BY DANIEL ATTWOOD

Despite evidence proving that electronic stability control (ESC) systems significantly reduce the risk of crashes, the technology is not being taken into account when new cars are assessed for their insurance groups.

This means cars with ESC can be placed in the same insurance groups as cars with no safety systems at all, meaning there is no incentive from insurance companies for fleets to adopt this and other life-saving safety features.

In fact, cars fitted with crash-avoidance technology like ESC, traction control and collision mitigation can actually be placed in a higher insurance group because they cost more to repair.

“It should be a contributory factor in the calculations – anything that helps prevent an accident should mean cheaper insurance,” said Julie Jenner, chairman of fleet opera-tors’ Association ACFO.

Regardless of the insurer’s decision, some fleet managers are demanding that manufac-turers supply cars with ESC fitted as a no-cost option. Ann Dukanovic, fleet manager at Kaba Door Systems, runs a 200-mixed van and car fleet comprising VW, Honda, Ford, BMW, Volvo, Vauxhall and Toyota.

“I now insist that all our cars have ESC at no cost,” she said. “If a car is not available with ESC, it will not be on our options list.”

Insurance groups are also often used to calculate the full life cost of a vehicle, as well as to ensure that company car drivers are in the safest cars in their class.

“It is really vital that ESC is included,” said David Ward, director general of the Federa-tion Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global road safety campaigning and research organisation.

Mr Ward said research carried out in the UK, USA, Japan and Australia all found that ESC could prevent up to 25% of crashes.

Bosch, which developed the system, said ESC can reduce the risk of skidding by as much as 80% and the European Commis-sion’s own research found that it would prevent one-fifth of road crashes if it were fitted on all cars.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI), which controls the insurance grouping system, insists such safety systems should not be taken into account.

“We don’t take it into account because it is

difficult to quantify its benefits,” said Derek Fawell, policy officer for motor at the ABI. “But these are only advisory ratings – insur-ance companies will have their own experi-ences and adjust their rates accordingly.”

While insurance groups may be advisory, they are used throughout the insurance and motor industry and a poor rating can seri-ously affect sales.

The FIA, the European Commission and RoadSafe all back a campaign to encourage the uptake of ESC because of its ability to help drivers avoid collisions.

Even Thatcham, the insurance-funded research centre that provides much of the technical information used by the ABI to calculate insurance group ratings, has put its voice behind the campaign.

The safety revolutionHow technology is taking control p29

Automatic success?Golf gets a cleaner, faster DSG gearbox p14-15

NEWS P7 CAREERS P33 COMPETITION P39 The Department for Transport has ordered local authorities to show more discretion when

issuing parking fines and to move away from the attitude that issuing parking tickets is a money-making exercise.

DaimlerChrysler Fleet Management daily rental sales manager Kate Adams found a recent trip to Cuba was a real eye-opener. Find out more about her in our Settling In column.

This week, one lucky reader will win a Road Angel Navigator 9000 satellite-navigation system worth £500. It combines GPRS and mobile phone networking to provide real-time traffic updates.

FleetNewsBusiness motoring strategy and finance

06.03.08 £2.25fleetnews.co.uk

HELPING

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CHEAPER CLEANER

SAFER FLEET

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TOP STORIES ONLINE ■ Latest running cost figures

for 60,000 vehicles■ Video of the new

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Call for tax decision by ChancellorACFO, which represents fleet operators, has said the Govern-ment’s indecision over changes to the Authorised Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAP) scheme is having an adverse affect on fleet decision-makers.

To date the Chancellor has refused to announce his plans, or even to signal whether AMAP rates will rise or fall.

The association’s director Stewart Whyte said: “All parts of the fleet industry want and need closure on both of these issues… It is now time the new fiscal rules were announced with a timetable for their introduc-tion.”

ACFO said in a statement that tax regimes on business travel by car need to be as tax neutral as possible so as not to drive employers and employees towards any specific corporate transport option.

“Flexibility for employers is a key requirement, to account for the huge range of driving-at-work requirements,” it said. “Environ-mental tax elements on motoring should apply to the vehicle, rather than on the ownership, funding system or purpose of the journey.”

But this has been interpreted by Nick Sutton chairman of Provecta, which promotes alternatives to company cars, as a call for a reduction in AMAP rates.

“The total cost of motoring has risen significantly in recent years, but AMAP rates have remained the same for six years. The simple fact is they need to go up not down,” he said.

Insurers ignoresafety benefitsVehicle safety technology can actually lead to higher insurance bills

Turning off Chrysler’s ESC system demonstrates the skid risk

BY PHILL TROMANS

One in seven fleet drivers are putting their own and other drivers’ lives at risk at least once a week by eating while driving.

Research by road safety charity Brake has found those driving for work are far more likely to munch on the move, with only one in 25 of other drivers admitting to eating behind the wheel.

The results suggest that at-work drivers are more likely to multitask when on the roads.

Now Brake is urging firms to ensure employees are instructed never to eat while driving.

Research carried out by Fleet News in 2005 suggests that even eating a bag of crisps can delay a driver’s reactions by up to 20%.

In June, a Dutch lorry driver was jailed for eight weeks and banned from driving for a year after being spotted eating a plate of spaghetti while driving.

Brake has called for more traffic policing to target those eating on the move.

“Crazy multi-tasking while driving causes deaths and inju-ries,” said head of campaigns

Cathy Keeler. “No-one would dream of snacking on a sarnie while using a chainsaw or doing

any other safety-critical job – and we mustn’t when driving.”

EVENTS ROUND-UP

Safety group chief to chair risk conference

CO2 penaltyProject and cost consultancy Davis Langdon has intro-duced new restrictions on company car allowances for vehicles with high CO2 emissions for both staff and partners. The firm has set CO2 emissions of 165g/km as the benchmark and is offering employees an increased car allowance for vehicles at or below this level. Any employee whose vehicles exceed this level will have to make payments towards sustain-able projects.

Standards markThe British Standards Institute’s new Kitemark standard for garages has been welcomed by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF). “Poor standards of customer service in the retail motor sector are unacceptable, so any scheme that can offer protection to consumers is welcome,” said Alec Murray, RMIF chairman. The scheme has 150 companies whose membership assures quality for consumers.

Tired testingThe Swedish Government is allowing Volvo Trucks to test tired-driver safety systems on its roads. The decision means Volvo’s work with a system that alerts tired drivers can enter its final phase. Driver fatigue is the cause of 20% of accidents.

Provecta moveECO promoter Provecta has moved to bigger premises in Reading. The move coincides with a new brand identity and logo for the company. The company says it will be developing further products under the Provecta brand.

NEWS

IN BRIEF

2 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

The executive director of an influential transport safety lobbying group has been confirmed as chairman of this year’s Risk in Fleet conference.

Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, will oversee 13 speakers at the event at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birming-

ham, on April 22. This year’s Risk in Fleet conference, which will examine financial and corporate risk, focuses on case studies and expert advice from fleet operators.

Speakers include Chuck Ives, head of fleet for Network Rail;

Freddie Watts, fleet manager, Office Depot; Nigel Trotman, fleet manager, Whitbread; Jon York, fleet manager, British Gas; and Paul Gallemore, head of health, safety, environment and supply chain HR, Wolseley UK.

Senior executives from a number of organisations will also be presenting, including PricewaterhouseCoopers,

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, Norwich Union, Zurich Risk Engineering, Arval, EurotaxGlass’s, FMG Support and Lyons Davison.

A dedicated website has been launched providing full details, including information on the speakers taking part.

It can be found at www.riskinfleet.co.uk

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UK FUEL PRICES

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Drivers urged not to eat at the wheel Unison, the giant public sector

union, is launching its own driving ‘licence’ to prove staff and employees are safe at the wheel.

More than 500 officials and workers will have to qualify for the driving permit to protect the union and its management from the risk of unintentionally violat-ing new laws governing corpo-rate manslaughter and homicide being introduced next month.

The new legislation places a major onus on employers to ensure their employees and vehi-cles are fit for the road.

Ian Smith, health and safety officer at the union, which has 1.3 million members, said: “Oper-ating the permit to drive scheme is costing us £21,000 a year but the reduction in car damage and insurance costs it should create could prove it a bargain.”

Penalties for violating the new legislation can be up to 10% of turnover and it is planned to ‘shame’ convicted businesses by advertising penalties in the press and on TV.

The union permit will be issued and supervised by Risk-Master, the occupational road risk protection programme supported by Drive & Survive and the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Volkswagen’s new Scirocco key to user-chooser successThis is Volkswagen’s new Scirocco coupé – a key model in the firm’s drive to win more user-chooser business. Based on the Golf, the four-seat coupé will be launched in the UK in September with the 200bhp 2.0T FSI petrol

engine. A range of TSI and TDI diesels will be offered from the end of the year, linked to either six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG semi-automatic gearboxes.

Prices for the launch model will be around £20,000.

Unison in driving permit move

Eating while driving puts others lives at risk

The survey asked: Within the past 12 months, have you eaten a meal while driving?■ 2% of at-work drivers (0% other drivers) have driven once a day or more frequently while eating. ■ 5% of at-work drivers (2% other drivers) have driven several times a week while eating.■ 8% of at-work drivers (2% other

drivers) have driven once a week while eating.■ 13% of at-work drivers (7% other drivers) have driven once a month while eating.■ 28% of at-work drivers (25% other drivers) have driven once or twice while eating.■ 43% of at-work drivers (63% other drivers) have not driven while eating.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Trial successBritvic is equipping its fleet of field service vehicles with a web-based real-time satellite tracking service from Masternaut Three X, which provides reporting of all vehicle activities. Following a 12-week trial, Britvic has already seen a 10% reduction in travel time. The system will enable Britvic to manage job schedules better.

Kwik-Fit dealKwik-Fit Fleet has extended its partnership with Fleet Hire with a 12-month solus preferred agreement. The Solihull-based firm operates a fleet of almost 6,000 vehicles and now uses Kwik-Fit Fleet for the supply of virtually all fast-fit related services. An out-of-hours’ service is also provided.

Fleet contractLombard Vehicle Manage-ment is to supply Notting-ham-based MES-National with a new fleet of turn-key Volkswagen Transporter and Caddy vehicles. Delivery of an initial 42 vehicles is now under way. They will be fully main-tained over a three-year cycle. The vehicles are being delivered with internal racking and ply-lining, roof systems and livery and will be equipped with Lombard Fleet Tracker.

DSA crackdownThe Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is cracking down on bogus driving instructors who break the law by illegally teaching learner drivers. Only those qualified instructors whose name appears on the DSA’s register are legally able to give car driving lessons for payment.

Green tipsNew RAC research shows that motorists who choose not to adopt ‘eco-driving’ contribute to a £2.2 billion wasted fuel bill each year. The research also shows that British motorists drive more than five billion miles each year while lost.

IN BRIEF

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 3

BY DANIEL ATTWOOD

The UK could save huge amounts of carbon dioxide emissions if employees who opted out of company car schemes opted back in, a leading professional services provider has claimed.

According to KPMG, there has been a decline in the number of company cars since 1999. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures indicate 400,000 employ-ees have opted out in preference of buying their own vehicles.

KPMG suggests that 52% of employees who opt for cash instead of a company car use the money to buy a second-hand car, with emissions estimated at 30 to 40g/km higher than the average company car.

However, this estimate is disputed. Alastair Kendrick,

partner at Bourne Business Consulting, said: “The assump-tion that employees who opt out will be driving a 191g/km vehicle does not appear to be backed up with any evidence.”

“It is more likely that drivers opting out of company cars would buy a car under three years old and thus the CO2 emission is likely to be below 191g/km.”

But it is apparent that grey fleet vehicles can be more polluting and have fewer safety features than newer company cars. Research conducted by fleet consultants GFleet found that the average age of grey fleet vehicles is now 6.3 years, compared to 1.5 years for company vehicles.

It also found that the pro-portion of grey fleet cars running on petrol versus diesel is 71%. For company cars it is 54%.

Now KPMG says that if the 400,000 employees who opted out of company cars over the past few years decided to opt back in, the UK would save annual CO2 emis-sions of 301,000 tonnes.

Again Mr Kendrick disputes the KPMG claim, suggesting that the savings would be in the region of 58,000 tonnes. He says there is a mistaken assumption that grey fleet drivers cover the same mileage as company car drivers.

“The problem for KPMG and HMRC is that there is no reliable record of levels of business mileage by employees using their own car,” he said. “I would expect the average mileage for those opting out to be far lower than 18,000 and more likely 6,000 to 7,000.”

The BVRLA, whose members supply the majority of company

cars, says that only with appropri-ate management can fleet CO2 emissions be reduced.

“This can be done either in-house or through a service provider with fleet management, contract hire or ECO products as an increasing number are doing,” explained BVRLA spokesman Robin Mackonochie. “Only then can they put in place a policy to manage downwards their CO2 emissions, which will save money for both themselves and their employees.”

It is also expected that the number of company cars will increase following the budget, which will allow for a much lower 10% benefit-in-kind tax charge for petrol vehicles (13% for diesels) that emit 120g/km of CO2 or less.

Company car decline ‘fuels CO2 emissions’

More than two-thirds of drivers would feel scared and vulnerable if their car broke down when they were driving alone.

Despite this, almost 31% make no preparations at all before they set off on a journey.

The fears highlight the need for companies to issue drivers with manuals that contain the procedures they must take if they are in a vehicle that breaks down.

To fulfil their duty-of-care obli-gations, fleets should also ensure their vehicles are maintained to manufacturers’ recommendations and to provide staff in company vehicles with 24-hour breakdown contact details so assistance can be sought at anytime.

While 93% of woman surveyed by Britannia Rescue said they would feel vulnerable if they

broke down alone in their car at night, 43% of male drivers also had concerns for their safety.

This feeling of vulnerability led many drivers to say they would not want another motorist to stop and help them at the roadside.

Trust is a big issue for women

drivers in particular. More than two-thirds of the women who rejected being helped by a male stranger (68%) said that they would only want help from another woman because if a male stopped they would worry he might attack them.

A new European study of night-time driving reveals that motor-ists adopt some not-so-obvious – and potentially unsafe – strate-gies for tackling headlight dazzle from their interior or exterior rear view mirrors.

To combat it, a small number of motorists wear sunglasses. Curi-

ously, twice as many British drivers (9.2%) were likely to use this method compared with drivers from France (5.4%) or Germany (5.1%), according to the

survey of more than 3,000 motor-ists questioned by TÜV Rhein-land. Other common practices include squinting (44%) or block-ing the glare with their hand (21%).

A small number (1.8%) would block the glare with whatever they were holding at the time.

Europcar and National are to add CO2 emission informa-tion to their rental car group descriptions.

The lowest group will be cars emitting on average 130g/km of CO2. However, in light of the changes to the London congestion charge, which come into force in October, the rental company group, which owns both Europcar and National, is looking at biofuel and BlueMotion cars in order to introduce a sub-120g/km CO2 emissions category.

“We will be the first daily rental brands to include average CO2 emissions in each car group, along with body size and transmission,” explains Tim Bailey, fleet director, Europcar UK Group. “The addition of this information to our car groups is just the first of a number of initiatives we are developing.”

The highest group will comprise 230g/km emission vehicles.

Emission information for renters

Most women would reject help from a male stranger

Lone drivers’ breakdown fears

Drivers adopt glaringly risky strategies

daniel.attwood@emap.com

BY DANIEL ATTWOOD

Almost half of Britain’s motorists are still regularly breaking the law by texting on their mobile phone and driving, despite increasing their risk of crashing by 400%.

An online survey by the RAC Foundation revealed that 45% of UK drivers send and receive messages while they are driving.

The news contradicts findings by the Department for Transport (DfT), which states that 75% of people believe that drivers who use their mobile phones are need-lessly risking their own and other people’s safety.

The DfT research also showed that 90% of drivers believe using a phone at the wheel has a negative impact on a person’s driving.

Encouragingly, the RAC survey found that 11% of motorists switch their phones to mute or turn them off completely – the preferred duty of care policy that many fleet managers are now writing into driver contracts.

The survey marks the first anniversary of the increase in penalties for using a hand-held phone at the wheel.

Since this time last year, motor-ists can be fined £60 and their driving licence endorsed with three penalty points for using a

mobile phone – including texting and receiving or making calls – while driving.

The police have repeatedly warned that drivers caught using their mobiles will receive a fine and penalty points and, if they have a crash, they may be prose-cuted under careless and danger-ous driving laws, which attract harsher penalties including imprisonment.

Chief constable Steve Green, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ head of road policing, said recently that police advice now goes one step further by recommending that drivers should not use hand-free phones, even though it is still legal to do so.

“Anything that causes a distrac-tion to the driver of a vehicle is bound to lead to an increased risk of involvement in a collision,” he said.

“The research certainly shows that using a hands-free mobile phone is no different to any other distraction, slowing reaction times and raising the risk to the driver, their passengers and other road users.”

Mr Green said fleet managers should introduce a blanket ban on using hands-free phones for all employees who drive for work.

Despite such advice, the survey found that there is still a substan-tial number of drivers willing to ignore the risks.

NEWS

BCA returnsBritish Car Auctions has moved its administrative centre back to Farnham in Surrey after a near-25-year absence. BCA has taken a long-term lease on Headway House in the town after a multi-million pound refit. Almost 150 staff will transfer from the current location in Hindhead, Surrey.

MP apologisesEdward Leigh MP, the head of the Commons’ public accounts commit-tee, has apologised for mistakenly accusing thousands of motorcy-clists of evading vehicle excise duty. He blamed the Department for Transport. He said: “I apologise to motorcy-clists. The department did not give us all of the information we needed. I am writing to the department to seek an explanation.”

Rexel exchangeRexel Senate & Denmans has begun exchanging its fleet of 220 Iveco 2.3d Daily vans with a combination of Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano diesel vans. The vehicles are being supplied by Pendragon Contracts on a full maintenance contract. More than 100 vehicles have already been replaced under the new agreement and it is expected that the entire fleet will be completed by April.

Europcar outletEuropcar has opened a new outlet at Southamp-ton Airport, which serves 1.9 million travellers each year. Europcar will join with National Car Rental – both part of the Europcar UK Group – in a new building at the airport. The outlet will offer a prestige service courtesy of Guy Salmon Prestige Rental.

Sprinter orderVale St Hubert Foods has taken delivery of four new automatic Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis cabs with dual compartment bodies by Cold Car and GAH refrigera-tion. The company used Cold Logic to design and source the vehicles.

IN BRIEF

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 5

daniel.attwood@emap.com

Driver texting still a problem

Text messaging while driving increases the risk of crashing by 400%

Transport for London (TfL) is getting tough on illegal parkers after it took delivery of 21 new high-tech removal trucks. The trucks will operate on the red route network, which carries around 33% of the capital’s traffic.

The new vehicles, which will be in operation 24 hours a day, are fitted with satellite naviga-tion and automatic number plate recognition software.

This means they can identify and seize vehicles used by drivers who persistently fail to pay parking fines.

In addition, parking atten-dants can now link directly to the trucks’ computers and alert the closest one to the location of

a vehicle that is illegally stopped.

Vehicles illegally parked will be issued with a £120 on-the-spot fine and if they are towed away will be subject to a £200 additional fee plus a daily storage charge of £40.

The money collected through fines is put back into improving London’s roads and traffic control, says TfL.

A pilot project indicated that journey times on the red route network will be reduced just 4% as a result of the new service.

The trucks have been operating on a reduced basis since November and will be extended across London during this month.

London gets high-tech tow-away trucks

The leasing industry’s represen-tative organisation, the BVRLA, has warned fleet managers about the risks of using vehicle lease comparison sites.

“We share the concerns of Trading Standards over price comparison websites that don’t attempt to match customers’ needs to available products,” said BVRLA spokesman Robin Mack-onochie.

“Speaking from the experience of having had to resolve a signifi-cant number of problems with customers of rental comparison websites, we would discourage customers from using any price comparison sites.”

The warnings follow the launch of a new website that compares the many leasing offers available. The website – www.howmuchtolease.com – is aimed at fleet managers and provides make, model and speci-fication search results.

Stuart Fraser, who launched the site, said: “We share the concerns of the BVLRA and Trading Standards over price comparison websites, which are just ‘click-crazy’ and do not even try to match customers’ needs to product availability.

“Our site provides meaningful communication between consum-ers and the providers of products and services which meet their stated criteria. The pre- population of the site with specific data supplied by these providers ensures that individual customer need is matched only to genuine availability deals.”

Transport for London is getting tough on parking offenders

Warning on comparison websites

Championing road safetyLeasePlan has signed up as a business champion of the Government-backed Driving for Better Business programme managed by RoadSafe.

LeasePlan will offer speakers on safer driving at conferences and seminars, as well as incorpo-rating road safety details and duty of care responsibilities in its SafePlan programme for clients.

“We’ve worked with a lot of our clients in recent years to help them make their employees as safe as possible when on the road,” Sarah Easton, head of product development at Lease-Plan, said. “Working alongside RoadSafe is the perfect way to put that expertise to good use.”

NEWS

Shuttle service Pendragon Contracts is providing Badminton England with a fleet of 11 courtesy vehicles including a number of people carriers to take VIPs to and from the world’s oldest open badminton tournament. Pendragon is also providing a van to help to transport the team’s luggage.

Corporate rentalsCLM has launched a new daily rental service, Corporate Vehicle Rentals, which will provide a nationwide service of car and van rental, long-term hire and flexi-lease arrange-ments. Clients will be able to use a web system to book, extend and cancel rentals.

Greener ALDALD Automotive has been accredited with environ-mental management standard ISO 14001. The award follows a major environmental programme promoting car-sharing and bicycle commuting and introducing hybrid cars to the company’s pool fleet.

Licence checkGlasgow-based Fleet Alliance has launched an online driver licence checking service as part of its expanded product offering to fleet operators. It allows managers to set the frequency they want licences checked and to prioritise which should be checked more regularly.

IN BRIEF

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 7

Traffic wardens told to ease upBY EMMA COOPER

The Department for Transport has ordered local authorities to show more discretion when issuing parking fines and to move away from the attitude that issuing parking tickets is a money-making exercise.

The move follows widespread criticism of new rules that come into force on April 1 as part of the Road Traffic Management Act. The new act will allow for gradu-ated fines as well as permitting councils to use CCTV evidence to issue tickets. This means drivers may not know that they have been accused of illegally parking until they receive a ticket in the post.

In a bid to allay fears of a back-lash from motorists against the new laws, councils have been told to follow the department’s new framework for parking enforce-ment, which stipulates that authorities should avoid setting targets for the number of tickets issued.

Councils will also have to make motorists aware of how to appeal against fines.

Traffic enforcement officers are being told to allow more leeway on minor offences – for example, giving a verbal warning rather than issuing a ticket. And they are being encouraged only to clamp persistent offenders.

“There is a perception that motorists are sometimes unfairly

penalised,” transport minister Rosie Winterton said.

“To overcome this we are intro-ducing new powers to make parking enforcement fairer and easier to challenge.”

There are still concerns about the new system. Following Ms Winterton’s statement, the AA warned motorists to be extra vigi-lant from the end of this month.

The skills and attitudes of drivers employed by Thatcham are to be re-assessed.

Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre synony-mous with safety, said that with occupational road risk manage-ment topping the agenda for fleet decision-makers, it is time it re-examined the skills of its 130 car-driving staff.

All of Thatcham’s employees who drive company cars, those who drive their own cars on busi-ness and pool car drivers must complete an at-work driving safety programme developed by Driv-eTech.

The DriveTech programme involves a more comprehensive re-assessment of Thatcham’s existing risk management prac-

tices, with all at-work drivers undergoing an online risk assess-ment. Those employees desig-nated high risk must now undergo on-road driver training.

Meanwhile, all staff, including those rated as low or medium risk, will attend safe culture work-shops designed to encourage discussion and debate around safe driving practices.

“As a unique research centre with uniquely talented employees, we find our staff in great demand and, as the business mileage they are expected to cover increases, so the risk of collisions goes up,” said Samantha Webb, HR manager at Thatcham.

“The safer driving programme with DriveTech is about minimis-ing that risk.”

Thatcham puts its drivers through safety tests

The Department for Transport (DfT) is forking out thousands of pounds to pay parking fines incurred by its drivers.

Over the past seven years, the department has footed the bill for £38,760 worth of parking fines. This is despite the DfT stating that it and its agencies have a policy that parking tickets and speeding fines remain the responsibility of the individual driver and are not reimbursed from public resources.

Last year, the department paid out almost £6,000 in parking fines, compared to just £2,000 in 1999/2000.

While the DfT is adamant that its drivers should pay their own parking fines, there are clearly exceptions, as road minister Jim Fitzpatrick explained during parliamentary question time.

“The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) pays parking tickets when they arise in circumstances where security requirements dictate the choice of parking location,” he said.

“The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) also pays parking fines under excep-tional circumstance such as during court appearances.”

Just the ticket: motorists can expect more flexibility over parking

emma.cooper@emap.com

DfT pays staff parking fines

BY KEITH NUTHALL

Leasing companies have been told they must not manipulate financial and insurance packages to avoid charging their fleet customers VAT.

In a complex Italian case involv-ing a company now in liquidation – Part Service, formerly Ital-service – the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that firms providing fleets with cars and vans cannot artificially split supplementary services from their core leasing business simply to avoid charging VAT on them.

The Italian company had attempted to do just that, but was taken to the ECJ by the Italian government.

The court ruled that any move to split ancillary services – such as insurance – for VAT reasons would be regarded as “abusive practice” under the European Union’s sixth VAT directive “when the accrual of a tax advantage constitutes the principal aim of the transaction”.

In other words, if the primary goal of splitting products is solely to reduce a customer’s tax liabil-ity, it is illegal.

However, where there is a clear split, such as a third party being contracted to offer financing, brokering and insurance services, then a restriction of VAT to leasing could be justified, said the ECJ.

The European court has said it is still down to national courts to decide on a case-by-case basis whether the circumstances of such VAT manoeuvres were abusive or not.

In this instance, Italservice had structured its financing and insur-ance services with sister company IFIM Leasing.

EUROPEAN NEWS

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 9

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VAT ruling for leasing firms

BY KEITH NUTHALL

The total road transport oil consumption could be cut by 40% by 2050 if hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and upgraded filling stations are introduced, a European Union-funded research project has concluded.

However, the HyWays project found that substantial barriers have to be overcome – including economic, technological and institutional hurdles – before hydrogen becomes a viable alternative.

Research backs hydrogen

Leaseurope, the European leasing and vehicle rental representative organisation, has announced details of its annual seminar for central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE).

The event, which is aimed at chief executives, senior and mid-level management, as well as those with business interests in leasing and automotive rental in CESEE countries, will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria on April 22 and 23. It aims to address and discuss the issues that face the leasing and vehicle rental industry.

Networking opportunity

Europe may miss safety target Europe’s ambitious target of reducing road deaths by 50% by 2012 is beginning to look more unlikely. Despite a positive start to the EU-wide road safety initiative, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has now reported that road accident fatalities in 2007 actually rose in some European countries compared with 2006.

Road fatalities rose in countries including the Czech Republic (up 17%), Denmark (+33%), Finland (+13%), Slovenia (+12%) and Sweden (+6%). Sweden has been regarded as a leader in road safety.

However, Austria (down 6%), Italy (-11%), France (-2%) and Spain (-9%) saw continuing falls.

The European automobile industry has stepped up its campaign to get the European Commission to revise its proposals on setting emissions targets for new cars.

The industry has said the upcoming legislation fails to take into account car manufac-turing cycles.

It also points out the disparity between the Euro-pean parliament and the commission. The parliament has already voted twice in favour of 2015 as the most appropriate date for new legislation to enter fully into force. However, the Commis-sion favours 2012.

Christian Streiff, president of

manufacturers’ association ACEA, said: “No less than 60% of all cars that will be on the market in 2012 are already in production or in the advanced development stage today.”

Stavros Dimas, the commis-sioner driving the new legislation forward, said the motor industry has had ample time to develop technologies needed to meet the targets.

Carmakers face up to commission

Stavros Dimas was responsible for Europe’s environmental policy

Hydrogen has a long way to go before it becomes a viable fuel

10 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

This week’s vehicle market news and information Edited by Julian Kirk

MONDAYI’ve been reading a press release from Citroën, which has been doing some research about child passengers distracting drivers.

It says that one in four motorists has nearly had an accident because of children fighting, screaming or generally misbehaving in the car.

I can speak from personal experience that even a baby dropping its dummy or toy, and the driver reaching behind to try and find it on the floor, is

much more dangerous than talking on a mobile phone – the Government can ban the use of phones from cars, but it is unlikely they can ban kids, which are certainly more dangerous.

Manufacturers do all they can to ensure cars are as safe as can be in an accident, but there is very little they can do to keep the children quiet, and keep the driver’s mind on the road.

TUESDAYFlew over to Kia’s European headquarters in Frankfurt with Ian Mathews, head of product planning at Kia UK.

We met with the product and marketing team and Giuseppe Tommaso – the man who has recently got the job of European fleet and remarketing manager.

It would appear from the

presentation that Kia is now taking the fleet market and the remarketing of its used vehicles very seriously. They told us some of their future product plans and it all seemed very sensible – Kia needs mainstream cars to sell alongside its more niche models.

While I was in the 10-storey glass building I bumped into Paul Willis, CEO of Kia Motors Europe, and previously at Volkswagen.

He said Kia has developed a clear vision for the future operation in Europe. It has invested in a new factory in Slovakia which produces the Cee’d and Sportage. Paul said he was very confident that Kia can build on its performance.

THURSDAYDown to the IDIADA proving ground near Barcelona to see and drive an all-new upper-medium sector vehicle due on sale early next year. I signed so many secrecy and confidential-ity forms that I dare not mention who I was with.

We briefly saw a static estate version and it looked good, much better than the current model. But for the first time in any launch or preview I’ve been on we drove disguised cars covered in “cladding”.

For a manufacturer to show off a new car it has to be presented in the perfect way, and not covered in cornflake boxes and egg cartons to hide its true shape.

We see many cars many months before they are launched, and every other manufacturer has them looking pristine and with no cladding –which has to be the right way to do it. If I was an expert in stability, handling, chassis dynamics and braking diagnosis, which I am not, then this exercise would have been beneficial.

It’s a privilege to drive early versions of forthcoming cars, but when you can’t actually see what you’re driving, the experience is a little frustrating.

THINKING CAP Hardworking Martin Ward scours the globe for the week’s insider fleet intelligence

Martin Ward is CAP’s manufacturer relationships manager

Interesting research from Citroën on driver distraction

GM’s blue light fleetpxp p12��������

Kia has a stylish future ahead

BY PHILL TROMANS

The used car market remained static in the final quarter of 2007.

Data from auction giant Manheim showed that the average car sold during the fourth quarter was 38 months old and had an average mileage of 46,717, just 77 miles more than in the previous three months. It is the third quarter in a row where average age has remained static.

As is usual during the winter, the number of vehicles sold fell, and to a level lower than that seen in 2005 and 2006. Average values fell by £228 to £6,534, while the proportion of the original new price fell by 1.7% to 41.7%.

The fleet and lease sector was responsible for the fall in the number of sales, while the drop in average values is attributed to a

change in the mix of vehicles sold by the manufacturer sector.

The average age of fleet vehi-cles dropped by a month to 41, while average mileage fell for the seventh quarter in a row to 54,127. The average new price changed

little at £15,653 (up £32) while the average selling price dropped £90 to £5,552. But the percentage of the original price attained fell by just 0.6% to 35.5%.

Values of vehicles from manu-facturers dropped slightly as the

average age rose by one month to 15 months and mileage by 1,404 miles to 15,796. The original new price went up £724 to £19,992 while the average selling price dropped £559 to £12,341. The percentage of new price retained fell 5.2% to 61.7%.

Looking at the different vehicle segments, average age fell for superminis, family cars, compact executives and MPVs, but rose for small hatchbacks, executive cars and 4x4s.

The selling price of superminis rose by 3%, while all other segments saw values drop, partic-ularly MPVs (down 5%).

Small hatchbacks retain the highest percentage of new prices at 44%, while the worst perform-ing segment is the large family at 35%.

Static end to the year as auction prices drop

This is the SEAT Bocanegra, a three-door ‘SportCoupe’ concept car that forms the basis for the design of the new Ibiza.

The Spanish carmaker whipped the covers off the car at the Geneva Motor Show this week. The design continues SEAT’s recent direction of strik-ing, dynamic and bold features.

Mentally remove the concept car trinkets, such as the Perspex nose, and you’ll have a fair indica-tion of the look of the new-gener-ation Ibiza, due in 2009.

The concept houses a 1.4-litre TSI twin-turbocharged petrol engine linked to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Designed by former Lamborghini design chief Luc Donckerwolke, the Bocanegra translates literally as ‘black mouth’ and offers a nod to the 1970s SEAT 1200 Sport.

Ibiza hints inSEAT concept

phill.tromans@emap.com

Average age of fleet vehicles sold at the end of 2007 was 41 months

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www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 11

Golf DSG launch p14-15 Chrysler 300C driven p16 Vauxhall Agila tested p21 C200 CDI estate test p22

Skoda’s version of parent company Volkswagen’s BlueMotion is GreenLine, and the first model has just been announced. The Fabia GreenLine boasts fuel economy of nearly 69mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km from its 1.4-litre TDI engine. Deliveries begin in April and prices start at £11,490.

Hatchback hint

This concept car drops a strong clue as to what Mitsubishi’s five-door Lancer hatchback will look like when it goes on sale later this year. It will join the four-door saloon which has just been launched and will account for around 80% of UK sales.

RHD for STS

Cadillac’s range-topping STS saloon is now available in the UK in right-hand drive. Powered by either a 3.6-litre V6 or 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine, prices start at £33,995.

Sportier SEAT

SEAT has given its Leon Cupra model the option of looking even sportier with a new bodykit. The K1 package costs £1,000 and adds badging, side skirts, rear spoiler and a central-exit exhaust. The price of the standard Cupra has also been reduced by £200 to £19,495.

IN BRIEF

It might not be due for another 18 months, but BMW’s latest SUV is well into its testing programme.

Spotted here going through its paces in Scandinavia, the X1 promises to be greener than the average SUV, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and BMW’s EfficientDynamics fuel-saving technology, as well as a NOx-reducing system for diesels. It uses the same platform found on the four-wheel drive 3 Series Touring available in Europe, and will go on sale late in 2009.

The X1 looks set to beat Audi’s forthcoming Q1 and Mercedes-Benz’s new small-SUV to the showrooms.

Powered by...BMW prepares another SUV

Spyshot

Volkswagen has revealed details of its first hybrid model – a Golf which can return up to 83mpg and emit just 89g/km of CO2.

Although the manufacturer says the Golf TDI Hybrid is a concept, don’t be surprised if a production version arrives soon.

The concept uses a three- cylinder 1.2-litre TDI diesel engine offering 75bhp. It works either on its own or in tandem

with an electric motor that dev-elops 27bhp and 103lb-ft of torque. Power is transmitted through a seven-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. Aerodynamic tweaks boost its efficiency.

When it goes on sale it will join the Golf BlueMotion – a diesel model which can return 62.8mpg and emits 119g/km of CO2, putting it into the lowest benefit-in-kind tax band for diesels.

Volkswagen reveals details of its first hybrid

Audi is making its TT range even more appealing to user-choosers with a new diesel-powered model.

Due to go on sale in the UK this summer, the TT TDI Quattro is powered by a 170bhp 2.0-litre engine driving all four wheels.

It returns claimed average fuel economy of 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of just 140g/km. The engine already

complies with Euro V emis-sions legislation.

Available in both coupé and open-topped Roadster format, the diesel TT combines frugal-ity with performance with a top speed of 140mph. The 0-62mph sprint takes 7.5 seconds.

Prices start at £26,350 for the coupé which represents a £1,350 premium over the current 2.0 TFSI entry-level petrol model.

Summer launch for TT TDI

Ford has topped and tailed its Mondeo diesel range with a super-frugal model and a sporty range-topper, both on sale this month.

The first new addition is the ECOnetic model, offering sub-140g/km CO2 emissions from its 115bhp 1.8-litre TDCi engine. To lower the car’s CO2 rating from 154g/km, Ford has fitted lowered suspension, low-rolling resistance tyres, a diesel particulate filter and made

aerodynamic improvements.ECOnetic prices are £18,245

for the hatchback and £19,495 for the estate.

Topping the range is the Mondeo 2.2 TDCi offering 175bhp and available only in the top Titanium X trim level. CO2 emissions are 165g/km. Prices will be announced next week.■ Ford has said that all S-MAX and Galaxy MPV models will now be fitted with Bluetooth telephony as standard.

Mondeo range extended

Diesel TT arrives this

summer

Volkswagen will launch a hybrid version of its Golf

Fabia goes green

It’s an automatic successVolkswagen’s new seven-speed semi-auto gearbox gives better fuel economy and cuts CO2 emissions

NEW LAUNCH: VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.4 TSI DSG 7-SPEED

BY SUE BAKER

Even if you prefer driving with a manual gearbox, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of an auto-matic.

With traffic congestion and busy urban roads, changing gear while operating a clutch pedal can lead to frustration and fatigue.

So it is not surprising that auto-matic gearboxes have grown rapidly in popularity, and one of the best-regarded for its smooth-ness and efficiency is the six-speed DSG (direct shift gearbox) developed by Volkswagen.

Launched in 2003, it has been a big success, with more than a million cars on the road around the world equipped with the dual-clutch auto DSG ’box, dubbed the “intelligent automatic”.

The only limitation to further sales growth has been the size of car for which the DSG ’box was suitable.

And that is why Volkswagen has just introduced a new seven-

speed DSG suitable for smaller models, from the Golf downwards. It won’t replace the six-speed DSG unit, which continues in produc-tion and will still be offered in

larger models such as the Passat and Tiguan.

The new seven-speed DSG gearbox is smaller (just 369mm long) and uses less power than

the six-speed DSG. It weighs 70kg (23kg lighter) and needs only 1.7 litres of oil, which is 4.8 litres less than the original DSG ’box.

These savings are achieved by

doing away with the six-speed DSG’s oil reservoir for cooling the clutches, reducing friction and improving efficiency.

The new gearbox will be

You can’t help being instantly impressed at how smooth and slick the seven-speed DSG ’box is in use. Even drivers who don’t much like an automatic gearbox may find themselves won over.

There is a choice between three modes: auto, sport or manual, and in all of them the changes between gears are utterly jerk-free and seamless.

Auto gives a smooth and relaxed feel, while the sport setting freshens up the pace of gear changes to give a bit more of a press-on attitude to the ’box. Manual mode puts you in charge of changing gear, either via the lever or using the up and down paddles behind the steering wheel.

When the novelty of the ’box wears off, you may well find the mode you use most is sport.

It seems to be the optimum, giving the car a more alive feel than auto, and a less frenetic one than the busy chore of using a manual.

Having seven speeds gives close-ratio spacing lower down the ’box, and a top gear that feels like an overdrive for motorway cruising with optimum economy.

The hill-start system that accompanies the new seven-speed DSG is a bonus. To activate it you depress the brake pedal.

As soon as you touch the throttle, the system disengages for a clean pull-away.

BEHIND THE WHEELcompatible with future engine stop-start technology.

Designed for use with either petrol or diesel engines, the seven-speed DSG suits engines ranging in output from 105 to 180bhp, and with torque loadings up to a maximum 184lb-ft.

Although basically similar, there are important differences between the two DSG transmis-sions.

The new seven-speed DSG has a pair of dry friction clutches, while the pioneering six-speed DSG features a pair of wet clutches immersed in oil.

Giving the new gearbox an extra ratio has enabled it to have a lower first gear to avoid clutch slippage in very slow-moving traffic.

The lower gears are spaced more closely together. Seventh gear is effectively an overdrive

for lower engine speed to improve economy during motor-way cruising.

Eventually the seven-speed DSG will be available in a variety of Volkswagen Group models, from Audi, SEAT and Skoda as well as Volkswagen.

To start with, though, it is just being offered on the Golf 1.4-litre TSI with a 122bhp power output, at prices starting from £15,982 for the five-door S version.

To overcome the problems sometimes associated with start-ing on a hill in an automatic, the new gearbox is accompanied by a hill-start system. This is activated by depressing the brake pedal, and releases the moment the throttle pedal is pressed.

VERDICTVolkswagen has another winner on its hands with this new seven-speed DSG gearbox. It carries on from the success of the six-speed ‘intelligent automatic’ and improves on it, with even better fuel economy and improved CO2 emissions. It’s probably the best semi-automatic gearbox on the market.

FACT FILEModel: 1.4 TSIMax power (bhp/rpm): 122/5,000 Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 147/1,500 Max speed (mph): 122 0-62mph (secs): 9.9 Fuel consumption (mpg): 47.8 CO2 emissions (g/km): 139 On sale: Now Price (OTR): £15,982

In manual mode, the gearbox has a failsafe over-ride mecha-nism to prevent any potentially damaging gear changes from being selected.

At the launch in southern Spain, driving a lengthy road route and laps round a small, tight test track, I tried the seven-speed DSG in a 1.4-litre petrol TSI (122bhp) Golf and a 1.9-litre (1045bhp) diesel.

It felt best suited to the petrol car, with shifts through the ’box happening right where you’d expect them.

The same wasn’t entirely true of the diesel, in which the DSG ’box sometimes seemed to be hunting around to find the right gear.

BY JULIAN KIRK

Of all the myriad models from the Chrysler Group, each with their own touch of Americana as stan-dard, the 300C executive saloon has made the transition into the mainstream most successfully.

Pitched as a rival to the estab-lished hegemony of the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the 300C has done a good job for Chrysler in attract-ing user-choosers to its unique charms.

And now, for the 2008 model year, there is a revised version which the firm hopes will bring even more fleet drivers around to its way of thinking.

The revisions are subtle, with a new rear end design with rede-signed light units and a subtle lip spoiler on the boot, while inside is a new dashboard design and upgraded materials to bring more of a premium feel to the model.

The colour scheme has also changed, with a single colour

dark cabin feel replacing the previous two-tone, lighter look.

Mechanically the 300C is unchanged, which means a Mercedes-Benz-sourced 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. For the environ-mentally unaware, or financially unchallenged, the mighty 6.1-litre V8 SRT with 425bhp is also avail-able. The previous V6 and V8 petrols have been dropped through lack of demand.

But for those who like the look of the SRT but don’t like the thought of the fuel bills, Chrysler

has added an SRT-Design model to the diesel range. Priced at £32,495, or £1,000 more for the Touring estate, this model features 20-inch alloys, wheelarch spats and a chrome mesh grille, while inside are numerous SRT sports touches and the 20Gb MyGIG infotainment system.

Chrysler sells between 2,500 and 3,000 300Cs in the UK every year – the vast majority being the diesel – and it expects this to continue, with supply limited to maintain healthy residual values.

The view from the driver’s seat is quite imposing with a high dashboard and large steering wheel, but the shallow glass area gives the cabin quite an intimate feel.

The focus on improving the interior has also worked, with less in the way of hard, brittle plastics evident. Changes include some stitched leather, more wood-like ‘wood’ trim and LED lighting to create a more enticing ambience.

On start-up the diesel is noisy, but no more so than in an E-Class, and on the move it is subdued. Given its near-two-tonne kerbweight, the 300C is never going to be anything more than adequate performance-wise, but what impresses is the refinement. With suspension and damping tuned for comfort, the 300C yomps along giving a quiet and comfortable ride with little in the way of road imperfections making their way through to the cabin.

As a trade-off, handling isn’t in the same league as its German rivals, but this car is a mile-muncher rather than an out-and-out sports saloon.

American express cashes inRevised 300C looks set to build on predecessor’s success in mainstream executive saloon market

NEW LAUNCHES: CHRYSLER 300C & GRAND VOYAGER

BEHIND THE WHEEL

16 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

VERDICTWith its imposing looks, the 300C certainly stands out in the company car park, and the proven mechanicals in the diesel make for a fairly cost-effective package. The interior improve-ments are noticeable, while the SRT-Design model brings fresh appeal to the model.

FACT FILEModel: 300C V6 CRDMax power (bhp/rpm): 215/3,800Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 376/1,600 Max speed (mph): 1430-62mph (secs): 7.6Fuel consumption (mpg): 34.9CO2 emissions (g/km): 215Prices (OTR): £27,495–£40,995On sale: Now

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 17

BY JULIAN KIRK

The new Chrysler Grand Voyager still looks like a van, the driving experience is distinctly average and some of the interior quality is a little ropey, but none of this matters a jot.

What matter most is this – the new Grand Voyager is one of the cleverest cars on the market and provides a real solution to staff with large families.

Picking up the cudgels from the previous model, the new

Grand Voyager brings revised styling (it’s now more boxy than before), updated engines, more room inside and even more detail changes for the rear passengers.

And prices remain unchanged, with the diesel LX model starting at £25,995. However, the majority of buyers of the previous version went for the full-house Limited, which costs £32,995.

Many will also opt for the impressive rear entertainment option pack at £2,000, which includes two drop-down screens for the second and third row of passengers, a DVD player, input jacks for items such as a Play Station and the MyGIG infotain-ment system which incorporates a 20Gb hard drive.

With this option box ticked, the back of the Grand Voyager is undoubtedly the best place to be, with comfortable seats replete with armrests and plenty of legroom. Then there’s the very

clever Stow ‘n Go seating system which allows all the rear seats to be folded down into the floor, creating a large, van-like loading area. Factor in the myriad cubby holes and storage areas and you’re left with the perfect vehicle for a large family.

The diesel will be the big seller, accounting for upwards of 90% of registrations. Chrysler expects to sell around 2,000 units a year, which is down on the model’s

peak, but this is due to the smaller Voyager being dropped. Its place will be taken later this year by the Dodge Journey.

Chrysler has made some effort to improve the feel of the Grand Voyager’s cabin – some of it successful, some of it not.

The general look is much improved with a more premium-looking dashboard and centre console echoing the look of the 300C range, though some of the plastics still look and feel brittle.

As a driving experience, my test in the Grand Voyager certainly won’t go down in my all-time top 10 drives, but that misses the point.

Yes it feels slow, and that’s because it is, but who wants to have the children in the back thrown around during cornering? After all, they may miss a crucial scene from the film they’ll be watching.

Appearances can be deceptiveVan-like looks and mixed interior build quality can’t detract from one of the cleverest cars on the market

BEHIND THE WHEEL

VERDICTThe Grand Voyager has many strings to its bow – it is well-equipped, competitively priced and has a spacious and flexible interior which is hard to fault, or indeed match.

FACT FILEModel: 2.8 CRDMax power (bhp/rpm): 163/3,800Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 266/1,600Max speed (mph): n/a0-62mph (secs): n/aFuel consumption (mpg): 30.4CO2 emissions (g/km): 247Prices (est): £25,995-£32,995On sale: Now

BY PHILL TROMANS

When journalists jumped into the revamped Chevrolet Aveo at the launch event, they found the CD player had been preloaded with-classic American driving songs, all of which name-checked the historic US brand.

Presumably this was meant to invoke imagery of driving some sort of Hemi-powered piece of Americana across the plains of Wisconsin. Unfortunately, as the Aveo is little more than a rebadged Kalos – formerly labelled as a Daewoo – it merely served as a reminder of how far modern European Chevrolets are from the icons of yesteryear.

The new Aveo is an upgraded version of its predecessor rather than an all-new car. This is no bad thing – sales of the predecessor rose 33.2% year-on-year during 2007. The new design represents the future look of the Chevrolet range and has some interesting lines and features. The interior

has been upgraded with a notice-able increase in quality.

Two engines are available – a 1.2 petrol with 83bhp or a 100bhp 1.4. A quarter of Aveos will go to fleets, with Motability making up a sizable proportion thanks to the option of an automatic gearbox. No diesel unit will be available until the next generation in three or four years’ time.

There are no unpleasant surprises driving the Aveo. Everything is laid out in a logical manner and build and material quality is acceptable, if reflective of the car’s budget price tag, expected to start at under £8,000.

The seats are almost entirely without lateral support, which is no problem in town but a trifle uncomfortable when the Tarmac gets twisty. The left-hand drive model available at the launch proved problematic to my right knee, which kept walloping the centre console, but hopefully that issue will vanish in UK versions.

The 1.4 petrol engine we tried is a strange one. Although it boasts more power than its 1.2-litre sibling, it felt strangely gutless, and while following a 1.2 model onto the motorway I was surprised to see it power away from me. Still, the Aveo is hardly built for speed and pootles around town quite happily. It just needs working quite hard to make any kind of serious progress and seemed to struggle on steep inclines.

Chevrolet looks to future Upgraded interior and increased quality mean Aveo can build on carmaker’s success with Kalos

NEW LAUNCHES: CHEVROLET AVEO/VAUXHALL AGILA

BEHIND THE WHEEL

VERDICTThe Aveo is better looking and better made than the car it replaces which, combined with the rise of Chevrolet sales in the UK, should ensure it does well in the retail market. But, with no diesel option and unremarkable emissions, it may be of less interest to fleet managers.

FACT FILEModel: 1.2 1.4Max power (bhp/rpm): 83/N/A 100/N/AMax torque (lb-ft/rpm): 84/3,800 97/4,200 Max speed (mph): 107 1090-62mph (secs): 13 N/AFuel consumption (mpg): 51.3 47.0CO2 emissions (g/km): 132 142Prices (est): from sub-£8,000On sale: May

BY PHILL TROMANS

Remember when Carol Vorder-man presented Countdown a decade or so ago? She was, to male admirers, an acquired taste – excellent at what she did, but not exactly an object of desire.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, she vamped up, started appearing on red carpets in revealing dresses and broadened her appeal massively.

The new Agila is clearly modelled on Le Vorderman. The old Agila had four wheels and a boot and would quite happily get its occupants from A to B. But it was bland.

This new offering, however, is a whole new kettle of consonants. It does everything the old Agila did, but with style and flair.

The exterior boasts actual curves for the first time and looks quite funky, even if the rear is reminiscent of the Fiat Punto.

Power comes from either a 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre petrol engine, but of most interest to fleets is the 74bhp, 1.3-litre CDTi diesel engine, carried over from the out-going model but with numer-ous refinements.

Economy is up to 62.8mpg, and CO2 emissions fall to 120g/km, within the limit for exemp-tion from the London Congestion Charge and putting it into the lowest benefit-in-kind tax band for diesels (13%) from April.

The Agila will cost between £7,595 and £11,995 and will compete with the likes of Fiat’s Panda and Renault’s Modus. A Vauxhall spokesman said fleet sales were difficult to predict.

He said: “We expect fleets to take less than 20% of total sales. The majority of fleet customers will be health authorities and the public sector. Corsa is a much more fleet-relevant car, but there are certain qualities that make Agila preferable to some.”

The Agila’s interior design is unremarkably decent, but build quality is good, and everything feels solid even if some of the materials err on the cheap side. Those with a fondness for soft-touch plastics may feel let down.

The driver’s seating position is quite high, which takes some getting used to. There’s plenty of room in the back for two adults, although trying to squeeze in a third may elicit some protests. The boot is on the small side, but should you need extra space, then the seats fold down easily and provide 1,050 litres of room.

The 1.3-litre CDTi engine sounds gruff and rattly, but thankfully is not quite so coarse in its power delivery. The soggy old model completely failed to deliver on the handling front, but the new one is much tighter. Steering is crisp and direct, and the chassis vastly improved.

Agila goes from bland to grandDramatic transformation turns Vauxhall’s ugly duckling into a stylish and desirable challenger

BEHIND THE WHEEL

VERDICTThe Agila has undergone a total transformation. The new Agila is a car people will want to own, rather than one that merely provides an anonymous mode of transport. Stylish, practical, good to drive and economical, it adds another string to Vauxhall’s bow.

FACT FILEModel: 1.3 CDTiMax power (bhp/rpm): 74/4,000Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 140/1,750 Max speed (mph): 1030-62mph (secs): 13.9Fuel consumption (mpg): 62.8CO2 emissions (g/km): 120Prices (OTR): £7,595–£11,995On sale: May 3

Stylish estate earns its starMercedes-Benz hopes the new C-Class Estate will attract both fleets and younger customers

22 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

BY JULIAN KIRK

We’ve been very impressed by the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class saloon and now the range has been widened with the arrival of an estate model.

Priced at a £1,200 premium over the saloon, the estate model offers more load space and versa-tility but retains the car’s hand-some, chunky looks.

Boot space is 485 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,500 with them folded down (an increase of 140 litres over the old version), compared to 460/1,385 litres in the BMW 3 Series Touring and 490/1,430 litres in the new Audi A4 Avant which arrives in June.

So the Mercedes-Benz boasts class-leading boot space over its closest rivals, and has raised its game in other areas, too.

Cabin quality is much improved with a real feeling of solidity, combined with a healthier list of standard equipment that includes standard Bluetooth telephony – a

nod to the increasing importance of fleet to Mercedes-Benz – and a raft of safety measures including the Pre-Safe crash mitigation system. There’s also an electric tailgate, operated via the key.

The engine range is improved, including the C200 CDI diesel which is the subject of this test. It is essentially a detuned version of the C220 CDI, offering 136bhp and CO2 emissions of 157g/km.

While the C220 CDI Sport will be the most popular model in the

line-up, Mercedes-Benz is keen to push the C200 CDI with a manual gearbox among fleet customers. It has lower emissions and sector-leading residuals – the C200 CDI SE Estate will be worth £11,325 in three years/60,000 miles, retain-ing 44% compared to £10,225/41% for the 318d ES Touring.

C-Class product manager Nick Williams said: “We will be focus-ing on the fleet area as well as looking for a younger, more dynamic audience.”

MINI-TEST: MERCEDES-BENZ C200 CDI SE ESTATE

Everything from the rear seats forward is an exact replica of the architecture of the saloon, which means room for four adults, solid build quality and decent specification. It’s at the rear where things have changed most, with a large boot area accessed via a low loading sill. Along with the electric tailgate this means

loading and unloading will be very easy.The C200 CDI engine isn’t exactly a fireball and feels far removed from

the punchier C220 CDI. However, once it’s up to speed the engine is refined and flexible – it doesn’t need multiple downchanges to stoke it back up into the powerband.The manual gearbox is the car’s weak link, sometimes refusing to engage a

ratio cleanly. However, when it’s in the mood the throw and change are both adequate. And in SE trim the C-Class rides beautifully, absorbing bumps with little fuss while also retaining some degree of sharpness during cornering.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

VERDICTThe C-Class Estate is handsome, well built and drives well. With the largest boot in the class it is also the most practical. Drivers will appreciate the three-pointed star’s cachet while fleet managers will like the residuals. This addition can only build on the saloon’s fleet success.

FACT FILEModel: C200 CDI SEMax power (bhp/rpm): 136/3,800Max torque (lb-ft/rpm): 199/1,600 Max speed (mph): 1290-62mph (secs): 10.8Fuel consumption (mpg): 47.1CO2 emissions (g/km): 157Prices (OTR): £25,725On sale: Now

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 2322 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

BY JOHN MASLEN

I thought it was time our long-term Touran put its money where its mouth is in a running costs showdown.

So I logged on to the Fleet News website (www.fleetnews.co.uk) and clicked on running costs to see how it compared to its nemesis, the Vauxhall Zafira.

The website is a goldmine when it comes to information like this, as it is stacked with facts and figures about every model currently on sale to UK fleets.

You can filter by manufacturer, model and operating cycle, so I compared the Touran 1.4 TSI SE with the Zafira 1.8 Design.

At first glance, this seems a bit of an unfair contest, but the

award-winning engine in the Volkswagen does away with capacity envy. What matters is power and torque.

And in this respect, the Volkswagen blows exhaust fumes in the Zafira’s windscreen.

The Touran offers 140bhp and 162lb-ft of torque from 1,500rpm. The Zafira matches it on outright power, but in terms of useable torque, it can only muster 129lb-ft at 3,800rpm.

They are neck and neck on mpg and CO2, at 38.2mpg/177g/km for the Vauxhall and 38.2mpg/ 176g/km for the Volkswagen.

But the real hammer blow comes in depreciation. While the Vauxhall is cheaper at £17,965, compared to £18,230 for the Volkswagen, after three-years/ 60,000-miles the Zafira is worth 27% of its new value on the used market and the Touran is 38%.

Overall, the running cost for the Vauxhall is 37.28 pence per

mile and the Volkswagen is 34.65ppm – equal to a £1,578 difference over the three- year/60,000-mile benchmark.

To equalise this difference, a canny fleet manager would need to ensure their discount arrange-ments were adjusted to reflect this running cost issue.

In terms of the driving experi-ence, engines aside, both are accomplished performers and there would be very little differ-ence in tax terms for drivers.

I have waxed lyrical about the Touran and, thanks to the data-base on the Fleet News website, I have a detailed idea of the Zafi-ra’s performance.

Looking through the road test archive, you can see their interi-ors are very closely matched, with the same dark grey approach to design. An important differ-ence is that the middle seats in the Zafira don’t lift out, while those in the Touran do.

Clearly, personal preferences will win the day, but my trawl through the figures suggest the Touran edges it, particularly in terms of running costs.

If there are any fleets running Zafiras that are mortally offended by this, make your views known on www.fleetnews.co.uk by commenting on this story, or starting a thread on our forum.

Figures add up to a good dealThe Touran is not only attractive to own and drive, it also boasts running costs to please fleets

Price: £18,262 (£20,147 as tested)Mileage: 6,450CO2 emissions (g/km): 176Company car tax bill (2008)22% tax-payer: £73 per monthInsurance group: 9Combined mpg: 38.2Test mpg: 39.0CAP Monitor RV: £6,800/37%Contract hire rate: £366Expenditure to date: Nil

Figures based on three-years/60,000-miles

FACT FILE

LONG-TERMER: VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN 1.4 TSI SE

The Honda CR-V is fittedwith Vehicle Stability Assist

as standard, a safety featurerecommended by Thatcham Nearly all my drivers have

satellite navigation of somesort, but should I worry

about the distraction they cause?

On the whole, satellitenavigation is a very goodthing: business drivers are

never more vulnerable in their carsthan when they are lost, stressedand late for a meeting. Satellitenavigation has cut the incidenceof this and it should be seen as amajor development in road safety.But there are issues. Portable

units are often situated in areas of thewindscreen that obscure vision, whilesome manufacturer-fitted equipmentcan be fiddly to use and can distract adriver trying to adjust it on the move.The Fleet Safety Association has

highlighted both issues, calling onfleet managers to issue guidanceon positioning and claiming satellitenavigation can be a ‘significant factor’in the cause of accidents.Voice-activated satellite navigation

allows drivers to input destinationswithout risking having to take theirhands off the steering wheel or theireyes off the road.

Ihear a lot of people talking aboutradar-based cruise control. Is it anexpensive toy or a useful benefit?

These systems are relativelynew to the market and havegenerally only been available on

expensive luxury cars so it is difficultto judge statistically exactly how muchof a benefit they are. Yet there is nodoubt such a system, commonly calledadaptive cruise control, can makedriving considerably less tiring andstressful, while also helping to avoidaccidents and minimise the impact

should a collision become unavoidable.Adaptive cruise control

automatically regulates speed andmaintains the car at a consistentdistance from the vehicle directly infront – particularly useful in high-density motorway traffic.

Similar technology can alsobe used in a radar-linked collisionavoidance system, which can helpreduce accident rates. Sensorsmonitor the distance and closing ratebetween you and the car in front andalert the driver when a collision is likelyby means of an audible warning.

Should a collision becomeunavoidable, the system can initiateemergency braking and tension thefront seatbelts to help reduce theseverity of the crash.Most such devices operate from

speeds of around 10mph, whichmeans that they will be active in low-speed accidents – statistically the mostcommon form of collision on UK roads.

By avoiding accidents, fleetoperators can work towards meetingduty of care obligations, minimisevehicle damage and cut the cost andinconvenience of insurance claims.

Iʼve heard that Electronic StabilityControl can dramatically reduceaccident rates. Should I ensure all

my company cars have it as standard?

Independent crash researchexperts, such as those at the MotorIndustry Repair Research Centre at

Thatcham, have long recommendedthat all fleet vehicles should be fittedwith Electronic Stability Control (ESC),claiming the technology can significantlyreduce accidents rates.ESC brakes individual wheels under

extreme directional changes to makethe vehicle follow the path the driverintends, rather than spin out of control inan emergency.MatthewAvery, Crash Research

Manager at Thatcham, told delegatesat a Fleet News conference: “ESC is anabsolute lifesaver. I really recommendit because research has shown thatwhere it has been used there has beena 30% reduction in fatalities.”

Indeed Thatcham believes ElectronicStability Control could prevent about 400deaths and 3,000 serious injuries onBritish roads each year.Thatcham has a rating system on

its website (www.thatcham.org) whichshows which manufacturers’ modelshave ESC as standard, as an option ornot at all.

Satellite navigation:benefit or liability?

How new technology is having a positive effect on accident rates and safety

Should I specify electronicstability control on my cars?

A regular series that offers help, advice and assistance to fleet decision makers on a variety of current industry issues

Business talk: here to help

Produced in associationwith Honda CorporateSales. Tel: 01494 480515

ROAD TEST: FORD FOCUS 1.8 TDCi ZETEC

Nip and tuck for Ford’s best-sellerFocus adopts new family face among a host of detail changes

BY PHILL TROMANS

An introduction to the Ford Focus probably isn’t needed. Since it was first introduced in 1998, it’s been as smash a hit for Ford as smash hits can get, rarely out of the top three of the fleet sales charts and shifting more than one million units in the UK alone.

Lauded for the daring styling of the first incarnation, 2005’s mark two was relatively dowdy, although the superb handling and practicality of the original model remained.

Now, 10 years after it was first introduced, the Focus is getting a facelift and a few choice tweaks aimed at keeping it towards the top of the hatchback pile.

Where the outgoing Focus looked dull, this one has the latest Ford face, as seen on the new Mondeo. It makes a huge differ-ence – this is most handsome Focus so far, and it looks as good as it drives.

Although the new car costs £250 more than the outgoing Focus, ESP is now fitted as stan-dard rather than being a £250 option.

Under the surface not a huge amount has changed, with Ford adopting the philosophy that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. More has changed with the model hierar-chy. The Ghia trim is no more, and the restructure range now comprises Studio, Style, Zetec and Titanium.

The Zetec is expected to be the

best seller for fleets. It features standard 16-inch alloys, sports suspension and sports seats, the wonderful Quickclear heated front windscreen and a rear spoiler.

While two 1.6 TDCi diesel engines – with either 88 or 108bhp – will appeal to businesses, none were available to test at the time Fleet News went to press. So we tried the 1.8 TDCi, which puts out 113bhp and returns 54.2mpg.

From standstill, 62mph arrives in 10.8 seconds and should you find a long enough stretch of private Tarmac, you can reach 118mph.

With 207lb-ft of torque the engine pulls well enough but steadfastly refuses to be hustled. It’s pretty noisy in the first three gears, but quietens down in fourth and fifth, allowing for a more serene motorway cruise. It also requires a sustained pump of the right foot to gather revs.

The Focus has always handled well, and little has changed. Ford’s engineers know when they’re on to a winner, so there are no dramatic new features to the driving experience, just refine-ments to make an already excel-lent car even better.

The small criticisms that could be levelled at previous models are being gradually ironed away. This latest incarnation is fun to drive, practical, economical and good looking.

Prices start at £11,945, with the five-door 1.8 TDCi Zetec we drove costing from £16,630. CO2 emis-sions are lowish at 137g/km.

■ Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi SE 5dr

■ Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI Match 5dr

The Volkswagen is the cheapest, and comes with 15-inch alloys, climate and cruise control. The Civic’s alloys are an inch bigger and it is the most powerful car here with 140bhp. The Focus also has 16s, while the least

powerful Astra at least has 17-inch wheels and sports suspension.

Golf £16,060Civic £16,265Focus £16,630Astra £16,935

THREE RIVALS TO CONSIDER

P11D PRICE

SMR COSTThe Volkswagen Golf is the cheapest to service, maintain and repair over its fleet life, mainly thanks to its variable service intervals. Both the Ford Focus and the Honda Civic require a service every 12,500 miles, while the Vauxhall Astra can last

20,000 miles without being taken to the garage.

EMISSIONS AND TAX RATESAll the cars here fall into the same 18% tax bracket, but the Golf is fractionally the greenest car here. It will cost £53 a month in company car tax for a 22% taxpayer, with the Civic costing £1 a month more. Both

the Astra and the Focus carry with them bills of £55 a month.

VERDICTWhile the Focus is well specced and the most enjoyable to drive, nothing can touch the Golf for costs. OK, it has fractionally less kit than the other cars featured here, but it’s hardly spartan and offers the prestige of the Volkswagen badge, great residuals, an economical engine and good value for money. The Civic is also a quality car, and outperforms the Focus financially, but it can’t beat the Golf.

■ WINNER: Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI Match 5dr

FUEL COST

DEPRECIATION COST

With combined fuel economy of 56.5mpg, the Volkswagen is the most frugal, costing just under £5,300 over 60,000 miles. Close behind are the Astra and the Civic, with identical mpg figures of 55.4.

The Focus is fractionally the most expensive to fuel, reaching 54.2.

Golf 8.80/£5,280Astra 8.97/£5,382Civic 8.97/£5,382Focus 9.17/£5,502

The prestige of the Volkswagen badge and a CAP RV of 40% mean the Golf holds on to its value very well. The Civic also performs well with an RV of 38%, but the Ford and Vauxhall cannot compete on

residual values, with RVs of 35% and 28% respectively.

Golf 16.01/£9,606Civic 16.77/£10,062Focus 18.38/£11,028Astra 19.80/£11,880

WHOLELIFE COSTThe Volkswagen is easily the cheapest to run of the quartet, costing almost £1,000 less than the Civic over a three-year/60,000-mile fleet life. It is the cheapest in every aspect of fleet management. The

Focus is a great car, but costs nearly £2,000 more to run than the Golf.

Golf 27.56/£16,536Civic 29.11/£17,466Focus 30.58/£18,348Astra 31.97/£19,182

ppm/60k total

Golf 2.75/£1,650 Focus 3.03/£1,818Astra 3.20/£1,920 Civic 3.37/£2,022

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 25

Golf 132g/km/18%Civic 135g/km/18%Focus 137g/km/18% Astra 138g/km/18%

■ Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTi SRi 100 5dr

FACT FILEP11D value £16,630CO2 emissions (g/km) 137BIK % of P11D in 2008 18%Graduated VED rate £115Insurance group 7Combined mpg 54.2CAP RV (3yr/60k) £5,800/35%Monthly lease (3yr/60k) £357

✔

✖

■ Now looks great■ Fantastic to drive■ Well made

■ Noisy engine■ Wholelife costs ■ Highest fuel costs

FUEL MANAGEMENT: FUEL CARD FRAUD

26 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

BY PHILL TROMANS

Instability in the oil market, the credit crunch in the US and a multitude of other factors mean that both petrol and diesel cost well over £1 a litre, and many

fleets are feeling the pinch.Keeping track of and managing fuel

spend is now more important than ever. Many experts in the fleet industry recom-mend using fuel cards as an efficient and effective way of monitoring fuel usage across the fleets.

But having a card that allows drivers to instantly charge fuel to their employers can be a temptation, and fleet managers need to be vigilant for fraudulent use.

or some, the temptation to fill up a friend or family member’s car and charg-

ing it to the company is too much to resist.

“The rise in fuel prices has, in principle, made fuel cards a more valuable commod-ity and, as such, they have become more likely to be targeted for fraudulent use,” says Mike Waters, head of market insight at fuel and fleet management specialists Arval.

Mr Waters says there is no evidence that a rise in prices automatically means a rise in fraud, but warns that it is as impor-tant as ever to take steps to reduce dodgy dealings.

“There are steps that fleet managers can take to reduce overall levels of fuel card fraud,” he says.

“Many of these preventative measures can be put in place using the regular management reports produced from fuel

cards. Fleet managers can clearly monitor vehicle performance by the mileage-per-gallon or pence-per-mile data available from the fuel card management reports.

“This is a quick and easy way to spot any sudden additional fill ups that could be a result of fraudulent use.”

Hytek is a firm specialising in the supply of fuel-related equipment, includ-ing pumps and management solutions for fleets.

Sales director Andy Sears says: “Unfor-tunately, as the cost of fuel increases so does the likelihood of fuel theft or fraud.

“Everyone needs fuel to keep their vehicles running, and opportunities for theft present themselves at the petrol station or with drivers using fuel cards or company credit cards to fill up.”

Mr Sears says fraud on fuel cards is very difficult to spot.

“While you would notice a whole tank of fuel going missing from one of your vehicles overnight, it is trickier to spot smaller amounts of petrol or diesel going AWOL over time,” he says.

“Unpleasant as it is to contemplate, theft of fuel by staff must be considered. How can you be sure that all the fuel your driver dispenses goes into his company vehicle? It could be that she or he fills up a private car or a friend’s van as well with your fuel.”

Mike Waters recommends that, where possible, each individual card is allocated to a specific vehicle and its driver.

“When the driver reaches point of sale at a fuel station the assistant taking payment will need to check not only the signature on the back of the card, but also that the vehicle registration corresponds with the fuel card being used,” he says.

“This method is clearly not fool-proof and relies primarily on the vigilance of staff at the point of sale, but it can work as a deterrent to anyone considering filling a vehicle that is not registered to the card.”

Other tactics include setting up alarms on monthly management reports to flag up suspicious increases in fuel use or mileage. And simple checks such as ensuring that drivers of diesel cars are not ‘ ’

THE RISE IN FUEL PRICES HAS, IN PRINCIPLE, MADE FUEL CARDS A MORE VALUABLE COMMODITY

As petrol and diesel prices top £1 a litre, managing fuel spend is becoming more critical

Price hike fuels fears of highway robbery

FUEL MANAGEMENT: FUEL CARD FRAUD

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 27

Monitor fuel use and performance to

spot theft or fraud

Price hike fuels fears of highway robberybuying unleaded fuel can also pick up anyone attempting to swindle the system.

Those wary of fuel cards because of the potential for abuse should not expect life to be easier without them, Mr Waters warns.

“While abuse of fuel cards may appeal to those presented with them, the alter-native option of pay and reclaim as a way of fuelling a fleet offers little respite,” he says.

“Pay and reclaim creates increased amounts of administration work and, more importantly, does not have the benefit of management report data.

So, in fact, by opting for pay and reclaim as a preferred method of fuelling, fleet managers are actually lessening the control and monitoring capa-bilities they may currently have over the fleet.

“The best advice for dealing

with fuel cards is simply to be vigilant. Monitoring monthly expenditure and remaining aware of any out of the ordi-nary changes will enable fleet managers and business owners to detect any misuse of company fuel cards.”

Alternatively, should your budget and circumstances allow it, you could consider doing away with forecourts and install a private tank and pump on site.

“Fuel cards offer you some protection at the pumps, but having a pump at your depot or base allows you to keep tight control of your fuel and means you can buy in bulk to avoid price fluctuations at the pumps,” Andy Sears says.

“Drivers can fill up away from petrol stations, and you can

identify wasteful drivers, or those vehicles using more fuel from your manage-ment data.

“Such vehicles may simply need a service, maybe the driver is heavy- footed or perhaps there is some-thing more sinister going on.”

SAFETY: COLLISION AVOIDANCE

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 29

‘ ’WE’RE SEEING NEW

TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON CRASHES AND INJURIES

BY PHILL TROMANS

Every so often tele-vision shows have a good laugh at the expense of past visions of the

future.Rocket cars, hover boards

and the like have been touted by futurologists since the 1950s, and such predictions have usually fallen hilariously wide of the mark. Cars that drive themselves? Ridiculous.

But hang on. Vehicles running on nuclear power might not be with us yet, but self-aware machines that can drive for us are much more of a reality.

Some technology that allows cars to take over aspects of control from the driver is already with us, and more sophisticated versions are on the way.

Safety is the driving force behind such systems, and with duty of care such a key concern for fleet managers, the emer-gence of new technology needs to be monitored carefully by businesses.

Motoring research organisa-tion Thatcham is spearheading a campaign to increase aware-ness of collision avoidance technologies.

Technologies that scan the road ahead and take action to either warn the driver or inter-

Technology takes control in the safety revolutionCollision avoidance systems could save fleets £2.1 billion a year and help prevent 125,000 injuries

that take over some control from the driver is that motorists could start relying on them, rather than treating them as a safety net.

Keen not to be seen as taking responsibility away from drivers, many manufacturers are trying to find ways to ensure their safety systems are a last resort only.

Volvo’s City Safety system (see panel below) is purposely designed to be a fairly unpleasant experience, according to Mr Avery.

“A big question is, will drivers adapt their driving styles and let them take over?” he says.

“This system’s intervention is so late and direct it doesn’t let drivers do that. The systems are not infallible. The driver always remains in control and that’s an important philosophy that we want to promote.

“It’s a concern to us that drivers will expect these tech-nologies to save them and we need to investigate that. It is a driver aid, it doesn’t allow the driver to pay less attention and start catching up on emails.

“Thatcham is doing a lot of research into the effects of these systems and we will publish more data when we have it.”

While investigations into the psychology of drivers using the systems continues, manufactur-ers are already working on the next generation systems, which will be capable of reacting to pedestrians and taking control of the steering systems. But right now, each firm has its own brand of technology, and Thatcham is keen to see uniformity develop.

“We would encourage the common naming of systems and common interfaces.

“The warnings given should be the same between vehicles so you know the noise the vehicle is making is a common one – that you’re about to have a crash, do something about it, not that the lights are on or the boot isn’t shut,” Mr Avery says.

There are still many issues to be worked out with collision avoidance technologies, but at the rate they are developing and expanding, they seem set to be a common feature of vehicles in the near future.

COLLISION AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGIESADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL STOP/GOSystems such as Mercedes-Benz’s Distronic Plus use radar to detect the vehicle in front slowing down or stopping. The car automatically

maintains a safe distance and will slow to a stop if necessary.

COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEMSThese systems, such as Honda’s

CMBS feature, are starting to appear in volume models. They use radar to warn of potential collision threats ahead, retract the seatbelts and sound an audible warning to the driver.

LOW SPEED AVOIDANCEVolvo’s City Safety system uses a laser-based technology. It brakes the car automatically at low speeds, and will be standard in the forthcoming XC60.

vene first appeared a few years ago in luxury cars such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. They are now starting to filter down to volume cars.

Various systems are available, but all have similar principles. Technologies such as radar or lasers detail obstacles in front of the car and identify collision threats. They warn the driver through audible, sensory or visual alarms.

Some go further. Various systems pre-charge the brakes to ensure maximum braking power when the driver hits the middle pedal. Others apply the brakes automatically.

Matthew Avery, Thatcham’s research manager, says: “Protect-ing the driver in the event of a crash is our primary concern.

“But prevention is better than

cure. It would be better to avoid the crash in the first place and that’s exactly what these technol-ogies are doing.

“We’re seeing new technolo-gies that will have a significant effect on crashes and injuries in the future.

“Three-quarters of crashes occur at under 20mph. Front to rear low-speed shunts are the most common types of crash.

“If fleet vehicles had effective collision avoidance technologies, more than £2.1billion could be saved in the UK each year, and 125,000 injuries could be prevented. Some of these systems could be standard on future models.

“This is just the beginning of the collision avoidance revolution.”

A common fear of technologies

TYRE MANAGEMENT: ENERGY SAVERS

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 31

‘ ’FROM THE SELECTIVE

DEMONSTRATIONS, THE TYRES ARE IMPRESSIVE IN

THEIR OWN RIGHT

BY PHILL TROMANS

The choice of tyres you use on your car can have a profound impact on the cost of

driving, both financially and environmentally.

Experts estimate that around 20% of the fuel used in every vehicle is accounted for by tyre choice, and in this eco-conscious age the major tyre manufactur-ers are doing their bit to mini-mise the impact their products have.

Most of the more recognisa-ble tyremakers now have a low-rolling resistance tyre in their range. Rolling resistance is key to the efficiency of a tyre, and while all of the firms will tout the benefits of their own tyres, Michelin may have slightly more kudos behind them.

Michelin first introduced low-rolling resistance tyres in 1992, and has just seen its fourth generation tyre, the Energy Saver, awarded Tire (sic) Tech-nology of the Year by Tire (sic) Technology International maga-zine in the US.

In an effort to spread the word of the benefits of low-rolling resistance tyres,

Michelin invited Fleet News to a comparison demonstration of the Energy Saver tyre against its main competitors.

Michelin claims that using them could reduce tyre con-sumption rates by a quarter, and that vehicles running the tyres emit 4g/km of CO2 less than a competitor tyre. Fleet manage-ment firm Arval, a keen advo-cate of the tyre, says a fleet of 200 vehicles could save £84,000 over three years.

Pierre Menendes, corporate and technical communications manager for Michelin, said: “One tank of fuel in five is used to make the tyres roll.

“Tyres all look black and round but they are not the same. Tyres generate heat, due to the bends and stresses they suffer on the road. All the time your tyre turns it deforms, it doesn’t stay round – the contact patch with the road is flat.”

Heat generated equals energy lost, and reducing heat loss boosts energy efficiency, meaning less fuel is needed to move the tyres.

“But the problem is that for grip you have to quickly heat up the surface of the tyre,” Mr Menendes says.

“A cold tread will not

have the same level of grip. It’s a contradiction. If you want to improve rolling resistance youwant to decrease heat build-up, but you have also decreased the heat build-up for the surface of the tyre. With standard tyre technology if your rolling resis-tance gets worse you get the better grip and vice versa.”

Michelin’s engineers say the answer lies with silica, the main ingredient in the compound making up Energy Saver tyres. Its properties make it possible for heat in the mass of the tyre to remain low while the surface temperature heats up fast.

“The traditional trade-off was also between traction and wear,” Mr Menendes continues.

“The Energy Saver has the same adherence but with the same level of wear. It is 10% lighter than our previous tyre, the Energy 3.”

Michelin says no other brand of tyre attains the same levels of grip, fuel savings and long-evity, and claims a 40% wear advantage.It was ready to back it up with some demonstrations, independently monitored by

French huissiers de justice, or

profess iona l witnesses.

Award-winning tyres are put through their pacesMichelin claims its new range of tyres cut fuel use, reduce wear and lower CO2 emissions

CLAIMS PUT TO THE TESTTEST ONE – WET BRAKINGLongevity and environmental friendliness are all well and good, but tyres need to be effective on the road. The first demonstration saw tests on a fleet of Fiat 500s equipped with 14-inch tyres.

As well as the Michelin Energy Savers, the cars sported competitor tyres in the form of Bridgestone B250s, Continental EcoContact3s and Goodyear DuraGrips.

They were tested on wet Tarmac, with both journalists and instructors invited to brake hard at around 50mph. A GPS system measured the braking time from 43.5mph (70kph) to zero, to avoid inaccuracies in approach speed.After dozens of runs, the results were averaged out and distance figures reached for the Michelin tyres and the combined competitors.

The results saw cars equipped with the Energy Savers stop in an average of 24.6 metres and the competitors in 27.4 metres – a 2.80 metre advantage.

This was borne out by my own experience – the Michelins seemed to dig in to the road surface towards the end of the braking time, and slip on the surface less than the other makes.

TEST TWO – WET HANDLINGThis test was much less scientific – two identical Volkswagen Golfs and two Kia Cee’ds were equipped with a set of Energy Savers and a set of competitor tyres, and sent out on a wet handling track.

It was an opportunity to test the tyres back to back and, to be honest, there was very little difference. Only when really pushing the cars – far more than

one would do on the road – could any separation be detected, and although it was in the Michelin’s favour (again under braking) it was a miniscule difference. Safe to say though, that the Energy Savers are certainly no worse than other low-rolling resistance tyres when it comes to performance on road.

TEST THREE – FUEL CONSUMPTIONThis long-distance test saw two identical Mercedes-Benz C-Classes sent out to cover 102km around a test track. Each car contained a driver and an independent adjudicator and had the air conditioning turned off before embarking on the journey at identical speeds.

One car was shod with Michelins, the other with Bridgestone B250s. At the end of the test, the car running Energy Savers achieved fuel consumption of 41.8mpg, while the Bridgestone car made 39.5mpg.

CONCLUSIONSWith any demonstration organised by a party with obvious interests in the result it’s difficult to take the conclusions at face value, but Michelin seemed to take steps to ensure its tests were fair and the results independently verified.

Without back-to-back or long-term comparisons on the road it’s impossible to give a definitive opinion on the Energy Saver tyres compared to its rivals, but from the selective demonstrations it’s clear they are impressive in their own right. If the claims of potential savings from Michelin are even partially accurate, the latest low rolling resistance technology is worth looking into.

Braking hard: a Kia Cee’d fitted with Michelin’s Energy Saver Tyres

32 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

Recruitment Call Daniel Bragg: 01733 468271

email: daniel.bragg@emap.com

straight talking : smart thinking : fast acting

www.dwc.co.uk

NORTH SOUTHManchester High WycombeMarc Bridges/Claire Anderson Will Gardner/Gregg Dampier0161 601 7766/7760 01494 538866/538855manchester@dwc.co.uk fleet@dwc.co.uk

daniel williams consultancySales and Marketing Recruitment Specialists

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERNumber Plate Recognition Systems - North£35K Basic • OTE £50K (uncapped) • Car/Allowance • Excellent BenefitsAs an innovative developer of state-of-the-art parking solutions our client now partnerssome of today’s largest retailers. Their solution allows retailers to utilise parking space moreeffectively and generate statistics on usage. You will develop key business within retail andpublic sector, personally generating leads and managing the business throughimplementation. Your experience of selling big-ticket, contracted solutions and negotiatingat senior level will lead to success in this exciting role. Ref. CA5606

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERContract Hire & Fleet Management - North/East Midlands£30K Basic • £45K OTE • Company Car • Excellent BenefitsEstablished over 30 years ago, our client is a Top 50 UK leasing company with a namerecognised for its reliability and cost effective solution offering. You will deliver contracthire and fleet management solutions to customers with fleets of up to 300 vehicles. This isan exciting opportunity for a proven relationship builder to join a business with asupportive infrastructure and ambitious future growth plans. Ref. CA5490

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERContract Hire/Fleet Mgmt - 1 x Yorks/N. East & 1 x N. West£35-40K Basic • £50K OTE • Company Car • Pension • Health • Flexible BenefitsAn exciting opportunity to be part of an organisation which plans to double in size over thenext 12 months. If you have been looking to break into a top 25 leasing organisation this isthe role for you. You will be tenacious with the ability to open doors and sell a truebusiness solution within the 100+ fleet marketplace. This is a fantastic opportunity to proveyour skills in a highly lucrative industry. Ref. CA4241

Specialist Search and SelectionTo view a variety of current positions visit our website www.alastairames.co.uk or ring for details.

Tel 0207 917 1855 Fax 0207 917 1856 alastair@alastairames.co.uk 211 PICCADILLY, LONDON W1V 9LD

alwaysthe right person for the job

A L A S T A I R A M E S

01235 536440www.steele-dixon.co.uk

Brighter future Working as part of a small team the post holder will be required to liaise closely with vehicle users across the

group and with suppliers to ensure the fleet is fit for purpose and that value for money is obtained. This is a new role within the department in recognition that the company must ensure full compliance in legal,

health & safety and duty of care issues. The successful applicant will have: Good working knowledge of vehicle engineering preferably demonstrated by holding a technical qualification e.g.

C&G or BTEC;CPC National. For more information please contact ed@steele-dixon.co.uk or call Ed Steele on 01235 536 440

FFLLEEEETT TTEECCHHNNIICCAALL CCOOMMPPLLIIAANNCCEE MMAANNAAGGEERR –– HHEERRTTSS -- ££3300KK ++ CCAARR Working as part of a small team the post holder will be required to liaise closely with vehicle users across the

group and with suppliers to ensure the fleet is fit for purpose and that value for money is obtained. This is a new role within the department in recognition that the company must ensure full compliance in legal,

health & safety and duty of care issues. The successful applicant will have: Good working knowledge of vehicle engineering preferably demonstrated by holding a technical qualification e.g.

C&G or BTEC;CPC National. For more information please contact ed@steele-dixon.co.uk or call Ed Steele on 01235 536 440

Vauxhall Motors is part of the wider General Motors Group, the largest vehicle manufacturer inthe world with a global turnover in excess of $185 billion. They are one of the largest and mostestablished players in the UK automotive market, with an enviable portfolio of Brands and arelooking for results driven candidates for the following positions:

Commercial Vehicle Fleet Sales ManagerEast & West Midlands

Reporting to the National Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager, you will be a field based memberof the Fleet Sales team responsible for maximising Vauxhall Commercial Vehicle Fleet sales withina defined territory. You will be responsible for contract negotiation; relationship management andimproving the sales yield from your specific customer base. You will also build and maintain excellentworking relationships with relevant parties, including Vauxhall specialist Commercial Vehicle retailerswithin your area of responsibility. You will work closely with the fleet contact team within their definedarea of responsibility to maximise Commercial Vehicle sales in the existing 25+ fleet market.

Commercial Vehicle Development ManagersKent, Sussex & Hampshire & London

Reporting to the National Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager, you will be a field based memberof the team responsible for maximising and managing Vauxhall Commercial Vehicle Retail saleswithin a defined territory. You will be the key Commercial Vehicle contact, working closely with anddeveloping the Commercial Vehicle Sales Specialists with the Vauxhall Heavy and Light Van Retailernetworks. You will also be responsible for negotiating additional sales direct with Retailer generatedlocal business users as well as monitor and enforce Vauxhalls Commercial Vehicle Retailer standards.

You will be self-motivated and results driven with the ability to communicate, present and negotiateat all levels. You will be used to working in a target driven environment and possess goodadministration and IT skills. Knowledge of the Commercial Vehicle motor industry and financialfunding is essential. This role is ideally suited for somebody with motor manufacturer, contract hireor dealer group experience but the position is open to all.

If you would like to work in a challenging and fast moving environment, then we would liketo hear from you. Postal applications, including CV, current salary package, and why you aresuited to this role to: Louise Thompson, Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Griffin House, Osborne Road,Luton, LU3 1YT or e-mail: louise.thompson@uk.gm.com

Closing date for applications – 20 March 2008.

(Employment Agency) Adecco is an equal opportunities employer.

adecco.co.uk

To advertise here call Daniel Bragg on 01733 468271

BY EMMA COOPER

An overwhelming majority of fleet managers put in unpaid overtime purely in order to meet their high workloads.

Figures from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) found that 94% of transport managers regularly work over-time, with the average fleet manager putting in 1 hour and 18 minutes over their contracted hours each day.

One third of them do so by choice. However, most fleet oper-ators (52%) work extra hours to meet deadlines and stay abreast of industry changes.

Jo Causon, director of market-ing and corporate affairs at the

CMI, advised companies to be more aware of the overall impact of long hours on staff productivity.

“Many organisations focus on the cost of absence to their organ-isations, yet are not addressing the root causes of absenteeism,” she said.

“In today’s results-driven envi-ronment, output is more impor-tant than input, so two questions need to be answered: why are employers ignoring the impact of long hours on the health and performance of their employees and what responsibility are employees taking for how they manage themselves?”

Long hours cause staff absenteeism

Skoda UK has appointed Robert Hazelwood as brand director. He replaces Chris Craft and will be responsible for the strategic development of the Skoda brand in the UK. He joins from Volkswagen, where he worked as brand director for its commercial vehicles sector and as head of synergies at Volkswagen UK.

Klaus Kibsgaard has been named managing director of BMW UK. Mr Kibsgaard replaces Jim O’Donnell and will be responsible for the strategic promotion and development of the brand in the UK. He was previously president of BMW Portugal and has held a number of senior European-based roles within General Motors.

Hazelwood joins Skoda

Kibsgaard in charge at BMW UK

O’Connor joins cfc solutionsVivien O’Connor has been appointed as business development executive at fleet software specialists cfc solutions. She is charged with developing sales of the company’s FleetPlus software system for use by larger fleets. She has an extensive background in IT.

SETTLING IN How was your first day?I was made to feel completely welcome by everyone.

How does your new role vary from your last one?I previously worked for a daily rental company but DCFM offers a portfolio of fleet management products, so I’ve

been exposed to much more than purely daily rental.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?Understanding DCFM’s daily rental offering and where we sit in the marketplace. I believe we now have a competitive product for our target customers.

How is the daily rental market changing?Manufacturers are demanding higher prices for vehicles. It’s difficult to continue being competitive without margins decreasing.

What are you working on?Having recently completed a

pricing and service analysis, I am currently working on various tenders and growing our daily rental business.

Where is your favourite holiday destination?A recent trip to Cuba was a real eye-opener. It’s beautiful but also fascinating.

Kate Adams Daily rental

sales managerDaimler- Chrysler

Fleet Management

Describe your fleetWe have 310 vehicles in total – 30 vans and 280 mixed- badge cars.

How did you start working in fleet?I joined Tyco Electronics UK seven years ago and have been earning more and more about the fleet industry ever since. I also manage corpo-rate travel.

What is your favourite aspect of the job? It’s different everyday, with so many varied things to deal with and so many different challenges. And fleet is a constantly changing industry.

And your least favourite? I hate dealing with invoices and always having to check that we are being charged correctly.

How is the industry changing? It’s changed a lot over the years, especially as a result of the strict duty-of-care procedures that companies have to put into place.

What item could you not live without?Our Roadbase Database, and my colleague Sarah Fiddes, without whom I would not have such an efficient fleet department.

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 33

Jenny Bradley

Fleet and travel services

controllerTyko

Electronics UK

■ email: fleetnews@emap.com

Your views, your queries, your chance to get involved

APPOINTMENTS

FLEET CV

TTC appoints new directors

Companies need to be aware of the impact of long hours

Driver training company the TTC Group has named Malcolm Jones and Pauline Hall as directors of its TTC 2000 scheme. The pair will be responsible for the financing, customer liaison and day-to-day running of the programme, which provides training courses for convicted drink-drivers. Mr Jones has 20 years’ experience in driver training.

Letters – p35LeasePlan’s managing director David Brennan calls for more joined-up thinking on national road charging.

Helpline – p37

How do you make sure the driver training firm you select is not going to let you down?

First car – p39

Job of the weekADECCO, VAUXHALLVarious positions,nationwide p32

Find your favourites

Val South’s first company car – a Vauxhall Viva – never let her down in two years.

Competition – p39

Win a £500 Road Angel Navigator 9000 satellite navigation system.

34 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

It’s your legal responsibility… RoSPA Driver and Fleet SolutionsFrom risk assessment tools to driver training

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Driver Training

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www.fleet-technique.co.uk0870 400 7573

Drive your fleet forward withexpert engineering services

Corporate Sales Development - Midlands Up to £35k Basic + uncapped OTE

From an office/home base in the Midlands, the successful candidate will beresponsible for opening new Contract Hire corporate accounts. This is anexciting opportunity to join a significant, well established and fast growing

Contract Hire business with great career growth potential.

Fleet Services Manager – Tyne and Wear£30k Basic + Bonus, Benefits.

Our client, an FN top 20 Contract Hire business is seeking a Fleet ServicesManager.Managing a team of 8 Maintenance Controllers in authorising

dealer repairs on contract hire vehicles as well as planning andimplementing a maintenance strategy which includes the use of “1 link”

platforms.

BDM – Finance, Large Ticket- M4 Corridor£30k Basic + OTE + Bank Benefits

Something quite different - the ideal candidate will have a full understandingof asset finance products including contract hire and ideally daily rental

vehicles. Working from a home base but with National support to providefunding for major fleets. As a well established Bank brand, our client can

offer successful people, real career growth opportunities.

Enquiries@Nicholasrecruitment.co.uk

For a confidential discussion ask for Derek Webb on TEL:01889 591554 For on line application and more vacancies go to

www.nicholasrecruitment.co.uk

A more individual approach

Executive Search – Selection – Due Diligence

Every Automotive and finance business is different, even those that sellthe same product or service; in recognition of this will open recruitment

bring you your individual people needs?Using over 40 years automotive and finance Industry experience

together with our growing presence in the recruitment sector means, notonly can we meet our clients' requirements in our marketplace, butmaintain a results-orientated relationship based on our ability to be

flexible, fast paced and informed. We are motivated by finding tomorrows leaders for our industry,

both for our clients and ourselves.

Please contact us to set an exploratory meeting

mail to info@nicholasrecruitment.co.uk

www.nicholasrecruitment.co.uk

TEL:01889 591554

Nicholas Recruitment Ltd Nicholas BA LtdDoveleys Manor Park Wilmot HouseDenstone St James CourtST14 5BZ Derby DE1 1BT

A more individual approach

Fleet services Call Dee Kennedy: 01733 468275 email: dee.kennedy@emap.com

Recruitment Call Daniel Bragg: 01733 468271 email: daniel.bragg@emap.com

If you want to advertise on this page call Dee Kennedy

on 01733 468275

LETTERS

FREE GIFT Get a letter published in Fleet News and you’ll receive a fantastic 512Mb computer memory stick worth £15 courtesy of fleet soft-ware and occupational road safety specialist Jaama. The stick can be filled with your own documents, presentations and spread-sheets for easy movement between computers and locations.

■ E-mail: fleetnews@emap.com or write to: The Editor, Fleet News, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. Please include name, job title, company and address. By writing to Fleet News you agree to have your details passed on to Jaama and may receive offers from or in association with Bauer Consumer Media unless you state otherwise.

With the new financial year looming, firms may be review-ing their free fuel policies and encouraging their staff to think about their fuel allowance.

While free fuel remains an attractive benefit for some, given the cost implications due to the tax changes (an increase to the fuel benefit charge multi-plier was announced in the

Chancellor’s pre-budget state-ment which will see it rise from £14,400 to £16,900 on April 6 this year), employees may consider their position.

Unfortunately, some compa-nies link the provision of a fuel card to the free fuel benefit and drivers that choose to relinquish the benefit also have to return their fuel card. However, taking

this decision will often be an expensive mistake.

By dropping the fuel card, businesses are losing the tool that can best help them manage fuel consumption and CO2 emis-sions.

MIKE WATERSHead of market insight, Arval

Counting costs of congestion charges

Fuel card decision can be a mistake

How typical of Sir Mark Moody-Stuart to fire off about banning cars which do not achieve more than 35mpg, when owning two cars himself that can’t even get up to 20mpg (February 28).

I’m tired of toffee-nosed twits like him pontificating about what we should be doing, while sitting in his ivory tower living life exactly as he pleases.

It is hard enough for us fleet managers running our cars and vans to the best of our ability against mounting legislation without having people like him sticking their noses in.

I do my best to run an environ-mentally-friendly fleet but it isn’t easy. We actually had a Toyota Prius like Sir Mark for a few days for appraisal and we found it wasn’t returning any better miles per gallon than some of our diesel cars.

And what about vans? We can’t even get miles per gallon figures for most commercial vehicles, so how on earth are we supposed to ensure we buy the most fuel- efficient models?

If Sir Snooty Moody-Stuart wants to do something useful, how about a campaign demand-ing that all van manufacturers publish their mpg and CO2 emis-sions figures – the law at present states that these figures must be gathered by the manufacturers but they don’t have to publish them.

But, I suppose he probably owns an Aston Martin van, too.

PETER WITHERSBy email

With reference to your story about blue-light fleets and accident rates (February 14), perhaps someone has over-looked the obvious way to ensure such accidents are minimised.

Simply take away their vehicles and give them bicy-cles instead.

Think of the fringe bene-fits. It’s green, meaning less pollution. It’s great PR that the police are no longer killing and maiming so many innocent members of the public on the roads.

Police officers will be getting valuable exercise, so will be much fitter – all the better for “restraining” real criminals. They will also be less of a drain on the NHS, later in life.

Surely a win-win situation, don’t you think?

ALAN DARCYLascar Electronics

Tell police to get on their bikes

I read with interest articles in Fleet News in recent weeks concerning the London conges-tion charge. With the various changes, challenges and uncer-tainties surrounding the scheme in the nation’s capital, it seems little attention is currently being paid to how similar schemes would work if set up in major cities throughout the UK.

With a number of local authori-ties in the UK considering their own road pricing initiatives, there’s a danger that businesses could be hit hard unless a centralised approach is taken.

If a number of individual congestion charges are operated throughout the UK, business trav-ellers may have to register sepa-rately for each scheme. Those that make regular trips between major cities would then have to pay a number of different conges-tion charges individually – creat-ing a blizzard of paperwork with

multiple registrations and multi-ple payments.

In addition, the increased trans-port costs for companies that regularly have employees travel-ling between the country’s big towns and cities could prove significant.

To avert this situation, a centralised approach must be adopted from the very beginning.

Any discussion focused on setting up a congestion charge

should have involvement from central Government from the outset. I’m open to ideas as to who can fill that centralised role, whether it be someone like the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or a newly-formed central Government body. Either way, there’s a definite need for it.

DAVID BRENNAN Managing director,LeasePlan UK

Does your company pay your drivers’ parking fines? If so, go to Fleetnews.co.uk and vote “yes” in the online vote. Click on the button at the bottom left of the homepage. Tell us why by email to: fleetnews@emap.com

100

80

60

40

20

0

LAST WEEK’S POLL

42% 58%

Does your company’s environmental policy include driver training?

The Department for Transport (DfT) is paying its drivers’ parking fines.

It’s only small amounts of money (£6,000 last year) but either the parking restrictions are inappropriate and prevent DfT drivers going about their essential business, in which case they need to be changed, or the drivers just aren’t trying hard enough. And knowing their employ-ers will bail them out with taxpayers’ money is not much of an incentive.

The normal excuse trotted out these days is that of “security”. Security is the reason why

ministers need big, fast cars and British fleets are among the most watched in the world.

You would imagine, watching TV shows like Spooks and The Last Enemy, that any burly driver at the Government Car and Despatch Agency who is mindful of security, would be more than a match for your average parking attendant. Just a chilling stare would have that ticket pad slipped quietly back in a pocket.

Ah, but now, of course, you don’t need a traffic warden to issue a ticket. It can all be done via those “security” cameras.

ONLINE POLL FleetNews COMMENT

InterfaceTired of unhelpful advice

■ Email: fleetnews@emap.com. Please include name, job title, company and address

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 35

LETTERS

YES NO

36 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

Fleet services Call Dee Kennedy: 01733 468275email: dee.kennedy@emap.com

Leasing

InsuranceFuelcards

Risk Management

If you want to advertise on this page call Dee Kennedy on 01733 468275

Please mention FleetNewswhen calling or e-mailing

QI’ve finally been persuaded – reluctantly,

I might add – that we should put our drivers through a training programme. I’ve heard there are a few ‘sharks’ out there and don’t want to be conned, so what should I look for in choosing a driver training company?

A It’s a shame that you appear reluctant to implement a

driver training programme.If carried out professionally

and efficiently, it should not only take care of your employee duty-of-care needs but also signifi-cantly reduce your fleet running costs.

Perhaps you imagine that driver training means signing up to relatively expensive on-road practical training for all your drivers. It shouldn’t.

This is a good start point in solving your problem because any supplier worth his salt should be treating your case on an individual basis and tailoring any interventions to your particular circumstances.

The supplier should also be able to provide you with all the services that the training programme dictates.

Many smaller providers just don’t have the infrastructure to cope with a truly all- encompassing driver risk management programme, for

that is what we should be talking about here.

There are several measures for identifying a reputable driver risk management supplier:■ Does it have a comprehensive suite of interventions to cover your needs, both practical and online-based?

■ Does it have verifiable case studies and an impressive client roster, demonstrating its track record? ■ Are its courses Driving Standard Agency-approved? ■ Are all the practical trainers both Aprroved Driving Instructor qualified and on the Driving Standards Agency Fleet Register? ■ Is the organisation ISO 9001 accredited or equivalent? ■ Can it boast good customer retention? ■ Has it won industry recognised awards for excellence? ■ Does it provide reliable and meaningful data, allowing you to monitor and measure the efficacy of the training programme on an ongoing basis? ■ Will it provide one dedicated point of contact to whom you can refer if you have concerns or queries? ■ Lastly, is the supplier solvent, credible, successful and growing?

STEVE JOHNSONDirector of communications, DriveTech (UK)

DRIVER TRAINING

QOne of or drivers had a damage-only accident

with a Polish man who was insured with an English company. He admitted guilt and gave us his insurance details and we got a quote to get the damage fixed. However, he has failed to report the accident to his insurance company and they won’t pay out until he does. I’ve called him several times and he has failed to answer me. What can I do?

A If you have any indepen dent evidence to corrobo-

rate your version of events such as a witness, photographs or a written admission from the driver, you should submit these to the third party’s insurer for their consideration.

Otherwise, your only alternative will be to consider taking legal action, issuing proceedings against the driver and his insurer, with the insurer named in proceedings as what is known as ‘second defendant’.

If you win your case, the insurer will be required to meet the judgement.

However, keep in mind that if you pursue legal remedy and lose, you could be further out of pocket.

MARTIN SMITHClaims manager, Norwich Union

QOne of my employees reckons that it is up to the firm to

provide company car drivers with winter accessories such as scrapers and de-icer. Surely he can’t be right, can he?

AIn the eyes of Health and Safety Executive, the company car is an

extension of the work place. Therefore, when it comes to making

sure the vehicle is “fit for purpose” then yes, scrapers and de-icer are needed.

This is to ensure the vehicle is fit for purpose because it is used in conditions

that warrant these sundry items.If it were a workshop floor or a

factory machine then the sundries needed to sweep the floor or clean down the machine would be provided by the company.

It is true that these sundries can also be used when the company vehicle is used for the driver’s personal use. So yes, there is a benefit-in-kind to the employee.

But, it can be argued that is why the employee is also taxed on the benefits of the car and its usage.

However, in the whole scheme of

things the costs incurred by such sundry items are minuscule, especially as many such items as scrapers are given away free as marketing aids.

The benefit-to-cost ratio of a scraper and a can of de-icer every winter compared to the driver’s safety and the condition of the company asset (vehicle) if damaged in an accident as a result of such sundry items not being used is surely what duty of care is all about.

LIONEL HIPKISSTransport manager, Mereway

Education can help to cut fleet running costs

HELPLINE ■ Do you have a problem with your fleet? Email: fleetnews@emap.com

www.fleetnews.co.uk 06.03.08 37

FOREIGNDRIVERS

WINTER ACCESSORIES

Q At present I supervise a fleet of 50 cars.

However, my company is looking to take on more vehicles and I have started thinking about changing our leasing arrangements. How can I make sure I get the best deal?

AThe best way to ensure a good deal would be to ask

the leasing companies you’re interested in to tender or compete for the business.

If you don’t want to go through a total tender process then invite several companies in to present to you on how they

would manage your fleet in your best interests.

You will start to get a feel for what’s on offer and decide which option/company would work best for you.

Visit their premises, get a feel for their working environment and, if you can, break away from

the guided tour and speak to members of staff – always a good way to understand their culture and whether or not they are the right people to supply and look after your fleet.

LYNNE BUNDLEFleet manager, Pfizer

LEASING TENDERS

Interface

A driver training programme can fulfil duty-of-care requirements

38 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

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NEWS QUIZ

You couldn’t make it up...

EVENTS

NEXT WEEK

Win a Road Angel sat-navThis week, readers have the chance to win a Road Angel Navigator 9000 satellite navigation system worth £500.

The Navigator 9000 combines GPRS and mobile phone networking to provide real-time traffic and weather updates, as well as alerting drivers to fixed and mobile speed cameras and accident hotspots.

Drivers can send and receive live vehicle locations and update planned routes on to the system using their mobile phone or computer.

The system also has an improved menu layout and traffic re-route facility and allows users to store videos,

music and pictures via the sat-nav’s new media function.

Find out more at www. roadangelgroup.com

For a chance to win, answer the following questions, based on articles in this week’s Fleet News.

1 According to an RAC survey, what percentage of motorists send text messages while driving?2 When does the Vauxhall Agila go on sale ?3 Who has been appointed Skoda UK’s brand director?

Last week’s winners of Halford’s Rapid Digital Tyre Inflators were: Albert Taylor, Clays, Bungay; Andrew Roydon, HDNL, Whiston; and Adam Todd, Shepherd Homes, York.

13.03.08I received my first company car, a Vauxhall Viva, when I was learning my way around the fleet industry as a purchas-ing assistant.

At the time, I was so proud to get a company car and it

gave me everything that I wanted.

Looking back, I realise how basic the car was, with no power steering, no ABS or electric windows and an old-fashioned stereo.

However, it wasn’t that bad. It kept me in one piece for two years and never gave me any problems.

VAL SOUTHFleet manager, Xerox

’

‘My previous boss was always running late.

On one occasion I expected him to have left for a flight and enquired when he would be leaving. He had no idea when his flight was, but it left in less than 90 minutes (we were 45 minutes from the airport).

I said I would go with him and bring his car back to the office – a big mistake. Getting out of traffic, he floored his Mercedes-Benz, getting it up on two wheels outside the terminal.

Such was the scary nature of the trip that I now always ensure he leaves plenty of time to catch flights.

Send your answers, with your job title and address, by email* to fleetnews@emap.com with ‘News Quiz’ in the subject line. The closing date is 5pm on Friday (tomorrow), when a winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries. *By supplying your email address you are happy to receive offers via email from Fleet News. We will not pass your information on to other parts of Bauer Publishing Group and/or third parties.

MY FIRST COMPANY CAR

CONTACT US

EDITORIALEDITOR Martyn Moore 01733 468024martyn.moore@emap.comDEPUTY EDITORJulian Kirk 01733 468308julian.kirk@emap.comNEWS EDITORDaniel Attwood 01733 468294daniel.attwood@emap.comSECTION EDITORAdele Barry (currently on maternity leave)MOTORING WRITERPhill Tromans 01733 468314phill.tromans@emap.comREPORTEREmma Cooper 01733 468309emma.cooper@emap.comSUPPLEMENTS EDITOR/EVENTSJohn Maslen 01733 468307john.maslen@emap.comCONTRIBUTING EDITOR Steve Moodysteve.moody@emap.com

ADVERTISINGCOMMERCIAL DIRECTORIan Warrington 01733 468583KEY ACCOUNT DIRECTORSAndy Smith 01733 468339Peter Millis 01733 468268Derek Hunter 01733 468280PROJECT MANAGERLeanne Patterson 01733 468332TELESALES MANAGERPenny Care 01733 468375RECRUITMENT EXECUTIVEDaniel Bragg 01733 468271CLASSIFIED EXECUTIVESSheryl Graham 01733 468256Dee Kennedy 01733 468275

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PUBLISHINGMANAGING DIRECTOREd Kenyon 01733 468862ed.kenyon@emap.comMANAGING DIRECTOR’S PA Vicky Meadows 01733 468319vicky.meadows@emap.comGROUP MANAGING DIRECTORRob Munro-Hall

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Real-life stories about your fleet’s dimwit drivers

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INSTITUTE OF CAR FLEET MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL MEMBERS’ CONFERENCEMarch 11, Honda Institute, Colnbrook, Berkshire. www.icfm.com

FLEET NEWS RISK IN FLEET CONFERENCEApril 22, National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.www.riskinfleet.co.uk

ACFO REGIONAL MEETINGSFleet operators’ association ACFO holds regular regional meetings. For details, visit www.acfo.org

InterfaceAND FINALLY...

SHOW TIMEAll the new cars from the Geneva Motor Show

CAREERSThe importanceof networking

COMPETITION Win an Avanquest laptop lock for your car

fuelcards.co.uk – helping to make fuel cards easy Fuelled by

Twelve currently-available Focus

models will qualify for 100% discount, saving

£8 a day when charging is revised in October

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

40 06.03.08 www.fleetnews.co.uk

For further information on

any vehicle in the Ford

range please contact the

Ford Business Centre on

08457 23 23 23, email

info@fordfleet.co.uk, or

visit www.fordfleet.co.uk

Twenty eight currently available Ford car models will be exempt from the London

congestion charge when it is revised on October 27 – and the list will grow as new models join the range during this year.

London mayor Ken Livingstone has announced that, from that date, cars emitting less than 120g/km of CO2 and meeting the Euro IV standard for air pollution, or that produce no more than 120g/km and appear on the PowerShift register, will be given a 100% discount.

It means that drivers of 12 current Focus models, 14 Fiestas and two Fusions will not have to pay the daily £8 charge to drive in London. And because they emit less than 120g/km of CO2, they already only have to pay £35 a year vehicle excise duty.

The Fiestas producing less than 120g/km of CO2 are powered by the 68PS 1.4-litre Duratorq and 90PS 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi engines, and Fusions by the 90PS 1.6-litre Duratorq.

The Focus models which will be exempt are powered by the 1.6-litre Duratorq, both 90PS and

109PS versions, and including ECOnetic.

Focus 1.6 TDCi models return an impressive 62.7mpg combined, while 1.6 ECOnetic versions return an even more impressive 65.6mpg.

The all-new Fiesta later this year will continue to be offered with the 1.4- and 1.6-litre Duratorq engines, and with an ECOnetic unit with CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km.

“Tackling climate change is a key priority for the mayor,” said a Transport for London spokesman.

Beat congestion charge with Ford

Bluetooth is now standard on S-MAXThe Ford S-MAX now has advanced Bluetooth® technology fitted as standard across all specifications.

Titanium trim now adds Solar Reflect Windscreen, ambient lighting and chrome door handles plus lower grille. The Titanium X pack now includes bi-xenon lights.

Galaxy also has Bluetooth technology installed as standard while Ghia trim level adds new ten-spoke 17-inch alloys, Solar Reflect Windscreen, ambient lighting and rear compartment air conditioning.

A new Ghia X plus pack, with 18-inch alloys, bi-xenon lights and powered rear quarter windows complements the full leather trim and panorama roof to create the ultimate Galaxy.

Say goodbye to misfuelling woesMisfuelling is costing British fleets and private motorists around £750 million a year, according to the AA, which says at least 150,000 drivers misfuel every year.

Fleets running the latest Ford Mondeo and Focus models are saying goodbye to expensive misfuelling, thanks to Ford’s Easy Fuel system, which prevents drivers from filling up with the wrong type of fuel.

The Ford Kuga on sale in June and all new Fiesta in the autumn will also be fitted with Easy Fuel as standard.

The news comes as UK breakdown services deal with twice as many incidents of motorists putting the wrong fuel in their vehicles as a decade ago.

The Easy Fuel system, with a patented mis-fuelling inhibitor, consists of a sealed filler pipe insert and fuel nozzle locator that guides the nozzle to the tank opening. The insert contains a

mechanically operated diameter detector which only allows the larger diesel fuel nozzle to be inserted into the filler pipe, and locks out the thinner petrol nozzles.

Pouring petrol into a diesel engine can cause expensive damage to the fuel pump and high-pressure injection system, as well as triggering other serious engine problems and four-figure repair costs.

New Mondeo was the first Ford

fitted with the Easy Fuel system

Standard equipment levels on all

S-MAX models have been improved