Getting a grip on grey fleets

Posted in CarsTagged

If you’re in a business which requires employees to be on the road at times, in order to conduct their work, there is a chance that you will be responsible for grey fleet drivers. In some businesses, employers require their employees to use their own vehicle for working purposes.

What are grey fleets?

Grey fleets are vehicles that are used by a company but are not owned by the company. As a result, a grey fleet driver may be someone who uses a vehicle that was purchased via an employee ownership scheme, gets behind the wheel of a privately rented vehicle or simply uses a vehicle that is privately owned by the employee themselves.

When grey fleet vehicles are used, the employer will usually cover the costs that occur such as fuel – or this could be paid in return with a cash allowance.

The legal aspects

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act of 1974 should be studied when an employer is considering using a grey fleet. This is because the act underlines that it is the requirement of employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees while at work, so far as it is reasonably practicable. It also stresses that employers and employees have a responsibility whenever they are engaging in work-related driving activities to ensure they are never putting others at risk. Continue reading “Getting a grip on grey fleets” →

Dangers of Tiredness When Driving

Posted in CarsTagged

GEM Motoring Assist who are a road safety and breakdown organisation have been warning about the dangers of being tired when driving. Many people take long car journeys this time of year to go on holiday and there can be dangers with this. One of these dangers is getting too tired and falling asleep at the wheel. This was explained by Neil Worth, a road safety officer for GEM who said that tiredness can be a big factor in many traffic accidents. Drivers respond more slowly if they are tired and this can be a big problem. He advises that not only should drivers be well rested before they start but they should also have regular breaks in their journey. He explained that young male drivers, truck drivers, company car drivers and shift workers are more at risk of having a collision related to tiredness. Join Car Leasing Specialist Rosedale Leasing as they explore this issue!

Fortunately the Highway Code has a list of ways to reduce your risk of being involved in such an incident. These include planning the journey properly and taking a 15 minute break every two hours or every 100 miles. Avoiding medications which cause fatigue and avoiding certain times of the day and night when accidents are more likely. These include early hours of the morning particularly when driving to or from an airport for a flight. They also advise overnight stops for really long road trips. It is also important to avoid alcohol and if you have had very little sleep then consider stopping overnight or for a nap rather than risk driving when overtired.

The Future of Alternative fuels

Posted in Hybrid

Can we make fuel that is inexpensive and won’t harm the environment? Energy and oil companies, entrepreneurs and researches all are busily engaged in the quest for tomorrow’s clean fuel. No single solution, no magic bullet exists to solve the problem. Instead, industry and vehicles in times to come will probable by powered by a variety of different sustainable energy sources. Check out this great infographic below from Motorparks. It covers a lot of interesting facts like Electric engines and their evolution as well as Hydrogen Engines!

Vehicle Excise Duty 2017

Posted in Cars

It is worth making sure that you are aware of the new Vehicle Excise Duty Rules which came in the UK this year. These do not apply to old vehicles but any new vehicles which were purchased on or after 1st April will have to abide by them. This applies to new and second hand vehicles that were originally purchased after this date.

It is important to be aware because the rules are very different to before. It used to be based just on the emissions of the vehicle and so if you have a ‘green’ car then you would pay less than if you had a large car with high emissions. However, now the value of the car is also taken into account. This means that if you buy a car with low emissions, it may not be as cheap on tax as you imagined. It is worth checking this infographic from Motorparks before you buy your next car.

New proposals shake things up in the world of MOTs

Posted in Cars

With new proposals from the government set to shake things up in the world of MOTs, Motorparks aim to help drivers facing their car’s MOT in the upcoming weeks or months. As we have always known it, a new vehicle is safe to drive on the roads for up to three years without requiring a MOT test – but as the new rules come into play, new cars will now be able to drive up until four years without a MOT certificate.

Transport Minister Andrew Jones pointed out: “We have some of the safest roads in the world and MOT tests play an important role in ensuring the standard of vehicles on our roads.” Continue reading “New proposals shake things up in the world of MOTs” →