HALF of all van drivers have nearly fallen asleep at the wheel

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October 25, 2019

Half of van drivers falling asleep at the wheel

Van drivers feel more tired in the autumn and winter compared to summer, according to new research.

This comes on the weekend that the clocks goes back, with British Summer Time (BST) ending at 2am on Sunday. It means that many van drivers will be completing their working day in the dark.

Eighty-three percent of van drivers said tiredness is a factor in the autumn and winter months, with 45 percent saying the shortage of daylight impacts on their mood.

Worryingly, nearly HALF of the 2,000 van drivers who took part in the study confessed to nearly falling asleep at the wheel.

Almost two-thirds of the respondents said they take a break to alleviate tiredness. Separate research shows that this is the only cure for drowsy driving. Earlier this year, the National Sleep Foundation said drivers should take a nap for 15 to 45 minutes when tired.

Fifty-eight percent of the van drivers surveyed in this latest study said they opened the window to stay awake.

This doesn’t work.

Van driver on the road at night

Predictably, the longer a van driver spends on the road, the more likely they are to feel fatigued. Nearly two-thirds of drivers who spend more than 50 hours of their working week in their van felt more tired in the winter.

Meanwhile, 41 percent of those who work between 15 and 20 hours in their van felt the same.

Steve Bridge, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, the company behind the research, said: “Although no one should be afraid to drive during the darkness of a winters’ morning or evening, it is something that requires extra consideration before even setting out on the road.

“The hard-working van community is not immune from the impact of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or increased isolation during the winter months, so during this period of the clocks changing, we’re determined to raise awareness of just how tiring it can be on both physical and mental health this of year.”

Public Health England (PHE) and the NHS launched the Every Mind Matters campaign on 7 October. It’s designed to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health and support others.

A PHE survey reveals that 83 percent of people have experienced early signs of poor mental health in the last 12 months. These signs include feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping.

Helping van drivers to sleep better

Why sleep is the best prevention for drowsy driving

Using NHS advice, van drivers should take the following steps to avoid sleep problems:

Keep regular sleep hours: going to bed when you’re tired and getting up at roughly the same time helps teach your body to sleep better. Avoid naps.
Confront sleeplessness: if you’re lying awake, don’t force it. Get up and return to bed when you feel sleepier.
Create a restful environment: dark, cool and quiet environments make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Write down your worries: set aside time before bedtime to make a list for the next day.
Move more, sleep better: being active can help you sleep better.
Put down the pick-me-ups: caffeine and alcohol can keep you awake and prevent deep sleep.

For more information, visit the NHS Every Mind Matters campaign website.

New Volkswagen Golf revealed for 2020: progressive revolution

By

Richard Aucock

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October 24, 2019

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Volkswagen has sold 35 million Golfs since the mid-1970s. It has now revealed the eighth-generation model that should take the total past the 40 million mark – and, unsurprisingly, it is still ‘unmistakably a Golf’.

Externally, it’s evolution rather than revolution. But in terms of technology, VW actually IS promising to revolutionise the compact car sector, with a completely digital cabin, voice control, autonomous assist up to nearly 130mph plus a broad range of electrified powertrains.

Set for a market launch from December (UK cars will arrive in early 2020), the new Golf’s design adds a bit of clean-cut character to the familiar profile. LED lights are distinctive and Volkswagen has been bolder in the sculpting of the car’s less-is-more lines.

It’s roughly the same size as today’s car, but more aerodynamic, with a best-ever aerodynamic drag factor Cd of 0.275.

The interior ‘Innovision Cockpit’ is the first fully-digital cockpit offered as standard in the family hatch sector. As the Golf is a regular top seller in the UK, this democratises tech previously reserved for high-end cars, says VW.

A 10-inch central touchscreen is standard, with a further screen ahead of the driver, and an optional head-up display. They’re all fully connected, using an eSIM for online services and functions: it’s a technological leap comparable to the debut of the first smartphones, we’re told.

But the humans who have to use this suite of technology have been considered from the outset: “Displays and controls have been consistently digitalised so their functions are self-explanatory.” The most high-tech family hatch, but also the easiest to use?

The range of cars will comprise S, SE, SEL and R-Line variants, with GTI, GTI TCR, GTD, GTE and R performance versions to follow.

Every new eighth-generation Golf will have, as standard, keyless start, climate control, lane assist (which will also assist when turning off highways), Front Assist with pedestrian monitoring and Car2X connectivity.

Engines are up to 17 percent more economical. The core TDI and TSI range will be enhanced by eTSI motors, using 48V mild hybrid drive. The plug-in hybrid GTE will be boosted to 245hp: the full range will stretch from 90hp to over 300hp.

Entry-level petrol engines are three-cylinder TSI engines, producing 90hp and 110hp. Diesels are four-cylinder, either 115hp or 150hp. The TDI diesels use ‘twin-dosing’ AdBlue injection, to quell NOx emissions.

Mild hybrid eTSI motors stretch from 110hp, to 130hp, to 150hp: Volkswagen UK will confirm later which ones we’re getting. The eHybrid GTE plug-in has a 13kWh battery that “temporarily turns the Golf into a zero-emission vehicle”.

Other tech goodies include built-in Amazon Alexa, optional Harman Kardon premium sound and the VW We Connect Plus ‘always on’ connection hub. This will be free for three years on UK cars, and include:

Wi-Fi hotspot
Vehicle status
Online anti-theft alarm
Online auxiliary heater
Online traffic and route planning
Online voice control
Internet radio

It even has functionality built in to allow delivery companies to unlock the boot and drop off parcels – called, unsurprisingly, We Deliver.

Will Volkswagen deliver with the new eighth-generation Golf? We’ll be finding out very soon, because it will arrive sooner than you think. Let us know below what you think about what’s certain to quickly become another British best-seller…

100 miles in 10 minutes: new ultra-fast EV chargers arrive in UK

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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October 24, 2019

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In a boost to electric car owners, E.ON has switched on its first ultra-fast electric vehicle charging points in the UK.

The pair of 175kW charge points are located on the site of the former Armada public house, just off the M6 on the outskirts of Birmingham.

Ultra-fast charging delivers up to 100 miles of electric car range in just 10 minutes.

They support both CCS and CHAdeMO connectors, making them suitable for the vast majority of electric vehicles in the UK. They’re the first of 180 ultra-fast chargers promised by the firm by 2020.

To use the charging points, customers have the option of paying by contactless or their smartphone, using the E.ON Drive app, or logging on to the E.ON EV Pay website for pay-as-you-go access.

‘Landmark year’

Michael Lewis, chief executive of E.ON UK, said: “These new ultra-fast chargers are our first of their type in the UK and will give further support to the growing number of drivers moving away from fossil fuels towards electric vehicles.

“Whether it’s at home, at work, or out and about we’re developing the solutions to help drivers run their vehicles conveniently and with confidence.”

Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, added: “This announcement is the latest development in what has been a landmark year for the UK’s charging infrastructure

“With the UK already being home to one of Europe’s largest rapid charging networks, and a steady increase of charge points across both rural and urban locations, these additions from E.ON will now make it even easier for electric motorists to charge up on the go.”

BP Chargemaster unveiled its first 150kW ultra-fast electric charging point at the Fully Charged Live Show at Silverstone in June. The target is to have 100 units live at 50 BP forecourts by the end of the year.

Click here for a guide to electric car charging points.

‘Nearly new’ is the most popular age of car to buy

By

Ethan Jupp

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October 24, 2019

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A new survey reveals that 74 percent of cars purchased are second-hand. Of the 15,000 people questioned in the AA-Populus poll, 25 percent had bought pre-owned over five years old, while 26 percent said they’d opted for a brand new car. However, it’s the ‘nearly-new’ category that came out top.

In total, 29 percent said they’d bought a nearly-new car, which is defined as being less than three years old.

One in 10 now buy a used car without seeing it first

The rise in popularity of car finance, particularly PCP deals, has led to a massive influx of nearly-new stock on the used market. The average age of pre-owned cars is going down, with the average price going up. It means that more car buyers could potentially find what they’d look for in a brand new car on the pre-owned lot.

“The growing popularity of car finance is changing the shape of the car market as a whole,” said James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars.

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“It has provided a steady flow of ‘nearly new’ vehicles into the used car market. This surge in supply has improved the value and range available to used car buyers – and allowed them to snap up low-mileage, well-maintained vehicles at prices that would have been unthinkable until recently.

“As a result, motorists now have more choice than ever – both among the huge range of cars available on the second-hand market, but also the various financing schemes open to them.”

Who is buying new cars?

More than 5,000 of respondents to the poll said they’d never bought a new car: 34 percent overall, or 32 percent of men and 37 percent of women.

Predictably, brand new cars were least popular with young people: 64 percent said they’d not yet bought new. Just six percent said they bought new last time, and seven percent had bought nearly-new.

Scottish and Northern Irish drivers have a strong taste for ‘new car smell’, with 30 percent from these areas saying they bought new last time. New cars are less popular in the East Midlands, with just 23 percent of respondents having recently purchased one.

Part-time hard shoulders are ‘too complicated’, says motorways boss

By

Ethan Jupp

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October 24, 2019

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Dynamic smart motorways too confusing says Highways England chief

The chief executive of Highways England has described dynamic smart motorways as “too complicated for people to use”. Jim O’Sullivan made the statement to the Commons Transport Select Committee.

Dynamic smart motorways are those where the hard shoulder is used as an active lane during peak times. They account for 68 miles of the ‘smart’ network, while 135 miles use the ‘all lanes running’ system.

It’s the former that apparently causes problems for drivers, claims O’Sullivan. As a result, there are no plans to roll out the dynamic system further. And existing dynamic areas could be reverted to ‘all lanes running’ in future.

Dynamic smart motorways too confusing says Highways England chief

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The RAC has called for a rapid standardisation of smart motorways across the UK, to avoid confusion among motorists.

“We feel a decision should also be taken to standardise all smart motorways so drivers are not confused by the different types,” said RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes.

“At the moment there is a risk that some motorists use the hard shoulder when they shouldn’t, perhaps as a force of habit from doing so most days, because they tend to use these types of motorway at peak hours.”

RAC: concerns around ‘all lanes running’

Dynamic smart motorways too confusing says Highways England chief

The Highways England chief executive has conceded that dynamic hard shoulders prove too confusing for drivers. However, concerns remain around the ‘all lanes running’ system. The RAC worries that SOS areas are still too far apart – and that systems designed to recognise broken-down cars in active lanes are not available everywhere they should be.

“While Highways England feels smart motorways are safe, we know many drivers believe that removing the hard shoulder compromises safety for those who break down in a live lane,” said Mr Lyes.

“In early 2017 the Government claimed there was ‘good progress’ being made in making smart motorways safer by reducing the space between SOS areas, ensuring drivers comply with red X ‘closed lane’ signs and rolling out stopped vehicle detection technology.”

Highways England is turning motorway lights back on

Dynamic smart motorways too confusing says Highways England chief

Smart motorways should be banned, says road safety group

“Sadly, we understand that only a fifth of ‘all lane running stretches’ of smart motorway are currently benefiting from stopped vehicle detection technology which hardly constitutes a roll-out. We believe this technology needs to be retrofitted to all existing smart motorways as a matter of urgency.

“There has been a similar lack of progress in reducing the distance between SOS areas. Schemes currently under construction, and new ones being consulted on, still feature SOS areas at up to 2.5km apart as opposed to the lesser distance of 1.5km, which we believe Highways England had committed to.

“We strongly believe the Government should compel Highways England to make smart motorways as safe as possible by implementing these measures. Only then can drivers have sufficient confidence in using them knowing that all smart motorways are operating to a consistent safety standard, particularly in the event they break down on one.”

Men far more likely than women to commit driving offences

By

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

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October 24, 2019

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Men are nearly twice as likely to receive a motoring conviction than woman, new research shows.

Using insurance quotation data, the study found that 65 percent of convictions were from men, while 35 percent were from women.

Men are also two and a half times more likely to have a drink-driving conviction than women.

But drink-driving isn’t the most common conviction. That ‘honour’ belongs to speeding, accounting for 65 percent of all declarations. Driving uninsured is next on seven percent, while drink-drivers are responsible for five percent of offences.

Dan Hutson, head of motor insurance at CompareTheMarket, the company behind the research, said: “During 2012, the rules were changed by the EU so that insurance premiums could not be based on gender.

“However, this clearly shows that many male drivers are not doing themselves any favours and goes someway to demonstrate why men could still be paying more for insurance than women on average. Convictions on your driving record could have a serious impact on the premium you could be quoted. Poor and unsafe driving practices are rightly having a punishing impact on the cost of running a car.”

‘Surrey’ seems to be the hardest word

Drivers with a motoring conviction are most likely to be found in Surrey. Last year, 83,230 people (seven percent of the county’s population) reported a driving conviction when arranging insurance cover.

It’s a similar story in Lancashire, where seven percent of the population hold a motoring conviction, followed by Cheshire (6.7 percent), West Yorkshire (6.5 percent) and Rutland (6.4 percent).

Looking at drink-driving convictions – which is about to become topical during the lead up to Christmas – Lancashire’s drivers are the worst offenders, with the county accounting for six percent of the country’s convictions.

Lancashire is followed by Cheshire, Cornwall, Shropshire and Northumberland.

Don’t hide your motoring conviction

According to Moneysupermarket, a speeding offence adds around £72 to the cost of car insurance, making it tempting for drivers to ‘forget’ previous convictions.

A conviction doesn’t need to be a driving offence – statistically, convicted drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident. Some insurers will consider such drivers too high-risk to insure.

Moneysupermarket says: ”Don’t be tempted to hide your conviction just to get a cheaper quote. If you don’t reveal convictions, you could invalidate your policy, meaning that any claims would be refused and you would essentially be driving while uninsured.”

Stunning 190 SL takes centre-stage at free Mercedes-Benz museum

By

Ethan Jupp

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October 24, 2019

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Classic Mercedes SL on display at Mercedes-Benz World (image: Shawn Eastman)

An immaculate example of one of the most beautiful cars Mercedes has ever made, the 190 SL, is on display in the main reception area at Mercedes-Benz World – the brand’s free-to-visit showcase at Brooklands in Surrey.

It’s a 1957 model, and right-hand drive, in Anthracite Grey with a red interior. With an estimated value of £365,000, it arrives fresh from a 4,000-hour restoration.

Hemmels, the company that undertook the work on the car, is a classic Mercedes-Benz SL specialist.

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Both this 1957 190 SL and a similarly-restored 280 SL Pagoda will be on display into early 2020, following an exclusive preview evening on November 15 2019.

Hemmels will also display a selection of its cars at the upcoming NEC Classic Car Show, taking place on the weekend of November 8 2019.

A ‘brand new’ classic SL

Each Hemmels restoration involves a bare-metal respray and rebuild, over the course of 52 weeks. A 12-month parts-and-labour warranty is offered on all cars.

SL stands for Super Leicht, or Sport Leicht. It remains one of the most iconic and long-standing names in motoring. These are the cars that fortified the legend, and they join SLs of all ages at Mercedes-Benz World.

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“Mercedes-Benz World is an exceptional venue and reveals how the quality of the brand goes beyond automotive engineering to the ethos of the entire company and their overall commitment to excellence.” said Joseph Sullivan, CEO of Hemmels.

“We’re excited to once again have a Hemmels restoration selected for display at this stunning location.”

The most popular car brands among millennials

By

Ethan Jupp

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October 23, 2019

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A new poll by YouGov has revealed the popularity of different car manufacturers within different age groups – and the results are intriguing. Here, we reveal the car brands favoured by millennials.

15. Toyota

In 15th place is Toyota. Not a bad position overall, out of some 63 marques. Proof that millennials know a thing or two about reliability and common sense. In case you were wondering, millennials were born between 1980 and 1994.

14. Land Rover

With the popularity of crossovers – not to mention the image of Range Rover – we’re surprised to find Land Rover this low, even though it’s well into the most popular 25 percent.

13. Lamborghini

The famous supercar brand comes in at 13th with millennials. Meanwhile, Lamborghini is the eighth most popular brand within Generation X circles (1960s to 1980). For baby boomers (1946 to 1964), Lambo strikes less of a chord and is down in 18th.

12. Porsche

Climbing the millennials popularity tree ahead of Lamborghini is Porsche, in at number 12, as it is for Generation X. But Porsche is more popular with boomers (10th).

11. Bentley

Now here’s a curious one: the traditional luxury British marque is 11th with millenials, but leads outright in first for Generation X. Who saw that coming? The boomers love a Bentley, too, taking seventh place with the older generation.

10. Ferrari

Ah, Ferrari. The original supercar brand is tenth most-popular with millenials and eleventh most-popular overall. Boomers aren’t quite so fond of the Prancing Horse, ranking it 14th.

9. Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce: arguably the most decadent car brand of all. In ninth, it’s not doing so bad with millenials, but Generation X has it in sixth. The boomers have it all the way up in second. It also places second overall in the YouGov survey.

8. Mini

This is a curious one. Being on the younger side, the millennials ought to rate Mini quite highly. Nevertheless, here it is in eighth. Boomers love Mini, putting it in fourth, while Generation X has it in seventh.

7. BMW

Just above Mini in the minds of millenials is parent company BMW. The Bavarian executive brand carries less favour with Generation X or the boomers. It doesn’t even feature in their top 10.

6. Audi

Fellow German executive marque Audi is up in sixth. This one’s popular with the youngsters, placing it in fifth for Generation X. The boomers don’t even count Audi in their top 10.

5. Mercedes-Benz

Cementing the Germans in the minds of millenials is Mercedes-Benz, in fifth. It does similarly well with the boomers in fifth, too, with Generation X placing it third.

4. Volkswagen

The ‘people’s car’ beats a long line of exotics and expensive execs in fourth. However, it’s down in eighth with the boomers and not even in the top 10 with Generation X.

3. Jaguar

The ‘Big Cat’ has shed its fusty image in favour of something far cooler. It places third for millenials and second for Generation X. That said, it still takes the top spot with the older generation. With that, it takes the win as most popular brand overall, too.

2. Ford

Ford’s second-place is a big popularity win with the millenials. With Generation X, not so much, in tenth. The boomers rate it lower, too, in ninth.

1. Aston Martin

Finally, the winner in the eyes of millenials, is Aston Martin. It ranks well with the boomers, too, in third, while Generation X place it in fourth. Everyone loves a Bond car, right?

Honda brings FORWARD electrification deadline to 2022

By

Richard Aucock

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October 23, 2019

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Every mainstream new Honda sold in Europe by 2022 will be electrified, the firm has announced at a headline ‘Electric Vision’ event in Amsterdam.

This new deadline is three years ahead of its previously-stated 2025 goal.

The firm will also launch an additional all-new battery electric model and an electrified SUV by the end of 2022, as well as the next-generation Civic and HR-V.

Honda is not giving any further information about the new cars at this stage, however.

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The commitment means every volume Honda model sold will use either hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric drive.

All mainstream non-electrified petrol and diesel cars will cease production for Europe by the end of 2022.

“This shift to electrification will change the face of our model line-up considerably,” said Tom Gardner, Honda Motor Europe senior vice president.

The firm has new branding for its new approach, Honda e:Technology.

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The commitment will be achieved by the accelerated launch of six new electrified models over the next 36 months. This includes the next-generation Honda Jazz, revealed at the Amsterdam event.

On sale from spring 2020, the new Jazz will be fully-electrified for the UK, with a clever e:HEV two-motor hybrid powertrain.

Honda Civic Type-R review: the Jekyll-and-Hyde hot hatch

What about Type R?

Honda is not saying anything about Type R at this stage, other than admitting the storied brand is a key part of its range.

There are two options – either an electrified Type R version of the next-generation Civic… or a traditional turbo petrol hot hatch.

Honda has ruled out petrol power only for its mainstream models: specialist low-volume cars such as Type R could still use regular drive.

It seems almost certain there will be a next-generation Honda Civic Type R. What powers it, however, is another matter…

Fast Ford legends: four classic Escorts up for auction

By

Ethan Jupp

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October 23, 2019

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If your thing is classic Ford Escorts, the Silverstone Auctions sale at next month’s NEC Classic Motor Show includes a Mk1 RS1600, two RS2000s and an RS1600i.

The most valuable car is the 1972 Mk1 RS1600. In light blue, it’s one of just 1,137 built. Its original BDA engine is effectively a de-tuned Formula 3 single-seat racer unit. It’s had just four owners from new and covered just under 8,000 miles. Just restored, it’s estimated to sell for between £58,000 and £68,000.

Heroes of the 1980s

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Then there are two 1980 cars. Both are RS2000 Customs with ‘droop snoots’. One comes in a very 1980s colour: Cordoba Beige. It’s covered a total of 34,000 miles, of which just 1,500 occurred during the past 27 years.

Described as a ‘timewarp car’, coming from storage, it’s expected to pull in between £34,000 and £45,000.

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The second 1980 car is in more desirable Venetian Red. This car is an award winner, having taken first place at the RS Owners’ Club Lakes Tour in 2017. With a fresh restoration, it’s expected to achieve between £38,000 and £44,000.

The last car marks the crossover point for the Escort – from rear- to front-wheel-drive. This 1983 Sunburst Red RS1600i comes from a well-known RS collection. It’s no understatement to say this is one of the best examples in existence. Having driven just 700 miles in the last 16 years, it has covered 34,700 miles in total. With lots of history, it’s estimated at between £30,000 and £40,000.

“These Fast Fords are very popular and when exceptional cars come to market there always tends to be a frenzy around them,” said Joe Watts of Silverstone Auctions.

“We are very lucky to have these cars in the auction at the same time. It gives you a great idea on how the cars developed over the 10 years in which they span.

“All of them are just in fabulous condition and come with their own personal history.”