Plans to double fines and penalty points for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving has sent a strong message to drivers, but we still need better enforcement for the measures to work according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA)

The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its response to the consultation on ‘Penalties for use of a Hand Held Mobile Phone Whilst Driving’. The DfT now proposes that those caught using a hand-held phone whilst driving will receive:

• A £200 fine (currently just £100)
• 6 points for all drivers (currently 3)
• No option to take a remedial course

FTA’s Head of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Policy, Ian Gallagher had this to say: “These proposed changes should go some way towards making all drivers think about the consequences of their actions. Vocational drivers also risk their livelihood as many of our members already have in place a zero tolerance for employees in breach of these rules.”

Police in England and Wales are conducting a week-long crackdown on motorists who use their phones while driving. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said the campaign aims to “make driving distracted just as socially unacceptable as drink driving”.

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The national week of actions comes after a previous one back in May, which resulted in the detection of over 2,000 offences across the week.

It comes after an RAC surgery in September suggested the number of motorists illegally using mobile phones while at the wheel was rising. Out of all the motorists asked, 31% of them said they had used a handheld phone behind the wheel compared with 8% in 2014.

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People checking social media and texting is nor becoming much more common than taking calls at the week, according to PC Derek Kitcher of Gwent Police. He stated that most offenders don’t even realise that a police car is next to them until an officer beeps their horn.

Fellow officer SGT Leighton Healen told the BBC that it was something that was becoming socially unacceptable and was a dangerous “pastime”.

Drink-driving was a personal choice whereas mobile phone usage seems to be a spontaneous offence, he said.

”What we want to do is educate people, raise awareness around the use of mobile phones and prevent it in the first place. As a police force, I’m not always keen to issue that fine if education is better served.”

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The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says the Government’s plan to extend its Plug-In-Van grant scheme to trucks is a step in the right direction, as we look to encourage take-up of green technologies in the logistics sector.

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Electronically powered freight vehicles above 3.5 tonnes will now be supported by the scheme, which was launched back in 2012, with the Government pledging £4 million towards grants of up to £20,000 per vehicle.

FTA has continually called on the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to provide much-needed financial support to help operators make the switch to alternative fuels and low carbon technology. The grant scheme has been offered to car and small van users since its launch but larger vans and trucks had previously been excluded.

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FTA’s Climate Change Policy Manager, Rachael Dillon had this to say: “We are delighted that Government has recognised that freight operators need support as much as other vehicle users to adopt greener fuels and technologies in order to reduce carbon and contribute to improved air quality.

“The cost of an electric vehicle can be prohibitive so any financial support that Government can give may allow operators to make the business case to invest.

She added: “There are still a huge number of barriers to adopting electric vehicles including higher costs, lack of charging infrastructure, short range, reliability and limited payload due to the weight of batteries. Whilst electric won’t suit every operation or truck, FTA hopes that the grant system can encourage uptake.”

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96% of transport operators, when asked by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) say that delivering in London is harder than it was five years ago – with congestion, restricted delivery times and the number of compliance schemes among the reasons given.

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A survey conducted by the FTA in partnership with Road Transport Media (RTM) asked a number operators about their experiences in the city and question them on issues including penalty charges, vulnerable road users and the London Lorry Control Scheme. The majority of those who took part said increased traffic had become the biggest problem.

RTM Group Managing Editor, Christopher Walton, had this to say: “Congestion is overwhelmingly the number one factor when it comes to the challenges of delivering in London, with vulnerable road users and too many compliance schemes both very close in second place.”

RTM’s Freight in the City Expo on 2 November, will look into how delivering in London can be cleaner, quieter and safer. Alternative fuels, consolidation, cycle safety, air quality, consolidation and quiet deliveries are all on the agenda. There will also be a variety of different people from the industry making speeches, including Natalie Chapman, FTA’s Head of Policy for London.

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Ms Chapman said: “Delivering in an ever-growing city is a huge challenge but HGVs remain the most effective way of getting goods in and out so it’s vital to ensure this is done safely, cost-effectively and with consideration for the environment.

“FTA believes there are many improvements that can be made without compromising the efficiency of transport operations, such as reforming night-time delivery restrictions, avoiding lorry bans and increasing enforcement of existing HGV legislation.”

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The post-Brexit fall in the value of the pound has meant road hauliers will have to demonstrate greater financial reserves to operate legally in the UK, according to the FTA.

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Financial standing requirements – for standard operator license holders, are stated in European law in Euros and are reassessed eery year according to the exchange rate on the first working day of October, but they don’t give into force until the 1st January of the new year.

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The FTA has predicted that the sums will go up to around £7,800 for the first vehicle, which would previously have cost £6,650. Each subsequent vehicle after that is likely to set you back around £4,300w which has risen from £3,700. Although these figures are simply predictions, the official figures will be announced by the Department for Transport fairly soon. In January 2016 the same rates fell from £7,000 to £6,650 and from £3,900 to £3,700

Head of Member Advice at the FTA, Es Shepherd, had this to say: “The potential hike may create difficulties for hauliers as they now need to demonstrate to the Traffic Commissioners – the industry regulator, that they have over 15% greater reserves available.

“The financial standing requirements exist to demonstrate to the Traffic Commissioner that a commercial vehicle operation is solvent, and ostensibly to show that they don’t need to start cutting corners in vehicle maintenance and safety in order to save costs.”

The financial standing rates for restricted operators are set by the Department for Transport in consultation with the Traffic Commissioners and do not usually change year-to-year. Theses currently stand at £3,100 for the first vehicle with every subsequent vehicle costing £1,700.

Financial standing is not a sum that has to be paid, rather an indication that a business has such reserves if they need them.

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Ms Shepherd went on to say: “The increase would come as a sudden shock to operators who will need to demonstrate these extra reserves by the New Year. While ‘cash at the bank’ is the most straightforward way of demonstrating compliance, other methods permitted by the Traffic Commissioners include joint and several guarantees, overdraft facilities, credit facilities and invoice finance agreements.”

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The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says a report released by the Department of Transport (DfT) shows that longer semi-trailers continue to make a significant contribution towards reducing HGV miles. Semi-trailers also have environment benefits and pose no greater safety risk than a normal HGV.

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The semi-trailers are up to 2.05m longer than the standard trailers that are commonly seen on the roads.

The FTA have shown their support of a ten-year trail that started back in 2012 to evaluate the impact of the operation of longer semi-trailers (LSTs) on Great Britain’s roads and the role that they can play in improving the efficiency of logistics.

However, it is essential that their use is monitored to ensure that they are used safely.

FTA’s Director of Policy, Karen Dee had this to say: “We are pleased that once again the report is demonstrating that LSTs have a really good safety record.  In addition, the improved efficiencies that they offer are reducing the overall number of lorry journeys and thus reducing fuel use and the associated emissions.  These types of developments will continue to play an essential part in efforts to tackle climate change and improve air quality.”

Dee continued: “Almost three quarters of goods movements are carried by road rather than by rail or water.  We need to maximise the use of rail and water freight as part of making the UK’s supply chain as efficient, clean and safe as possible, but they can never replace road – that is why we need to maximise the efficiency of road freight as well as the other modes.”

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