TyreSafe is asking those who have suffered as a result of a tyre-related incident and are willing to share their story to participate in its #ItHappenedToMe campaign.     
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Regrettably, tyre-related incidents account for over a thousand casualties on Britain’s roads annually*. Regular checks by vehicle drivers will help reduce this and the hundreds of thousands of breakdowns caused by tyre-related issues. By sharing their stories, those who have suffered a tyre-related incident will encourage other road users to carry out this essential routine vehicle maintenance.

Challenging the conventional approach to low-entry, high-vision vehicles, Renault Trucks UK - working in partnership with Veolia - the UK’s leading resource management company, has delivered a class-leading lowest entry Range D day cab, as part a £5 million investment over the next two years, that improves driver direct vision while increasing productivity for multiple collection operations.

“Transport for London’s CLOCS programme has made low-entry, high-vision vehicles a priority to minimise work-related road risk, underlined by the London Mayor’s Direct Vision Standard system,” says Nigel Butler, Renault Trucks UK’s Commercial Director. “By working with Veolia we have been able to gain a real insight into the complexities of their operating environment and to deliver a cost-effective, ex-factory low-entry vehicle solution that requires no additional conversion and is designed around their urban cycle to improve both on road safety and operational efficiency.” 

T​rucksmith, an approved converter partner of Renault UK vans, has launched a new product at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC.

The Target is based on the low roof Renault Trafic platform cab and introduces a clever secure loading space to the traditional dropside flatbed van. As you may expect from Trucksmith, What Van’s Converter of the Year 2017, the new vehicle is robust, practical and cleverly designed to meet the needs of tradesmen such as builders and gardeners, as well as council maintenance teams and housing association trades.

​Thanks to the success of trials carried out by Bournemouth Council, Innovative Safety Systems Ltd (ISS) has been refining and developing its revolutionary new reversing device, Reaclear, ready to go into full production this Summer.
 
Vehicle safety technology company and the creators of Cyclear®, ISS, designed Reaclear specifically for the waste management sector, to eliminate accidents caused during reversing manoeuvres.  It works by ensuring that every reverse manoeuvre is ‘authorised’ before it occurs. 

F​leet leasing and mobility experts Alphabet today announced that it had commenced deliveries of a fleet of 69 Light Commercial Vehicles for new environmental and property maintenance company, HTS (Property & Environment) Ltd, who commenced trading in February 2017 by Harlow Council.
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The fleet of 69 vehicles includes a mix of Ford vehicles from Couriers and Connects through to Transit Customs and Vans which will be delivered in April and May. The first 10 vehicles were delivered to HTS on Friday 7 April.

The Freight Transport Association has signed a five-year contract extension with the AA fleet and SME division for the provision of breakdown and recovery services to 2,000 FTA Recovery members for their 86,000 mixed vehicle fleets.
 
With its 111-year strong history, the AA is still the UK’s leader in breakdown and recovery services.  The fully comprehensive contract, effective immediately, sees the AA provide services to cars, vans and HGVs.
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The trade body for the vehicle rental and leasing industry in the UK has opposed Transport for London’s proposal for a new Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for trucks entering London from 2020. Responding to TfL’s online consultation on the DVS, the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association said the proposals were unworkable and unsupported by clear road safety evidence. 
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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants to create a rating system from zero to five stars to grade HGVs based on the level of direct vision the driver has from the cab. Mr Khan has proposed that lorries with a zero star rating are banned from London by 2020. Furthermore, from 2024, only lorries that achieve a star rating of three stars or more would be permitted entry into the capital. In order to achieve a five star rating, trucks must either be fitted with a Low Entry Cab (LEC), or have a transparent panel in the passenger door. The mayor justified his decision with the claim that HGVs were involved in 22.5% of pedestrian fatalities and 58% of cyclist fatalities on London’s roads in 2014 and 2015. 
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Brake, the road safety has welcomed a series of measures to get tough on drivers who break speed limits.
The new fines come into force today (24th April), when new sentencing guidelines take effect.

Drivers responsible for high speed offences will be given harsher fines, under a series of strict new rules for district judges and magistrates. They could be fined 150% of their weekly income, rather than the existing level of 100%. This includes drivers caught doing 41mph in a 20mph area, 51mph in a 30mph area or 66mph in a 40mph area.

Gary Rae, campaigns director for Brake, said: “Toughening the fines and penalties for speeding is long overdue. As a charity that offers a support service to families bereaved and injured in road crashes, we see every day the consequences of speeding on our roads. I hope that magistrates ensure the new sentences are consistently applied.”

The first wave of fleets participating in the Ford Transit plug-in hybrid van (PHEV) London trial, starting this autumn, have been confirmed.

The multi-million pound project is designed to explore how lower-emission plug-in hybrid electric vans could support cleaner air targets, whilst boosting productivity for operators in urban conditions – the toughest working environment for commercial vehicles.

The project, supported by Transport for London, features a 12-month trial of 20 new Ford Transit PHEVs that reduce local emissions by running solely on electric power for the majority of inner-city trips. Equipped with range extenders, the fleet is not limited by battery range, making them capable of the longer journeys that may be required by businesses and ‘blue light’ services.

​Connected and autonomous vehicle technology in the UK will take another leap forward, following the announcement of funding under the banner of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). With three of the chosen projects in the driverless cars stream of ISCF supported by experts from TRL, the global centre for innovation in transport and mobility continues to play an instrumental role in securing the UK’s position at the forefront of advanced vehicle technologies.
 
The announcement made by Business Secretary Greg Clark, on 21 April 2017, confirmed the award of £38 million for industry-led research and development projects to deliver the next generation of AI and control systems. TRL’s involvement in the project consortia will see the organisation’s experts provide guidance on key safety, insurance and technology verification elements. 

Richard Turfitt has been appointed as the new Senior Traffic Commissioner by Transport Minister John Hayes. Currently the Traffic Commissioner for the East of England, he will begin his new role on 1 June 2017, taking over from the current Senior Traffic Commissioner, Beverley Bell.

Traffic commissioners are responsible for the regulation of bus, coach and goods vehicle operators, and registration of local bus services. Where appropriate, they can call operators to a public inquiry to examine concerns about vehicle and driver safety. They also deal with professional drivers at conduct hearings.

Richard has been Traffic Commissioner for the East of England since 2008, and worked as a government prosecutor for over a decade. He is a serving Justice of the Peace.

Transport Minister John Hayes said: "I’m delighted that Richard will be the new Senior Traffic Commissioner, following his tenure as Traffic Commissioner for the East of England. His knowledge and vast experience means he is well-placed to regulate services appropriately, and I wish him all the best in this important role."

Richard Turfitt, said: "I am excited to be asked to take up the role of Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain. There is no doubt that I have a hard act to follow and I want to thank Beverley for her work as Senior Traffic Commissioner over the last 5 years. We have a strong, dedicated team of traffic commissioners and I look forward to continuing that work with them, to support responsible, compliant operators and drivers and focus our scrutiny on those who pose serious risks to safety standards."

Current Senior Traffic Commissioner, Beverley Bell, said: "Richard has been an unstinting source of support for me in my time as Senior Traffic Commissioner and I feel comfortable leaving the role in his capable hands."

By Tim Ridyard, Partner, Ashtons Legal

From 24 April 2017 some drivers can expect to receive significantly higher fines for speeding. 
 
The changes relate to more serious speeding offences and come as the result of changes in the sentencing guidelines rather than in UK road traffic laws. The maximum fine for speeding will remain at £1,000 (or £2,500 for motorway offences). In addition drivers will receive between three and six penalty points unless a period of disqualification is ordered.
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When a driver is convicted of speeding in the Magistrates’ Court (or on appeal in the Crown Court), the Court considers the speed limit in force and the degree by which the limit has been exceeded to determine within which Band any offence falls.
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West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has visited MacNeillie in Walsall, one of Europe’s leading specialist vehicle converters and part of Babcock International Group, to see the coming together of over 30 police forces and agencies in the purchase of more than 100 new state of the art public-order vans.

The Protected Personnel Carriers will be long-bodied, high roof Mercedes-Benz Sprinters which will be taken apart and rebuilt by MacNeillie to create a vehicle which is secure, protected and durable. 
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West Midlands Police is expected to buy around 60 vehicles under the framework agreement, which will provide economies of scale savings of over £800,000 for the wider purchasing group.

Richard Semmens, Managing Director of MacNeillie, said: “We’re proud that our business has now grown to encompass a strong international footprint – but our heritage is very much rooted in the West Midlands. 
“We’re delighted to have been chosen to support this initiative alongside Mercedes-Benz, working in partnership with the Commissioner and one of the country’s leading police forces. We look forward to producing a finished vehicle that will serve our police forces and the public well.”  

The Commissioner was given a special tour of the site to meet local workers and see the conversion process.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “Not only is this great value for money, because police forces and agencies from across the country have come together to drive down costs, but this contract is also good for the West Midlands economy as all of the vehicles will be converted in the region.

“I have made it a key priority of mine to ensure wherever possible that West Midlands Police’s budget is used to support the regional economy, as well as keep people safe and reduce crime. It is encouraging to see so many employees from the Midlands that will be involved in this significant project that will ultimately also benefit the people of the region and across the country.”

He added: “The new Mercedes-Benz vehicles are excellent addition to our fleet that will serve the force well over the coming years.”

The majority of MacNeillie employees, and those deployed on the vehicle conversions will be from the Midlands region and will cover a variety of roles ranging from electrician, coach builder, and trim worker right through to livery applicators – who will put the hallmark crest and logo on each van. 

MacNeillie has been running an apprenticeship scheme for over 20 years. Apprentices joining the business enrol in a combination of practical work experience and also attend local colleges in areas such as Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley, where a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) is studied up to a Level 4.  
 
Technical Conversion
All the vans will be received by MacNeillie as standard road Sprinters but will then be completely stripped and rebuilt as part of the specialist conversion in order to create a vehicle which is secure, protected and durable. 

• Each van will have the standard window glass taken out and replaced with protected glass that can withstand attacks.
• Tyres will have a special internal mechanism fitted which will allow police drivers to continue their journey for up to 30km in the event of punctures.
• MacNeillie will also install the locking systems and people cells as well as built in storage units to hold police items.

It is estimated that the first of the new vehicles for the West Midlands will be rolled out later this year. 

Groupe Renault UK announces the appointment of Vincent Tourette as Managing Director, effective today.  

​Vincent Tourette has worked for the Renault-Nissan Alliance for 23 years.  Most recently, Vincent was with Nissan, based in Tokyo, as Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, with global responsibility for their LCV range (pick-ups, vans and light trucks).  Previously he has held a variety of commercial roles with Groupe Renault including CEO for the five countries in the Nordic region, Marketing Director for the Netherlands and, previously in the UK, as General Manager for a Renault Retail Group branch and Marketing Planning Manager at Renault UK.   In his new role as Managing Director, he will be responsible for Renault and Dacia in UK and Ireland and also the right-hand drive markets of Cyprus and Malta.  Vincent will report to Ken Ramirez, Senior Vice-President Sales and Marketing Europe G9, and replaces Paul Flanagan, whose future role within the group will be announced shortly.

Commenting on the appointment, Ken Ramirez said: “I am delighted to welcome Vincent back to the UK with Groupe Renault.  He is a highly talented executive with a wealth of experience and we are very fortunate to have him again with us in the Europe region.”

Vincent Tourette, Managing Director, Groupe Renault UK & Ireland said: “It’s a very exciting time to be coming back to the UK.  I can see that tremendous growth had been achieved in the recent years and I’m sure that there will be more to come with the youngest model range in Europe and more to come with the forthcoming launch this year of the All-New Renault Koleos.”

It may be 10% larger in terms of floor space, but the Commercial Vehicle Show 2017 looks set to be as jam-packed as ever when it opens its doors next week – and there’s still time to register for FREE tickets at www.cvshow.com

With over 460 exhibitors, Halls 3, 3a, 4 and 5 of the NEC are fully sold out, with exhibitors from across the road transport, distribution and logistics industries. 

For 2017, the show has some big names making a return. The free-to-attend show hosts two heavy truck manufactures, market leader DAF and MAN, along with Guest Trucks, a major distributor for Iveco. 

While there are bound to be a number of surprises, one of the major news stories will be the reveal of DAF’s new Future Truck Chassis Concept. 

Apply now for the PRAISE awards: showcasing the organisations that are leading on road safety at work

​What have Johnson & Johnson, Transport for London, Arriva Denmark, Unilever Poland, Electricity Supply Board, Bolk Transport and British Telecom got in common?

These organisations all know that prioritising road safety can help the bottom line, improve working conditions for staff, and boost customer satisfaction. And all are previous winners of a PRAISE award - for European organisations, large and small, that have committed to putting road safety at the core of their business.

If your organisation has a road safety programme, and the results to prove it - we want to hear from you.  The competition is divided into three separate categories: SME (Small-Medium Enterprise), large company and public authority.   

To find out more, and to download an application form, please visit our website. The deadline for applications is 1 September 2017. For more information about how to make the business case for road safety at your organisation, download reports and case studies on our website. 

Gloucestershire-based municipal vehicle hire specialists CTS has taken delivery of 10 new vehicles, including seven brand new Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs), increasing its hire fleet to 200 vehicles.
 
The new tranche of vehicles, which are already out on hire, comprise three 3.5t caged tippers, three 26t Dennis Eagle rear steer vehicles, two 18t Dennis Eagle RCV’s and 2 DAF NTM refuse trucks.
 
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, CTS said: “In the past 12 months we have practically doubled the CTS fleet and our aim is to continue this rate of expansion during 2017.  As well as our short term hire service we also have a number of contract hire customers who have chosen CTS for their entire fleet provision.”

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called on the government to ensure the cost of enforcement against owners of dangerous or unroadworthy vans is charged to those not complying with the law, rather than spreading the cost across the entire sector.  The proposal comes in response to a government consultation, which recommended that the funding of enforcement against unsafe vans out on the roads should be transferred from a grant paid for by taxpayers to a fee charged to van operators on top of the MOT fee.
 
FTA’s membership supported the move to charge the industry, but is demanding that consideration is given to the application of this new “enforcement levy” only to those whose vehicles did not pass their MOT at the first attempt.
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Tusker, the Car Benefit People, has consistently grown year on year, while maintaining exceptional customer service standards, something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by The Sunday Times.
 
The Profit Track 100 which The Sunday Times published last week, highlights the growth of companies from a variety of industries across Europe. Tusker achieved a staggering 89% growth over the past three years, which resulted in it being ranked 28th in the prestigious award.  
 
Delighted with the recognition the company has gained from the highly-coveted publication, Paul Gilshan, CMO, commented: “We’re thrilled with the award. It’s fantastic that a small company such as Tusker can achieve this accolade. As we continue to grow we hope to move up the rankings for years to come."
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