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ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS DOUBTFUL

Europe’s ambitious target of reducing road deaths by 50% by 2012 is beginning to look more unlikely.

Despite a positive start to the EU-wide road safety initiative, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has now reported that road accident fatalities in 2007 actually rose in some European countries compared with 2006.

Road fatalities rose in countries including the Czech Republic (up 17 %), Denmark (+33 %), Finland (+13 %), Slovenia (+12 %) and Sweden (+6%).

Sweden has been regarded as a leader in road safety.

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ONE IN FIVE CARS FAILS ITS FIRST MOT: IAM TRUST ASKS    GOVERNMENT TO PROVE MOTORISITS ARE GETTING A FAIR DEAL

IAM Motoring Trust research acquired through the Freedom of Information Act reveals that 21.6 per cent of three-year old cars fail their first MoT test, a higher failure rate than in some European countries that do first roadworthiness tests after four years (the European minimum).

“The high UK failure rates may argue against relaxing our MoT testing regime from three to four years on road-safety grounds. But do we have the full picture?” said Neil Greig, IAM Trust Director.

“A Treasury-sponsored review in 2006 suggested that the UK practice of 'gold plating' the European minimum for roadworthiness testing was costing motorists £465 million a year. As a result, the Department for Transport prepared a consultation that was due out in the summer of 2007 but has not appeared. In the meantime, motorists have seen no action and may have incurred nearly £1bn in costs for the current MoT testing system. Who can blame them for worrying about being ripped off?”

A 2007 IAM Trust survey showed that motorists viewed the MoT test as an essential road safety measure but that they suspected that failures were influenced by a garage’s wish to carry out unnecessary work.

“It’s time for government to get MoT testing out of the 'all too difficult' box; motorists have waited too long for answers to important questions,” said Greig.

·Why are first-test pass rates in some European countries better at four years than UK pass rates after three years?

·Does the three-year UK MoT test unnecessarily "gold plate" the European minimum requirement for roadworthiness – at a cost to UK motorists of £465 million a year?

·Would the application of European minimum standards be enough to guarantee roadworthiness of UK cars?

·Is there any evidence that accidents due to vehicle failure are greater in countries that wait four years for a first compulsory roadworthiness test?

·In the UK, only garages can carry out tests and supply the parts and labour needed to rectify faults. In some European countries, testing and rectifying procedures are separated - should we consider the introduction of independent testing centres?

Greig also questioned why so many UK cars fail the first MoT test after just three years when three-year warranties and service agreements are common."Is it because garages do the MoT test before the three-year warranty service instead of after it, which fuels motorists’ suspicion that the MoT is being used to show that the service has been done properly? Do manufacturers’ service schedules not cover all the points needed to pass a MoT test – if not, why?" And finally: “Are high failure rates down to motorists failing to maintain their cars properly?”

First-time MoT failure rates (2007), supplied by VOSA

In the 2007, 21.6 per cent (580,754) of three-year old cars failed their first test. Among 836,646 individual failure faults, the top 10 were:

1 Lighting and signalling 271,567

2 Tyres and wheels 155,489

3 Drivers view of the road

(Cracked/chipped windscreens, other obstructions) 120,095

4 Brakes110,327

5 Steering and suspension99,798

6 Fuel and emissions23,634

7 Reg plates and VIN (vehicle identification number)19,047

8 Seatbelts11,271

9 Body and structure7,705

10 Road wheels (loose, missing wheel nuts etc)5,746

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M25 SPEED CAMERAS GO DIGITAL

The Highways Agency has confirmed that it is in the process of replacing the wet film speed cameras in the variable speed limit section of the M25 with digital speed cameras that will never run out of film.

BusinessCar asked the Highways Agency to comment on a viral email sent to many of its readers, which claimed the authorities were clamping down on speeding motorists on the M25.

The email also claimed the new cameras would have a lower tolerance to speeding and would be active from 15 February.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency, which is responsible for England’s motorways and A-roads plus the installation and running of cameras, said: “We are currently upgrading the cameras and the road markings on the M25 between J10 and J16. This is the section of the motorway where variable speed limits are used to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents. The project includes upgrading the cameras from film to digital.

“We do not comment on enforcement, and will not comment on the timing of the upgrade.”

Although the viral email claimed the cameras would go live on 15 February, BusinessCar understands that this has not happened yet and that the different police forces that cover the variable speed section of the M25 are currently in discussion as to who will handle the enforcement.

The Highways Agency spokesman added: “Enforcement will be the responsibility of the police. As part of the rollout of the new cameras, a discussion is taking place with the relevant police forces (Surrey, Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley) about detailed administration arrangements.”

A spokesman for Surrey Safety Camera Partnership (which enforces Surrey's cameras) told BusinessCar that it was in discussions about which single police force would run the new digital cameras on the M25.

From 1995 to 2000 the cameras were enforced by Surrey, but this changed to the Met in 2000.

The Met’s traffic police spokesman said it would not comment on the tolerances of any speed camera.

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DRIVE & SURVIVE HIGHLY COMMENDED IN FLEETWORLD    AWARDS

Drive & Survive was “highly commended” in this year’s Fleet World awards.  MD Seb Goldin received a certificate to mark D & S contribution as a supplier to the fleet industry from publisher Ross Durkin.

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