Give us more space to park say van drivers
Eight of the ten most popular vans in the UK in 2023 were deemed too long to squeeze into a parking space. The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was the vehicle with outsized parking bays the most, there were 14,715 vehicle registrations for this van last year. Width wasn’t as much of an issue - with nine of ten models managing to squeeze both sides of their van into the spot. It’s bad news for Ford Transit owners, though, as their size means not being able to squeeze into parking spaces in the UK, with over 500mm difference.
DriverCheck appoints new account manager as expansion continues
Reporting into Managing Director Yvette Giannini, Greenaway’s appointment is the latest in a series of new announcements at DriverCheck, the most recent of which was the promotion of Giannini herself to the position of MD. The company had an outstanding year last year and results show sales growth of almost 10%, with a further 26,500 drivers added across the 1,200-plus client portfolio.
Unsure if you are ULEZ complaint? Ensure these basic checks
To circulate free of charge within the ULEZ boundaries, your vehicle needs to meet specific emission requirements. If it doesn’t, you’ll be charged a daily fee of £12.50, which in the long run can have a costly impact on your pockets. Bear in mind that, if you enter the zone without paying, you’ll receive a fine of £180 – which drops to £90 if the penalty is covered within 14 days.
Licence Check launches driver app within coaching module
As part of the DAVIS platform, the new Coaching module is designed to provide fleet and other line managers with a clear indication of driver attitude and knowledge by rating drivers as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘watch’ or ‘action’ based upon their responses and willingness to learn. Clients also have the added benefit of demonstrating proactivity in minimising occupational road risk by improving knowledge and awareness amongst their driver pool, which could lead to a reduction in insurance premiums.
What is the tax on a crew van?
You should be aware of how HMRC may classify your crew van. There is some confusion when it comes to the taxation of these vans and whether they’re classed as cars or commercial vehicles for benefit in kind (BIK) tax – the same kind of conundrum that can arise with double cab pick-ups and their low tax attractions .
Do you need to pay tax on your company van?
The annual benefit in kind tax liability for company vans is a fixed rate – unlike cars, where the tax is based on a scale of CO2 emissions and the list price of the car. These measures are annual upratings that increase the van benefit charge and the car and van fuel benefit charges by the Consumer Price Index from 6 April 2023 and have been uprated annually since 2014.
Parking your van at home? What do the neighbours think?
They may consider it to be an eyesore or an unwelcome tenant on the street outside their house which blocks their view. There are also some legalities you might need to consider too so you can stay the right side of the law. So, if you are thinking of parking your van at home, here are seven things you need to consider.
Collision Avoidance on Vans – new safety ratings
To reduce the threat that vans pose to other road users, EURO NCAP and Thatcham Research have released updated ratings for 18 best-selling commercial vans giving `a weighted focus on the ‘active’ crash avoidance systems on vans – systems that help to avoid or reduce the severity of crashes. In 2019, just 12.8% of new vans registered had autonomous emergency braking as standard, compared with 62% of new cars.
Mixed reaction to MoT proposals
The Department for Transport (DfT) says it wants to "ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance costs on motorists while ensuring road safety, keeping up with advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions".
Drivers ignore road safety rules and advice, bringing danger in icy conditions
Latest legislation means motorists are now breaking the law if they use a handheld device for any purposes while driving. There is an exemption that allows for contactless payments to be made while the vehicle is stationary, such as at a drive-through, and the use of hands-free devices remains legal while driving, provided that the device is safely secured and positioned.
Speeding accounts for more than four of five fleet driving offences
The top five offences recorded from FleetCheck's LicenceAssured driver licence checking product are speeding (82.0%), phone use (2.7%), no third party insurance (2.6%), failure to give information about the driver of the vehicle (2.5%) and jumping traffic lights (2.0%)
Are you up to date with the Highway Code?
The Highway Code sets out rules to help promote road safety and applies in England, Scotland and Wales. These rules set out wording such as must/must not which could constitute a criminal offence if not obeyed and is in contrast to advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.
Are you up to date with the rules of the road
One of the biggest changes for all road users is the possibility of ‘restricted road’ speed limits being reduced from 30mph to 20mph, following the move in Wales, to reduce road collisions and pollution across the country. This change has been under review for a while now and is likely to become more common across the whole of the UK.
Do you have a risk management blind spot?
Employees exposed to risk in other areas of the workplace, such as warehouses, factory floors, workshops and yards are often monitored with CCTV now, and so the cab of vehicles should be too, dashcam provider Crystal Ball believes.
Are you ready for autonomous tech?
New inquiry will look at the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles, the progress of research and work in the UK and abroad, and what needs to happen to prepare for their arrival. This includes regulation, perceptions of safety, the role of government, implications for infrastructure and for existing car use.
Commercial vehicles could be at risk of CAZ charges
In 2021 Clean Air Zones have launched, or will launch, in Birmingham, Bath, Oxford, Bristol and Portsmouth alongside an expansion of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone in October, while Manchester is slated for 2022. In the case of Birmingham, that means a daily charge of £50 for entry while for Bristol and London the charge rises to £100.
Sat Nav – stay the right side of the law
The law now states it is illegal to touch your device – designed to prevent a loophole that allowed taking photos or scrolling on social media. While it is still legal to use sat nav on your mobile phone, it must be safely secured to the dashboard or windscreen, where it must not block your view.
New compliance rules will place key demands on fleets
FleetCheck reports that, from 21st May, all organisations running LCVs of between 2.5-3.5 tonnes will need to obtain the accreditation as part of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Requirements include appointing a designated transport manager with a valid International Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (TM CPC) qualification as well as a range of commitments to systems monitoring areas such as maintenance and drivers.
New Highway Code hierarchy will spur demand for safety devices
Updates to the Highway Code, set to be introduced in November, will see the introduction of a ‘hierarchy of road users’. This means those who are most likely to be seriously harmed, i.e. pedestrians and cyclists, will have greater priority over other road users.
How long can you drive that van for? The law on van driving hours
HOW many hours do you spend behind the wheel of your van? Are you aware that the amount of driving that you do is governed by law on van driving hours? [...]