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Electric car sales yet to spark into life

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

The problems besetting motor manufacturers in persuading the public to get behind the wheels of the new generation of electric vehicles has been highlighted this week by a report from industry insiders.

Only 1000 cars sold

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) the sum total of electric cars sold so far this year is just 1000. The figures are amazingly low when one considers the hype surrounding the launch of the new zero emission vehicles and must come as a big blow to manufacturers who will have anticipated that companies across the UK would by this time be taking fleet insurance out on thousands of the new cars.

Public ignorant about the facts

As it is, the vast majority of the new cars that have been sold are covered by commercial vehicle insurance, and are, therefore, being used by van drivers who use their vans every single day. The public, on the whole, remain to be convinced of the benefits of the green revolution. And according to GFK report, motor manufacturers have only themselves to blame. GFK surveyed over 3,000 car drivers in the UK and found that only 1% of those asked were interested in buying an electric car. It seems that the manufacturers marketing strategy has failed miserably when such a large part of the driving population are ignoring the new technology. The report says most drivers have little idea of the cost, but were amazed when they were told, how long it takes to charge a vehicle and not much idea how far they could travel once it was fully charged.

Costing is the big factor

The creators of the report suggest the public won’t engage with the new vehicles unless they are given more details about the benefits of the cars and how they work. They also suggest entry models should be a lot cheaper, which in truth is really obvious. The cost of a new electric car, even when the Governments £5,000 subsidy, is taken into account is ridiculous. No serious car manufacturers wanting to capture the mass market launches a basic model at a price more associated with top of the range cars, and it is surely this that is holding the public back. Many people will take a chance on a quirky product if it is cheap and cheerful, and really both those words should apply to the cars that manufacturers say will revolutionise our driving habits.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, Electric cars, electric Vans, Van Insurance
Posted in Advice, Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Consequences of driver fatigue are serious

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Falling asleep or becoming overly fatigued while driving any kind of vehicle is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. Driver fatigue can be experienced by casual drivers or professional van drivers and is a major cause of accidents and fatalities throughout the United Kingdom.

Not just a case of dropping off

The term “driver fatigue” does not have to mean that the driver has fallen asleep behind the wheel. It refers to any degree of tiredness that the driver has on their journey. This could mean anything from boredom, to the driver actually losing consciousness at the wheel. It is vital to note this definition and for all drivers to realize that it is not just lack of sleep that can cause problems, they can also be caused by disinterest or even a lack of attention. If the vehicle is in an accident and it is proven that fatigue was the cause, any commercial vehicle insurance policy may be void.

Penalties are harsh

Accidents are caused by tiny changes in the driver’s ability to react to what happens on the road. Fatigue will affect the driver’s reaction time and if the van is moving at a high speed even the slightest delay in reaction can cause an accident. Fatigue will also affect the driver’s ability to pay full attention to what is happening on the road as well as altering the driver’s ability to process information and then make a split second decision while driving. Falling asleep at the wheel is a driving offence. It can lead to disqualification from driving, 3 to 11 penalty points on a driving licence and could even result in the loss of a job, vehicle and independence not to mention more expensive van insurance cover.

Cause of numerous accidents

Driver fatigue is a serious problem resulting in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is not always possible to calculate the exact number of fatigue related accidents because it is difficult to know for sure if fatigue was a factor. The early hours of the morning and the middle of the afternoon are thought to be the peak times for fatigue accidents. Drivers on long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways, are the most likely to lose concentration.

Ways to stay fresh and alert

There are proven ways to counteract the problem. Before any long journey always get a good night’s sleep. If possible plan the journey to make sure regular breaks can be taken. Understand the risk that illness or medication will add to potential fatigue and understand the warning signs of becoming tired. Never start a long private journey after a full days work and if at all possible share the driving. Warning signs to look out for include finding it difficult to keep eyes open, having difficulty focusing the eyes, daydreaming, yawning, and being irritable and restless.

Tags: Accidents, Safety, Van Insurance
Posted in Advice, Law, Safety, Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Van drivers reminded that rules are rules, even if they are silly

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

The ongoing saga of a van driver who faces losing his job because he had a small Christian cross placed in his work van looks likely to come to a head soon, as religious leaders from all creeds give backing to the humble van driver.

Most employers sensible on rules

Of course working van drivers across the UK will know that different companies have different rules about personal possessions kept in the vehicle. It is something that can obviously have an effect on a commercial vehicle insurance claim in the case of an accident or theft. Most employers though, do allow drivers to bring small personal items with them, a van driver often has a busy, long day cooped up in his cabin and a photograph of loved ones somewhere in the van is a nice reminder of what they are working for, just like the transport manager back in the depot may have on his desk.

Inflexible attitude

Wakefield District Housing (WDH), Mr Atkinson’s employer, allows its workers to wear religious symbols at work, regardless of what religion they follow, but after a complaint about the six inch long cross on the dashboard of Mr Atkinson’s van by an anonymous caller, they asked Mr Atkinson to remove the cross. He refused and even though colleagues from other religions came forward to back him up WDH would not change their stance on the matter and this week, the holiest in the Christian calendar, may see Mr Atkinson lose his job.

Support from all creeds

It is hard to see how such a small personal item carried around in the van of a Christian can cause such a fuss, the item certainly wouldn’t affect any van insurance cover, its intrinsic value is virtually nothing. The debate around it however, is deepening. Statements from local religious leaders from Muslims, Sikhs and Hindu’s all support Mr Atkinson and now leaders of the Christian church are rallying round in support of the electrician/van driver.

Violent reaction as the case reaches its climax

The company though will not back down; the Chief Executive says that WDH must at all times be neutral in religious matters! They have certainly got the backing of their management anyway, as one manager was so fervent in his belief of religious neutrality that he attacked a journalist from a daily newspaper who questioned the policy, apparently the manager in question had a poster of Che Guevara, the well known communist revolutionary in his office at the firm’s headquarters.

The case should be resolved this coming week and Mr Atkinson anticipates he will lose his job, it does however, remind van drivers of how careful they must be in sticking to the rules of the company they work for no matter how silly they may be.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, van driver rules, van drivers
Posted in Advice, Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Traffic chaos once again as Bank Holiday looms

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

As Britain’s van drivers prepare for a big surge in delivery orders prior to the Easter holidays it appears that once again some customers will be disappointed when ordered goods don’t turn up in time.

Repeat of December

The last thing hauliers and couriers can afford to happen the first big public holiday after the nightmare road conditions of Christmas and the New Year is traffic chaos brought about by poor management of the UK’s highway system. Many small businesses in Scotland no longer require commercial van insurance because the breakdown of the road system in Scotland throughout December of 2010 put paid to their business. They lost their living due to factors beyond their control.

Chaos anticipated around the Capital

Van drivers in the South-East, and hauliers across the country heading towards the capital to deliver goods, endured a nightmare weekend as junctions of the M1 were closed because of a fire below a viaduct spanning junction four of the motorway. Despite a massive emergency services deployment the motorway stayed shut for days and has in fact only just partially opened. Van drivers have already been warned that the coming week, their busiest since the Christmas period, will be one of frustrating disruptions in and around London.

Map readers will come to the fore

It will probably become a test of nerve for many drivers, will they be prepared to start up the engine and not turn on their sat nav! Turning off the sat nav will be advisable for a lot of drivers, it will stop them getting confused and stop the computer taking them round in circles. Alternative routes via the A1 and M4 should get drivers from the North, East and West across London eventually but it will be quicker preparing the journey via a map before setting off.

Grin and bear it

The major motoring organisations are forecasting chaos if the situation is still the same by Thursday and of course build ups of traffic usually result in minor accidents which add to the delays and spoil the van insurance cover for the unlucky drivers involved. The usual outcome is frustrated professional drivers preparing themselves for further hold ups in their quest to deliver their cargo and get home to their own families for the seasonal break.

Tags: Bank holiday traffic, commercial vehicle insurance, Van Insurance
Posted in Advice, Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Van hire offering a niche in the market

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

The difficult trading circumstances many haulage companies and transport businesses are enduring at the moment is proving to be a major boost for one business at least in the UK.

Gap in the market

Many leasing companies have found van hire is proving to be a good source of income. One such firm is Giraffe Automotive Services (GAS), set up by entrepreneur Mel Goodliffe. The company is proving the old adage that every cloud has a silver lining, very true. The austerity measures along with the much publicised job cuts in the public sector has made many companies involved in the transport business nervous of investing in new vehicles. The cost of commercial vehicle insurance on top of the cost of a new vehicle has made many would be buyers think again, and that is where GAS have found the much yearned for gap in the market.

From being a company with a turnover of around £200,000 a year on car leasing, GAS are fully expecting turnover to rocket to £3 million this year due to changing the focus of the business. Mel Goodliffe has directed GAS into the van leasing business and found great success in doing so.

Cheap van insurance when hiring for a day

The downturn which has seen companies reluctant to invest in new machinery has created an opportunity for anyone with a van to hire. GAS can now provide a small business, that has an unexpected short term busy period, with a van to hire to complete the extra work without them having to buy or take out a long lease on a vehicle. They can even hire a van for the day, all they have to do is arrange one day van insurance, and they can accept a job that otherwise they would have had to turn down.

Everyone’s a winner

The scheme is proving very popular with commercial van businesses across the North East especially with small firms. They can use van hire sporadically without incurring many of the costs associated with keeping a van on the road and yet can still have scope to expand their business. It seems as though the business is a winner for company and customer alike, which is a bit of a rarity these days.

Tags: niche in the market
Posted in Advice, Van Hire, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

How often do you wash yours?

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

A recent survey has shown that van drivers are not only quick to clean up on any good van insurance offers; they are pretty smart when it comes to cleaning their vans too.

The survey carried out by a company offering commercial vehicle insurance to van drivers showed that the White Van Man was more conscious of the outside appearance of his vehicle than any other road user. Apparently almost 40% of van drivers clean their vehicle on a weekly basis compared to only 15% of car drivers.

Vested interest

It is fairly easy to find reasons to explain this. Many van drivers use their vehicle as a means of achieving an income. The van therefore is not only an integral part of the business, in many cases it is a moving advertisement of the service on offer. It would indeed be wasteful to spend a fortune on a spray job in an attempt to draw attention to your business and then leave the van looking dirty. Consumers today are choosy when it comes to selecting tradesmen and service providers; they are unlikely to phone a number on a grubby looking vehicle.

DIY is cheaper

The survey also showed that van drivers are more careful with their cash. A clean van is, more often than not, a safe van. A safe van is less likely to have an accident which in turn will lead to cheap van insurance. The survey showed that almost 50% of van drivers clean their vehicles themselves using a bucket and soapy water. This not only saves money in regard to not having to pay charges for someone else to do the job, it also means the owner can often pick up little faults and niggles early and stop them turning into something more serious. Tyre faults are a good example of this.

Of course not all van drivers wait until they get home to wash their vehicle. Apparently 1 in 4 now use the burgeoning roadside valet services that are springing up all around the country and challenging the position of costly automated car wash stations.

Tags: Advice, business, commercial vehicle insurance, style customisation, Van Safety, van sales, van wash, vans
Posted in Advice, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Driver hours extension helps Scotland get back to normal

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

With the end of the relaxation in drivers hours this weekend, many van drivers who rely on their vehicle to make them a living will be hoping that the Government will take a similar enlightened view if the weather deteriorates again next week, as is forecast.

Last week the Department of Transport (DoT) allowed drivers one extra hour of driving each day between the 7^th and 11^th of December. The decision was taken after the appalling conditions, mainly in Scotland, left hauliers struggling to deliver essential supplies for both humans and livestock. The DoT emphasised that the change in driver hours was only a relaxation of the rules and not a suspension. It had many self employed drivers checking their commercial vehicle insurance policies before undertaking the extra work, but it turned out to be vital for many communities cut off by the snow.

The decision was applauded by commercial vehicle organisations in Scotland with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) being among the leading lights calling on the DoT to introduce a relaxation of rules in the first place.

It is really only coming to light now, days after the country is getting back to normal, what effect on business for van drivers the bad weather had. Many drivers reported routine journeys taking up to 12 hours which then meant the driver could not return to base and the FTA took hundreds of calls from members complaining about the state of major roads such as the M73 and A80. Many drivers reported the road between Dundee and the fuel terminal on the East coast was taking up to 12 hours to negotiate.

With the weather causing all Whisky suppliers to close down their operation for a few days the impact on Scotland’s economy at a time when the country is struggling along with the rest of the UK financially could be devastating.

With Christmas just around the corner it is vital for the country’s traders that the wheels of commerce and industry are fully turning. Many commentators are pointing out that the weather has at least illustrated the nation’s dependence on the transport links provided by van drivers and hauliers.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, scotland van drivers
Posted in Advice, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Van drivers prepare for a bleak midwinter

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

As winter approaches, van drivers will be casting their thoughts back to the dramatic cold snap last year when many drivers experienced Arctic-like conditions in the UK for the first time.

With weather forecasters promising snow for Scotland and the North of England later this week motoring organisations are warning van drivers to be ready to cope with deteriorating road conditions. Last year there were several instances of motorists being stuck overnight on freezing roads in sub-zero temperatures, and not only in the north of the country. Devon and Hampshire suffered very badly and helicopters were brought in to rescue motorists taken ill while being in the middle of giant traffic jams.

The bad weather caused havoc for months on end and many van drivers made claims on their commercial vehicle insurance policy for the first time. Motoring organisations reported thousands more accidents than usual and they are now reminding drivers to prepare.

Commercial light vehicle drivers need to be more vigilant than most simply because their livelihood depends on them being out on the road most days. They should, as always make their tyre, mirror and around the vehicle check every morning. A blanket, extra clothing and shovel should also be part of any van driver’s everyday winter cargo. After the experiences of last year with many motorists stuck for hours on end, motoring organisations are requesting drivers to make sure they have some sort of sustenance in the car, a flask of soup is ideal for this, warm and comforting as well as nourishing. They are also keen to remind drivers that they should carry any medication they are on with them.

One new innovation many fleet van drivers may have use of this winter is the ISG Sense accident detector. The accident management company are pioneering a black box technology sensor that will alert the company’s incident room when the vehicle has been involved in some sort of incident.

Without help from the driver the sensor will pick up the information required and immediately summon help. Research shows that in the majority of serious road accidents drivers and passengers in the vehicles involved are not sure of their whereabouts. The sensor informs the accident management team of the exact location of the vehicle within seconds as well as supplying them with other data. The emergency services can them be contacted without any delay if they are deemed necessary.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, van driver advice
Posted in Advice, Van Insurance, commercial vehicle insurance | No Comments »

Privatised speed vans target the republic

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

As the focus of the world turns on Ireland and its financial problems, van drivers from the UK, doing their daily runs to the Emerald Isle will be focussing on something entirely different.

probably directly linked to the financial straitjacket Ireland finds itself in, is the decision to release private speed check vans on to the roads of the republic. As from yesterday for the first time in its history the Irish police force (The Garda) have relinquished control of speed enforcement cameras and passed them over to a private firm, Gosafe.

The company sent a small detachment of its force out onto the roads yesterday, but by February 2011 will have 45 vans checking the speeds of Ireland’s motorists in up to 600 different locations. The contract, which is said to be worth over £50 million, demands the private speed check vans operate for at least 6,000 hours per month, and it is anticipated that around 10% of that time may be focused on the capital Dublin, where motorists are notorious for breaking the speed limit.

The company have already played their part in public relations by creating a website which will inform van drivers and other motorists exactly where the cameras will be placed on a given day. Perhaps the level of concern the cameras present for many Irish motorists is proven by the fact that the website on its first day of operation crashed due to the amount of users.

Motorists caught flouting the speed restrictions by the cameras will be fined and have points penalties imposed in the usual way, as the Garda will administer the whole legal side of the operation. Although the government are keen to dispel the notion that the cameras will be used to procure revenue for the desperately under financed administration, experts reckon the cameras could bring in cash to the tune of £35 million per year.

With a standard fine of 80 Euros which converts to around £70, one can see why Irish motorists are concerned with the number of cameras due to be out on the roads. It is anticipated that many van drivers in particular, will be looking to make savings on ancillary costs such as commercial vehicle insurance to provide savings just in case they fall foul of the speed traps.

Tags: commercial vehicle insurance, speed vans, Van Insurance
Posted in Advice, Van Insurance | 4 Comments »

Do some homework before buying a van

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

All firms, no matter what size they are will say that getting a driver as well as an assortment of packages, tools, equipment, machinery or a product from departure point to delivery point without causing damage is essential. It is a must for most businesses to prosper, so they need to choose very carefully when buying a commercial van which they will have to protect with commercial vehicle insurance.

Before they even start looking for a van, they will need to decide if it is going to be bought or hired on a leasing agreement. A leasing or contract hire agreement means that the firm will make a monthly payment to the leasing company and this will be based on how much the van will depreciate during the time of the lease. A contract hire agreement will normally be between two years and five years and will quite often be based on the number of miles that the van will do over the lease period.

For the majority of businesses, buying a brand new commercial van is very expensive and also unnecessary. Instead, they are searching for a good quality second-hand commercial vehicle. All light commercial vehicles and vans are put into four categories: these are micro vans; car derived vans, pick-ups vans and panel vans. The size of the van should be taken into consideration. If the van needs to go down small driveways then a large van is going to be impractical. A small van will also offer much better fuel economy. Timing is also crucial when buying a new van, it is possible to get a better price if the van is purchased a month before new registrations are introduced, this is because a lot of dealers will slash the price in an attempt to move excess stock and make room for the new vehicles. Another good time to buy is the Christmas period.

Research is another major part of buying a van. There are magazines and websites that give detailed comparisons of every make of van and models, as well as a price guide for both new and second hand vehicles. When taking the van for a test drive, check out the following: mileage, brakes (do an emergency stop on a quiet road) engine, gearbox and tyres and make sure the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the same as the one on the logbook. Unless completely comfortable with everything do not sign a contract. Signing for the van ‘as is’ will mean there is no legal right to complain if the van does not meet expectations.

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