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A new tariff from Good Energy, in partnership with Zap-Map, will allow electric vehicle (EV) drivers to charge their plug-in car for free.

Launching in April, the tariff will offer the free electricity when Britain is generating an abundance of solar and wind power.

When this happens, customers will be alerted to a four-hour ‘flash’ window when charging their vehicle will come at no extra cost.

Good Energy’s CEO and founder, Juliet Davenport, said: “Britain generates so much renewable electricity it only makes sense for us all to take advantage of this free resource.

“The new ‘flash’ tariff will offer people the chance to benefit from free, green power when the wind and sun are strongest.

“Electric vehicle drivers are already doing their bit for the climate – here’s a chance for them to go one step further and support a truly clean energy grid.”

The so-called ‘Zap Flash’ tariff aims to provide people with a cheaper and greener way to use electricity. Shifting energy consumption will also help National Grid balance supply and demand during high levels of renewables on the system, it says.

The product was designed with EV mapping service Zap-Map, while the tariff will be enabled by smart metering.

Zap-Map’s co-founder and chief operating officer, Melanie Shufflebotham, said: “The electric vehicle market is changing rapidly, and we need to keep up.

“There will be over 70 pure electric models available to buy in 2021 and the UK now has close to 500,000 plug-in vehicles on the road.

“This innovative tariff is supporting these seismic shifts by offering drivers a cheaper and greener way of charging their vehicle.

“Zap Flash goes above and beyond what’s currently on the market by listening to what people want and helping them go electric.”

Good Energy will be rolling out smart EV chargers and an updated app to work alongside the new product.

It will be initially launched in beta phase, allowing for more sophisticated versions as the company learns from customers.

The ‘flash period’ will vary in day each week, but the times will remain the same in the summer and winter months.

The Summer Flash Period will run from April to September between 11am and 3pm. The Winter Flash Period will run from October to March between 11pm and 3am.

Customers will be given at least 24 hours’ notice in advance of the flash period.

Good Energy recently invested a further £1 million into Zap-Map to support the company’s continued growth in the electric vehicle market.

The flash tariff is an example of the progress Zap-Map has made since Good Energy took an initial stake in the business two years ago, it says.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Car manufacturers are reducing the number of optional features offered on new models and fitting smaller wheels in order to simplify the WLTP values for each model.

Each new car registered in Europe has a unique WLTP value, which is affected by its specification.

Options that impact a vehicle’s standard weight, drag or rolling resistance can change a vehicle’s WLTP values. Additions such as a sunroof are likely to add approximately 2g/km of CO2 to a vehicle’s emissions levels and any change to a vehicle’s specification must be calculated with complete accuracy.

Jato Dynamics says as manufacturers began the transition from NEDC to WLTP, they changed the number of options available for purchase, reducing the models on offer.

Some have reduced the average tyre size of their vehicles, as smaller wheels are less likely to create as much friction or resistance.

David Krajicek, CEO at JATO Dynamics, said: “Where options were once key money-makers for OEMs, they can no longer look to these to generate cash for fear of exceeding CO2 limits, and the waste of resources that arises from calculating every single vehicle’s unique WLTP value.

“The shift away from these additional features and the evolution towards EVs will likely continue. We cannot say with certainty what manufacturers’ model listings will look like in the future, but one thing is clear – on demand WLTP data for meeting budgets, policy guidelines, and ultimately keeping businesses running will be key.”

The changes go much further than options, however. Since 2017, many OEMs have moved away from standard internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, in favour of lower emissions electrified vehicles.

Last year. EV registrations more than doubled in Europe. The Netherlands, France, Finland and Ireland, have all significantly increased the number of EV models available since 2017.

The Netherlands currently has the greatest number of EVs available for purchase, rising from 18 models to 50 models in the space of four years. This is closely followed by France, with an increase of 29 models during the same period.

Finland more than doubled its electrified offering from just 13 models to 29 last year. Similarly, Ireland has more than tripled its range, rising from seven to 24 models in 2020.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Fleet operators are being warned that there are fewer replacement tyres available for electric vehicles (EVs), by ATS Euromaster.

Tyres built specifically for EVs vehicles will vary by manufacturer, but some have a special structure to support the additional weight of the battery.

ATS Euromaster says there is unlikely to be a greater wear rate for EV tyres, despite the battery weight and the instant acceleration – so long as the correct tyre pressure and settings are used.

Mark Holland, operations director at ATS Euromaster, said: “Tyres for electric vehicles will generally have better-rolling resistance, maximising the distance the car can travel.

Because there’s not as much noise created by these vehicles – since there’s no internal combustion engine – these tyres will have better dB reduction, so less road noise can be heard inside the cabin as a result.

“More EVs in the future will begin having specific EV tyres fitted to these vehicles as original equipment, and although it’s always recommended to change tyres like for like where possible, as this will offer the best vehicle performance, this isn’t mandatory.

“What is important when it comes to replacement is that the correct tyre size and load ratings for the vehicle are used, no matter which product is selected.”

 ATS Euromaster warns that specific tyres for EVs are only just arriving onto the market, meaning there will be fewer choices available compared with other tyres and patterns.

An EV tyre is like a homologation on a vehicle, therefore the original tyres should be replaced by the same ones where possible, but if not, the correct size and load ratings must be met.

Holland added: “Fitting the correct tyres for electric vehicles will not only make it a better in-car experience for fleet drivers, but also provide the best performance from the vehicle.

“Check the owner’s manual for any information on how to change a tyre, in case there are any specific instructions, plus details on the vehicle’s tyre size and load ratings. Not following such advice may lead to unplanned vehicle downtime that may affect the business.”  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

The cost of repairs to vehicles suffering pothole damage over the past 12 months has been revealed in new research published by Kwik Fit.

Its annual Pothole Impact Tracker (PIT) report, which is published today (Wednesday, March 31), shows that the total repair bill to vehicles from pothole damage over the past year rose slightly, from £1.249bn to £1.267bn.

Kwik Fit’s PIT Report tracks the impact of potholes on an annual basis and its research shows that this year, despite reduced mileage, drivers have hit an average of 11 potholes per month, and some 10.2 million have suffered damage to their car as a result.

As tyres are a car’s first line of defence against potholes, they are the most commonly damaged component, suffered by 4.2 million drivers.  This is followed by suspension damage (3m), wheels (2.8m) and steering (2m).

The average cost of repairs has reached £127.20, an increase of 11% on the previous year.

Almost half (48%) of drivers say that the condition of the road surfaces in their local area are worse than 12 months ago, with only 12% saying they are better; 35% say they are about the same.

Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “The condition of our roads is a long-term issue as shown by our PIT report over recent years.

“Potholes are not just an issue because of the cost to drivers, they present a risk to people’s safety.

“We need to ensure that any funds made available are used strategically and effectively and not just for short term patching up of the worst affected areas.”

The Kwik Fit research coincides with the publication of the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey.

POTHOLE FILLED EVERY 19 SECONDS

It says that inconsistent roads funding is leading to highways authorities conducting quick fixes to potholes rather than employing longer-term solutions.

The 26th survey reports a 15% increase in highway maintenance budgets which were, in part, due to additional funding from central Government, including the Pothole Fund in England, as well as supplementary pots to support changes as a result of Covid-19 needs and active travel ambitions.

However, budgets reported are still lower than they were two years ago, and road conditions have yet to see any significant improvement.

This up-down approach to funding, says the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), results in wasteful patch and mend repairs as local authorities have a statutory duty to maintain the highway but “don’t have the scope or certainty of funding” to implement more cost effective, proactive repairs.

This is borne out by the large increase in the number of potholes filled over the past 12 months in England and Wales, the equivalent of one being filled every 19 seconds, it says.

Local authorities also report that, despite the increase in budgets, target road conditions still remain out of reach.

If they had enough funds to meet their own targets conditions across all road types, there could be an additional 14,400 miles of local roads in a good state of repair and another 2,000 fewer miles in need of urgent repair.

Rick Green, chair of the AIA, said: “The last year has been like no other and the ‘hidden heroes’ responsible for maintaining our local roads should be proud of the role they played working throughout the pandemic to keep our key workers and emergency services moving, supermarket shelves stocked and vaccines distributed.

“While the extra funding in 2020/21 was welcomed, using it to repeatedly fill in potholes is essentially a failure as it does nothing to improve the resilience of the network.”

Green says that the average frequency of road surfacing is now once every 68 years and the bill to fix the backlog of maintenance work on our local roads in England and Wales remains in excess of £10bn.

“It is clear that a longer term approach to local road funding is needed, similar to the five-year commitment made to the strategic road network in the two Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) periods, to allow local authority highway engineers to plan ahead and implement a more proactive, sustainable and cost effective whole life approach to maintaining the network,” he said.

“This commitment is vital to the nation’s post-pandemic reset in which we will rely on our local road network to support recovery and underpin active travel and levelling-up goals.”

LONDONERS COMPLAIN MORE

The Kwik Fit research showed that drivers in Scotland are most likely to say their roads are worse than a year ago, while motorists in London are least likely.

In the capital a third of drivers 33% say the roads are worse, but nearly as many (27%) say they are better.

Interestingly, it is London drivers who are most likely to have complained to their local authority about the potholes in their area. Almost half (46%) of London motorists have done so, compared to an average of 30% of drivers across the country, which may be a reflection of the fact that London drivers pay an average repair bill of £142.60, compared to the national average figure of £127.20.

Drivers hitting potholes may find that the damage is not immediately apparent.  Pothole impacts can often result in slow punctures, damage on the inside wall of the tyre, or cracks in the wheel which are not obvious straight away.

Any driver who hits a pothole with significant force should monitor their car carefully in the days following the incident, to ensure that their vehicle has remained unscathed. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

BP Pulse has announced a new partnership with The EV Network (EVN), which will “significantly” expand its ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. 

EVN is an EV charging infrastructure development company, helping bridge the gap between landlords and charge point operators in rolling out a network of rapid and ultra-fast EV chargers and charging infrastructure in the UK.

Over the past three years EVN says it has carefully selected and secured the very best sites in the UK, seizing ‘first-mover advantage’ in what has become an increasingly competitive UK market.

BP Pulse is aiming to double the size of its network in the UK to 16,000 charge points by 2030, with a particular emphasis on ultra-fast chargers, with the total amount of charging on the BP Pulse network is set to grow 30-fold by 2030.

The new hubs will be a key part of the company’s ambition to deliver fast and convenient charging for the growing number of EV drivers.

Matteo de Renzi, CEO of BP Pulse, said: “We’re taking another step forward in our commitment to make ultra-fast charging widely accessible across the UK, including in easy reach of the motorway network.

“These new hubs will complement BP Pulse’s existing plans to expand the number of ultra-fast chargers on BP’s forecourts and it’s exciting to be launching this new additional option for drivers.”

The agreement is expected to deliver new ultra-fast EV charging destinations in the areas with high volumes of traffic.

The sites will be developed by EVN with each having a range of ultra-fast charging bays and some becoming EV convenience and mobility hubs with food, drink and other facilities on offer to drivers as they charge.

Reza Shaybani, co-founder and CEO of EVN, described the agreement with BP Pulse as “ground-breaking”.

“Together we will be fuelling growth in a vital part of the UK’s green economy, making a reliable national network of EV charging stations a reality for fast growing number of electric vehicle drivers,” he said.

A recent Ionity survey found that range anxiety and charging times are still the main barriers for adopting and switching to EVs.

The research found that in the Netherlands, a country with a well-developed charging infrastructure, drivers of electric cars actually have fewer concerns about charging times (37%) or charging stations (35%) based on their experiences.

In the UK, it found that the main incentive to buy an EV is the ability to drive further on a single charge (34%) and more charging points becoming available in the respondent’s area (28%).

Gridserve opened its first electric forecourt in Braintree last year, which enables 36 vehicles to be charged at the same time at up to 350kW.

It is the first of more than 100 in the UK Gridserve is planning to build in the next five years as part of a £1 billion programme. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Road sign-reading technology could collectively save drivers millions of pounds by helping them avoid breaking the speed limit, according to Seat.

The technology uses a front-mounted camera to detect speed limit signs and automatically adjusts a vehicle’s speed. It can also scan school zones and other road signs.

A study of 2,000 UK motorists by Seat found that nearly 10% admitted to being caught speeding annually and more than three quarters (76%) of drivers aren’t always aware what speed they are travelling at.

The manufacturer calculated that by employing road sign-reading technology it could save drivers collectively £327 million based on 10% of licensed drivers in England being issued £100 for an SP30 speeding offence.

Richard Harrison, managing director of Seat UK, said: “It’s certainly eye opening to see that significant numbers of motorists aren’t necessarily always aware of their own speeds, but thankfully there is in-car technology – like our Dynamic Road Sign Display – already on the market to make drivers safer on the road.”

Statistics compiled by the Department for Transport (DfT) showed that over 50% of cars exceeded the speed limit on 30mph roads, while 47% of cars broke the limit on motorways in 2020.

From the research, 40% of drivers said they would want a similar technology to Seat’s Dynamic Road Sign Display technology – featured in the new Seat Leon – on their car if it was available.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Ford has announced that it will stop producing the iconic Mondeo at the end of March next year.

The decision, says the manufacturer, is a result of changing consumer preferences.

In 2020, 39% of Ford’s passenger vehicle sales were SUVs and crossovers – up eight percentage points from 2019.

Moreover, customers are showing more confidence in electric vehicles, with more than 50% of Kuga owners purchasing a Kuga PHEV, says Ford.

Launched in 1993, the Mondeo was the first Ford vehicle to be hailed as a “global” car, intended to consolidate a number of Ford models around the world. Since its launch in Europe where it replaced the Ford Sierra, Mondeo sales have reached around five million to date.

However, the part of the large car market that Mondeo competes in has declined by 80% over the past 20 years in Europe.

Mondeo has all-hybrid petrol engines and sub-140g CO2 manual diesels, but Ford said that, with the overall Ford car range transitioning to include all-electric options, Mondeo’s contracting segment does not support an all-electric version and the current model will not be replaced.

S-MAX and Galaxy will continue, with 2.5-litre hybrids added this year.

The news of Mondeo’s demise came as Ford announced that it is continuing to invest in an electrified future for its Valencia factory, where the Mondeo is produced.

Instead, the new 2.5-litre Duratec hybrid engine will be built at its engine plant from late 2022 and battery pack assembly capacity will be increased.

Kieran Cahill, vice president for manufacturing at Ford of Europe, said: “Today is another step on Ford’s electrification journey, providing a bridge to an all-electric passenger vehicle future, and demonstrating our continuing commitment to our manufacturing operations in Valencia where we have invested around $3 billion since 2011.”

From late 2022, Valencia Engine Plant will build the 2.5-litre Duratec hybrid engine for Europe which powers the Kuga PHEV as well as the Kuga, Galaxy and S-MAX Full Hybrid models.

The 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine is the first of its kind to be built by Ford in Europe and reinforces the importance of hybrid vehicles in Ford’s current and future vehicle line-up in Europe.

The 2.5-litre Duratec hybrid engine – which is built currently at Ford’s Chihuahua Engine Plant in Mexico – will be manufactured in Valencia alongside the 2.0-litre and 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engines for which demand remains strong.

Ford also confirmed an additional €5.2 million (£4.4m) to support increased battery pack assembly capacity at Valencia following an initial €24m (£20m) investment announced in January 2020, with the facility starting operation in September last year.

The extra capacity is required to support increased demand for current and future electrified vehicle production, it says.

Earlier this year, Ford announced it is investing at least $22 billion (£16bn) globally in electrification, nearly twice the company’s previous electric vehicle investment plans, and that it investing $1bn (£700m) to create the Ford Cologne Electrification Center in Germany for the manufacture of electric vehicles, the company’s first such facility in Europe.

Ford’s first European-built, volume all-electric passenger vehicle will be built at the facility in 2023, with the potential for a second all-electric vehicle under consideration.

By mid-2026, 100% of Ford’s passenger vehicle range in Europe will be zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid, moving to all-electric by 2030. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Vehicles should be fitted with ‘alcolocks’ to reduce drink-driving, a new report from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) suggests.

The alcohol interlocks, which require the driver to blow into a breath-testing instrument connected to the vehicle ignition system before the vehicle will start, should be introduced as soon as possible for drivers convicted of drink driving, says PACTS.

The report – Locking out the drink driver – finds that one on six drink driving offences is committed by a reoffender.

The current reliance on media campaigns, penalties, driving bans and police enforcement is enough to deter reoffending, claims PACTS. Nor is it enough to bring down the number of deaths from drink driving – 240 each year, which has not changed since 2010.

David Davies, executive director of PACTS, said: “We were shocked to find that one in six drink driving offences is committed by someone previously convicted.

“Since 2010, this amounts to over 100,000 offences – each of which is highly dangerous to the driver and other road users. Clearly the current system is not adequate.”

The PACTS report looks at the use of alcohol interlocks around the world and finds that they are significantly more effective than licence disqualification at reducing reoffending.

If combined with rehabilitation courses, the benefits can last long after the device is removed, it says.

The report recommends that the courts are given powers to offer or mandate alcohol interlocks for as many drink drivers.

Offenders would be responsible for the costs of the interlock programme – typically around £1,000 a year.

“A number of other countries have introduced alcohol interlocks to prevent repeat drink driving and to bring down the number of deaths and injuries that result,” said Davies.

“Alcohol interlocks have proved highly effective. PACTS is calling on the Government to give UK courts the powers to impose them without delay.”

Reoffending is a major concern. Since 2010, 32,025 people committed a drink drive offence with a previous drink/drug drive offence on their record.

Meanwhile, eight people were convicted of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink/with alcohol level above the limit with a previous drink/drug offence on their record.

Dräger Safety UK welcomed today’s publication of the PACTS report into the use of interlock devices.

Graham Hurst, marketing manager Impairment at Dräger, said: “We believe that the time is right to try something different to reduce these avoidable fatalites.

“The experience of our colleagues in countries which already incorporate interlock devices into rehabiliaton programmes is that they have a clear impact on deterring drink driving.”

YouGov research, commissioned by Dräger last year, showed that there is public appetite for interlock devices to be fitted to offenders vehicles before their driving licence is returned, particularly for repeat offenders.

More than four in five respondents (83%) said they would support this and more than half (56%) agreed they should be introduced for first time offenders.

“This public endorsement and the publication of today’s report, suggests that there is a recognition that we need to take action to stop persistent offenders putting other road users at risk,” added Hurst.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart also welcomed the PACTS report. Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research said: “The evidence is clear. Nearly all motorists want new cars fitted with alcolocks to help stop the daily carnage on UK roads from drink driving and this latest PACTS report is even further endorsement.”

The PACTS report mirrors recent research by IAM RoadSmart of over 2,000 motorists, which reveals overwhelming support from motorists to fit alcolocks in all new cars, with 90% of motorists supporting all new cars having built-in technology that immobilises the vehicle if the driver is over the limit.

From 2022 all new cars sold in Europe will be ‘alcolock enabled’ but it is up to the Government to decide how they will be used. IAM RoadSmart has previously stated they will be a useful tool to get drink drive offenders back to safer driving after a ban. By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

A law firm has claimed that Jaguar Land Rover may have used emissions cheating devices on a number of its diesel engines.

Leigh Day, which has already made similar claims against Mercedes, VW, Nissan, Renault, Porsche, Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot, believes up to 365,000 Jaguar and Land Rover models could be affected.

The lawyers state that some JLR vehicles have been proven to emit higher levels of NOx emissions that claimed in tests by German and UK regulators.

A statement issued by the car maker said: “Jaguar Land Rover does not use emissions cheat devices or software in any of its products. We have not yet seen any technical evidence in relation to this matter and will strongly contest any claims made by the no win-no fee legal firm.”

According to Leigh Day, a Jaguar XE 2.0-litre was found by the German VW Commission Enquiry in April 2016 to be producing NOx at nine times the threshold value in an on the road test. In the same report, a Range Rover 3.0-litre produced 11 times the threshold value during on the road testing.

In 2016, following the Volkswagen dieselgate scandal, the Department for Transport concluded in a report that there was no evidence that other manufacturers were using software of the type used by Volkswagen.

Oliver Holland, partner at Leigh Day, said: “Evidence in the public domain clearly shows that diesel engines in some Jaguar Land Rover models were fitted with emissions cheat devices so that customers have not been driving around in the low-emissions vehicles they thought they were.

“Instead, these owners have been cheated, and Britain’s roads and surrounding areas have been polluted with NOx emissions way beyond the levels that motor manufacturers have stated, to maintain profit and avoid regulation essential to our health and the health of the planet.”

Following the dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen Group was the first brand to face civil action with some 90,000 UK owners seeking compensation.

Class action lawsuits have since been launched against the majority of car makers by numerous law firms.

They are accused of using illegal defeat devices to manipulate the emissions performance of vehicles at certain times, such as during emissions tests, to make their cars appear to be more environmentally friendly.

All vehicles registered between 2009 and 2018 underwent the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test, in order to gain type approval. While EU law bans the use of ‘defeat devices’, exceptions within the regulations allow the effectiveness of emissions control systems to be reduced if it’s required to protect the engine against damage or ensure its safe operation.

Last year the European Court of Justice ruled that diesel emission defeat devices cannot be justified by the argument that they “contribute to preventing the ageing or clogging-up of the engine”.

Some car manufacturers admitted that engine control units were programmed to shut off at certain temperatures, but said such practices were fully compliant with the law.

In 2019, JLR issued a voluntary recall for 44,000 cars in the UK after regulators found 10 models were emitting more carbon dioxide (CO2) than they had been certified to emit.  By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News

Better safety standards need to be applied to vehicles being used in the gig economy, says FleetCheck.

In a ruling that could have wider ramifications for the gig economy, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Uber must classify its drivers as workers rather than self-employed.

This will have ramifications on companies and drivers who use their own vehicles for business use.

Peter Golding, managing director at the fleet software specialist, said that the recent ruling against Uber and the company’s subsequent decision to provide a range of employment rights to drivers should be extended to the safety standards applied to cars and vans.

He explained: “This is not a complaint directed at Uber, which has an inspection regime in place for vehicles that are used as taxis, but at the wider gig economy where some home delivery and courier companies have long operated outside of normal safety bounds.”

Golding argues that there has always been some issues with people using their own “unsuitable” vehicles for business activity but, when this was limited to, for example, a relatively small number of pizza deliveries by teenagers using their old cars, the potential for issues was minimal.

However, he said: “We’re now in a situation, partially prompted by the pandemic, where gig economy drivers are delivering millions of parcels every day and the courier companies who employ them often outsource the entire issue of safety to the driver.

“This demands the question – if the recent example of Uber means that those drivers are being brought under legally-required employment practices, why does the same not apply to legally-required safety standards of those vehicles that are being used on business?

“Every other company operating vans in the country has a responsibility to ensure that they are maintained in a roadworthy condition in accordance with recognised manufacturer standards in a manner that is fully auditable.

“These duty of care measures exist to protect their drivers and other road users and, if problems occur, employers can face prosecution and a range of very serious penalties. There is no good reason for this to be suspended anywhere.”

Golding added that making this point was not intended to target the drivers themselves but the gig economy employers who enforced these kinds of working practices.

He explained: “These drivers are hardworking people who, especially at the moment, are proving important to keep the economy turning over and, in some cases, are helping to deliver services that are essential during the current crisis.

“However, that does not make the use of inappropriate vehicles right. For some home delivery companies, the only requirement is that the vehicle has an MOT and is insured for business use.

“I suspect we’ve all got our own horror stories about some of the vehicles that we’ve experienced courier drivers using, such as the 22-year-old Volvo estate that I’ve seen.”

In a sense, Golding says that those outlying vehicles are not the core issue. “The point is that even the better vehicles being used are often not fit for purpose,” he said.

“For example, if you’ve got a hundred parcels to deliver, fleet norms on safety say that you should be using a van with a bulkhead.

“If someone has an accident with those parcels unsecured on the back and front seats of their hatchback, the chances of the driver being hit hard by something heavy moving at speed is massively increased.

“Companies employing people and their vehicles on this basis are dancing around what is acceptable in safety terms. Their drivers and other road users deserve better.”

Golding believes that the fleet industry should look at ways of ensuring that these businesses start to adopt the same kind of everyday operational measures as other company cars and vans.

“Companies operating on this basis need to start to align to fleet industry norms on safety,” he added.

“These driver-owned vehicles are grey fleet and, as every good fleet manager knows, that means the employer has the same responsibilities as for company-owned vehicles.

“Home delivery and courier companies should, at the very least, be looking at driving licences, maintenance records, insisting on regular walkaround checks and ensuring that vehicles are fit for carrying their payload.

“These are safety essentials for every fleet as well as being a legal and a moral responsibility.” By Graham Hill thanks to Fleet News