Month: April 2023

A strike by traffic wardens in Westminster including on the day of the coronation is to go ahead after a new pay offer was rejected.

Members of the GMB union employed by the council’s contractor NSL will walk out on May 2, 4 and 6 and take other forms of industrial action for a week from May 1.

The union said an improved pay offer was overwhelmingly rejected by its members.

GMB official Alex Etches said: “Our members have once again rejected another below-inflation pay offer from the company.

“There is no reason why our members, who do a difficult and dangerous job, should be poorer this year than the last.

“People in this country are fed up of private companies making millions off the public purse while the people that do the job that generates that money are asked to justify maintaining their standard of living.

“Our members’ strike action will lead to chaos on the roads of Westminster during the coronation.

“NSL must get serious about giving our members an offer that doesn’t leave them worse off this year or they will be to blame for the disruption on the day of the coronation.”

British EV specialist Inverted has unveiled its first model – an electric version of a classic Range Rover.

‘Sensitively restored’, the model is powered by a reconditioned and low-mileage Tesla 80kWh battery and motor. Equipped with a new gearset, oil pump and limited slip differential the iconic two-door has been thoroughly upgraded while 450bhp and 600Nm of torque means it’ll do 0-60mph in around five seconds.

There are three driving modes, too, with Eco, Sport and Off-road each tweaking the powertrain’s settings for the environment. Inverted says that the Range Rover should achieve a range of up to 200 miles, while 100kW charging means that a 20 to 80 per cent charge could be conducted in 34 minutes.

As with the original Range Rover, this electrified model has four-wheel-drive but the brakes have been uprated to new Alcon front versions. Plus, an optional road handling pack brings adjustable shock absorbers and anti-roll bars, as well as 25 per cent stiffer springs to aid cornering.

Inside this #001 model is a sustainable leather from Muirhead, with a contrasting Harris Tweed used throughout. Plus, there are modern functions such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a reversing camera and heated seats.

Plus, thanks to its zero-emissions powertrain, the Inverted Range Rover is exempt from road tax, and congestion charges and it’s ULEZ-exempt, too. Prices start from £225,000 plus VAT, and it’s available in both two-door and four-door specifications.

Drivers are suffering from a surge in pothole-related breakdowns, new figures suggest.

The RAC said it responded to 10,076 call-outs for faults most likely caused by poor road surfaces during the first three months of the year.

That is a 39% increase on the same period in 2022.

Common problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

RAC roads spokesman Simon Williams described the state of roads as “nothing short of scandalous”.

He said: “Drivers are telling us that the UK’s local roads are in a worse state than ever and it’s hard to disagree looking at some of the craters that litter so many of our carriageways.

“It’s not right that drivers who are struggling to make ends meet are having to fork out for new tyres, wheels, suspension springs and shock absorbers simply because our roads have been allowed to fall into such a dire state of repair.

“We implore the Government to think differently to end the pothole plague once and for all.

“One way could be to ringfence a proportion of fuel duty revenue for the maintenance, repair and improvement of our local roads, because as it stands the £28 billion collected from drivers is currently just another form of general taxation.”

The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £12.6 billion.

Recent analysis by the Local Government Association showed Government funding for maintaining England’s motorways and major A roads was 31 times higher per mile than for repairing local roads last year.

Meanwhile, the Government increased its Potholes Fund – which provides money to councils in England to tackle the issue – by £200 million to £700 million for the current financial year.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “We’re investing more than £5 billion from 2020 to 2025 to maintain local roads, with an extra £200 million announced at the Budget, which will help fix millions of potholes a year, making journeys smoother and safer for everyone.”

Biffa has started a new partnership with electric vehicle firm Lunaz to help electrify some of its large bin lorries as the firm looks to lower its emissions.

Both British firms are working together to help ‘upcycle’ some of Biffa’s bin lorries, replacing their diesel engines with electric powertrains.

A signed agreement will see Lunaz commit to ‘supporting the transition of Biffa’s existing diesel refuse trucks over the next decade’ with the ‘multi-year’ programme expected to see ‘growing numbers’ of vehicles converted and delivered.

Maxine Mayhew, COO Collection & Specialist Services, said of the partnership: “I am thrilled to announce Biffa and Lunaz’ fleet electrification and upcycling partnership.

As the UK’s leading sustainable waste management company we are committed to enabling the circular economy while reducing emissions and carbon expenditure in every aspect of our business.”

Things kick off with an initial order of up to ten 26-tonne Upcycled Electric Vehicle (UEV) refuse trucks which, Lunaz says, saves up to 210 tonnes in embedded carbon. Lunaz says that its Silverstone facility has the capacity to up-cycle more than 1,110 industrial vehicles each year. First deliveries of Biffa’s new trucks will take place this year, and they’ll be operating both commercial and municipal waste routes.

David Lorenz, founder & CEO of Lunaz, said: “Biffa has led from the front in pioneering more sustainable waste management practices here in the UK. At Lunaz, we are proud to assist in delivering Biffa’s sustained commitment to leading the waste management industry’s transition to net zero.”

Even David Beckham, who is an investor in Lunaz, commented on the announcement, stating: “This deal is a strong endorsement of Lunaz’ innovative approach to finding sustainable solutions and I’m delighted to be an investor in this fast growing and exciting British company”.

Britain is in the midst of a ‘hidden epidemic of drug-driving’, according to a leading road safety charity.

IAM RoadSmart has found that close to one-in-three motorists are ‘unwittingly’ driving with ‘dangerous’ amounts of drugs in their system, following a survey of 2,000 people. These substances include everyday prescriptions such as painkillers and antidepressants.

The survey found that 30 per cent of drivers do not know what the maximum dose of prescription medication will do to their driving, while 31 per cent did not know how long they should wait before driving after taking their medication.

Over one-in-five drivers either ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ check whether their medication will impact their ability to drive, while over one-in-four are unlikely to avoid driving after taking over-the-counter medication.

Antony Kildare, CEO at IAM RoadSmart, said: “When people think of driving while under the influence of drugs, they will probably, quite understandably, think of those who get behind the wheel after taking illicit and recreational substances such as cocaine, cannabis or ecstasy.

“And yet legal drugs that are used for medicinal purposes can often be just as potent, and could profoundly impact a driver’s judgement while behind the wheel.”

It’s an offence to drive or attempt to drive while ‘unfit because of drug use’ in the UK, while laws do not distinguish between illegal and prescribed drugs. However, IAM RoadSmart states that those who may have driven over the legal limit may have a ‘medical defence’ providing that they have followed the advice of healthcare professionals. The prescribed drugs must also not cause the driver to be unfit behind the wheel.

The average cost of car insurance is now £107 more expensive than it was 12 months ago, according to new data.

Drivers taking out insurance in the first three months of 2023 would find it costing on average £637, some 20 per cent higher than it would have been for the same period last year.

This figure also puts average insurance prices at the highest since they peaked in 2011.

The research carried out by One Poll for insurance aggregate website Confused.com also found that of the 2,000 UK surveyed, more than half (55 per cent) received a higher renewal price than if they shopped around.

On average, those surveyed had a renewal price £53 higher than their existing policy, compared to £28 higher according to the latest index data reports.

Those living in inner London saw prices rise the most, up by £203 (23 per cent) on average in the past 12 months, and those in outer London an average rise of £158 (23 per cent) meaning average premiums now stand at £1,067 and £845 respectively.

Drivers in Northern Ireland saw prices increase an average of £123 or 21 per cent and Central Scotland also saw an increase of £105 (22 per cent).

Drivers aged 21 saw the biggest increase in average insurance price for the last three months, up £271 (23 per cent), meaning their average policy costs £1,471.

However, for increases over the past 12 months, 17 year olds saw the biggest average growth, up £446 or 38 per cent on average.

Louise Thomas, Confused.com car insurance expert comments: “For drivers who’ve bought policies already this year, the spike in costs might have come as quite a shock. But although there are increases for both new and existing drivers, the evidence shows how shopping and switching at renewal can save money.

“With the average cost of car insurance around £657, drivers might be thinking how they can help to keep costs down. As well as using price comparison sites to find the best deals, drivers should also be accurate with information they give to insurers.”

She added: “For example, telling your provider that you drive fewer miles than you actually do doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get a cheaper price. If feasible, paying for your insurance annually and having a multi-car policy can also help with the price you pay.”

Road congestion is expected to be worse during the upcoming early May bank holiday weekend than for the coronation.

The RAC estimated that 17.2 million leisure trips will be made by car in the UK between Friday and Monday, making it the busiest early May bank holiday weekend since 2016.

That is compared with 14.6 million for the coronation weekend.

The reduction in journeys is believed to be due to millions of people staying at home to watch the royal events on television.

Congestion could peak this Friday afternoon when drivers embarking on getaway journeys compete for road space with commuters.

Transport data company Inrix is warning of the potential for long delays on the M5 southbound between Junction 15 (Bristol) and Junction 23 (Taunton), as well as the M6 northbound from Junction 18 (Chester) to Junction 24 (Liverpool).

Drivers embarking on leisure trips on Friday are being advised to set off before 11am if possible – or wait until the evening – to have a better chance of missing the worst of the jams.

Pressure on the roads will be increased due to disruption to train services caused by Network Rail carrying out more than 600 engineering projects.

London Euston will be closed on Sunday, adding several hours to many long-distance journeys.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The weather might still be unseasonably chilly but this won’t stop drivers getting out and about over the double bank holiday weekends to make the most of some extra days off.

“While we’d expect more short breaks and day trips to the coast this coming weekend, when it comes to the coronation it’s likely major routes are less likely to be congested.

“The big variable, as always, is what happens with the Great British weather.

“If temperatures finally increase and the sun makes more of an appearance, we could well see many more people jumping in the car for a quick trip.

“In order to avoid any disappointment caused from cars letting their everyone on board down, we urge drivers to check tyres, oil and coolant levels as matters of priority before they hit the road.”

Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue said: “Travel times will likely peak on Friday afternoon with some areas seeing double the travel times as holiday travellers mix with commuters, but drivers should be prepared for added congestion throughout the holiday weekend.”

The next generation of self-driving cars will have to learn the ‘language of cyclists’ to ensure that the roads are kept safe, a new study suggests.

Human-computer interaction specialists from the University of Glasgow have shown the need for upcoming autonomous vehicles to identify and replicate the ‘social interactions’ between human car drivers and cyclists.

The team – due to include its findings in a paper presented at an upcoming conference on human-computer interactions – looked at how drivers and cyclists directly and indirectly communicate with each other on the public road via a series of tests which saw 12 volunteer cyclists equipped with eye-tracking glasses and head-mounted video cameras.

Their findings captured the direction that cyclists looked during their journeys, showing that those on two-wheels relied more on information from roadsigns while also closely looking at cars to see which way they were planning to drive.

The study has influenced a series of recommendations on how autonomous vehicles should operate around cyclists ‘in the decades to come’ as drivers become less ‘actively engaged’ in their journeys. As such, autonomous vehicles must be able to understand human interactions.

The team suggests that autonomous vehicles could be more thorough about showing their driving intentions through displays mounted to their exterior, with a series of traffic-light-like LEDs there to show whether they are speeding up, slowing down or even giving way to another road user.

The paper, titled ‘Keep it Real: Investigating Driver-Cyclist Interaction in Real-World Traffic’ also suggests that cyclists could wear ‘smart glasses’ which can relay an autonomous vehicle’s intentions by allowing the cars to communicate with the cyclists around them.

Professor Stephen Brewster, of the University of Glasgow’s School of Computing Science, and who led the research, said: “Being able to identify the ways in which that language works will help guide the development of versatile new methods of communication with cyclists that are easily understandable in any traffic situation, reliably informative, and predictable.”

A British firm has created a new ‘rapid intervention vehicle’ that can help emergency teams tackle electric vehicle and car park fires.

York-based Prospeed Motorsport has engineered the new vehicle – which is based on a Toyota Hilux but features an entirely new chassis – to help fire teams to effectively deal with car fires.

Called the Hiload 6×6 Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV), it features a 3,000kg payload – almos triple that of a regular Hilux – which helps it to carry a new Coldcut Cobra system designed specifically for extinguishing EV fires.

It uses a high-pressure lane to fire ‘abrasive’ suspended in water which pierces a hole in the EV’s floor pans and injects water at 300bar – more than 100 times the pressure you’d find in a normal car tyre. By doing so, it’s able to fire water through the car’s battery module casing, allowing it to col the battery down and prevent a fire from spreading.

However, unlike alternatives which require thousands of litres of water to be pumped into a vehicle, this system could prevent fire from spreading using just 240 litres. This also represents just 20 per cent of the vehicle’s water tank capacity.

The six-wheeled setup of the Hiload means that crews can tackle fires in more challenging or off-grid locations, all while carrying more crew, water and equipment than a ‘normal’ response vehicle.

The Hiload is currently being trialled in the Czech Republic, with this model designed specifically to deal with EV fires and help with ‘fast response occupant extraction’.

The vehicle, which is assembled in York, can also be acquired as a 6×6 conversion module so that buyers can complete final assembly in their own country or location.

Four out of five young people expect to be driving regularly by 2035, a new survey suggests.

Some 85% of respondents to a survey of 1,000 Britons aged 17–24 commissioned by the RAC Foundation said it is certain or likely they will be driving a car or van at least once a week then.

That is despite only 55% of this group currently doing so.

The most common reasons given for respondents believing they will start driving include an expectation their lifestyles will require it and a belief that driving will be more convenient than public transport, walking or cycling.

Among those questioned who have not taken a driving test, the cost of lessons was the most frequent reason given (33%), followed by the cost of buying, leasing or hiring a car (26%), lack of time (26%) and driving not being a priority (23%).

The survey indicated that 70% of young people feel positive about electric cars, but just 37% support the roll-out of fully autonomous vehicles.

Two out of five (40%) respondents who drive regularly said they have reduced the number of car journeys they make due to the environmental impact of driving.

The same proportion of those who have not already taken that step said they would be willing to do so over the next five years.

RAC Foundation director Steve Gooding said: “There is much speculation on whether the young people of today will turn out to be the drivers of tomorrow or whether they will learn to live without getting behind the wheel.

“The evidence here is that the vast majority see themselves as motorists within the next decade or so.

“Previous research we have done has shown the importance knowing how to drive can be to securing a job.

“Encouragingly, young people are well aware of the need to reduce or mitigate the negative impacts of driving and there is majority support for low-traffic neighbourhoods, investment in cycling infrastructure and the introduction of clean air zones.”

– The survey was conducted by Ipsos in November 2022.