New product: Breath Alcohol Tester – Kenwood Car Audio CAX-AD100
KENWOOD’s premium analyser is quick to respond and has a highly accurate measurement. The sensor is heated to accelerate the reaction, plus heating removes dirt and impurities adhering to the sensor.
Supports straw method and open blow method 2-way measurement
Supports 2-way measurement of straw method and open blow method. The straw method is less affected by the environment than the open blow method that blows exhaled air directly. This enables more accurate measurement.
Stylish design & compact design
Compact design that fits in one hand with a clean and slim design, so you can easily use it at home, or when you are on a business trips.The sensor cover has to be closed when you are not using the unit, so it protects the highly sensitive sensor.
5000 times long-term sensor and life notification function
The sensor can measure up to as many as 5000 times. When you exceed this amount of measurements, the sensor replacement mark will flash to inform you of the lifestatus.
Measurement timing Electronic sound
At the time of measurement, the countdown of the digital display starts, and the timing is notified by electronic sound.
LCD display of alcohol value during exhalation
Clear measurement is possible with a digital display from 0,00mg / l without cutting the low concentration area of alcohol
* 0.05mg / l or less is displayed as 0.05 mg / l
Power saving design and automatic power off function
Power-saving design that can measure 1200 times with 2 AA alkaline batteries. Even if the power is left on, the power will be turned off automatically after 1 minute, so you avoid depleted batteries. By Graham Hill thanks to Kenwood
Lake District National Park has installed a network of 28 electric vehicle charging points across its locations.
The chargers will not only support its own fleet of BMW i3s but are also open to the public. The move is one of Lake District National Park Authority’s low carbon projects to promote a cleaner and more sustainable environment across the Lake District.
To support its fleet electrification plans, Lake District National Park Authority appointed AMP EV to install Rolec’s range of AC fast and DC rapid chargers.
Emma Moody, lead strategy advisor for recreational & sustainable transport at Lake District National Park Authority said: “We are showcasing what can be done in terms of travelling more sustainably and are leading by example by using electric vehicles for our staff to get out and about in the Lake District.
“We ask visitors to travel to and around the Lake District in a more environmentally friendly way, and this improved network of charging points throughout the Park makes travelling by electric vehicle easier and more convenient.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
A new device has been developed to prevent vehicles from aquaplaning and losing traction control due to adverse road conditions.
The Run Dry Traction System (RDTS) works by firing a jet of compressed gas close to the front of the wheel, removing surface water in front of the tyre to ensure the vehicle has a dry patch of road ahead, to ensure grip is not compromised by road contaminants such as water, sand and gravel.
The device has been developed by Professor Mike Blundell and Ravi Ranjan from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Future Transport and Cities, following a two-year research project.
Professor Mike Blundell, professor of vehicle dynamics and impact at Coventry University, said: “Our tests demonstrate that RDTS has the potential to make a huge impact on vehicle safety in a whole host of conditions.
“The prospect of producing something that could even save lives on the road is extremely exciting and after some initial success with testing, we’re now eager to look into manufacturing potential and further research to take this concept to the next level.
“A device like this really could be the difference between life and death if it can help vehicles to stop safely within certain distances and that’s why we’re so keen to continue developing this concept.”
The prototype product aims to prevent aquaplaning and loss of traction in a variety of road conditions.
Aquaplaning, also referred to as hydroplaning, happens when a layer of surface water builds up between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface, leading to a complete loss of grip.
This can occur with as little as 2-3mm of standing water on the road surface when vehicles are travelling at a variety of speeds and is a leading cause of road traffic accidents. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
The average price of a litre of petrol and diesel rose in September to make a tank £12 more expensive than a year ago, according to new RAC Fuel Watch data.
Unleaded increased by 1.5p to 136.83p while diesel rose by 2.5p to 139.25p, making the price of petrol 22p a litre more expensive than a year ago (114.61p 30 September 2020) and diesel 21p dearer (118.10p).
RAC said both fuels are at prices last seen eight years ago in autumn 2013, with petrol only being 5.65p off the all-time high of 142.48p and diesel 8.68p off the record of 147.93p.
The rise at the pumps has not been driven by the fuel delivery crisis but by a 10.65% increase in the price of oil from $71.29 to $78.88 throughout September, said the RAC.
Simon Williams, fuel spokesman at the RAC, said: “Not only are motorists struggling to put fuel in their vehicles, but they are also having to pay through the nose for it as the rising cost of a barrel of oil is causing further pain at the pumps.
“As life moves ever closer to normal as the world gets to grips with Covid-19, demand for oil is outpacing supply, and with producer group OPEC+ deciding on Monday not to release more oil, the barrel price has now broken through the $80-mark for the first time in more than three years.
“This looks likely to spell further misery for drivers at the pumps as we head towards Christmas, especially as some analysts are predicting the price could even hit $90 before the end of the year.
“If this were to happen, we could see the average price of unleaded hit a new record of around 143p per litre. Diesel would shoot up to 145p which is only 3p off the record high of 147.93 in April 2021.”
According to the RAC, for those who have filled up a 55-litre family car with petrol at the end of September, they would have paid £75.26 – up 85p in September and £12.22 on 12 months ago.
A full tank of diesel is now £76.59 – up £1.40 in September and £11.63 more than a year ago, the data found.
The RAC said prices at four major supermarkets were 4p a litre cheaper than the UK average while at motorway services they were 15p more expensive for petrol at 151.55p and 156.35p for diesel.
Asda sold the cheapest unleaded at 132p while Sainsbury’s offered the lowest price diesel at 134.28p.
Williams added: “Drivers have had to endure the average price of petrol going up for 10 out of the last 12 months and now, because of the supply crisis, many have had great difficulty getting hold of it just so they can go about their daily lives.
“While we’ve heard of some smaller retailers taking advantage of the situation by charging very high prices for their fuel, these cases appear to be few and far between, with most retailers acting responsibly.
“As forecourts’ fuel stocks return to normal drivers will inevitably switch from worrying about whether they can get the petrol or diesel they need to just how much a fill-up is costing them.
The semiconductor shortage is being blamed for poor fleet and business new car registrations, with the company car market recording a 43.4% year-on-year fall, new figures suggest.
Last month, 94,752 new cars were registered to fleet and business, compared to 166,679 units registered in September 2020, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Year-to-date, however, new company car sales are almost 7% up on where they were this time last year, with 691,743 fleet and business registrations compared to 647,944 during the first nine months of 2020.
Fleet and business accounted for 44% of overall new car sales during the month. Overall, 215,312 new cars were registered in September, some 34% down on September 2020’s figures.
It was the weakest UK new car market figures for September recorded since 1998 ahead of the introduction of the two-plate system in 1999.
September is typically the second busiest month of the year for the industry, but with the ongoing shortage of semiconductors impacting vehicle availability, the 2021 performance was also down 44.7% on the pre-pandemic 10-year average, SMMT figures suggest.
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, said: “This is a desperately disappointing September and further evidence of the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic on the sector.
“Despite strong demand for new vehicles over the summer, three successive months have been hit by stalled supply due to reduced semiconductor availability, especially from Asia.”
New electric vehicle uptake
September was the best month ever for new battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake. With a market share of 15.2%, 32,721 BEVs were registered in the month.
In fact, the September performance was only around 5,000 vehilces shy of the total number registered during the whole of 2019.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) share also grew to 6.4%, meaning more than one in five new cars registered in September was zero-emission capable.
Meanwhile, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) grew their overall market share from 8% in 2020 to 11.6%, with 24,961 registered in the month.
Hawes said that despite supply challenges, the “rocketing uptake” of plug-in vehicles, especially battery electric cars, demonstrates the increasing demand for these new technologies.
Jamie Hamilton, automotive director and head of electric vehicles at Deloitte, said: “With battery electric vehicles outpacing even plug-in hybrid this month, this demonstrates a level of consumer confidence that the charging infrastructure will be in place.
“However, gaps still remain and a more equitable rollout of public charging points would ensure EVs are also accessible to those households without off-street parking.
“Petrol and diesel shortages may have also inadvertently created some charge anxiety, so ensuring more visible charging points will only strengthen public confidence in EV feasibility.”
Meryem Brassington, electrification propositions lead at Lex Autolease, added: “The recent fuel shortage will only have further heightened awareness of the importance of transitioning to an electric future. As EVs continue to rise in popularity, industry must work collaboratively to ensure there isn’t a tipping point of demand outstripping supply.”
Vehicle supply impact to last into 2023
All drivers whether fleet or consumer face delays of more than one year for certain new car and van models, while others are being delivered with missing features, as the global semiconductor shortage worsens.
And some automotive industry executives do not see the problem ending any time soon.
One is predicting the disruption could last until 2023. Speaking at the IAA Munich auto show last month (September 7-12), Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius said soaring demand for semiconductors means the auto industry could struggle to source enough of them throughout next year and into 2023, though the shortage should be less severe by then.
The carmaker has cut its annual sales forecast for its car division, projecting deliveries will be roughly in line with 2020, rather than up significantly.
Critics are predicting the crisis will have a greater impact on automotive than the coronavirus pandemic. Almost 95% of fleets responding to a Fleet News poll said they were experiencing vehicle delays.
Fleets are being urged to sit tight and continue to place orders for new vehicles, while also being warned that existing models may have to remain on the road for in excess of an extra 12 months.
Matthew Walters, head of consultancy services at LeasePlan, said: “The impact on fleet is pretty severe.
“Last year, we saw a number of formal extensions for companies during the worst of Covid-19 where vehicles couldn’t be delivered and where vehicles couldn’t be collected. These vehicles needed to be extended outside their primary contract term.
“Now we’re in a situation moving into next year where, as an industry, we are likely to see an extension programme again.
“I think it’s a similar period of activity with our customers now, to help them understand what it means for their current order bank, when their orders will be delivered and what that means for their replacement cycles.
“The customer still needs to place orders for vehicles to get themselves in the queue and we are working with them and being open and frank as to when those vehicles are going to be delivered.”
Fleet News at 10 panellists criticised the Government’s attempts to ease the shortage of HGV drivers by proposing drivers only take one test for both rigid and artics, instead of two separate tests, plus removing the reverse exercise element from the test.
Matt Hammond, head of fleet at M Group Services, said: “It’s ridiculous. You need to work up to an artic – it’s an incredibly skilled job and you learn your trade as you go through from 7.5-tonne to rigid to artic.”
He added: “The problem isn’t drivers getting through the test – this isn’t a new problem. It’s come because nobody wants to drive an HGV. It’s not a shortage of drivers; it’s a shortage of drivers who want to drive an HGV. We need to review the whole industry and how we treat these guys.”
Lorna McAtear, National Grid fleet manager, described the proposals as “bonkers”.
“I’m hoping the changes don’t come in. It’s a sticking plaster, a reaction not a response. There is no respect for what is an incredibly skilled job,” she said.
“It’s hard to recruit young people and females when you have shoddy facilities out on the road. We expect people to work overnight unsavoury hours, not get as much money for it – there’s just no respect. We have to make this industry attractive again.”
Viewer Renny Thomson, a former LGV driver and instructor and now a health and safety adviser, agreed that the underlying root cause of the shortage is “the way that drivers are treated – by the general public and motorists, by the distribution centres where they deliver, by the Government for not having a policy to encourage truck stops and by motorway services not being fully open overnight to provide welfare facilities”.
However, he added that the proposal was to move assessment of reversing and coupling/uncoupling out of the DVSA Testing procedure so that it was carried out by 3rd party training providers. They would, he insisted, still be tested/assessed on their ability to reverse.
Hammond responded: “For me, the concern is it’s fast tracking the whole process and the experience the driver will get from working through the system. It takes years to get the experience; they are looking to short-cut a system that shouldn’t be short-cut.”
Meanwhile, viewer Graham Telfer, fleet manager at Gateshead Council, had concerned over the skills and knowledge of some trainers, pointing out: “Unlike car driving trainers who are on Government Register, HGV trainers are not required to register or have a qualification.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News.
Annual road casualty statistics for Great Britain show the number of people injured and killed using e-scooters for the first time.
The Department for Transport’s (DfT) figures show that there were 484 casualties involving e-scooters in 2020, of which one person was killed, 128 were seriously injured and 355 slightly injured.
E-scooter firms were given the go-ahead by the Government to start trials on UK roads in July 2020, with schemes being set up with local authorities across the country as people looked for alternatives to public transport, because of Covid-19.
However, road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says that the results of these pilot schemes have been repeatedly delayed, meaning a full review has yet to be conducted.
Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “By delaying yet again the results of the pilot schemes we have another Christmas looming where people will be buying and using a totally unregulated form of transport in the UK.
“The pilots were launched in July 2020 and are now not due to finish until March 2022, plus the time required after that for analysis and legislation – this has taken far too long in our opinion.”
In the meantime, Greig says the police should make it clear that anyone caught riding an e-scooter outside private land or a trial area will have their vehicle seized immediately.
“E-scooters may have a role to play in the future transport mix, but this can only happen once their legal status has been made completely clear and that cannot happen soon enough,” he added.
Road deaths and casualties during 2020
DfT figures from the Reported Road Casualties Great Britain 2020 report show that last year 1,460 people were killed on Britain’s roads, which is a fall of 17% compared with the figure in 2019.
In 2020, there were also 115,584 reported road casualties of all severities, which was a fall of 25% from the previous year.
However, during much of 2020, the UK was in lockdown and the RAC estimate that miles travelled in the country were 21% down on the previous year.
Data from the DfT also shows that in 2020, 141 cyclists were killed in road accidents. This was up 41% from 100 deaths in the previous year. The number of children killed on Britain’s roads also increased, from 49 in 2019 to 52 in 2020.
David Walker, head of road and leisure safety at RoSPA, said: “By any measure 2020 was an abnormal year. It is of no surprise that the overall number of road casualties fell. This is in no small part due to less traffic on the roads.
“With traffic levels returning to pre-pandemic levels and some understandable reluctance towards using public transport, we must today continue to focus on the harm to motorists and more significantly, from motorists.”
He continued: “We welcome the fact that more people have been getting out on their bikes and recognise the reduction in the rate of deaths per mile travelled. However, this should not distract from the shocking fact that more cyclists and more children died on our roads than in the previous year.
“At RoSPA we believe that having more cyclists and pedestrians should not result in an increased number of serious and fatal accidents involving vulnerable road users.
“We must continue to act decisively if we want to maintain the position of British roads being among the safest in the world.”
With travel restrictions in place throughout 2020, there was a huge increase in the number of people electing to use active travel such as walking and cycling.
According to the DfT‘s Road Traffic Estimates in Great Britain 2020, pedal cycle traffic was up by 45.7% from the previous year.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “It is clear that the lockdown travel restrictions during the pandemic helped the year-on-year fall in road deaths.
“Rather than simply accept this as a dip in the records, we should use this moment as the catalyst to reset ‘zero’ road deaths as the target for the end of the decade.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
The RAC has called on the Government to consider reinstating hard shoulders on motorways.
A recent RAC poll found six in 10 drivers think that all-lane-running smart motorway schemes should be scrapped entirely, and the hard shoulder should be reinstated, whist retaining the technology that manages traffic flows and detects breakdowns.
It is not disputed that the technology deployed on smart motorways has reduced the risk of an accident between two moving vehicles, because it allows speed limits to be varied and traffic flows managed by the series of cameras covering the smart motorway network.
However, where hard shoulders have been removed, recent evidence suggests that the risk of a major accident involving a moving and stationary vehicle has increased, with stationary vehicles often stranded in a live line with the occupants of the vehicle akin to ‘sitting ducks’, hoping that vehicles approaching from behind will spot the hazard that their vehicle is posing and take evasive action in time, before the lane can be closed and traffic diverted to other live lanes.
In response to a number of tragic accidents and concerns raised by coroners, the Government requested an ‘Evidence Stocktake’ last year which recommended an 18-point action plan which included many features to enhance safety measures, such as reducing the distance between refuge points from 1.6 miles to 1 mile and the introduction of radar systems to detect broken down vehicles.
These recommendations appear to support the consensus amongst most drivers that more can be done to protect the safety of road users on smart motorways.
In addition to the recent actions of the RAC, the campaign group Smart Motorways Kill (SMK) suggested earlier this year that they would be seeking judicial review of the decision to implement smart motorways.
If such a review is sought, pending the outcome, the consequences could have a significant impact as reinstating hard shoulders would amount to 204 miles, or as Grant Shapps referenced, the land acquisition required would be the equivalent of 700 Wembley Stadiums.
Shapps has also previously commented that smart motorways are too expensive to scrap with the Government favouring taking steps to increase safety measures rather than reverting to the traditional hard shoulder.
Highways England have previously announced their intention to add a further 300 miles of smart motorway by 2025.
Based on the statistics, whilst this could lead to a lower incident rate overall, as traffic flow is more appropriately managed, the risk of a serious incident with a stationary vehicle is increased, with the risk of serious injury or unfortunately the risk of fatality, to the occupants.
There has been mounting pressure on insurers for many years to lower motor insurance premiums and the potential increase in the cost of claims from such accidents on smart motorways is unfortunately likely to ultimately be felt by the consumer as the costs of these claims are passed on by way of increased premiums.
The true cost of smart motorways may still yet to be seen. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
ABB has launched the Terra 360, a 360kW electric vehicle (EV) charger.
The company claims the new device is the “world’s fastest” electric car charger.
It can deliver 62 miles of range in less than three minutes and can charge up to four vehicles at once.
“With governments around the world writing public policy that favors electric vehicles and charging networks to combat climate change, the demand for EV charging infrastructure, especially charging stations that are fast, convenient and easy to operate is higher than ever,” said Frank Muehlon, president of ABB’s E-mobility Division. “The Terra 360, with charging options that fit a variety of needs, is the key to fulfilling that demand and accelerating e-mobility adoption globally.”
Available in Europe from the end of 2021, ABB says the Terra 360 is designed with the daily needs and expectations of EV drivers in mind.
Its lighting system guides the user through the charging process and shows the State of Charge (SoC) of the EV battery and the residual time before the end of an optimal charge session.
As well as serving the needs of private EV drivers at fueling stations, convenience stores and retail locations, ABB expects the Terra 360 chargers to be installed at commercial premises to charge electric fleet cars, vans and trucks.
The devices are fully customisable and can be branded. There is also the option to include an integrated 27-inch advertisement screen to play video and pictures.
ABB has sold more than 460,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 88 markets since 2010. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has shared some of most unusual reasons people have given for needing a replacement vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
My parrot destroyed it was among the most unusual reasons people shared with DVLA for needing a replacement document.
Other unusual reasons shared with DVLA, include: my child covered their schoolbook with it; I left it at a hotel in the Gobi Desert when driving across Asia during my gap year; and someone bought me a car for my birthday – they wrapped the keys in the V5C and I tore it open without knowing.
One person blamed their grandchildren who had taken their V5C outside and buried it in the mud, while another said it had blown out of the window and when I went to look for it, it was gone.
DVLA launched an online service to get a replacement V5C in September 2020. Motorists can order a replacement no matter the reason and since launch the service has been used more than 300,000 times (around 5,800 times a week).
Julie Lennard, DVLA chief executive, said: “Our online service to replace a V5C is quick and easy to use and means customers will receive their replacement vehicle registration certificate within the week. So whether you misplaced your V5C, it’s being digested by your pet or your kids have used it for arts and crafts – the quickest way to get a replacement is on GOV.UK.”
It costs £25 for a replacement V5C whether you go online or apply by post. The service to replace a lost or damaged V5C on Gov.uk followed the change address on vehicle log book service, launched in June, which has been used more than 1.6 million times. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News
