Most logistics companies cannot consider decarbonising their lorries because of a lack of infrastructure, a body representing manufacturers claimed.

New analysis by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) shows there is not a single dedicated electric charging or hydrogen refuelling site for HGVs on Britain’s major roads.

It stated: “This lack of infrastructure makes it impossible for the vast majority of operators to contemplate investments to decarbonise their fleets, putting critical CO2 emission savings of up to 21.1 million tonnes a year at risk.”

The potential for vehicles to run out of electricity or hydrogen before completing a journey is a “key concern” for the logistics sector, the SMMT said.

From 2035, all new lorries weighing under 26 tonnes sold in the UK must be zero emission.

The SMMT warned this is the same timescale for cars and vans despite the electric lorry market being “two decades behind that of passenger cars”.

It is calling on the Government to devise a strategy within the next 12 months that “focuses on the specific requirements of HGVs to enable operators to plan and invest” in switching from diesel.

This should include better purchase incentives for switching to greener vehicles, and a plan to support and co-ordinate the installation of public and depot-based charging and refuelling “in the right locations across all regions”, according to the body.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With just over a decade until the UK begins to phase out new diesel trucks, we cannot afford to delay a strategy that will deliver the world’s first decarbonised HGV sector.

“Manufacturers are investing billions in electric and hydrogen vehicles that will deliver massive CO2 savings, and it is vital that operators making long-term decisions today have full confidence in these technologies, that they will be commercially viable and allow them to keep costs down for consumers.

“A successful transition requires a long-term plan to drive the rollout of a dedicated UK-wide HGV charging and fuelling network, combined with world-leading incentives to encourage uptake and attract model allocation – a plan that will keep a greener Britain on the move and globally competitive.”

A DfT spokesperson said: “We are committed to decarbonising our freight sector while supporting jobs and economic growth.

“We are working closely with industry to support the rollout of zero emission HGVs on our roads, and we will be investing in projects to support that following our successful £20 million pilot.”

Wales’s capital is considering becoming the latest place to charge motorists to drive into the city centre.

Cardiff City Council said the introduction of charges would be used to fund improvements to bus services with £1 fares, a new tram network and enhanced regional links.

Council leaders will consider a report on April 27 which aims to tackle air pollution, battle climate change and combat congestion.

They said road transport was responsible for 40% of carbon emissions in Cardiff, which was the joint highest measured among the UK’s 11 core cities.

More than 9,000 Cardiff residents are registered with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease while 7% of adults and 6% of children aged 10 to 14 have been diagnosed with asthma.

Council leader Huw Thomas said: “We know our residents want action on climate change and they want the air their children and their loved ones breathe to be cleaner.

“We know residents want to see electric buses and taxis serve the city, to have new train/tram links and stations, to drive on better maintained roads, with safe cycling and walking routes.

“We know they see the queues of traffic and know the damage this is causing to their health and the environment, whilst also strangling the city’s economy.

“It’s clear that action is needed if we are going to change the dial on this.”

Councillor Thomas said improvements to public transport would benefit everyone in the city.

“The people and communities who rely on public transport are often the worst served by our bus and train services,” he said.

“They are also breathing the dirtiest air and suffering the worst rates of childhood asthma and other illnesses. Improving our transport system is essential if we are to connect some of our most disadvantaged communities with the opportunities that are available in the city.

“I understand that there will be those who say that, ‘This is just another tax when the country is facing a cost-of-living crisis’.

“So let me address that head on. The current levels of traffic in Cardiff are costing the average resident hundreds upon hundreds of pounds each year and holding our economy back.

“That’s on top of the environmental and health damage caused by congestion.

“So, it’s imperative that we create a transport system where everyone – in particular our poorest and most disadvantaged communities – can be better connected with the jobs and opportunities we know are available in the city.

“We also know that, in Cardiff, the lowest levels of car ownership are amongst young people, those who are disabled, those living in the southern arc and those from a minority ethnic background.

“As a result, they are entirely reliant on public transport.

“So, the people that are being hit the hardest by the cost-of-living crisis now will be the ones that benefit the most if a scheme is introduced in four of five years’ time, when hopefully we will all face a better economic climate.”

The council said if the report was accepted a range of road payment schemes would be considered including, road user payments, congestion zones, clean air zones and workplace parking charges.

They would also consult the public on what the levy would be, who would be exempt and who would qualify for discounts.

Councillor Thomas added: “There are so many potential benefits at play here. Reducing carbon emissions will naturally help us tackle air pollution and climate change, but that’s not all.

“We also believe that a payment could help reduce congestion.

“The cost of congestion to the economy in Cardiff was estimated by Inrix to be £109 million in 2019.

“If we can reduce congestion, we can improve everyone’s ability to get where they need to be in the city more quickly.

“This can open up job opportunities for people and labour markets for employers, delivering a positive economic impact across the city.”

The building of new smart motorways is being cancelled as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged concerns about safety and cost.

Fourteen planned smart motorways – including 11 that are already paused and three earmarked for construction – will be removed from Government road building plans, given financial pressures and in recognition of the lack of public trust.

Campaigners welcomed the move, but demanded the Government now return the hard shoulder on existing conversions.

The Department for Transport said the construction of these schemes would have cost more than £1 billion.

But the department added that the construction of two stretches of smart motorway at junctions six to eight of the M56 and 21a to 26 of the M6 will continue as they are already more than three quarters complete.

Existing stretches will remain but be subjected to a safety refit so there are 150 more emergency stopping places across the network.

Around 10% of England’s motorway network is made up of smart motorways.

They involve various methods to manage the flow of traffic, such as converting the hard shoulder into a live running lane and variable speed limits.

But there have been long-standing safety fears following fatal incidents in which vehicles stopped in live lanes without a hard shoulder were hit from behind.

In January 2022, the Government paused the expansion of motorways where the hard shoulder is used as a permanent live traffic lane.

This was to enable five years of data to be collected to assess whether they are safe for drivers.

In his Tory leadership campaign last summer, Mr Sunak vowed to ban them.

“All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country,” the Prime Minister said.

“That’s why last year I pledged to stop the building of all new smart motorways, and today I’m making good on that promise.

“Many people across the country rely on driving to get to work, to take their children to school and go about their daily lives, and I want them to be able to do so with full confidence that the roads they drive on are safe.”

Pressure had been mounting on the Government to scrap the routes, which have been criticised by MPs and road safety campaigners, including the RAC and AA.

Campaigner Claire Mercer, whose husband was killed on a smart motorway in South Yorkshire, welcomed the Government’s move but pledged to continue pushing for the hard shoulder to return on every road.

She told the PA news agency: “It’s great, it’s very good news.

“I’m particularly happy that it’s been confirmed that the routes that are in planning, in progress, have also been cancelled. I didn’t think they’d do that.

“So it’s good news, but obviously it’s the existing ones that are killing us. And I’m not settling for more emergency refuge areas.

“So it’s half the battle, but we’ve still got half the battle to go.”

Jason Mercer and another man, Alexandru Murgeanu, died in 2019 when they were hit by a lorry on the M1 near Sheffield after they stopped on the inside lane of the smart motorway section following a minor collision.

Sarah Champion, the Labour MP for Mr Mercer’s Rotherham constituency, said: “I’m relieved the Government has finally listened to motorists and common sense, but this announcement is long overdue and I need to see the detail before celebrating.

“Will the Government be returning the hard shoulder on existing conversions? Will the schemes currently in construction be restored? Why now when two parliamentary select committee inquiries, their own review and countless campaigns by family members of those who died on these death traps wasn’t enough to persuade them.”

AA president Edmund King said: “We have had enough coroners passing down their deadly and heart-breaking judgments where the lack of a hard shoulder has contributed to deaths.

“At last the Government has listened and we are delighted to see the rollout of ‘smart’ motorways scrapped…

“We would also like to see the hard shoulder reinstated on existing stretches in due course.”

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “Our research shows all lane running smart motorways are deeply unpopular with drivers so we’re pleased the Government has finally arrived at the same conclusion.

“It’s now vitally important that plans are made for making the hundreds of existing miles of these types of motorway as safe as possible.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “We want the public to know that this Government is listening to their concerns.

“Today’s announcement means no new smart motorways will be built, recognising the lack of public confidence felt by drivers and the cost pressures due to inflation.”

Ford’s new Level 2 advanced driver assistance system has gained approval for use on the UK’s motorways, meaning motorists are legally able to drive with their hands off the wheel..

In a first of its kind for a system of this type in Europe, the BlueCruise system allows for ‘hands-off, eyes-on’ driving technology on 2,300 miles of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.

These pre-designated ‘Blue Zones’ will allow the driver to travel in hands-free mode, providing that they pay attention to the road ahead. It can be operated at speeds of up to 80mph, too.

The system monitors road markings, speed signs and traffic conditions and then uses this to control the vehicle’s steering, acceleration and lane positioning. It also allows the car to maintain a safe distance to the vehicles ahead, but it can also automatically slow the vehicle down should traffic build up ahead.

In-car cameras also monitor the driver’s attentiveness to ensure that they’re maintaining concentration on the road ahead. These infra-red driver-facing cameras check the driver’s eye gaze and head pose, even if they’re wearing sunglasses.

If it detects that the driver isn’t being attentive to the road ahead, it will display a warning message in the instrument cluster. This will be followed by audible alerts and will finally apply the brake and slow the vehicle if the driver fails to look at the road. This will also occur if the driver fails to place their hands back on the wheel when they return to an area outside of a Blue Zone.

Martin Sander, general manager of Ford’s electric division in Europe, said: “It’s not every day that you can say you’ve placed one foot in the future, but Ford BlueCruise becoming the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry.”

Those with a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-e will be the first that can access BlueCruise via a subscription. The first 90 days are included with the car’s price, but after that it’ll require a £17.99 monthly subscription.

Five Conservative-led councils have been granted permission to challenge Sadiq Khan’s intention to expand London’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez).

The outer-London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon along with Surrey County Council launched legal action in February over the proposed extension of Ulez beyond the North and South Circular roads.

A judge at the High Court has now decided their bid for a judicial review can go ahead, saying parts of the local authorities’ challenge were “arguable”.

Sir Ross Cranston, in a written decision issued on Wednesday, said a one day hearing should be held in early July.

If it goes ahead, Ulez will see drivers in outer London pay a £12.50 daily fee from August 29 if their vehicles do not meet the required emissions standards.

The new borders will reach Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Councils involved in the legal challenge believe “relevant statutory requirements” were not complied with, expected compliance rates in outer London were not considered and the proposed scrappage scheme was not consulted on.

They also claimed the overall consultation process was not properly conducted and there was a failure to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the plan.

The High Court has allowed the case to proceed on two grounds – the legal basis for the scheme and scrappage.

A spokesperson for the mayor said: “The mayor is pleased to see the court has refused permission for the majority of the grounds.

“We will continue to robustly defend his life-saving decision to expand the Ulez and continue with preparations without delay.

“It is a shame that some local authorities have chosen to attempt this costly and misguided legal challenge instead of focusing on the health of those they represent.

“Around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely every year due to air pollution.

“This is a health emergency and the mayor is not prepared to stand by and do nothing while Londoners are growing up with stunted lungs and are more at risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia due to our toxic air.”

Baroness O’Neill of Bexley, leader of Bexley Council, said on Wednesday that the Ulez expansion proposal was “never about air quality and we believe it would have disastrous consequences for many of our residents and businesses, as well as others who regularly travel into the borough”.

“We hope that today’s decision moves us a step closer to stopping the Mayor’s money-making scheme,” she added.

Bromley Council’s leader, Colin Smith, said there was “still time for the Mayor to pull back and take a more considered approach” to benefit those “threatened by the horrendous daily cost of his proposed tax”.

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey County Council, welcomed the news of the legal challenge proceeding, while Ian Edwards, leader of Hillingdon Council, said he was confident that the court would “rightfully quash these disastrous plans”.

Paul Osborn, leader of Harrow Council, said: “We have always had concerns about the impact Ulez will have on our residents and businesses who are already struggling with the rising costs of living – it’s simply unfair.”

Nick Rogers AM, City Hall Conservatives transport spokesperson, said: “The High Court has now ruled there is sufficient evidence that Sadiq Khan’s Ulez decision may have been unlawful.

“The mayor clearly does not have the legal grounds to proceed with his Ulez tax plans, which take money from charities, small businesses and low-income Londoners who cannot afford a new car.

“Sadiq Khan should do the right thing, immediately stop work on his Ulez expansion and explain his actions to the court.”

One in 10 drivers has admitted to getting behind the wheel within 24 hours of taking illegal drugs, according to a new survey.

Road safety charity’s IAM RoadSmart’s study of 2,028 motorists showed that 10 per cent had driven while still under the influence of illegal drugs, which suggests that up to 3.5 million (of the 35 million with a full driving licence in the UK) have been behind the wheel after consuming drugs.

The survey found cannabis to be the most widely used substance of those admitting to driving after taking drugs, followed by those using cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA) and speed (amphetamine).

The charity’s study also showed that 14 per cent wouldn’t stop a friend or family member who planned on driving after taking drugs.

Drug driving is an increasing concern on UK roads, with IAM RoadSmart’s Safety Culture report finding that 58 per cent of motorists believe drug driving is a bigger problem now than three years ago.

Data from the Department for Transport (DfT) also shows that drug-related collisions and casualties have increased by more than 260 per cent in the past decade.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Our research offers a sobering insight into how Britain’s drug epidemic is rearing its ugly head on our roads. Illicit drugs can profoundly impair a motorist’s judgement, reaction times and alertness while driving, and some of the effects can last for days after a drug has been taken.

“But with nearly half of the offences being committed by previous offenders, and casualties increasing year-on-year, it is about time that the government took urgent action to address this issue before more lives are tragically lost.”

A collection of 12 Ferraris all offered by the same owner is heading to auction with no reserve.

Called the ‘Aurora Collection’, it is made up of some particularly significant Ferraris, ranging in years from 1956 to 2019. Belonging to an owner in Sweden, the cars are said to have been ‘largely hidden from the public eye’, and have never been displayed at any concours events.

One highlight is a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta by Scaglietti – one of the most coveted classic models from the Italian firm, with this matching-numbers example retaining its original engine and chassis. RM Sotheby’s, who is selling the car, gives an estimate of €7.5m-€8.5 (£6.6m-£7.5m).

Another key model is the 1956 Ferrari 500 TR Spider by Scaglietti, it’s just one of 17 ever made, and even raced in period at Grand Prix events, and historic racing since, though it hasn’t been seen for more than a decade. This example has an estimate of €4m-€4.5m (£3.5m-£4m).

Moving to more modern Ferraris, the centrepiece is a 2019 Monza SP1. Produced in very limited numbers and inspired by past Ferrari racing cars, this example has covered just 15 miles and is the first to be offered at auction. It is guided at €2.5m-€3m (£2.2m-£2.6m).

A 2011 Ferrari SA Aperta is also going under the hammer, with this being one of just 80 examples produced, and using the same engine as the 599 GTO. It has covered just 130 miles and is estimated to sell for €1m-€1.4m (£900,000-£1.2m).

Two classic Mercedes models also make up the Aurora Collection, including an ever-desirable 1955 300 SL Gullwing, which has an estimate of €1.2m-€1.5m (£1m-£1.3m).

Anders Bildt, car specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “This is arguably one of the finest single-owner collections in Europe to come to the public market. Boasting a selection of Ferraris and two Mercedes’, the pure quality of the individual cars is what makes The Aurora Collection so special.”

All cars are being sold with no reserve at RM Sotheby’s sale at Villa Erba, held near Lake Como in Italy, on May 20.

Car grilles have been getting increasingly bolder in recent years – from BMW’s highly-controversial ‘nostrils’ to various grilles that are able to illuminate.

What a grille has never done before is display warning messages to pedestrians. Until now, as Skoda has devised a way for animations to be displayed at the front to show various warning information.

While Skoda’s electric Enyaq iV is usually equipped with a light-up ‘Crystal Face’, as part of a trial the firm has swapped this out with a new body featuring an LED strip that can be configured to display various messages.

When the car approaches a pedestrian crossing, it can warn those waiting to cross that it has ‘spotted’ them. The grille is then able to display green arrows that show it’s safe for them to cross. Once the car is ready to set off, it’s able to display a different red signal to show that the car is moving.

If the vehicle is unable to stop, it’s able to display a warning message such as ‘do not step out onto the crossing’.

Skoda has also been working on a robot called IPA2X that serves to help children, the elderly and those with disabilities to cross the road safely.

Supported by the Urban Mobility Initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, various companies have helped to come up with a two-metre-tall robot that looks like a mobile traffic light.

The robot constantly monitors the surroundings and is able to display green lights when it’s safe for pedestrians to cross. Its height means it’s able to see over parked cars too.

Skoda is continuing to test the two technologies in Italy and the Czech Republic, and will do so into 2024, with the hopes they might be rolled out ‘as early as 2025’.

US President Joe Biden is set to kick-start his Ireland visit today, commencing a four-day visit.

The President’s itinerary has already been outlined, with Biden touring a number of locations including a visit to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born. And, though it has yet to be seen, ‘The Beast’ presidential car could be used to shuttle Biden around. Here, we’re taking a look at what this incredible car has to offer.

When was ‘The Beast’ name introduced?

‘The Beast’ name first appeared back in 2001 with the arrival of President George W. Bush. That car was an entirely ground-up built model, incorporating many of the functions that are fitted to the modern version.

It’s a name that would stick, too, and has continued through to the present-day vehicle.

What is the current model based on?

The current model is made by General Motors (GM) in the United States and debuted in 2018. Though many of the details about The Beast’s underpinnings are scarce, it’s believed to be based on one of GM’s larger trucks, albeit equipped with more car-like features similar to those found on the Cadillac Escalade.

It’s thought that The Beast could weigh up to nine tonnes and can seat up to seven people.

Does it have any cool features?

The Beast is jam-packed with features. It has been designed to deliver the best possible protection for the President. As a result, it has 13cm-thick laminated glass for the windows, run-flat tyres with a solid core to ensure that they can still roll when punctured and 20cm thick military-grade armour for the panels.

Plus, the fuel tank is bullet and blastproof, while emergency equipment includes firefighting gear, oxygen tanks and containers of the President’s blood type.

Where has it appeared recently?

The Beast is often used for some of the President’s key visits and was used back in September 2022, by Biden for the state funeral of the Queen.

The Beast was also used during Biden’s first visit to the UK in June 2022 after being named as president.

Have previous presidents been driven in ‘The Beast’?

Yes. Over time, The Beast has evolved and changed to include more high-tech features, but all presidents since George W. Bush have used a version of it. President Obama was driven in The Beast on numerous occasions, while President Trump was also a frequent passenger in it.

In fact, Trump made a notable appearance in ‘The Beast’ when it was used for a spin around the famous Daytona 500 racing circuit.