The United Kingdom has the second safest roads in Europe. That’s according to figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
When based on the number of road fatalities per million inhabitants, the UK is ranked second with a figure of 28. Only Sweden’s roads are safer, with 25 road deaths per million people.
Road traffic deaths have been falling in the EU for the past two decades. In 2001, there were 54,900 fatalities. By 2017, this had fallen to 25,300.
It means that the EU has the safest roads in the world. However, data from CARE (EU Road Accidents Database) shows that 70 people die every day on the roads of Europe.
The majority of road incidents are linked to human error, with 10-30 percent of them caused by distraction. It is for this reason that a number driver assistance systems will become mandatory over the coming years.
Driver drowsiness and distraction warnings, intelligent speed assistance, reversing sensors or cameras, lane-keeping assistance and advanced emergency braking are just some of the systems that will become mandatory from 2022.
‘We can and must act’
Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska, responsible for internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “Every year, 25,000 people lose their lives on our roads. The vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error.
“We can and must act to change this. With the new advanced safety features that will become mandatory, we can have the same kind of impact as when the safety belts were first introduced.
“Many of the new features already exist, in particular in high–end vehicles. Now we raise the safety level across the board, and pave the way for connected and automated mobility of the future.”
Road fatalities are at their highest in the eastern regions of Europe. Romania has the worst record, with 99 fatalities per million inhabitants. Things are little better in Bulgaria (96 fatalities per million inhabitants), Croatia (80), Poland (75) and Latvia (70).
There are many reasons for this, including the poor condition of the road network and the reliance on older, less safe vehicles.
Over 13,000 motorcycles were registered in June 2020, a rise of 14.8 percent over 2019.
More significantly, sales of scooters were up 43.1 percent as commuters look for alternatives to public transport.
Trade body the MCIA says scooters are now the second most popular type of new motorcycle in the UK, ahead of more powerful superbikes and adventure sport machines.
Growth is particularly strong amongst those for whom walking and cycling are not viable.
The organisation says this is proof of the role motorcycles and scooters can play in transport planning and is now calling on the government to fully endorse them.
Ministers such as transport secretary Grant Shapps, it says, have for months been promoting alternatives to public transport – but have ignored motorcycles and scooters.
The MCIA says they “are a clean and efficient transport mode that require little road space for travel or parking and which can meet the needs of a variety of commuters, while at the same time fulfilling their social distancing and environmental obligations”.
More than a million British motorists already hold a motorcycle licence, adds the MCIA.
“The Government’s message to not use public transport is clearly benefitting scooters and motorcycles sales”, said Stephen Latham, head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association.
“Scooter and motorcycle retailers are optimistic that they are in a good position to benefit from the gradual return to work as lockdown measures continue to ease.”
The best-selling motorcycle in June 2020 was the Honda PCX125 scooter.
Honda was the best-selling brand too, ahead of Yamaha and Triumph.
British Gas has ordered 1,000 all-electric Vivaro-e vans from Vauxhall. It’s the largest electric vehicle order for a commercial fleet in the UK.
The electric vans will be used across the country by British Gas engineers. Centrica, owner of British Gas, said it’s committed to electrifying its entire fleet of 12,000 vehicles by 2030.
The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is the sister van to the all-electric Citroen e-Dispatch and Peugeot e-Expert. It was due to be unveiled at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show, but with the event cancelled due to the coronavirus, the electric van was, fittingly, given a digital launch.
British Gas says it could order a fleet of the smaller Vauxhall Combo-e when it arrives in the summer of 2021.
For now, the Vivaro-e offers the equivalent of 136hp, a payload of up to 1,226kg, and a top speed of 81mph. It’s also the first electric van with the ability to tow a trailer.
The electric range varies depending on the battery size. The 50kWh version should be good for 143 miles, while the 75kWh provides an impressive 205 miles.
Although prices haven’t been announced, a Vivaro-e with a 50kWh battery is expected to cost around £30,000.
‘Build back greener’
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Today’s announcement marks another milestone as we continue on the road to a green transport recovery.
“This is a huge step for such an iconic British company, who are showing leadership in making the switch to zero emission vehicles as we to strive to meet net zero emissions by 2050.
“We’re determined to build back greener – to deliver better air quality and lower our carbon footprint, which is why we’re investing more than ever in zero emission grants and infrastructure.”
Stephen Norman, managing director of Vauxhall, added: “I am delighted that British Gas has confirmed the UK’s largest order of battery electric vehicles with the Vauxhall Vivaro-e.
“As with all businesses up and down the country, tradespeople rely on their van as an essential tool of their work and our 300-strong retailer network is crucial in continuing to provide support to carry British business.
“The strength of the quantity of orders for our all-electric van demonstrates that the Vauxhall Vivaro-e, the first step in the electrification of our entire van range, can contribute towards the transition towards low emissions vehicles whilst improving air quality.”
For more electric vehicle news, visit our sister site Motoring Electric.
An estimated 370,000 new drivers were forced to put their plans on hold during the coronavirus lockdown. This, combined with a four-month backlog , could make finding a driving instructor for lessons extremely difficult.
According to the Department for Transport, there are around 39,500 qualified driving instructors in the UK.
This creates a problem for learner drivers, who face a shortage of instructors and a potential reluctance to step outside their ‘bubble’. The result: friends and family members stepping in to give driving lessons.
Rules for stand-in driving instructors
There are strict rules concerning driving lessons and learning to drive. For a stand-in instructor, these can be summarised as follows:
The instructor must be over the age of 21.
They must be qualified to drive the type of vehicle being driven by the learner driver.
They must have held a full driving licence for three years. This licence must be from the UK, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
They must have valid insurance. This could be as a named driver/instructor on the learner driver policy, or separate insurance can be arranged.
The person giving the lessons cannot be paid for the tuition.
Although it’s legal to carry passengers, it’s best to avoid distractions.
The learner driver could be fined up to £1,000 and receive up to six penalty points on their provisional licence if they drive without the right supervision.
Rules for learner drivers
Anyone taking lessons must adhere to the following rules:
They must hold a provisional driving licence for Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Although they can apply for a licence when they are 15 years and nine months old, they can only start driving a car when they turn 17.
The car must display ‘L’ plates on the front and rear. ‘D’ plates are valid in Wales.
Motorway driving is restricted to England, Scotland and Wales, but only with an approved driving instructor in a car fitted with dual controls.
In Northern Ireland, there is a blanket 45mph speed limit for learner drivers.
‘Open to huge claims costs’
Anyone thinking of applying for a provisional licence or arranging driving lessons should visit the dedicated section on the government website.
Lee Griffin, CEO of GoCompare, said, “We think there could be as many as 370,000 potential new drivers keen to start learning, many of whom could find it difficult to book lessons as instructors deal with the backlog. In many cases, family and friends may well offer to step up to get them started.
“However, as well as having good driving skills and patience they also need to be aware of the rules for supervising new drivers and the insurance implications for both them and the learner. Failure to adhere to both could lead to fines for traffic violations or unknowingly invalidating their insurance, leaving them open to huge claims costs if they have an accident and even a criminal record for insurance fraud.
“The good news is that some insurers offer reasonable premiums to insure new drivers in their own cars whilst learning and being supervised. Savings of several hundred pounds are not uncommon and will be welcomed by new drivers as the costs of getting on the road can quickly mount up.”
The MG ZS SUV has been updated for 2020. This comes amid news that MG is celebrating its best ever June – despite the issues facing the new car market.
MG sold 2,025 cars last month, achieving a record market share of 1.4 percent. The company has 110 dealers in the UK and offers a range of value-driven cars, including the ZS EV electric car. Indeed, the ZS EV is currently the UK’s third highest selling electric car.
The standard ZS SUV is MG’s biggest seller in the UK. Power is sourced from a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine mated to a manual gearbox. An automatic transmission will be available later this year.
There are just two trim levels: Excite and Exclusive. Monthly PCP deals start from £179 for the Excite and £199 for the Exclusive.
For 2020, MG has tweaked the exterior styling, improved the interior quality and design, and added a front armrest. Both trim levels get LED headlights, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and electric folding mirrors as standard.
The Exclusive model boasts blind-spot monitoring, a rear-view camera, electrically adjustable driver’s seat and even a fully digital instrument panel. Excellent spec, especially when you consider the price and the seven-year warranty.
Opt for the Excite model and you’ll pay just £15,495, which is roughly the same price as an entry-level Ford Fiesta.
MG ZS ‘to the next level’
Daniel Gregorious, head of sales and marketing at MG Motor said: “New MG ZS is a fantastic evolution of our most successful car to date. With an exciting new look, great new technology and a quality new interior, new MG ZS takes our B-SUV to the next level.
“The fact that we’ve managed to do all this and still enhance the value proposition is staggering, and I would like to pay tribute to everyone within our business who worked so hard to make it possible. We know that existing MG customers will want to visit our showrooms to find out more, and new customers will be attracted by this great new package.”
The refreshed MG ZS is on sale now with a zero percent finance deal.
UK new car registrations continued their year-on-year decline in June with 34.9 percent fewer cars leaving retailer showrooms, according to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Demand was hampered by the delayed reopening of car dealers in Wales and Scotland.
The June figures continue a depressing trend for new car sales in 2020, due to the coronavirus crisis.
“While it’s welcome to see demand rise above the rock-bottom levels we saw during lockdown, this is not a recovery and barely a restart,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.
“Many of June’s registrations could be attributed to customers finally being able to collect their pre-pandemic orders, and appetite for significant spending remains questionable.”
The SMMT has called for specific sector support, including a potential scrappage scheme to bolster new car demand.
Private new car sales were actually only down 19.2 percent: it’s company car sales that declined the most, with fleet sales down 45.2 percent and sales to businesses falling 52.6 percent.
Diesel performed much worse than petrol, with a near-60 percent fall in registrations. Diesel market share is now just 15.8 percent, compared to petrol on more than 60 percent.
Electric cars scored a 6.1 percent market share, a massive 260 percent increase on 2019, where pure electric vehicles took a tiny 1.1 percent market share.
Overall, new car registrations have fallen 48.5 percent so far in 2020. The SMMT says this is a level not seen since 1971.
The government has actually lost out as a result, adds the SMMT, with VAT receipts from new car registrations plummeting by £1.1 billion.
“The government must boost the economy, help customers feel safer in their jobs and in their spending and give businesses the confidence to invest in their fleets,” said Mr Hawes.
“Otherwise it runs the risk of losing billions more in revenue from this critical sector at a time when the public purse needs it more than ever.”
Best selling cars in June
In the most popular cars rankings, big news at the top of the table is the new Vauxhall Corsa beating the Ford Fiesta to the title of Britain’s best-selling car.
The car industry had been calling for support to give sales a boost after the fall-out from the coronavirus crisis.
Similar schemes have already been launched in France and Germany.
The Times reports it has seen a letter from Rachel Maclean, junior minister for transport and the environment, stating “the government has no plans at this stage to introduce a scrappage scheme”.
Ms Maclean instead outlined the government’s £2.5 billion investment in ultra-low emissions vehicle grants, and funding to increase electric car charging point provision at homes, workplaces, residential streets and the wider road network.
She admitted “a number of media articles have suggested that the government is considering a scrappage scheme” that could have given motorists £6,000 to swap older petrol and diesel cars for a pure electric car – on top of the existing £3,000 Plug-in Car Grant (which was cut by £500 in March).
The letter seen by The Times ruled this out – after the government did the same in 2018 when it stated a scrappage scheme was “difficult to deliver [and] potentially open to abuse”.
Academics, reports The Times, wrote to the Department for Transport in June, asking for clarity on the possible scrappage scheme.
Dr Steve Melia, a lecturer in transport and planning at the University of the West of England, led the approach. He described existing reforms to encourage zero-emissions vehicles as “clearly inadequate”.
Since launching a range of new car sales incentives including an electric car scrappage scheme, registrations in France have recovered almost to normal levels.
Have you ever played fuel light roulette? That’s how far you can get after the fuel light has flashed up on the dashboard – it’s a game of chance and risk.
Research from Compare the Market showed 37 percent of drivers believe they can drive for just 20 miles once the fuel light comes on. In fact, you can probably drive twice that distance – and more in the right car.
Here, we reveal the best (and worst) cars for fuel light roulette, starting with those to avoid if you don’t fancy being left stranded at the roadside.
10. Ford Fiesta – 41.1 miles
On average, you can expect to cover 40 miles in a Ford Fiesta with the fuel light on.
A total of 96 popular cars were compared as part of this study. Remember, driving on empty can cause mechanical problems for your vehicle, as well as leaving you stranded without fuel.
9. Nissan Juke – 40.8 miles
Obviously, the figures provided by Compare the Market are just averages – there are many factors associated with how far you can get once the fuel light has lit up. The size of the engine, whether it’s a petrol or diesel car, how fast you’re driving, and the topography of the landscape are just four of the variables at play.
In the outgoing Nissan Juke, you shouldn’t need to panic until you’ve hit 40 miles in the red.
8. Peugeot 108 – 39.1 miles
It’s a similar story in the Peugeot 108, a car that will spend much of its life in towns and cities. Which means you shouldn’t find yourself too far from a fuel station.
The 108 manages 39.1 miles with the fuel light on.
7. Citroen C1 – 38.8 miles
Predictably, the 108’s platform-sharing cousin, the Citroen C1, will cover a similar distance with the fuel light on.
In truth, it’s a good idea to refuel your car long before the gauge hits the red. That’s because the fuel pump is designed to be submerged in fuel for its cooling properties and can overheat without it.
6. Jaguar XK – 38.4 miles
Knowing how far your car can travel when the fuel light comes on could prove to be very useful if you find yourself in a remote part of the country, such as inland from the north-west coast of Scotland. You might discover that you don’t have enough fuel to reach the nearest petrol station. And when you get there, it might be shut.
At least if you’re in a Jaguar XK, you’ll be enjoying yourself.
5. Mitsubishi Shogun – 38.2 miles
Of course, many modern cars will feature a sat-nav with a handy ‘find the nearest fuel station’ when the range drops below a certain level.
That said, we’d stop short of calling the dated Mitsubishi Shogun ‘modern’. It manages 38.2 miles.
4. Mini Cooper – 37.5 miles
The average range across the Mini brand, including the popular Mini Hatch seen above, is 37.5 miles.
The Ford range offers the most at 55 miles, followed by Lexus with 54.9 miles.
3. Fiat 500 – 37.1 miles
If you’re driving a Fiat 500 and the fuel light comes on, you should be good for another 37 miles.
With a figure of 41.5 miles across its range, Fiat is second behind Mini on the list of manufacturers that can drive the shortest distance while on red. Porsche is third (43.6 miles), then Mitsubishi (44.5 miles) and Kia (46.1 miles).
2. Kia Picanto – 32.1 miles
Speaking of Kia, the little Picanto offers an equally minuscule 32.1 miles of range with the fuel light on. And you thought range anxiety only affected electric car drivers.
The Picanto has a 35-litre fuel tank.
1. BMW M3 – 32.0 miles
This is it: the car that will travel the shortest distance with the fuel light on.
Something to consider if you’ve taken your BMW M3 off to a remote part of the country in search of epic driving roads.
Cars that travel furthest with the fuel light on
At the opposite end of the spectrum, the following cars can travel the longest distance with the fuel light on.
These are the cars for you if you’re not a fan of rolling the dice and playing fuel light roulette.
10. Audi A6 – 62.1 miles
In 2015, Andrew Frankel and Rebecca Jackson set a Guinness World Record for the most countries visited on a single tank of fuel.
They visited 14 countries in an Audi A6, which manages 62.1 miles in the red.
9. Mazda 6 – 63.0 miles
When the fuel light comes on in the Mazda 6, you have enough range to get you from Nottingham to Northampton.
Other locations beginning with ‘N’ are available.
8. Range Rover Sport – 63.4 miles
In 2017, Fergal McGrath and Paul Clifton drove a Honda Jazz 1.3 from Land’s End to John O’Groats and set a Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption in a petrol car. They achieved a remarkable 95.336mpg.
In other news, a Range Rover Sport can cover 63.4 miles with the fuel light on.
7. Audi Q5 – 63.8 miles
When the low fuel light comes on in the Audi Q5, you’ve probably got enough juice to cover 64 miles.
As mentioned at the start of this article, however, there are a number of factors that influence how far you can actually get.
6. Mercedes-Benz E-Class – 64.0 miles
All things being equal, you should be able to travel 64 miles with the fuel light on in the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
And a very comfortable 64 miles it will be, too.
5. Toyota Prius – 66.6 miles
The Toyota Prius can travel around 2.6 miles further than the luxurious Mercedes-Benz, though.
No wonder Uber drivers love this hybrid hatchback.
4. BMW 5 Series – 68.3 miles
The BMW 5 Series also beats the E-Class, it’s arch-rival in the executive saloon class.
It can stretch to 68 miles with the fuel light on.
3. Ford Mondeo – 70.0 miles
Amazingly, a Ford Mondeo can cover 70 miles, which is enough to get you from Exeter Airport to Bristol Airport.
Handy if you’re a cabbie (who lives in Devon).
2. Volvo V40 – 70.1 miles
The Volvo V40 can travel 70.1 miles with the light on.
An impressive result, but it’s not the star performer on this list…
1. Volkswagen Passat – 75.0 miles
That accolade belongs to the Volkswagen Passat, with a huge 75 miles of range available with the fuel light on.
In 2011, a Volkswagen Passat 1.6 TDI BlueMotion set a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance driven on a single tank of fuel, covering 1,581.88 miles in Croatia.
The Hard Top name was first used in 1950 when Series Land Rovers gained a removable hard top. The new version, adds the firm, is a fixed metal roof.
It is being developed by the firm’s Special Vehicle Operations division to deliver “unrivalled durability, practicality and toughness”.
MD Michael van der Sande said: “We will maximise the functionality and usability of new Defender’s cargo area, with tough materials and clever storage solutions to ensure it surpasses the capability of any previous Defender Hard Top.”
A payload of up to 3,500kg will be available, with coil spring suspension as standard. Defender Hard Top 110s will offer optional air suspension.
Inside, there are no second or third row seats but the Defender’s clever optional front-row ‘jump seat’ in the middle means it can seat up to three – just like a real van.
Unlike a back-to-basics van, Land Rover Pivi Pro infotainment will be available, complete with software-over-the-air updates. Good news for businesses, says Land Rover, as it will minimise downtime.
Full details of the new Defender Hard Top will follow later this year, adds the firm: ordering will open before 2020 is out.
Dacia has become the only new car brand in the UK to sell cars able to run on LPG petroleum gas – and the firm claims its new Bi-Fuel range could save the average motorist more than £400 a year.
This is because LPG is so much cheaper than petrol – 62p a litre, at the time of writing, rather than an average 109p per litre.
Offered across the Dacia range of Sandero, Duster and Logan MCV, the 1.0 TCe Bi-Fuel cars are priced at £400 more than an equivalent 1.0 TCe petrol engine.
This means that if you drive 12,000 miles annually, the Bi-Fuel cars will pay for themselves within a year.
Head of Dacia UK, Luke Broad, says that even with today’s low petrol prices, a Bi-Fuel Dacia will save more than £1,000 over the average four-year PCP deal.
Once fuel prices begin to rise again, the savings will compound. When petrol prices return to around 120p a litre, Dacia Bi-Fuel models could save as much as £2,000 over four years.
What is Dacia Bi-Fuel LPG?
LPG, or liquid petroleum gas, is sold at over 1,200 filling stations in the UK.
Most petrol cars can also run on LPG with some simple conversions – but Dacia designed its TCe petrol engine with LPG in mind, making the conversion easier still.
It is carried out on the production line in the factory, rather than once the car has been built. This is how Dacia can offer the same three-year warranty and impose the same service intervals as a normal petrol model.
An extra bonus is the 1.0 TCe LPG engine produces 10 percent more power than the regular car – 100hp instead of 90hp.
The LPG fuel tank is located in the spare wheel well, so boot space is identical to normal models.
The LPG fuel filler is also located within the regular fuel filler flap, rather than an ugly plastic cut-out in the rear bumper.
How do Dacia Bi-Fuel models work?
Dacia Bi-Fuel models start off running on petrol, and automatically switch to LPG. There is also a controller on the dashboard, complete with LPG fuel gauge.
Because the petrol tank remains, Dacia Bi-Fuel cars have a much bigger range than regular cars – up to almost 750 miles when using both petrol and LPG, claims the firm.
Overall, it costs around 30 percent less to run a Dacia on LPG than it does on petrol – and LPG also emits more than 10 percent less CO2 than a petrol car, plus fewer particulates.
Dacia Bi-Fuel new car range
Every Dacia model offers a Bi-Fuel version: that’s Sandero (and Sandero Stepway), Logan MCV (and Logan MCV Stepway), and Duster.
The cheapest Dacia LPG model is the Sandero Essential 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel, which costs £9,145. A regular Sandero Essential 1.0 TCe 90 costs £8,795.
The popular Duster is offered as an Essential 1.0 TCe 100 Bi-Fuel from £13,195.
Because Dacia Bi-Fuel cars are classed as alternative fuel vehicles, they even benefit from a £10 saving on VED road fund licence.
On average, you can expect to cover 40 miles in a 
