Legislation
VRA adds its support to BVRLA’s new WLTP consultation campaign
The Vehicle Remarketing Association has added its support to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association’s response to the current Government’s Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) consultation. Sam Watkins, chair at the VRA, said that her organisation shared the BVRLA’s concern about how the potential, negative impact on the company car sector could have widespread repercussions.
MPs announce safety inquiry at Westminster Professional Recovery Operators Federation launch
The recovery industry has joined together to form the Professional Recovery Operators Federation (PROF), which was launched at an event in the Houses of Parliament on 12 February. PROF focusses on representing the interests of professional recovery operators in Westminster.
Tyre Recovery Association announces details for 2019 Recycling Forum Day
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has announced its Recycling Day Forum will be held on 18 June 2019 at the Ardencote Manor Hotel, Warwick. The theme for this year’s event is ‘2020 and Beyond’ with guests from Europe and from the UK discussing the direction of tyre recycling in the future.
USITC: Chinese truck tyres materially injure US
The US International Trade Commission filed their remand determinations to the US Court of International Trade on January 30, 2019. By a majority of 3-2, the Commissioners have determined:
CWA challenges government to prove action on illicit hand car washes
“The CWA is disappointed to see that the Government has produced so little evidence to back up its claims that HMRC is enforcing tax compliance at hand car washes”, said Brian Madderson, chairman of the Car Wash Association (CWA), commenting on the publication of the Government’s response to the Environmental Audit select committee report into the hand car wash sector.
Hard Brexit will affect UK driving licences in EU
If the UK plans to leave the European Union without a deal covering driving licences, UK licence holders living in the EU or EEA will have to exchange their UK driving licence for a local EU driving licence before 29 March 2019. If they don’t, after that point they may have to pass a driving test in the EU country they live in in order to be able to carry on driving there.
Councils expected to introduce £1,000-a-year workplace parking levies
Up to 10 local authorities could be planning to introduce workplace charging levies, which could cost employees up to £1,000 per year to park at work. According to The AA, Hounslow Council is proposing to introduce a charge between £500 and £1,000 and nine other councils are considering similar measures. The schemes are designed to reduce inner-city emissions and improve air quality by discouraging drivers from using their car to get to work.
Government approves Leeds clean air zone proposals
Businesses have been urged to start planning for the introduction of the Leeds clean air zone (CAZ) after the Government approved the city council’s proposals. The CAZ, which will come into effect on January 6, 2020, will encompass the majority of the city and non-Euro VI HGVs, buses and coaches will face a £50 daily charge for driving in the zone, while non-Euro 6 diesel and non-Euro 4 petrol taxis and private hire vehicles will incur a £12.50 charge. Private vehicles will not be charged.
CEMA: Brexit will impact UK type approval
CEMA, the European agricultural equipment association, is advising that Brexit will impact UK-originated type approval. According to the association, once the UK has left the EU it will not be possible to place “vehicles and components with an EU type-approval issued by an UK authority” on the market.
Diesel decline sees CO2 emissions rise
Average CO2 emissions have climbed almost three per cent to 124.5g/km, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned. The rise has been blamed on a diesel sales slump and experts say if CO2 emissions continue to rise it could have detrimental effects on the environment and also see countries miss their targets for slashing emissions.
Fall in new car market a ‘wake up call’ to policy makers
The UK new car market declined by -6.8 per cent in 2018, with annual registrations falling for a second year to 2,367,147 units, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A -5.5 per cent decline in December capped a turbulent year of model changes, regulatory upheaval and continued anti-diesel policies, adding to the ongoing decline in consumer and business confidence.
New £23m scrappage scheme for vans to prepare for ULEZ
A new £23 million scrappage scheme to help take the most polluting vans off London roads has been launched to prepare for the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ). The scheme, announced by the Mayor of London, will initially help London’s micro-businesses – defined as those with fewer than 10 employees – to switch to the cleanest vehicles, including electric.
Sensorisation: About more than just tyre pressure
This section is entitled “TPMS and sensor technology” for a reason. No longer are in-tyre sensors about measuring temperature alone. Now TPMS basically means pressure and temperature, often with the addition of algorithmically generated road feedback, load information and even wear calculations. These “big data” contributions are routinely relayed to the cloud for analysis. At the same time external tread readers are measuring similarly important data and sending that to the cloud. Put all this together and we have what Pirelli calls this the “sensorisation” of the tyre business. Whatever we call it, this part of the business now about far more than just sensing tyre pressures. As far as uptake is concerned, legislation and technical innovation are the key driving forces.
90 per cent of the UK public ‘would support’ installation of breathalysers in cars
The UK’s biggest online garage and car repair marketplace has revealed that 90 per cent of drivers would support breathalysers installed in cars in the UK to prevent drink driving, based on research of 1,000 drivers in its database. WhoCanFixMyCar.com has revealed that, of 1,000 drivers surveyed, 903 would support the installation of breathalysers in cars, after a 7 per cent rise in accidents due to drink driving from 2015 to 2016.
Nearly 3 million UK motorists feared to be driving illegally
Findings from comprehensive eye tests conducted by a leading optician on over 1,000 UK residents have revealed that one in five – which equates to 7.6 million licence-holders - haven’t had any vision check since reading a number plate at 20m when passing their driving test.