average emissions of the cars they sell in Europe, or pay fines, T&E says the UK supply of EVs is likely to dry up next year in the absence of British regulations equivalent to those in Europe.
Greg Archer, UK director at T&E, said: “Electric car sales are booming thanks to emissions standards. Next year, one in every seven cars sold in Europe will be a plug-in. European manufacturers have EVs to sell, but from January they’ll have no incentive to sell them in the UK unless the Government requires them to do so.”
From 2021, UK sales of EVs will not help manufacturers achieve EU standards. T&E says that the Government has so far failed to make parliamentary time available for equivalent new UK regulations to encourage sales here. These must be introduced by the end of October to be in place by January and maintain supplies of electric cars to the UK, it says.
Furthermore, it claims that the current draft regulation contains errors that will lead to about a fifth less EVs being sold in the UK than was likely if it had remained a part of the existing EU scheme. This is despite Government claims that the rules are equivalent to those in the EU.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has dismissed the claims.
Archer continued: “The electric car is becoming mainstream, but we risk turning off the tap in Britain.
“Carmakers will prioritise EV sales in markets where laws and tax breaks encourage them most, but the UK’s proposed standards are too weak and maybe too late.
“Government needs to quickly introduce regulations equivalent to the EU’s in 2021, or demand for electric cars will outstrip available supply and drivers will be left with long waits to secure their new electric car which will be more expensive.”
The number of drug driving charges has risen by 125% to record levels in the last year, following the introduction of new legislation in 2015.
The significant rise in the number of charges was uncovered by Freedom of Information requests sent to UK police forces by BookMyGarage.com.
Of the 27 police forces across England and Wales that responded, the total number of drug driving charges increased from 4,122 in 2015/16 to 9,270 in 2019/20.
Drug driving became a specific offence in 2015, meaning police could charge someone for drug driving if they had at least one of 16 specified drugs in their blood above a certain limit.
Half of the 16 drugs listed are ‘medicinal’ and so drivers are just as likely to be prosecuted for having a legal drug in their system as they are an illegal drug while behind the wheel.
Sixteen police forces also provided data on the number of drivers who had tested positive for drug driving at the roadside, with the cumulative number of positive tests in these areas more than tripling from 2,619 in 2015/16 to 9,074 in 2019/20.
Not all positive tests necessarily result in the driver being charged, for instance where a roadside test shows as positive, but a police station test comes back as negative.
“Most people are aware of the ongoing problems surrounding drink driving but far fewer people know that drug driving is just as much of a problem,” said Jessica Potts, head of marketing at BookMyGarage.com.
“Although the data suggests the new police powers are enabling forces to arrest and charge more people, it’s alarming that the overall number of drug driving charges continue to rise despite its potential to cause devastating outcomes.
“Motorists should be especially aware that the law doesn’t just apply to illegal drugs. Medicinal drugs, such as those prescribed to treat insomnia or even some pain killers, feature on the list so it’s crucial drivers always check their medication to see if it impairs their ability to drive.”
Of the forces that responded, Essex police charged the most people for drug driving in the last year, with 1,828 charges between March 2019 and February 2020. Merseyside Police had the second highest number of charges at 1,605.
While most forces have seen an increase in the number of charges between 2015/16 and 2019/20, others have seen notable decreases. For instance, the Metropolitan Police saw a peak number of charges in 2016/17 of 1,152 but this has since decreased to just 339 charges in 2019/20.
Despite these figures, almost two thirds of people feel that the rules around drug driving are not being properly enforced.
The National Travel Attitudes Survey, published by the Department for Transport (DfT), found that 63% of respondents in England agreed that ‘the laws on driving whilst impaired by illegal or legal drugs, are not properly enforced’. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
Skoda has developed a new Sound Analyser app for its dealers that is able to diagnose faults from a sound recording.
The app can recognise small irregularities in sound patterns and can suggest a range of measures that might be required.
It works by recording noises made by the vehicle while it is running and comparing them with stored sound patterns. In the event of any discrepancies, the app uses an algorithm to determine what they are and how they can be resolved.
Stanislav Pekař, head of aftersales at Skoda Auto, said: “Sound Analyser is a prime example of the new opportunities digitalisation at Skoda can create, even in terms of after sales. We will continue to consistently use artificial intelligence technologies to offer our customers an even more personalised service, thus enhancing the customer experience even further.”
The software is already able to recognise ten patterns – with an accuracy of more than 90% – including for components such as the steering system, the air conditioning compressor and the clutches in the direct-shift gearbox (DSG). The app is also set up to recognise other sound patterns and will be expanded to include other service items.
Skoda has trialled the smartphone app in 14 countries – including Germany, Russia, Austria and France – since June 2019. A total of 245 Skoda dealers have been taking part in the pilot project. They have been instrumental in providing the audio recordings for the software’s ‘learning process’ and have directly contributed to the app’s development.
Artificial intelligence is a key pillar of Skoda’s digitalisation strategy. Apps like the Sound Analyser can interact with the environment, perceive and weigh up facts, or solve specific problems. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
Birmingham has joined Bath in announcing a start date for its charging clean air zone (CAZ) after the schemes were approved by Government.
Birmingham’s CAZ will start from June 1, 2021, while Bath will start charging non-compliant vehicles from March 15, 2021.
Birmingham’s zone will cover an area of the city inside the inner ring road (A4540 Middleway) and once live will mean that the owners of non-compliant vehicles, which account for around 25% of the vehicles on Birmingham’s roads, will need to pay a daily charge to drive into or through the CAZ.
Birmingham was meant to introduce a CAZ last year, along with Leeds, but both were postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cars, taxis and vans will pay £8 per day to drive into the CAZ in Birmingham, while HGVs, coaches and buses will be charged £50 per day.
Birmingham Council says it is providing a range of exemptions and financial incentives worth some £35 million to help residents, city centre workers and businesses prepare for the introduction of the CAZ.
Applications and expressions of interest for all of these schemes are now open with more information available at the website: BrumBreathes.co.uk.
Councillor Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “The majority of drivers on Birmingham’s roads will not need to pay the daily charge but if you do then you may be eligible for an exemption or one of the financial incentives. So, I would encourage everyone to check the Brum Breathes website today.”
Bath’s CAZ had been due to be switched on in November but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bath & North East Somerset Council says it considered air quality, traffic levels and the impacts of Covid-19 on local businesses and the economy, before agreeing the new start date of March 15, with the Government.
However, it said that the date will be monitored to account for any significant developments during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The council is currently contacting more than 9,000 local businesses to help them establish whether charges will apply to their vehicles, and how to access the support on offer.
The CAZ will operate in the city centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Charges will apply to pre-euro 6/VI diesel and pre-euro 4 petrol vehicles, except cars and motorbikes.
Non-compliant vans, taxis and minibuses will be charged £9, while non-compliant trucks and lorries, and coaches and buses face a daily charge of £100.
The council has also announced financial support to help fleets upgrade to compliant vehicles. Local businesses including those in neighbouring authorities that have premises and/or regularly drive in the zone, can apply.
For example, it says that eligible van drivers could receive up to £4,500 in grants, plus interest-free finance, to help them upgrade to a similar, compliant vehicle.
Larger grants are available of up to £20,000 for HGVs and £35,000 for buses and coaches.
In light of Covid-19, the council has also amended the scheme so that if eligible businesses fail their initial credit check, they can re-apply once their finances have improved.
In addition, these drivers would be able to apply for exemptions on their non-compliant vehicles for up to two years.
There are also a wide range of exemptions available for hard-to-replace or special vehicles, and to support disadvantaged groups and vital services in the city, it said.
Furthermore, discounts will be available for drivers of larger, higher emission motorhomes and horse-transporters (private heavy goods vehicles) who can pay £9 instead of £100 provided they register with the council. Applications for all local exemptions and discounted vehicles will open in November.
Leader of the council, councillor Dine Romero, said: “In 2017, the government directed us to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in the city in the shortest possible time. Technical work showed that a charging zone was the only measure that could achieve compliance in the time frame we were given.
“The council consulted widely on this and agreed to introduce a class C charging CAZ with traffic management at Queen Square, charging all higher emission vehicles, except private cars and motorcycles, to drive in Bath’s city centre.
“However, there is no getting away from the fact that Covid-19 has had a significant impact on many businesses and this will be an additional cost that they have to consider.
“We have worked hard to secure a considerable package of financial and other support to help business owners and I would urge them to get in touch, talk to us and find out how we can help.
“We all want clean air and the zone is a step towards our wider ambitions for Bath and North East Somerset to address air quality and tackle the climate emergency.”
Chris Yarsley, policy manager at Logistics UK, welcomed the clarity which today’s announcement provides on the date for the introduction of the CAZs in Bath and Birmingham, which the business group has been working on with the local authority for some time. This will allow logistics operators time to plan new business practices and speed vehicle replacement timelines where necessary, he said.
“News that support packages will be available for operators to assist with the acquisition of Euro VI standard vehicles is also positive encouragement for a sector which has been impacted by the downturn of the economy caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and is only now starting to return to pre-pandemic levels of trading.
“Logistics operators remain committed to cleaning up urban air but it is important that other contributory factors to air quality are also considered in the longer term, including improvements to traffic flow patterns, retiming of deliveries and the introduction of alternatively fuelled vehicles, as well as other sources of air pollution, to the benefit of all.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
Renault has demonstrated the dangers of unnecessary idling outside schools with a new school crossing lollipop that measures air quality.
The custom lollipop is part of the brand’s “be mindful, don’t idle” campaign that launched in September.
One side of the Renault lollipop displays the exact concentration of fine particulates – known as PM2.5 – in the atmosphere thanks to in-built air sensor technology.
The reverse features simple iconography that shows whether it is ‘Good’, ‘Okay’ or ‘Poor’ allowing both parents and children to see the quality of the air they are breathing in real time as they enter the school gates.
“The lollipop has been the symbol of road safety for decades. Today, safety is not just about how to cross a road, it is also about how safe the air is that our children breathe going in and out of schools on a daily basis,” explains Matt Shirley, senior manager – Electrification & New Mobility at Renault UK. “The adoption of electric vehicles is a journey, but in the meantime, it’s important that we all do our bit and don’t leave our engines running unnecessarily.”
Renault demonstrated the new device outside Castle Newnham school in Bedford, recording air pollution figures in excess of 25.7μg/m3 at peak times.
The World Health Organisation recommends that the air we breathe should not exceed 10μg/m3 of fine particulate matter, but the legal limit in the UK is double that figure.
An idling engine contributes the equivalent of 150 party balloons-worth of emissions unnecessarily into the atmosphere every minute. Renault found idling is more common in urban areas – with 50.1% admitting to doing it – compared to 12% in rural locations. More than 28% of people said they leave their engines running for 6-10 minutes.
According to research by the British Lung Foundation and Asthma UK, in excess of 8,500 schools, nurseries and colleges in England, Scotland and Wales are located in areas with dangerously high levels of pollution.
More than 8,500 schools, nurseries and colleges in England, Scotland and Wales are located in areas with dangerously high levels of pollution.
Renault studied the habits and attitudes of more than 4,000 ‘school run’ parents and motorists. Of the reasons given for leaving their engines running nearly a third cited doing so because they are only stationary for ‘a short while’ and 26% wanted to keep the heater or air-con on.
Almost two-thirds (60%) of all drivers said they were unaware that it is illegal under Rule 123 of the Highways Code. Authorities can now issue £80 fixed penalties under Road Traffic Regulations 2002 and Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in Scotland. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
Bath will launch the first charging clean air zone (CAZ) outside London in March, next year.
The announcement comes as new data, released by the UK Government and analysed by environmental law charity ClientEarth, reveal that three quarters of air quality reporting zones still chart illegal levels of air pollution.
Bath’s CAZ had been due to be switched on in November but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Bath & North East Somerset Council says it considered air quality, traffic levels and the impacts of Covid-19 on local businesses and the economy, before agreeing the new start date of March 15, with the Government.
However, it said that the date will be monitored to account for any significant developments during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The council is currently contacting more than 9,000 local businesses to help them establish whether charges will apply to their vehicles, and how to access the support on offer.
The CAZ will operate in the city centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Charges will apply to pre-euro 6/VI diesel and pre-euro 4 petrol vehicles, except cars and motorbikes.
Non-compliant vans, taxis and minibuses will be charged £9, while non-compliant trucks and lorries, and coaches and buses face a daily charge of £100.
The council has also announced financial support to help fleets upgrade to compliant vehicles. Local businesses including those in neighbouring authorities that have premises and/or regularly drive in the zone, can apply.
For example, it says that eligible van drivers could receive up to £4,500 in grants, plus interest-free finance, to help them upgrade to a similar, compliant vehicle.
Larger grants are available of up to £20,000 for HGVs and £35,000 for buses and coaches.
In light of Covid-19, the council has also amended the scheme so that if eligible businesses fail their initial credit check, they can re-apply once their finances have improved.
In addition, these drivers would be able to apply for exemptions on their non-compliant vehicles for up to two years.
There are also a wide range of exemptions available for hard-to-replace or special vehicles, and to support disadvantaged groups and vital services in the city, it said.
Furthermore, discounts will be available for drivers of larger, higher emission motorhomes and horse-transporters (private heavy goods vehicles) who can pay £9 instead of £100 provided they register with the council. Applications for all local exemptions and discounted vehicles will open in November.
Leader of the council, councillor Dine Romero, said: “In 2017, the government directed us to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in the city in the shortest possible time. Technical work showed that a charging zone was the only measure that could achieve compliance in the time frame we were given.
“The council consulted widely on this and agreed to introduce a class C charging CAZ with traffic management at Queen Square, charging all higher emission vehicles, except private cars and motorcycles, to drive in Bath’s city centre.
“However, there is no getting away from the fact that Covid-19 has had a significant impact on many businesses and this will be an additional cost that they have to consider.
“We have worked hard to secure a considerable package of financial and other support to help business owners and I would urge them to get in touch, talk to us and find out how we can help.
“We all want clean air and the zone is a step towards our wider ambitions for Bath and North East Somerset to address air quality and tackle the climate emergency.”
The council secured a total funding package of £23.4m to implement the scheme and provide supporting measures, such as the financial assistance scheme.
This is made up of £18.4m of capital funding, comprising £7.1m for implementation of the scheme and £11.3m for supporting measures.
This total funding award aligns with the earlier settlements received by both Leeds and Birmingham.
Bath’s decision to plough ahead with its CAZ, however, comes as other local authorities pause their plans.
Bristol City Council may yet still reverse its plan to introduce CAZ and is looking at alternative options to improve air quality.
It follows a decision by Leeds City Council to rethink its CAZ plans.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees said travel habits in the city are changing and its pollution levels are lower.
“Our plans have always been about cleaning up our air in the fastest possible time and not being anchored to one method,” explained Rees.
ClientEarth, however, has highlighted new figures that show that in 2019, the Government was still breaching legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution – limits that should have been met in 2010 – in 33 out of the 43 national reporting zones.
While it acknowledges the lockdown led to a decrease in NO2 levels in some areas, traffic and pollution levels are already back on the rise in many towns and cities, it says.
ClientEarth lawyers are urging the Government and local authorities not to rely on temporary dips experienced during lockdown to evade action.
Katie Nield, UK clean air lawyer at ClientEarth, said: “It is clear that the pandemic will not solve the problem in the long-term, with pollution already lurching back to pre-lockdown levels.
“Government evidence shows that clean air zones are the most effective way of quickly slashing illegal pollution levels.
“We know that when backed by help and support for people and businesses to move to cleaner forms of transport, these schemes can really make a difference.”
Mark Footman, operations director at same day delivery business CitySprint, said:“As a consequence of the reduction in traffic and vehicles on the road, there has been some temporary improvement in pollution and air quality in urban areas. But despite this, it’s really vital that these important issues do not slip down the agenda.
“As we look towards economic recovery, it’s essential that we do not lose sight of the progress that has been made around sustainability. As such, it is concerning to read of the potential delay or abandonment of some of the proposed clean air zones being rolled out across the country.
“With ULEZ, London has shown that this can work and make a tangible positive difference.
“We know sustainability remains a big focus for UK businesses, and the logistics industry has long understood the importance of reducing the impact of its operation on the environment.
“However, the high price of green vehicles is slowing down progress. And, with the sales ban on carbon dioxide-emitting engines potentially being brought forward, it is crucial that these high costs are addressed.
“Indeed, a push to make greener vehicles more affordable, further investment in infrastructure and the encouragement of better consolidation of deliveries will help to reduce emissions in the industry.”
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) wants the Government to introduce a nationwide digital payment platform that provides a clear, consistent and proactive way for fleets to manage multiple vehicles entering multiple zones on a daily basis.
A similar ‘auto pay’ function to that used on the Dart Crossing is essential, because it would enable fleets to register their vehicles and have them charged automatically as they enter a CAZ, it says.
Furthermore, it wants local authorities must provide targeted financial assistance to firms that need support in upgrading their vans or trucks. These funds should be accessible for leased or rented vehicles – which thousands of businesses and individuals rely on for their transport needs.
BVRLA chief executive, Gerry Keaney, said: “Our members have a fleet of CAZ-compliant cars, vans and trucks ready to help businesses or individuals upgrade their vehicles to cleaner alternatives. We would advise people to consider their options now, to ensure that they can get the right vehicles in place at the right time.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
More people are wanting to travel on their own in their own vehicle due to Covid-19, leading to an increase in private car usage for business journeys, says Jaama.
As a result, the fleet software company believes the management of grey fleet drivers should be a priority for employers.
As mentioned below if employees are now working from home then travelling to the office will now be classed as a business trip.
“Duty of care information needs to be captured and managed properly to ensure drivers are only using grey fleet vehicles which are safe, legal and appropriate for business use,” explained Martin Evans, managing director of Jaama, and director of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).
“Companies who just pay allowances and mileage reimbursements without any diligence do so at their peril.”
Jaama says the buoyancy of the used car sector for four to seven-year- old sub-£10,000 cars, suggests more people are updating their own car to carry out more journeys for work purposes.
Evans continued: “Many fleet managers need to make a concerted effort to ensure they gain control of their grey fleet to avoid big problems in the future. All the signs are that the grey fleet car parc will continue to grow over the coming years.”
Fleet News has previously reported how long-term changes to the way people work could result in more employees becoming grey fleet drivers.
Paul Hollick, co-chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), warned that 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.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
One in five (18%) of drivers aged 17-24 admit to taking part in video calls while behind the wheel, while almost a third (29%) of all drivers make and take calls on handheld phones, new research from the RAC suggests.
The illegal use of handheld mobile devices has been studied by the RAC since the 2016 Report on Motoring highlighted the issue was at ‘epidemic levels’.
However, this latest data suggests tougher penalties introduced in 2016, have failed to change in behaviour among motorists, particularly younger drivers.
With police resources stretched, four out of five (79%) drivers told the RAC they support the introduction of camera technology to identify illegal mobile phone use in the UK, with the vast majority (52%) strongly in favour of this happening.
RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Our figures highlight what many drivers already know – that the problem of illegal phone use at the wheel has far from disappeared.”
Furthermore, Williams says that the situation is not helped by mobile phone laws. Mobile phone use that doesn’t involve telecommunications, such as checking text messages, recording a video or changing pre-downloaded music, is not covered by the legislation, although drivers could be convicted for not being in proper control of their vehicles.
He added: “It’s significant that motorists are united in their desire to see camera-based technology, like that already in use in other countries, introduced on our roads to catch drivers who risk everyone’s safety by breaking the law in this way.
“If the behaviour of those who continue to think it’s safe to use a handheld phone while driving upwards of a tonne of metal is ever going to change, they need to believe there’s a reasonable chance of being caught.”
An increased popularity in video call services from the likes of WhatsApp and Snapchat are particularly concerning, with younger drivers more than twice as likely to say they make or receive video calls while driving – on average 8% of all UK drivers say they do this, with the figure rising to 13% among those aged 25 to 44.
Equally concerning is just under one-in-10 drivers aged 17 to 24 (9%) say they play games on their phones while driving, making them three-times more likely to do this compared to the average UK driver.
Other drivers’ use of handheld phones is the second biggest overall motoring-related concern identified in the 2020 RAC Report on Motoring research, after the state of local roads – a third of all UK drivers surveyed (32%) say the issue concerns them and strikingly nearly eight-in-10 (79%) now want to see camera technology introduced to catch drivers acting illegally.
The 29% of drivers of all ages in 2020 that say they make and receive calls on handheld phones while driving is a five percentage point increase on last year and the highest proportion since 2016.
While younger drivers are still more likely to do so (42%, down from 51% last year), those in the 25 to 44 age group are also statistically more likely to break the law in this way (32% admit to doing so, almost unchanged on 2019’s figure of 33%).
More positively, the proportion of drivers admitting to other dangerous activities such as checking or sending text messages or taking photos or video appear to be reducing – although it is unclear whether this is simply down to lower overall car use this year as a result of the pandemic.
Less than one in 10 (8%) of all drivers say they text or send other messages while driving, down from 14% last year and from a high of 20% in 2016.
But young drivers are again much more likely to break the law – 15% of those aged 17 to 24 say they are doing it in 2020, although this is down substantially on 2019 (37%).
More than one-in-10 motorists (14%) this year say they check texts or other app notifications while driving, down from 17% in 2019. Among younger drivers, the proportion is 22%, down from 35% last year.
Williams said: “While there’s been a reduction in some elements of this dangerous activity, more people say they are making and taking calls now than at any point since 2016, shortly before tougher penalties were introduced.
“Our findings from 2016 were a watershed moment which led to the UK Government calling for people to make illegal mobile phone use while driving as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.
“The fact drivers still state it’s their second biggest motoring concern of all shows that more progress still needs to be made here.”
Brake, the road safety charity, is calling for a complete ban on the use of a phone when driving, including hands-free.
The road safety campaigners claim this view is supported by evidence, which shows hands-free devices impairing driving as much as hand-held and are urging the Government to provide clarity in the law, before more lives are lost.
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake said: “Any use of a phone behind the wheel is dangerous but the fact that such a large proportion of young people admit to making video calls and playing games when driving really beggars belief.
“We need clarity in the law around phone use behind the wheel, and we need it now. The Government must implement a full ban on phone use when driving, including hands-free, to make the dangers crystal clear to the public and to crack-down on this reckless behaviour. The police must also be provided with the right tools and investment to enforce the roads effectively.
“In the wrong hands, a car is a lethal weapon and even a moment’s distraction from the road can have catastrophic consequences. More than 75 people are killed on UK roads every day and with driver distraction levels seemingly on the rise, the Government must step in and act, now.”
Inspector Frazer Davey, of the Avon and Somerset Police Roads Policing unit, said that the importance of concentrating on driving “cannot be overstated”.
“Using a mobile phone while in charge of a car puts you and everyone else at risk. The consequences of allowing yourself to be distracted while you are driving can be catastrophic. It’s simply not worth it.”
Type of handheld mobile phone use while driving
2020 and 2019 figure (all drivers)
2020 and 2019 figure (drivers aged 17-24)
Make and receive calls
29%, up from 23%
42%, down from 51%
Send texts, social media posts or use the internet
8%, down from 14%
15%, down from 37%
Check texts, social media posts or app notifications
14%, down from 17%
22%, down from 35%
Take photos or record video
6%, down from 13%
14%, down from 35%
Make or receive video calls
8%
18%
Play a game on a mobile phone
3%
9%
Source: representative sample of UK drivers from RAC Report on Motoring. UK sample size: 3,068 By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
A number of failures that could have risked public safety have resulted in ride-hailing firm Ola not being granted a new licence to operate in the capital.
Transport for London (TfL) has refused to grant Uber’s rival a private hire vehicle (PHV) operator’s licence saying it cannot find it fit and proper.
Ola, which started operating in the capital in February, said it will appeal the decision. It has 21 days to appeal and can operate in the meantime, according to the appeal rules.
TfL says that private hire operators must meet rigorous regulations, and demonstrate to TfL that they do so, in order to operate. Before granting a licence, TfL must be satisfied that an operator is fit and proper to hold a private hire operator’s licence.
Ola recently made TfL aware of a number of failures, including historic breaches of the licensing regime that led to unlicensed drivers and vehicles undertaking more than 1,000 passenger trips on behalf of Ola.
There was also a failure to draw these breaches to TfL’s attention immediately when they were first identified.
Helen Chapman, TfL’s director of licensing, regulation and charging, explained the reasons behind its decision. “Our duty as a regulator is to ensure passenger safety,” she said. “Through our investigations we discovered that flaws in Ola’s operating model have led to the use of unlicensed drivers and vehicles in more than 1,000 passenger trips, which may have put passenger safety at risk
“If they do appeal, Ola can continue to operate and drivers can continue to undertake bookings on behalf of Ola. We will closely scrutinise the company to ensure passengers safety is not compromised.”
Ola was granted a 15-month licence on July 4, 2019, which expired on 3 October 2020.
In a statement, Marc Rozendal, Ola’s UK managing director, said: “We have been working with TfL during the review period and have sought to provide assurances and address the issues raised in an open and transparent manner.”
“Ola will take the opportunity to appeal this decision and in doing so, our riders and drivers can rest assured that we will continue to operate as normal, providing safe and reliable mobility for London.”
Uber has been granted an 18-month extension to continue operating in London after a Westminster court ruled in its favour at appeal. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
