Government commissioned report proposes new restrictions on novice drivers
11/10/2013
The Transport Research Laboratory has today published findings and proposals about novice drivers that could cut accident road casualties by more than 4,000 a year.
RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: “We have reached the point where we have no choice but to do something different with novice drivers in order to significantly cut the number of deaths and serious injuries they are involved in.
“The RAC has for some time been calling for a reform of driving education for young people and the introduction of graduated driving licences with a minimum supervised learning period and restrictions on the number of passengers permitted in the car so this is a very positive step towards preventing the loss of young lives on our roads.
“The experiences of other countries where graduated driver licensing is used clearly show that it has been successful in reducing the number of collisions involving young drivers, but in order for it to be as effective as possible it has to be part of an overall package of measures including more extensive driver education.
“The RAC Report on Motoring 2013, which surveyed 1,500 drivers of all ages, found that 53% of young drivers would have liked supervised driving practice on the motorway as part of learning to drive and 45% would have liked to learn more about safe driving at school.
“While we welcome the proposals it is surprising that the technology solution provided by insurance telematics devices that can monitor driving behaviour of young drivers have not been included as they have the power to inform insurers of issues such as excessive speeding which can then be quickly addressed before it’s too late.”
“The Report on Motoring also showed 35% of young drivers felt the standard driving test does not cover all the skills required to cope with the demands of driving today.”
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‘Ghost brokers’ target young drivers
9/10/2013
Police across the UK have today carried out dawn raids cracking down on ‘ghost brokers’ selling fake car insurance policies. A total of 27 people have been arrested following months of investigations by the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department.
RAC director of insurance services Kerry Michael said: “This is a new and worrying crime which preys on young drivers offering them cheap insurance rates with bogus policies. It is particularly worrying when you consider that many of the individuals taken in by ‘ghost brokers’ are those who can least afford the devastating financial and personal consequences of being involved in an accident without valid insurance.
“Whenever considering cover buyers are best advised to choose a reputable motor insurer and to ensure they check all of their paperwork. If a deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is.
“The RAC’s Report on Motoring 2013 identified that 71% of drivers aged 17 to 24 believe that motoring may actually become a rare luxury for them if costs continue to escalate. We are looking at ways to reduce the cost of insurance for young drivers including solutions like low cost telematics and we are working with the Government to understand what can be done to make owning and operating a car more affordable for this group of motorists.”
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Chancellor wants to freeze fuel duty until end of this Parliament
30/09/2013
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today told Conservative Party conference that he intends to freeze fuel duty until the end of the Parliament.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “The Chancellor’s intention to extend the freeze on fuel duty is welcome, but it’s time for the Government to consider a more radical overhaul of the motoring taxation regime so that fuel poverty becomes a distant memory for those in our society with low income but still have a high dependence on their vehicles.”
“There is, in fact, good evidence that the Treasury coffers would benefit more if he were to reverse the trend and cut fuel duty for struggling motorists.
“Year on year, receipts from petrol and diesel have begun to slowly decline since 2010 when the coalition was formed. Combined petrol and diesel consumption has fallen 6.6% from 48.3bn litres in 2008 to 45.1bn litres in 2012 while fuel duty revenue actually increased by £2bn (£24.1bn to £26.1bn – an 8% increase) due to duty increases of more than 7p a litre in that period.
“The numbers are a clear illustration of the dilemma in which the Government finds itself. The recession has taken its toll over the last five years and this, combined with motorists driving more fuel efficient, environmentally-friendly vehicles means that Government would need to increase fuel duty at above the rate of inflation, just to maintain tax revenues from fuel.
“Many motorists are suffering genuine hardship as a result of the cost of fuel for essential journeys to the shops, to work and to support their families so fuel duty can no longer be treated by the Treasury as a cash cow.”
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April to June 2013 traffic increases
Department for Transport provisional statistics show a rise in road traffic for April to June 2013 with traffic increasing by 2.9% to 76.8bn vehicle miles compared to the previous year. Motorway traffic showed a 4.9% rise – the biggest increase of all road types. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “This is proof of the significance of the road network and vehicles to the economy as it corresponds with GDP growth estimates* in the same period. Lower fuel prices from April to June no doubt contributed to this increase, but forecourt prices have been on the rise in the third quarter so we are hopeful this will not have too negative an effect on business. “Motorists in general were clearly taking the opportunity to make greater use of the roads without their pockets being so harshly punished.”
*ONS Gross Domestic Product Preliminary Estimate, Q2 2013 http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_319698.pdf
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Lib Dems: ban petrol and diesel cars from UK roads by 2040
07/08/2013
The Liberal Democrats have unveiled proposals in their 2013 Party Conference agenda to only allow ultra-low carbon vehicles on UK roads by 2040.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “The Lib Dems are setting a direction that seems reasonable but the balance needs to be right between the needs of the environment and those of motorists. “Current Ultra Low Carbon vehicles rely on plugging into the electricity supply and it’s no good having low carbon vehicles if we don’t have low carbon electricity. It will also be essential that financial support is available to motorists along the lines of the scrappage scheme operated a few years back if ever increasingly stringent carbon dioxide emissions targets are to be applied to vehicles already on the road.”
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Government Command Paper: Action for Roads
16 July 2013
The Government today announced the detail of its promised £28bn investment in England’s roads in its Action for Roads – A network for the 21st century – document.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “This is good news for motorists as significant spending on maintaining and developing our road network is badly needed, but the key element is the decision to publish a Roads Investment Strategy with the funding underwritten by legislation.
“This is the first step in re-establishing trust between the Government and the motorist in the development and maintenance of our major roads and the proposal to introduce a roads watchdog will also make an important contribution to rebuilding trust. The inclusion of a National Policy Statement should help to speed up the planning process and is therefore a positive step which recognises the importance of turning plans into delivery with a real sense of urgency.
“The decision to follow the recommendations of the Cook Report and make the Highways Agency a more commercial entity that is still ultimately responsible to the Government should enable the agency to operate more efficiently and effectively; and this can only benefit motorists, and indeed all tax payers.
“These plans must not be blown off course by changing governments or by any new priorities that may emerge because it is essential that our motorways and major roads are run as efficiently and effectively as possible. The paper notes that some projects will extend beyond the medium-term funding horizon of the Roads Investment Strategy and we hope that Government will continue to look at options to ring-fence some of the £40bn-plus per year of motoring taxes to create a genuine long-term funding stream for roads maintenance and development to underwrite such projects.
“This bold investment plan must be delivered on time and within budget so that motorists and businesses can reap the benefits and we see a genuine reduction in congestion and poor road surfaces. This will ensure the strategic road network is an enabler, rather than an inhibitor of economic growth.
Expressways
“It’s welcome that minimum standards are to be established for the most important A roads as these form an essential part of many journeys. Any journey is, of course, only as good as its weakest point and the investment in motorway capacity will not realise its full potential without investment in the A-roads that are an equally important component of getting from A to B.”
Cyclists and walkers
“It’s good that cyclists and walkers have not been neglected. We know that many motorists are also cyclists so the commitment to correct historic cycle safety problems and recognise cyclists’ needs in the new schemes is a positive move for all road users.”
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Tackling the menace of drug driving – RAC welcomes Government move to clarify legislation
9 July 2013
Plans to make it easier to prosecute those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs have been published by Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.
In January 2012 the government announced that it would be introducing a new offence of driving with a specific controlled drug in the body above the specified limit for that drug.
The consultation published today (9 July 2013) puts forward proposals on the drugs to be included in the legislation and the limits to be specified. The proposals follow a report published in March this year by a panel of medical and scientific experts which provided advice to the government on drug driving.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “We welcome the Government’s move to bring increasing levels of clarity to driving on illegal drugs and prescription medication, something that is very much needed.
“We all know that driving under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous and wrecks lives – but it is also a growing problem, particularly among young motorists.
“Therefore, it is more important than ever to inform and educate, otherwise we are allowing people to drive without regular reminders about the dangers of drug driving and how impaired senses can lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
“Motorists will be happy to see the Government taking a lead on this and ensuring people understand their position – and what happens if they step over the line.”
See the RAC’s comment in the Department for Transport’s press release announcing the consultation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tackling-the-menace-of-drug-driving
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RAC response to Spending Review and Highways Agency announcement
27 June 2013
The Government today announced plans for a £100bn modernisation of the UK's infrastructure including £28bn for road improvements over the six years from 2014, of which £10bn will be dedicated to essential maintenance to motorways and major trunk roads between 2015-16 and 2020-21.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “It is good news for motorists that the Government has recognised both the need for significant maintenance and appropriate investment in increasing road capacity to remove the bottlenecks on some of our busiest roads. These plans must not be blown off course by changing governments or by any new priorities that may emerge.
“The key words in Mr Alexander’s speech were that the Government is ‘legislating to ensure these reforms and this investment is guaranteed’.
“It is essential that our motorways and major roads are run as efficiently and effectively as possible and that this bold investment plan is delivered on time and within budget so that motorists and businesses can reap the benefits and we see a genuine reduction in congestion and poor road surfaces. This will ensure the strategic road network is an enabler, rather than an inhibitor of economic growth.
“The decision therefore to follow the recommendations of the Cook Report and make the Highways Agency a more commercial entity that is still ultimately responsible to the Government is a welcome move which should bring many benefits for the motorist.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to fund local road maintenance but there must be some risk that the benefits of this could be undermined by the further overall cuts to local authority grants which could reduce their ability to contribute to their share of local road maintenance from the money they generate themselves. We know from the RAC Report on Motoring 2013 that spending on local roads is the number one priority for motorists.”
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Oil companies raided by EU in price-rigging investigation
The European Commission has carried out 'unannounced inspections' to investigate claims oil companies colluded to manipulate prices.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “This is very worrying news for motorists who are suffering real hardship brought about by the high cost of motoring, particularly the high prices charged at the pumps. The Office of Fair Trading inquiry concluded at the end of January that the UK fuel market was operating fairly and not against the best interests of motorists, and therefore that a Competition Commission investigation was not needed. Motorists will be very interested to see what comes of these raids. Whatever happens the RAC will continue to campaign for greater transparency in the UK fuel market and for a further reduction in fuel duty to stimulate economic growth.”
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RAC welcomes Government plans to compel motorway service station forecourts to advertise fuel prices
14 May 2013
RAC spokesman Pete Williams said: “Motorway drivers have long been the victims of some pretty indefensible pricing at the pumps with many service stations charging on average 10 pence extra per litre above the ‘high-street’ or supermarket forecourt price. Compelling the fuel retailer to display their prices clearly before the service station will ensure that drivers get some warning of how much they are likely to be fleeced when they fill up.
“This is welcome news for motorists and commercial drivers alike but we still need motorway services to be transparent and fair on all their prices. They have held the motorist to ransom for far too long - let’s hope that Number 10 encourages them to sort out their food prices and their parking charges too.”
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Motorists cut 1.7 million miles off their journeys in the first quarter of 2013
9 May 2013
The severe winter appears to have had a big effect on road traffic levels according to provisional Government figures.
Motor vehicle traffic in Britain fell 2.3% to 74.7 billion miles in the first three months of 2013 compared with the same period last year.
RAC spokesman Pete Williams said: “All in all it was a tough winter for UK motorists. Ravaged by floods, snow drifts and arctic conditions drivers battled on against the elements to get to work and carry on their lives but for many they were stopped in their tracks by the high price of fuel.
“While we should welcome the news that there was less traffic on our roads the RAC attended more than 700,000 breakdowns during this period, nearly 10% higher than expected, we know that it didn’t feel any less frustrating for motorists.
“We know that motorists have been reducing their mileage year on year to save on the cost of motoring but the record high price of fuel, which is mostly down to the excessive level of duty and VAT, has forced many motorists to cut out non-essential journeys. But this has to be another warning sign to the Government that a change to motoring taxation is long overdue as a valuable revenue stream is clearly in decline.”
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Primary teachers want more 20mph limits
7 May 2013
A survey of primary school teachers carried out by road safety charity Brake has revealed that 81% wanted 20mph limits around schools and on connecting routes to local homes.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “There is evidence that 20mph limits are beneficial in accident hot spots, in busy urban areas and near schools. Creating more 20mph zones around schools is by far the most practical and effective solution for keeping children safe.
“Any suggestions of blanket 20mph limit in urban zones really don’t make sense to motorists who readily recognise that different roads and different environments warrant different speed limits and driving behaviours.
“In fact, in Portsmouth a city-wide 20mph trial was found not to bring any significant reduction in the number of accidents. This would indicate that using 20mph throughout towns or cities is not as effective as reducing limits to 20mph around schools where drivers can clearly see their importance.”
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RAC welcomes 2p supermarket petrol price cut
15 April 2013
Asda and Sainsbury today began a petrol price reduction by cutting 2p a litre off petrol prices.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “Certainly, this price cut will be widely welcomed by UK motorists and it is encouraging to see that the drop in the wholesale price of fuel is being passed on
“Nonetheless, it is difficult to underestimate the impact that the UK’s high fuel prices are having on us as individuals – our research has shown that almost half of motorists would avoid promotion or a new job that involves more driving, and a quarter believe prices negatively affect their working life. The RAC will continue to fight the motorist’s corner on this front and campaign for greater price transparency.”
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RAC urges motorists to think about their driving style
11 April 2013
Almost a quarter of male drivers admit to overtaking ‘blind’ at the wheel, according to a survey by road safety charity Brake.
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “It’s clearly worrying the sheer number of motorists which admit to speeding, particularly on country roads, which are the most dangerous of all.
“Our own Report on Motoring reveals more than one in three (37%) drivers say they speed in 50-60mph zones, supporting the evidence presented by Brake. The fact that the number of accidents and fatalities is higher on country roads highlights the need for motorists to apply the highest levels of responsibility when driving both in urban and rural areas.
“We welcome greater awareness to the perils of speeding and dangerous overtaking and would encourage motorists to take a moment to consider their driving style before getting back behind the wheel.”
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Chancellor scraps September 2013 fuel duty increase
20 March 2013
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “It’s great news that the Chancellor is not trying to reverse the underlying downward trend in fuel duty revenue by simply clawing back more money for the Treasury per litre.
“The fact the Government hasn’t increased fuel duty since 2010 demonstrates the current model for the taxation of motoring has had its day. Fuel duty revenue has declined as a result of motorists reducing their annual mileage, buying more fuel efficient vehicles and driving in a more eco-friendly way. This clearly supports the need for the Government to find better ways of securing funding to ensure the longer term development and maintenance of the road network without unfairly punishing less affluent motorists who have no alternative to the car for the basics of life.”
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RAC response to supermarket fuel price drop
12 March 2013
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “This is a welcome move by Sainsbury’s and full credit to them for being the first to pass on the recent fall in the cost of wholesale fuel prices.
“It has been anticipated by the RAC as it echoes exactly what we have been calling for since 25 February, when world petrol and diesel wholesale prices began to fall steadily.
“We are confident this drop in price will be picked up by the other fuel retailers in a similar way. It will certainly be appreciated by motorists and their families who have had to endure ever-increasing prices on the forecourts this winter.
“However, the fact remains we still need more transparency on pricing as 60% of the cost at the pump is paid in duty and tax to the Government. The RAC is campaigning with partners, such as FairFuelUK, to raise awareness of how much motorists in this country are paying compared to our European counterparts.”
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RAC comment on Boris Johnson’s £913million London cycling plan
07 March 2013
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “On the surface this appears to be good news for London if it truly lives up to the mayor’s aspirations of making transport in the city better for everyone.
“The RAC supports schemes to ensure that cycling is easy and safe as many motorists are cyclists and many cyclists are motorists. Segregating the two is ultimately the best solution so the proposals are welcome from that respect but the devil is very often in the detail therefore we are keen to understand how traffic will be affected.
“In common with all transport investments, we expect prioritisation to be based on value for money. For these reasons, we have concerns about proposals for HS2, not because we are anti-rail but because it delivers a relatively poor return on investment but will soak up huge amounts of transport investment which could be better spent on other, more modest schemes that deliver greater value.
“There must be some risk that the mayor’s cycling superhighway is the HS2 of cycling … a great idea in principle but does it deliver as much value as could be delivered by a number of smaller, more modest schemes?”
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RAC response to potential fuel price rise
25 January 2013
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “It’s hugely disappointing for motorists that another painful price rise is looming, particularly as it comes so quickly after the good news that the Government has scrapped the planned January 3p fuel duty increase.
ldquo;It would, however, be extremely ironic if a price rise was to hit in the very week the Office of Fair Trading plans to publish the findings of its review of UK fuel prices.
“We hope the OFT’s findings will finally bring some much-need transparency to fuel pricing. While people understand petrol retailers’ need to raise prices when industry wholesale costs go up, it is extremely frustrating to watch prices go up far faster than they ever come down.
Rising fuel prices cause economic hardship for millions and hinder the growth of the economy, and for the tens of millions of households who rely on their car, this news could not have come at a worse time.”
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RAC response to Autumn Statement
5 December 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “The Chancellor had little option but to listen to the voice of British motorists and businesses and scrap the 3p fuel duty rise planned for January otherwise he would have faced a national outcry.
“The RAC and FairFuelUK have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to encourage politicians to recognise the significant impact the price of fuel is having on our lives and how it is stifling the economy, inflating retail prices and reducing our competitive position against Europe.
“Even though fuel remains far too expensive we do appreciate that ministers and MPs have entered into constructive dialogue with the RAC and FairFuelUK.
“It is good news an extra £1bn is to be spent on roads, including four major new schemes to upgrade key sections of the A1, bringing the route from London to Newcastle up to motorway standard, link the A5 with the M1, dual the A30 in Cornwall and upgrade the M25. These important improvements will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of motorists every day.
“We strongly urge the Government to launch a thorough review of how motorists are taxed. The Government can no longer justify the second highest fuel duty level in Europe, almost 60% of the price on the forecourt, when only a fraction of this revenue (around £45billion) is actually spent on road building and maintenance.
“The Government can no longer justify the second highest fuel duty level in Europe, almost 60% of the price on the forecourt, when only a fraction of this revenue (around £45billion) is actually spent on road building and maintenance.
“Our members want to see a fairer and more transparent system of motoring taxation which is why the RAC’s is calling on the Government to come clean by putting the amount of duty and VAT on motorists’ fuel receipts so they can see how much they are paying to the Treasury every time they fill up.
“As well as harming the economy, the RAC has found the high price of fuel is keeping people apart. Eighty-five per cent of motorists say it is having a negative impact on their social lives and 75% have cut out journeys to save money. Most disturbingly, 6% also tell us they have slept in their cars to avoid the high cost of commuting.”*
*Based on a survey of 9,284 people conducted by the RAC online from 28–30 November 2012.
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RAC welcomes the announcement by Tesco that it is cutting 3p off a litre of fuel.
27 November 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “Every penny off fuel makes a difference for motorists – but what we need now is for other retailers to follow their lead. Our members are telling us that the price of fuel is having a negative impact on their lives as they are cutting social and family journeys in an effort to save money.
“This will help make it a little more affordable for families to travel to spend time together this Christmas. What would really make this festive period special would be for the Chancellor to announce next Wednesday that he is scrapping the 3p duty rise planned for next January.
“In particular people living in rural areas are at their wits end – they are telling us that they have no alternative and are having to cut back on other essential household bills in an effort to keep their cars on the road in order to get to work, school and maintain contact.”
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3p on fuel duty in January would be a step too far, says the RAC
12 November 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “Any increase in fuel duty is likely to be the final straw for drivers who are already struggling to put fuel in their cars as demonstrated last month when petrol sales for the first half of 2012 showed 2 billion fewer litres of fuel were bought compared to the same period before the recession in 2008.
“The RAC’s 2012 Report on Motoring revealed that people have already been forced to cut out discretionary journeys but now the price of fuel is starting to hit household budgets even harder, particularly those who have to drive longer distances to get to work.
“Our survey of 1,000 motorists found that 29% said they would cut out social engagements and a quarter (25%) would stop driving to family commitments if the price of fuel continued to rise. It is a sad indictment of British motoring taxation that families are being driven apart by the ever-escalating cost of petrol and diesel, especially as it’s money that’s going straight to the Treasury as opposed to being spent on maintaining or building new roads.
“The irony – as our colleagues at FairFuelUK have been pointing out today - is the Government would generate far more money by reducing fuel duty and stimulating the economy than they will if they decide to add 3p in January as planned.”
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RAC comment on two tier VED/road tax proposal
1 November 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “We believe this is a hugely unfair system, particularly for people who only use the motorway system very occasionally as they would pay exactly the same as someone who uses the motorway to get to work every day. It would also inevitably create more traffic on other roads especially around motorway junctions and on roads that run parallel to motorways.
“Motorists already pay around £45bn a year in taxation which is four times as much as the Government spends on the maintaining and developing the road network. If we were to go down this route we would want to see any additional taxes ringfenced to ensure they are spent on roads.
“The RAC would ideally like to see a major overhaul of the motoring taxation system. In that instance we believe a ‘pay as you drive’ based solution is probably the least unattractive option but the 60% fuel tax issue would have to be addressed and reduced as part of this.
“People want transparency around motoring taxation and at the moment we are long way from that. This is why the RAC has been calling, along with FairFuelUK, for fuel receipts to list the cost of the fuel, duty and VAT separately.”
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‘Don’t forget the motorist’ warns RAC in CBI road pricing debate
8 October 2012
The CBI’s proposals to remove the English road network from the Government budget will stimulate the debate to find a solution to easing congestion in the long term, but it’s critical not to overlook the views of motorists, warns the RAC.
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “We agree that something needs to be done to unlock road capacity but road pricing is not the answer in itself which is why we are calling for a comprehensive review of motoring taxation so that road charges are not seen as an additional tax on driving."
“Figures show that motorists contribute over £48bn* a year to the Exchequer which is more than five times the £9 billion a year that central and local government actually spends on roads. It’s therefore clear that motoring brings in sufficient money to run, and even invest in, our roads, it’s just that the Government chooses to spend this money elsewhere."
“It’s no wonder UK motorists feel they are being treated as a cash cow by government and it’s vital that their opinions are not ignored in this process. Any attempt to introduce road pricing will need to be explained carefully so that people understand the benefits such as incentivising driving at times and in places where roads are least utilised."
“RAC is not opposed to the principle of road pricing and other reasonable measures aimed at making better use of existing roads and reducing congestion as long as other areas of motoring taxation don’t continue to increase. And, if we are to go down this route then it is important that any net increase in motoring taxation revenues is ring-fenced purely for investment in the transport infrastructure.”
* According to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee Sixth Report ‘Taxes and charges on road users’ 14 July 2009.
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmtran/103/10302.htm
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New approach to Britain’s young drivers welcomed
4 October 2012
The RAC supports the Association of British Insurers’ call for a radical overhaul of how young people learn to drive made in its ‘Improving the Safety of Young Drivers’ report published in October 2012.
Mark Godfrey, head of RAC Insurance, says: “Reducing accidents, deaths and injuries among young drivers is a priority for Britain as a nation. Far too many lives, both young and older, are lost or wrecked every year due to road accidents involving young drivers.
“Changing the way young people learn to drive and what they are allowed to do once they pass their tests has to be a positive move for everyone who drives. There are, however, many questions about how this would be implemented that need to be addressed carefully to ensure we don’t make the hassle and the expense of learning to drive prohibitive.
“If these proposals can be introduced easily and practically we will inevitably see a drop in the number of accidents involving young people under the age of 25. They will also have a positive effect on the cost of insurance for older drivers which is currently heavily influenced by young drivers.”
The ABI is calling for the following measures to improve the safety of young drivers:
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A minimum 12-month learning period before taking the driving test to enable young learner drivers to gain more supervised practice
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A ban on taking an intensive driving course as the sole means of learning to drive
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The lowering of the age at which young people can start learning to drive to age 16 and a half
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Graduated driver licensing. This would include restrictions on the number of young drivers that can be carried by a young driver in the first six months after passing their driving test, reflecting the fact that the crash risk increases significantly with young passengers in the car
The ‘Improving the Safety of Young Drivers’ report states:
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Only one in eight driver licence holders in the UK are aged 25 or under, yet one in three who die on our roads is aged under 25.
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An 18 year-old driver is more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash than a 48 year-old driver.
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RAC opposes new proposals to reform car tax
4 October 2012
RAC is today voicing its opposition to new proposals to replace vehicle excise duty with a one-off emissions charge on new cars.
The plans published yesterday in a report by think-tank CentreForum are aimed at cutting 2.6% off total UK carbon emissions and come as the Treasury is considering the best way to reform vehicle excise duty.
Under the proposed scheme a new one-off purchase tax would be charged on cars with engines that produce large volumes of CO2 and other pollution. A proportion of the money collected would be used as a subsidy towards buying the most efficient vehicles.
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “Any new form of duty that is charged on the price of new cars is hugely unfair on larger families who require bigger cars to get around. It also penalises people that do not drive many miles a year but may need to run a larger, four-wheel drive vehicle because of where they live or the job they do.
“This type of scheme is only fair if everybody drives the same amount of miles a year. For this reason RAC is in favour of a scheme based on the number of miles a car is driven a year.
“RAC strongly supports the reduction of carbon emissions but is urging the Government to conduct a wholesale review of motoring taxation to ensure every element from vehicle excise duty to the duty and VAT charged on fuel is considered to give the motorist a fair and transparent deal.
“RAC is working to reduce the emissions impact of its roadside assistance patrols by encouraging local repairs, using low emissions vehicles and driving to minimise fuel consumption.”
RAC is a strong supporter of green vehicle technology and is the lead sponsor in the Royal Automobile Club’s Future Car Challenge, which takes place on 3 November 2012 between Brighton and London. The event aims to inform and excite the motoring public in the capability of low emissions vehicles in a 63-mile fuel-efficiency competition featuring both production cars and prototype vehicles.
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Petrol sales slump demonstrates motorists have had their fill
2 October 2012
News that British motorists bought 2 billion fewer litres of fuel in the first half of 2012 than they did in the same period in 2008 before the recession demonstrates that the ever escalating price is driving motorists off the roads.
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “This drop in petrol sales is yet more evidence that motorists are finding it increasingly hard to stomach escalating fuel prices and are ultimately driving less.
“The reasons behind this are many. Research from the 2012 RAC Report on Motoring* found a steady reduction in the number of discretionary journeys people are making. In addition to this there is also a trend for buying smaller vehicles and driving in a more fuel efficient way. Unfortunately people are very quickly running out of options to reduce the amount of their income they have to spend on putting fuel in their cars.
“The next quarter’s fuel sales figures will be critical. If they show a further drop then this will indicate a true cause for concern. The planned 3p a litre rise in fuel duty planned for January 2013 could be the final straw for Britain’s motorists.
“The drop in petrol sales is also bad news for the Treasury as it means less money is being collected in duty. We strongly urge the Government to cut the amount of duty charged on fuel as this will do more good for the country’s finances by actually stimulating growth.
“And there is a need for greater transparency in pricing and duty on fuel. The consistently high price of fuel is hitting business and rural inhabitants hardest. As a supporter of FairFuel UK RAC is calling for the introduction of fuel receipts which clearly break down the cost so motorists can see what share the fuel companies get and what they are paying to the Government in duty and VAT each time they fill their tank.
RAC welcomed the recent OFT announcement of a thorough investigation into fuel prices and the failure of fuel companies to pass on price reductions when the oil price drops. Today’s news makes a full review of fuel pricing a priority.
RAC has been championing the cause of motorists since 1897 and has led the campaign to highlight the impact of rising fuel prices on drivers and businesses. As a key supporter of FairFuel UK, RAC has been instrumental in raising the issue of fuel duty in Parliament and lobbying for future duty increases to be scrapped.
*The RAC’s Report on Motoring 2012 is a comprehensive study of the behaviours and attitudes of more than 1,000 motorists which has been running for 24 years. The latest report found the cost of motoring to be the primary concern of motorists with 30% saying that it is their number one concern, and 61% that it is one of their top five concerns. Over half of drivers have cut down or combined the journeys that take this year in order to cut costs.”
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Clampers get their marching orders
1 October 2012
RAC welcomes today’s legislation which outlaws rogue clampers from clamping vehicles on private land.
However it warns that it does not ban landowners from issuing parking tickets and excludes many locations such as car parks at railway stations, airports and ports where by-laws give landowners the right to manage parking in any way they choose.
RAC spokesman, Pete Williams, said: “This is welcome news for motorists and should lead to a dramatic cut in unjust fines but we would warn everyone to be aware that bogus parking tickets will inevitably increase.
“RAC provides its own legal services team available to offer RAC members advice on potentially illegal parking tickets.”
The new law aims to get rid of indiscriminate clamping and towing by private companies and introduce a fairer legal framework for landowners and motorists. Other changes include extending police powers to remove vehicles parked on private land.
Motorists currently pay £55 million a year in clamping fees – but rogue companies may simply turn to issuing tickets.
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RAC urges fuel retailers to follow ASDA’s lead
24 September 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley says: “We are relieved to see a major fuel retailer finally reducing the cost of petrol and diesel at the pump in response to a reduction in the price of oil.
“We hope that others will do the right thing and follow suit so that our members and motorists across the UK can benefit. Normally fuel retailers are quick to raise fuel prices when the oil cost of oil goes up and slow to bring them down when it drops. Perhaps the Office of Fair Trading’s fuel review announcement is already affecting the market.
“Unfortunately this is only part of the problem as the price motorists pay on the forecourt is at least 60% duty. As a supporter of FairFuelUK, RAC is lobbying the Government to reduce the amount of tax on petrol and diesel. We believe this will actually help to stimulate the economy and generate more income for the Government.”
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RAC comment on limited take up of the Government’s
Plug-in Vehicle Scheme
20 September 2012
RAC technical director David Bizley said: “It’s not surprising in these hard-stretched economic times that people are not finding the money for expensively priced pure electric vehicles that are limited in both range and performance. Despite the running costs being lower than conventional vehicles, the scheme is not enough in itself to make these vehicles affordable for the average family because of the high initial outlay. However, the new generation of plug-in hybrid and extended range electric vehicles that are starting to appear on the market should have greater appeal.
“The issue of there being a lack of charging points is somewhat of a red-herring as pure electric vehicles are currently only likely to be used on shorter journeys.
“It is very important that we encourage people to take up new technology that will help the environment but some innovative thinking is clearly required in order to come up with the right incentives that will lead to greater take-up.”
As the lead sponsor in the Royal Automobile Club’s Future Car Challenge, which takes place on 3 November 2012 between Brighton and London, RAC is a strong supporter of green vehicle technology.
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OFT review into price of fuel
5 September 2012
David Bizley, RAC technical director, says: “Anything that brings transparency to fuel pricing is very welcome. Most motorists are very aware that fuel prices go up far faster than they ever come down so it is a very positive move that OFT is seeking to clarify the situation once and for all. Rising fuel prices cause economic hardship for millions, particularly in rural areas, and hinder the growth of the economy so this really is news that motorists would like to have had a long time ago.
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Fuel duty increases hit motorists and the economy
22 August 2012
RAC rejects IPPR claim that ‘war on motorists’ is a myth.
David Bizley, RAC’s technical director said: “The call from IPPR for an immediate increase on fuel duty will not be well received by motorists when they next fill up their fuel tanks.
“The cost of motoring is the number one concern for UK motorists and has the greatest impact on rural drivers and families reliant on their vehicles.
“We also know that there is a direct link between fuel prices and economic growth. Fuel duty increases not only hit the cost of motoring but hit the cost of most goods and services and have a significant impact on economic growth. At a time when the economy is in stagnation it doesn’t make sense to increase fuel duty and add to these problems.
“RAC is a key supporter of the FairFuel UK which campaigned successfully for the planned 3 pence duty increase which had been planned to hit this month.”
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