Campaigning body Transport & Environment (T&E) has published research suggesting original equipment vehicle manufacturers are “again manipulating official tests – this time on safety by adjusting indirect tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to pass the lab test but failing to perform on the road”.
With over £5 billion year higher costs to consumer from rapidly rising fuel costs, Brian Madderson, Chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has again written to the chancellor of the exchequer to state the overwhelming case for a three pence per litre cut in duty in his Autumn Statement.
“Mileage fraud is a huge problem for the UK and urgent action needs to be taken. We are pleased to see that the government has taken the issue seriously and we have responded to the consultation outlining the implications of this practice and the urgent need to make it illegal”, said Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA).
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee will begin its inquiry to investigate driverless vehicles and their future on UK roads on Tuesday 1 November. The committee will hear evidence from government officials and leading academic experts.
Global survey shows 74 per cent use mobiles while driving
A global survey from LeasePlan – one of the world’s largest vehicle management groups – reveals that nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of drivers admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel, one-fifth (20 per cent) claim to send text messages and almost one-in-ten (9 per cent) admit to using social media.
The Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that a driver impaired or distracted by their phone was a contributory factor in 492 accidents in Britain in 2014, including 21 that were fatal. Last month, the government announced tougher sanctions for motorists caught using their mobile phone behind the wheel, including automatically receiving six points on their licence instead of the current three and on-the-spot fines will be doubled from £100 to £200.
WheelRight: Let’s get tread depth basics right before moving the goalposts
WheelRight believes that plans to raise the minimum legal car tyre tread depth from 1.6mm to 3mm “are like moving the goalposts before the team has even run onto the pitch”. John Catling, CEO of the UK-based technology business thinks setting even higher standards of tread depth could be counter-productive as long as so few drivers continue to regularly check their tyres.
John Catling said: “According to the results of a live pilot study we conducted at Keele Services on the southbound M6 earlier this year, most women (55%) admitted to rarely checking their tyres. Their male counterparts did not score much better, with just 66% claiming to undertake monthly checks.
The NTDA reports that it remains “firmly committed to its 3mm Tread Safety campaign, an initiative designed to raise awareness among motorists of the importance of changing tyres when they reach a 3mm tread depth rather than the lower, legal limit of 1.6mm, which was launched in partnership with Roadsafe in 2005.” The NTDA statement follows comments made by well-known manufacturer Michelin at the end of September in opposition to 3mm tread depth tyre change philosophies.
As the government moves towards its April 2017 article 50 declaration, the automotive industry is calling on politicians to ensure the car business is left with the structures it needs to prosper.
With this in mind the RMI is specifically calling for a free trade deal to support the industry’s future: “With the UK in a period of uncertainty, we are urging government to engage with all sectors in our industry to prevent any uncertainty, encourage confidence and enable investment”, said RMI board member Colin Parlett, speaking at this year’s retail motor industry federation annual dinner in London tonight (20 October 2016).
UK drivers have most reservations about autonomous vehicles, says research
Whilst driverless technology may be on its way, hesitation remains amongst UK drivers, according to extensive research released today.
The new study, from Goodyear and the London School of Economics, found that 55 per cent of the UK drivers surveyed would feel uncomfortable driving on roads alongside autonomous vehicles, significantly above the 39 per cent average in 10 other European countries. However, 28 per cent of respondents said they would be comfortable driving alongside AVs, similar to the 30 per cent in the other 10 countries.
Ever since her 18 year old son Michael was killed in a coach crash on the A3 in Surrey in September 2012. Liverpool-based Frances Molloy has spent the past four years campaigning for legislation to be passed on the condition and age of tyres. The accident was caused by the explosion of a tyre that was found to be second hand and 19 and a half years old.
RMI Bodyshops (NAB & VBRA), the UK’s trade association for vehicle repairers, has raised their concerns following today’s announcement that proposals to reform how the insurance industry deals with claims for whiplash injuries have been put on hold by the government.
The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has recently hosted a meeting involving the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee to discuss the type approval framework revisions for motor vehicles.
The National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) and National Association of Motor Auctions (NAMA) have written to the Payments Systems Regulator, calling for an automotive industry exemption for debit card charges.
Total UK ban: NTDA chief executive hardens stance on part-worn tyres
Following up comments made at the Tyre Wholesale Group’s annual lunch on 5 October, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay has called for a total ban on the sale of part-worn tyres. Speaking at the association’s Tyre Industry Conference, held at the VOX Conference Centre on Thursday 6 October 2016, Hay said previous attempts to enforce current laws through collaboration with trade bodies and enforcement agencies have not yielded the required results, leaving the association with little option but to harden its stance. Later the same day, NTDA chairman Roger Griggs reiterated the message during the association’s annual dinner.
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