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Archive for March, 2011

Speed traps catch out motorists in UK’s second city

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Midlands Police have revealed they have been issuing at least sixty speeding fines every single day during the last 12 months as motorist’s race through the streets of Birmingham.

A huge number of 21,857 fines were handed out to motorists by the 80 fixed cameras and 31 mobile cameras throughout the city. Most were caught by the fixed cameras while the rest were snapped speeding by the mobile devices which change locations during the year. Vehicles caught speeding included a large number of vans covered by commercial vehicle insurance which has prompted firms to install speed limiters to the vans. Just one camera was responsible for catching 14% of the speeding motorists but West Midlands Police refused to reveal its location.

The Treasury pulled in £600,000 from speeding fines in Birmingham alone in 2010. However, the figure does not tell the full story because it does not include any fines settled early in 2011 and any paid through the courts.

Inspector Mick Hartill, from the Camera Enforcement Unit, said “We see road safety as a key priority. The force will continue to run robust road policing operations and enforcement targeting speeding and dangerous drivers to educate people about the dangers of speeding in order to reassure the community and protect them from harm. The success of the West Midlands approach can be seen in the significant reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads since 2001.”

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has also backed the use of speed cameras since they were introduced in the United Kingdom. They feel the use of the cameras is justified because the research suggests that the number of people killed and seriously injured were cut in half at the fixed camera sites and by 35% at the mobile sites. The society feels that the faster a driver goes, the more likely they are to crash and be involved in a severe accident.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Speed traps, van drivers, van insurance
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Police starting to put the squeeze on bogus workmen

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Police in Perthshire have just finished a week long clampdown on the increasing number of bogus workmen. Traditionally, spring sees an increase in the number of scams as the weather improves. Officers have been deliberately stopping vans which fit the type of vehicle used in bogus workmen incidents.

The Police have teamed up with Perth Trading Standards officers and staff from the Department of Work and Pensions to root out benefits cheats. The Police community safety unit stopped upwards of 20 vans each day last week. They stopped vans in both towns and villages, recognising that bogus callers will often try to target more rural areas as well. By working with trading standards the Police have been better equipped to identify the types of vans used in bogus workmen incidents. Most of the vans stopped were legitimate workers driving a company van which was covered by commercial vehicle insurance. In general the Police safety unit were delighted with the response from most legitimate drivers who were stopped, they appeared to welcome the rooting out of vans used for scams and cooperated fully.

PC Steven Bryce, from the community impact team, says “These types of incidents, although rare, can be very distressing for victims. It’s at this time of year people think about getting their gardens done or work done on their houses, but also when you might get a knock at your door from someone offering to do that for you. In those types of cases it is important people know their rights.”

Police and trading standards also passed on vital information to householders, such as their doorstep rights. This included their right to cancel or to back out, particularly if they feel they were pressurized into to agree to have the work done. There has also been positive feedback about the “Better Business Partnership” a scheme where traders pay £10 to register. It gives residents seeking tradesman an added reassurance if the tradesman in question is part of the local scheme.

Tags: bogus workmen, commercial vehicle insurance
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Campervan with a personality goes missing

Friday, March 25th, 2011

A woman in London has been forced to open her own crime investigation unit to recover a recently lost friend who travelled with her all over the World.

It may never be the kind of van that earns a tradesman a living and elicits a commercial vehicle insurance quote but “Audrey” a 1984 Sherpa Campervan has been stolen from outside 33 year old Jo Clarke’s house and she wants her back!

Much to the disgust of Jo, the Metropolitan Police closed the case on the stolen van just 24 hours after it went missing. Despite the fact that 6 Campervans have been stolen from the streets around Clapton in London in the last year, the Police informed Jo by letter that they had closed the investigation.

Not to be put off lightly, Jo has decided to run her own crime investigation to try and locate Audrey she said “I’m totally devastated. A campervan is more than just a vehicle – she definitely isn’t fast or particularly fuel efficient but she had bags of style and personality.”

So far, Jo has plastered the area with posters and started a search campaign on her Facebook page; she has also managed to do better than the Police. After hearing about the theft a local postman said he had seen two large men of Eastern European appearance tow Audrey away behind a big white van. Unfortunately although Jo informed the Police of the new evidence it did not help. Audrey has not been picked up by CCTV or Vehicle Recognition Technology in the area.

Mike Edon, a Detective Constable from the Hackney motor vehicle unit, could only say “We have unfortunately exhausted all lines of enquiry with this case. Anyone who thinks they may have seen this vehicle or has any information concerning it should contact 0300 123 1212.”

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Stolen Campervan, Stolen Van, VW Campervan
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CD Auction Group announces success with BT Fleet

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

The strong start to 2011 for CD Auction Group has been rubber stamped after a 100% sales conversion for major vendor BT Fleet was confirmed. The online sale of both light commercial vehicles and cars has resulted in every vehicle being sold at over 100% of CAP clean value.

The CAP guide is used by most auction companies to gauge the values of the vehicles they sell and CD Auction Group who use this system are Great Britain’s leading online auction company, boasting more than 21 years experience in electronic auctions. They were formed in 1989 after the founders believed the traditional mass auction process could be bettered. The success of the sale underlines the importance of online auctions in the commercial vehicle industry. CD Auction Group say they have seen demand for vehicles reach record levels since the start of the year which has led to a fast stock turnover and increasing values. Buyers are expected to cover the vans with commercial vehicle insurance and get them on the road ASAP.

Roger Woodward, CD Auction Group managing director, said “We have had around 30% more buyers looking for vehicles in the first few weeks of the year than before Christmas. The bidding on this sale was frantic, especially towards the end, and it is reflected in the outstanding values achieved. The demand for the good quality vans was fantastic.”

Two of the highlights of the auction were a diesel van reaching around 110% of CAP while several commercial vehicles reached over 130% of the CAP value. BT Fleet have a long standing relationship with CD Auction Group and have always been impressed with the consistency of results they achieve, they feel it is clear that the use of online auctions will keep growing as more businesses recognise the benefits. A recent survey among major vendors revealed that eight out of ten intend to use online auctions more and more in the coming years.

Tags: BT Fleet, CD Auction Group, commercial vehicle insurance, van drivers
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Police warning after vans are targeted in Crewe

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Police are warning van drivers in a North West town to park their vehicles in a well lit place and ensure their commercial vehicle insurance is up to date. The warning comes as a spate of incidents involving thieves stealing catalytic converters from a number of vans has occurred over the last few weeks.

Detectives would also like anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in various locations throughout Crewe to contact them after companies and private owners have been left counting the cost of the thefts.

Detective Sergeant Dan Ackerley said “It’s vitally important that anyone who spots something that doesn’t seem quite right contacts police. You might assume someone lying underneath a van is just fixing it, but they could be stealing vehicle parts. Thieves have targeted businesses in Sandbach, Congleton, Macclesfield and Knutsford. Now three more vans have been targeted in Crewe.”

It is local businesses who appear to have been targeted by thieves’ intent on stealing the devices which on the whole have been taken from Iveco vans. The police believe the vehicle parts are being sold as scrap metal. While police are seriously investigating the thefts they are also urging all businesses to take whatever steps are needed to protect their vans. One good idea is to mark the converter with a distinguishing mark which will make identifying it much easier. Some converters are only attached to the car exhaust using bolts, and this can make them even easier to remove.

The converter is a valuable device and theft is a common concern so protecting the catalytic converter from theft needs to be a priority. Most drivers will not even notice the catalytic converter is missing until the van starts making a much louder noise than usual, so regular checks need to be made and anything suspicious reported to police straight away. The police are also asking all scrap metal dealers to be mindful and honest if someone comes in with a catalytic converter or an exhaust system from a van, and if in doubt to contact Crewe Police or Crimestoppers.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Crewe, Police warning
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Police in Essex plan crackdown on drunk and tired night drivers

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Essex police officers are to set increase their night safety checks on commercial vehicles after concern about the number of collisions and accidents involving drivers who were either tired or had been drinking.

Almost 50% of crashes and accidents on the Essex part of the M25 during the last three years involved drivers of vans who had worked over their hours or had been drinking during the ferry crossing from France. These increased checks will be carried out under what has been called “Operation Mermaid” which is also part of a nationwide campaign to crackdown on both dangerous and poorly driven lorries and commercial vehicles. The police say they will crack down on any lawbreakers which means a percentage of van drivers will be encountering more expensive commercial vehicle insurance over the years to come.

Essex Police Casualty Reduction Manager, Adam Pipe said “Forty eight per cent of fatal and serious injury collisions on our stretch of the M25 are due to tiredness or alcohol. These crashes have involved heavy good vehicles or vans going out of control and running into other vehicles, road signs or crash barriers on either side of the carriageway.”

Police officers will be carrying out extra night operations on a much more regular basis in a bid cut the number of drivers who are breaking the law. The focus will be on drivers who have been drink driving and tampering with their tachographs which allows them to work longer hours than they really should be doing.

In Thurrock last week, police officers stopped and checked 71 commercial vehicles during day and night operations. The checks were held at a Motorway Service station off the M25 during the day on Wednesday and overnight on Thursday/Friday. Examiners from the VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency)) also took part in both police operations.

A total of 29 vehicles were stopped by police on Wednesday where 10 mechanical faults and 122 driver hours infringements were found, which meant a grand total of £1380 was collected in penalty notices. The overnight operation saw 42 vehicles checked and there were 158 driver hours infringements and two lorries were clamped because the drivers needed suitable rest breaks. Eighteen penalty notices were given out and a total of £2840 was taken in fines.

Tags: commercial vehicle insuranc, Police in Essex, van insurance
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Commercial van owners given good advice

Wednesday, March 16th, 2011

Commercial van and light goods vehicle operators have been given both help and advice this week aimed at saving them money in what is still an expensive time to have vehicles on the roads.

The operators have been told to make sure they are not unwittingly overloading their vehicles each day as this will also increase both their fuel and running costs, not to mention reducing their safety. This warning comes after a survey of 1200 customers by a commercial vehicle insurance provider discovered that 67% of van drivers are overloading the van and only 10% of van drivers are regularly cleaning out the vehicle to help to maximise fuel efficiency.

Overloading a van is not only a serious safety hazard, it also lowers fuel efficiency and the strain can cause a tyre to blow out. With fuel hitting the £6 per gallon last week, overloading can be a pricey mistake. Van owners and drivers have been advised to check tyre pressure and make sure it is at the recommended level, if it is 20% out companies will be using around 3% more fuel. It may not sound like much but in the current climate every penny counts.

Phil Moss, a commercial vehicle manager, said “With the costs of running vans rising all of the time, operators can ill afford to needlessly increase their bills further. By making sure that tyres are inflated to the correct level for the load being carried, any additional expense can be minimised as well as improving vehicle safety.”

Renault Manchester and Greater Manchester Police have also joined forces recently to help reduce number plate theft from commercial vans. They have both been handing out special tamper proof screws to van drivers free of charge which, once applied, are hard to undo. The campaign was started to help battle the growing problem of number plate theft in the United Kingdom. Police figures show that there are over 40,000 sets of number plates stolen every year from vans and commercial vehicles. Companies that have number plates stolen will usually receive lots of parking and speeding fines, which then take time to resolve and cause a lot of stress and inconvenience to everyone involved.

Tags: Commercial van owners, van drivers
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Hydrogen van trial started at Stansted Airport

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Stansted Airport, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this week, has taken delivery of a couple of hydrogen fuel cell vans in a trial which could see the airport classified as the greenest in the UK. The vans have been supplied by leading clean tech firm ITM Power.

The airport are now using two converted Ford Transit vans during the trial, which will see the vans join Stansted’s existing fleet of air-side vehicles. The airport is the first to take part in the firm’s HOST (Hydrogen On Site Trials), and the two vehicles will form the basis of Stansted’s assessment of alternative fuel, with a view to add the hydrogen vehicles to its fleet on a permanent basis.

The launch ceremony was attended by around 300 people who included representatives from the coalition government, NGOs, industry and the media. ITM Power also made its very first demonstration of the Transportable Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HFuel).

HFuel is a self-contained portable unit which will generate hydrogen by electrolysis. This is done by firstly compressing and then dispensing the gas on demand at high pressure. Because HFuel uses an electrolyser, it is able to produce zero carbon hydrogen if it is linked to a renewable power source or even if it is connected to a supply of ‘green’ electricity such as wind or solar power. The company are convinced there will be a large number of companies taking out cheap commercial vehicle insurance on fuel cell vans in the coming years.

ITM Power expressed delight with the number of people at the launch, saying the increased, and ever increasing, profile of hydrogen solutions to the global problems the world is facing is now evident in the UK.

Dr Andy Jefferson, the Airport’s head of health, safety and environment, said “The airport’s average air quality is well within the EU limits but we’re always keen to seek and explore new opportunities that will further reduce our emissions and our carbon footprint. This project with ITM Power is just part of the on-going work to reduce the environmental impact of operations at the airport.”

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Hydrogen van trial
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UK hope Modec crash will not kill off the EV market

Friday, March 11th, 2011

The Coalition Government has been told they need to deliver stronger incentives and policies in an effort boost the low carbon commercial vehicle market. This comes in the wake of one of the United Kingdom’s leading electric vehicle experts calling in the administrators last week.

Unfortunately van drivers in the UK will no longer be getting commercial vehicle insurance on vehicles manufactured by Coventry based firm, Modec. The company reportedly had debts of more than £40m and had failed in its target to push up production to 2,000 vans per year. Modec’s demise came as a major blow to the United Kingdom’s emerging electric vehicle market. Modec had been celebrated as one of the most promising low carbon vehicle firms in the country and is one of four van manufacturers who were chosen to take part in the Labour government’s £20m LCVPP (Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement) programme.

The Coalition was disappointed with the news as Modec had been a pioneer in the challenging market for low carbon vans. Meanwhile Ian Hobday, the managing director of United Kingdom based Liberty Electric Cars, has said that his company is actively investigating the possibility of buying Modec. He feels strongly that such a move would be preferable to Modec being bought by an overseas firm.

Liberty Electric Cars have also urged the coalition to extend their £5,000 plugged-in-car grant to cover commercial vehicles and think London Mayor Boris Johnson should also bring in a policy which is already successfully in place in a few European cities, whereby freight deliveries are restricted to night time only. This policy would then force companies to use the much quieter Electric Vehicles to avoid any noise disturbance.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Transport said “We are currently working with the freight industry and manufacturers to identify ways of boosting uptake of lower emission commercial vehicles across the freight and logistics sector.”

Tags: commercial vehicle market, Liberty Electric Cars, low carbon commercial vehicle market, Modec, vehicle market
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Great Britain could be left with third world roads

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Campaigners have warned that motorists will be faced with “Third World” conditions on the roads of Great Britain unless action is taken to tackle the soaring number of potholes. The Motorist’s Pothole Group says almost 40% more potholes were reported last month than in February 2010 which was also a bad time for potholes.

The group calculates motorists are paying nearly £3million per day to repair damage to vehicles caused by potholes. One of the worst cold snaps on record has left Britain’s roads scarred with holes, which start when water freezes in tiny cracks and then expands.

The Pothole Group looked at 150,000 vehicle warranty policies over a three-year period and the findings showed that 6% of vehicles per year had some axle or suspension damage which was a direct result of potholes or other road defects. The average cost to repair the vehicle was £312, but there were some individual bills which were as high as £4,000. Motorists also risk damaging their wheels and tyres.

Duncan McClure Fisher, of a car warranty provider who funds the group, said “Unless something more is done soon, we’ll be faced with a road network that would be more at home in a Third World country. Whether it’s the cumulative effect of continuously driving on bad roads or the sudden jolting of a deep pothole which does the harm, our crumbling roads are costing motorists millions.”

Haulage and transport companies have also seen a dramatic increase in damage to their vans because there are so many potholes on the road. With drivers unable to avoid the vast majority of them hauliers are finding their commercial vehicle insurance bills soaring as they submit claims.

A spokesman for the Local Government Association has strenuously denied motorists will face Third World conditions but did admit there was a serious problem with potholes. Last year councils filled in around two million potholes and they think the scale of the problem will be very similar this year.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Insurance Premiums, Motorist Pothole Group, Potholes
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