Category: News

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.

A Bentley Continental GT owned by Lord Sugar’s wife is being auctioned online.

The 18-year-old Bentley, which has just 18,230 miles on the clock, has been owned by Lady Ann Sugar since new and is now being offered directly by the family.

Auction platform Collecting Cars, which is selling the Bentley, says the car is ‘handsomely specified’ and has been ‘well-maintained throughout its life’. Its most recent service was carried out by Rolls-Royce and Bentley dealer P & A Wood in March 2020 at 17,686 miles, while before this it had been extensively serviced by Bentley Hadley Green.

Its most recent MOT test was on March 29, 2023, where it passed without any faults.

Finished in a dark-blue metallic shade, the Continental GT rides on original 19-inch alloy wheels, while inside there’s ‘Porpoise’ leather upholstery and a ‘Nautic’ secondary leather, which is applied to areas such as the dashboard, door tops and transmission tunnel.

Standard equipment includes front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and dual-zone climate control as well as a Breitling clock in the middle of the dashboard. Although the number plate ‘1 AS’ is shown in the images, the car will revert to its original number plate of ‘EY05 OCV’ when sold.

Powered by a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine with 552bhp and all-wheel drive, the Continental GT can go from 0-60mph in just 4.6 seconds and will top out at 198mph. It’s got a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, too.

The auction is currently ongoing and is due to come to a close on April 28.

Drivers are being warned it will be illegal to pick up their mobiles during the first test of the Government’s new emergency alert service.

The AA said motorists may prefer to switch off their electronic devices before Sunday’s test as laws banning the use of handheld phones will still apply.

For around 10 seconds from 3pm, millions of smartphones and tablets across the UK will emit a loud alarm and vibrate in a trial of a system that aims to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby.

They will also display a message about what is happening.

Drivers caught holding a phone behind the wheel face six penalty points and a £200 fine.

AA campaigns manager Lorna Lee said the test is “very welcome” as the system “could be very useful in certain situations”.

She continued: “The test does bring certain risks though, which need to be managed.

“For drivers in particular, awareness of the test is vital to avoid any panic when it sounds.

“If you are driving when the alert sounds, you must not touch your phone to stop the alert as the normal driving laws still apply.

“Instead, wait for a safe place to pull over – not the hard shoulder nor emergency area – acknowledge the alert and continue your journey.

“Some drivers may prefer to switch their phone off in advance if they know they will be driving during the alert test.”

The system is modelled on similar schemes in the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Japan.

The UK’s alerts will initially be used to warn people about severe weather situations including floods and wildfires in their local area.

The Government said on Monday the system could later be used for other forms of emergencies such as terror attacks, nuclear threats and dangerous criminals on the loose.

The Government should aim to cut driving by 20% in the next seven years in order to curb emissions, a think tank has said.

In a report released on Thursday, the Green Alliance think tank said the Government should make driving more expensive and public transport cheaper, or risk seeing 300 billion more miles driven annually by 2050.

Changes would include introducing road pricing, extending a daily £1.50 congestion charge to more cities and increasing parking fees to make driving 5% more expensive.

At the same time, Green Alliance said revenues from higher driving charges should be invested in public transport and infrastructure for walking and cycling, including cutting rail fares by 5%, bus fares by 15% and making both buses and trains more frequent.

Green Alliance’s recommendations are intended to provide a “balanced” set of policies that discourage driving, particularly in urban areas, while making it easier to use alternative modes of transport.

Rosie Allen, a policy adviser at Green Alliance, said: “People would travel less by car if suitable alternatives were available. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the range of measures required to encourage and enable more people to get out of their cars and onto a bike, bus or train.

“The Government is emphasising that climate change will be beaten through ‘tangible’ measures, but there is currently a gap in ambition to reduce transport emissions. We’re showing here that a shift to greener travel is completely attainable. Ministers just need to choose a sensible route.”

The report added that although the Government has pledged to make public transport and active travel “the natural first choice for journeys”, there has been “little in the way of policy or a strategy to achieve this” and the Government has cut back planned spending on active travel.

Research by the think tank found that the UK needed to reduce driving by 20-27% by 2030 to remain on course to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century.

The Green Alliance added that reducing car use would also save the NHS £2.5 billion per year, give better travel access to the 46% of low income households who are carless, and reduce air pollution.

Projections by the Department for Transport suggest 18.5% more miles being driven by 2050, although wider use of electric vehicles is still expected to see emissions fall.

Urgent action is needed to improve the behaviour of drivers who believe it’s acceptable to be behind the wheel while under the influence of drink and drugs, a road safety charity has stated.

Research conducted by IAM RoadSmart has found that 31 per cent of 2,010 UK motorists driving for work believe that driving after using Class A drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy is acceptable, compared with five per cent of non-company car drivers.

The survey also highlighted that over a quarter though it was fine to drive when they may have drunk too much alcohol, while 24 per cent would drive after using cannabis. With both, just five per cent of non-company car drivers thought it was acceptable.

Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM RoadSmart, said: “It is incredibly concerning that this latest research shows we still have far too many drivers who don’t understand the dangers of driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol, and not acknowledging the danger they pose to themselves.”

IAM RoadSmart’s recent Driving Safety Culture Report also found that 21 per cent of company car drivers had ‘regularly or often’ ignored a red light within a 30-day window compared with three per cent of other drivers. The research also found that 21 per cent of these drivers also read a text or email when behind the wheel, compared with three per cent of other drivers.

“IAM RoadSmart is calling on all fleet managers to adopt best practices such as checking licences, monitoring driver performance, and offering coaching to their most high-risk drivers. Not only will this save lives but also bring a direct benefit to the profitability and competitiveness of hard-pressed UK plc.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has insisted the “actual safety performance” of smart motorways is “very good” despite the Government’s decision not to build any more.

The Cabinet minister told MPs that the safety of the roads is “not reflected in public confidence” and stressed the importance of “recognising where the public is”.

On Sunday, the Government announced the cancellation of planned projects to build all-lane running (ALR) smart motorways, which use the hard shoulder as a live traffic lane.

But it also refused to reinstate the hard shoulder on existing smart motorways, citing the resulting disruption and cost.

A £900 million programme of measures to improve safety on these roads will continue.

Giving evidence to the Transport Select Committee on Wednesday, Mr Harper said: “All of the types of smart motorways remain the safest roads on the strategic road network.

“They are safer than conventional motorways and they are safer, by some margin, than A roads.

“But it is also the case that that is not reflected in public confidence.

“There is a significant number of members of the public who are not confident about using smart motorways, we’ve seen that from a consistent level of polling.”

He added: “The conclusion we’ve reached is a balanced one which reflects the actual safety performance of smart motorways, which is very good, but does reflect the fact that the public don’t have the confidence in them that that data suggests they should have.

“I think in a democratic country where you have to take people with you, I think recognising where the public is, is important.”

Some 69% of respondents to a poll commissioned by the RAC on Monday said they believe the emergency lane should be restored on ALR smart motorways.

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

ALR smart motorways boost capacity at a lower cost than widening roads.

There have been long-standing safety fears following fatal incidents in which vehicles stopped in live lanes were hit from behind.

Nearly seven in 10 drivers want the hard shoulder reinstated on smart motorways despite Government objections over disruption and costs, new research suggests.

Some 69% of respondents to a poll commissioned by the RAC said they believe the emergency lane should be restored on all-lane running (ALR) versions of smart motorways.

The survey was carried out hours after Downing Street insisted on Monday that such a move would be “too disruptive” and cost a “significant” amount of money.

It was announced on Sunday that the building of new smart motorways has been cancelled amid safety fears.

RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: “We’re pleased the Government reached the same conclusion that many drivers already have by cancelling future smart motorway schemes which would have seen dozens more miles of hard shoulder disappearing forever.

“But, as things stand, by the end of this year there will still be 250 miles of motorway in England without hard shoulders.

“Installing additional refuge areas and radar technology to help spot stricken vehicles is welcome and necessary, but for most drivers this doesn’t go far enough.

“Many felt they were dangerous from the outset and now it’s clear the Government has totally lost faith in these types of road as well.

“Today, it remains the case that anyone unlucky enough to break down who can’t get to an emergency refuge area remains incredibly vulnerable where the hard shoulder has been taken out.

“We continue to believe that reinstating the hard shoulder on all stretches of road where they’ve been converted into a permanent fourth lane is the right thing to do.”

Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, said: “Labour have long demanded action on smart motorways and it’s a tragedy that so many lives have been lost waiting for ministers to act.

“We know smart motorways, coupled with inadequate safety systems, are not fit for purpose and are putting lives at risk.

“That’s why Conservative ministers should reinstate the hard shoulder on existing smart motorways and carry out remedial and safety work while a comprehensive review of the inadequate safety systems and evidence takes place.”

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

ALR smart motorways boost capacity at a lower cost than widening roads.

There have been long-standing safety fears following fatal incidents in which vehicles stopped in live lanes were hit from behind, but National Highways insists the roads are safer than conventional motorways.

– The RAC commissioned research company Find Out Now to carry out the survey of 1,843 UK drivers on Monday.

A Land Rover Defender SVX used as a stunt car in the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is being auctioned.

The 2014 example was heavily modified for use in the 007 film, and though 10 were manufactured, it is one of just seven that survived the gruelling filming. While some of the remaining SVXs, nicknamed Bigfoot, were only used for very basic and easy filming, this example is said to be a ‘true stunt-filming car’.

When new, it was fitted with hydraulics which meant it could flip at the press of a button – in the case of Spectre filming, for when the Defender collided with an aircraft piloted by James Bond.

It was used in the famous snow chase scene set in Austria, although its crash left the chassis of this SVX bent and with just 16 miles on the clock.

Since then, it has been repaired by both Land Rover and specialists Bowler at a cost of £45,000 and is now presented as it was seen in the film, pre-collision.

This includes an external roll cage, Bilstein rally dampers, a roof-mounted luggage rack and a gloss-black front grille. Huge 37-inch Maxxis off-road tyres are also fitted.

Previously used overseas, it was UK-registered in April 2021 and has since overed just 177km (110 miles).

Gordon Ramsay also owns one of the other examples, with the chef paying £365,000, including premium, for an example at auction back in August 2018.

This SVX is currently being sold by online auction platform Collecting Cars, and is anticipated to sell for ‘more than £150,000’, with values for these Defenders softening in recent years. The auction ends on Thursday April 20.

Reinstating hard shoulders on existing smart motorways would be “too disruptive” and cost a “significant” amount, Downing Street has said.

The Government is under pressure to bring back emergency lanes on the controversial roads.

It follows an announcement on Sunday that the building of new smart motorways has been cancelled amid safety fears.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman insisted the existing road network is safe but acknowledged: “People do have concerns about how smart motorways have operated and a significant proportion have said they don’t feel confident on these roads.”

He said £900 million will be spent adding further safety features to smart motorways already in use.

“We think that’s the right approach rather than adding in hard shoulders, which would be extremely disruptive to the public trying to go about their day, both for road users for local communities, and that obviously would come at a significant cost to the taxpayer,” he said.

Campaigner Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason was killed on a smart motorway in South Yorkshire, is among those pushing for a return of the hard shoulder.

After Sunday’s announcement, she said: “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.”

All-lane running smart motorways permanently use the hard shoulder for live traffic, while dynamic schemes only open the lane to traffic during busy periods.

The Department for Transport (DfT) announced on Monday that seven of the 14 smart motorway projects axed involve dynamic schemes due to be converted to all-lane running.

It means the roads will continue to operate without a hard shoulder at certain times.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The focus will now shift to those motorways that continue to use the hard shoulder as an occasional live lane.

“Drivers will understandably ask if the plan now is to permanently restore the hard shoulder on these stretches of road.

“Ultimately, the rules, regulations and layouts of roads should be easy to understand whether people are driving along them at 70mph or 7mph.”

Jim O’Sullivan, then-chief executive of Highways England – now known as National Highways – told the Commons’ Transport Select Committee in October 2019 that dynamic smart motorways are “too complicated for people to use”.

In evidence to the same committee, transport minister Baroness Vere said the DfT believes it is “counter-intuitive for drivers to drive over a solid white line”, so dynamic smart motorways are “a less viable route to take forward because it causes confusion”.

Norman Baker, director of external affairs at lobby group Campaign for Better Transport and former Lib Dem transport minister, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to cancel all new smart motorways but think Rishi Sunak must now go further and scrap all existing smart motorways as well.

“Sacrificing the hard shoulder for all-lane running has been shown to be simply dangerous.”