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Pothole repair budget cut despite rising vehicle damage

Mar 23, 2021

In February 2021, it was announced that councils will miss out on £375million of their annual road maintenance budget, meaning funding for pothole repairs has been significantly reduced.

The government’s initial promise was to afford councils £1.5billon for the upkeep of roads in Britain, but the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means that they will now only receive £1.125billion.

The Department for Transport justified the decision by saying that the government had: ‘rightly prioritised the response to Covid-19, support jobs and supporting families at this incredibly difficult time.’

However, a study conducted by Citroen has now found that a third of drivers (32%) reported their vehicle had been damaged when hitting a pothole and had required garage repair.

The research also found that the average cost of these repairs was around £140, while some drivers reported having to fork out up to £250 to fix more extensive pothole damage.

Not only is pothole damage costing drivers money, but it also accounts for a considerable chunk of the road-related compensation paid out by local authorities in England and Wales. As reported by the latest Asphalt Industry Alliance ALARM review, local authorities paid out £8.1million in road-related compensation during 2019/2020. A colossal £5.9million of that total was for damages to vehicles caused by potholes.

It was hoped that an increase in the road maintenance budget this year would reduce the number of potholes, and therefore lower the cost of repairs for drivers and local councils alike. However, the budget cut will mean that the issue persists for longer and will continue to cause problems.

In response to the worrying amount of pothole damage, the managing director of Citroen UK, Eurig Druce, commented:

‘It is concerning to find that potholes have caused damage to nearly a third of drivers’ cars across England and Wales’ and suggested that local authorities ‘have a lot of issues to solve.’ He also recognised that there is no quick fix for pothole repairs, especially with a smaller road maintenance budget and that it would ‘take time’ to rid the nation of hazardous potholes.

[Image Source: Shutterstock, March 2021]

March is the worst month for pothole damage

As if a budget cut and an increase in damage to vehicles caused by potholes isn’t enough to cause concern for drivers, Admiral has also found that March sees the most amount of pothole damage reports.

In a February press release, Admiral stated: ‘13% of pothole-related claims take place in March, which is more than any other month’ and that ‘pothole-related claims have increased by 30% since 2016.’

It was also noted that ‘despite restrictions in place throughout the UK for much of 2020, the number of pothole-related claims increased by 20% last year compared to 2019, showing the ongoing and increasing problems that potholes cause across major roads in Britain.’

As well as highlighting the increase in damage caused by potholes, the report also commented on the danger potholes can pose to drivers and other road users:

‘When the steering is severely damaged, it can also make it difficult for the driver to control the vehicle, which could increase the risk of accidents.’

Lorna Connelly, Head of Claims at Admiral, offered advice for drivers to help them avoid hitting potholes in such a way that could cause damage to their vehicles:

‘When you see a pothole in the road ahead, slow down to reduce the amount of damage caused to your vehicle.’

Drivers will know, however, that this is not always possible and hitting potholes is, more often than not, unavoidable.

Despite the cuts to road the road maintenance budget, however, there are a few plans in the pipeline for reducing the number of potholes on our roads.

JCB recently announced the development of a new, high-tech machine with the ability to repair potholes rapidly. The Pothole Pro will fill in a pothole in under eight minutes, accelerating repair time by 700% and thus reducing pothole-related damage.

As well as this, the Government in England has developed a ‘dedicated Pothole Action Fund’. A formula will be used to allocate funding to be shared by local authorities to either fix potholes or prevent them from forming in the first place.

In the meantime, however, it seems that it will remain the responsibility of drivers to be vigilant in their avoidance of potholes where possible.

Have you suffered pothole-related damage to your vehicle? Are you disappointed in the reduced funding for pothole repair?

Let us know in the comments.

Electric vehicle grants slashed by £500

Mar 23, 2021

In an effort to encourage drivers to make the electric vehicle switch to reduce emissions, the government has been subsidising 35% of the price of specific models of electric vehicles. This grant previously stood at £3,000.

As demand has increased rapidly, however, this has now been reduced to £2,500 and will exclude any models with a price of over £35,000.

The reduction has been met with contempt, particularly by car manufactures whose electric vehicle ranges will now be excluded from the grant scheme. Ford is one of those impacted manufactures and chairman, Graham Hoare, has expressed his disappointment in the reduction:

‘Today’s news from the UK Government that plug-in grants for passenger and commercial vehicle customers are being reduced is disappointing and is not conducive to supporting the zero-emissions future we all desire.’

He went on to express that without solid incentives that consumers can rely on, there may be a lack of uptake in the future:

‘Robust incentives – both purchase and usage incentives – that are consistent over time are essential if we are to encourage consumers to adopt new technologies, not just for all-electrics but other technologies too like plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that pace the way to a zero-emissions future.’

Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, also shares in these concerns, revealing that he believes ministers ‘talk-the-talk when it comes to encouraging people into cleaner vehicles, but cutting the Plug-In Car Grant certainly isn’t walking the walk.’

Mr Lyes also stated that upfront costs remain a deterrent to drivers considering switching to electric vehicles, and thus the reduction in the grant is even more cause for concern:

‘Even though more models are coming on to the market, our research suggests upfront cost remains a concern to drivers when comparing the cost of an electric vehicle with a similarly sized conventional vehicle.

‘By cutting the grant, the Government may risk people holding onto their older, more polluting vehicles for longer.’

This would, of course, have a negative impact on the government’s plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 and could hold the country back in its go-green scheme.

Chief executive at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, commented that the news of the grant slash has is the ‘wrong move at the wrong time’ and is concerned about the message it sends to drivers:

‘This sends the wrong message to the consumer, especially private consumers, and to an industry challenged to meet the Government’s ambition to be a world leader in the transition to zero-emission mobility.’

[Image Source: Shutterstock, March 2021]

Support for reduced electric vehicle grant

Despite the disappointment and concern the reduction in the electric grant vehicle has caused for motoring experts and drivers alike, others have spoken out to support the move.

In a comment referring to the ineligibility of more expensive vehicles for the grant, Whitehall sources told the Times that a reduction was the right decision, stating that taxpayers should not be subsidising people to buy cars for £50,000.’

In an attempt to quell concern, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean explained the reasoning behind the reduced grant:

‘We want as many people as possible to be able to make the switch to electric vehicles as we look to reduce our carbon emissions, strive towards our net-zero ambitions and level up right across the UK.

‘The increasing choice of new vehicles, growing demand from customers and rapidly rising numbers of charge-points mean that, while the level of funding remains as high as ever, given soaring demand, we are refocusing our vehicle grant on the more affordable zero-emissions vehicles – where most consumers will be looking and where taxpayers’ money will make more of a difference.’

She concluded by reassuring drivers and manufactures alike: ‘We will continue to review the grant as the market grows.’

However, many experts remain unconvinced. Jim Holder, What Car? editorial director summed up the shared concern by saying:

‘While it was inevitable the carrot of the grant would whittle down over time and eventually be replaced by punitive measures, this feels too soon to take another step on that journey. The 2030 combustion only ban was announced with much fanfare- the thinking behind how to make the transition to that goal appears to be worryingly muddled, with this decision being further evidence of that.’

Are you looking to make the switch to an electric vehicle? Will the reduced grant impact your decision? Or do you think the government were right to make the cut?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Car insurance cost of cover remains at four year low

Mar 16, 2021

The average cost of car insurance cover has remained at a four-year low as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, This is Money suggests.

Reduced traffic on the roads and decreased settled car insurance claims over the last year have kept the average cost of private comprehensive motor insurance at around £465, a welcome result for motorists.

ABI’s manager of general insurance, Laura Hughes, reiterated the impact of the pandemic on car insurance prices:

‘The pandemic has forced many motorists to change their driving habits.

‘Predictably, lockdowns have led to far fewer vehicles on the roads, reflected in the fall in the number of motor claims.’

She also went on to praise insurance companies for offering additional insurance options to support their customers as the pandemic took its toll on finances:

‘During the pandemic, insurers have given additional support to their customers, including options for reduced mileage and help for those struggling to pay their premiums by instalments.

‘It is good to see that throughout an uncertain year, motorists continued to get the best deals from a competitive motor insurance market.’

These comments come after it was announced that the current pledge not to increase insurance costs for drivers who are having to use their vehicles to drive to and from their workplace because of Covid-19 has been extended until 30 April.

This is also the case for drivers using their vehicles for voluntary services to deliver medicine or groceries to others impacted by the pandemic – their cover will not be affected. This has also been extended to 30 April.

Some insurance companies in particular, like Admiral, have gone above and beyond to cater to their customers changing needs during the pandemic, adapting their insurance costs to match reduced car and van use during the lockdowns.

While low insurance cover costs have been a lifeline for many over the last year, Laura Hughes has also admitted that, as we emerge from the pandemic, there may be other costs that motorists have to contend with:

‘As we edge back to some form of normality, cost pressures remain, such as increasing vehicle repair costs, reflecting ever more complex vehicle technology.’

[Image Source: Shutterstock, March 2021]

Decreased settled car insurance claims to thank for low cover costs

In 2020, the number of settled insurance claims was reduced by 19% compared to 2019, only reaching around 2.1 million. The total number of payouts was also significantly reduced by 6%, averaging at approximately £8.3 billion.

These numbers are directly linked to decreased traffic volume, supported by numbers extracted by the AA and reported by Money Supermarket:

‘The volume of traffic on the roads at the start of lockdown (23 March) was just 35% of pre-coronavirus levels.’

This number still only rose to around 75% in June, despite many restrictions being lifted, allowing motorists to travel again in a way that more resembled normality.

Money Supermarket also suggested that: ‘The sudden dearth of cars on the nation’s roads resulted in fewer accidents and fewer claims, putting downward pressure on the cost of car insurance premiums. This far outweighed the impact of any other potential factor on the cost of car premiums.’

However, the low costs could soon be set to change as motoring groups raise concerns about increased prices after the pandemic comes to an end. Compare the Market reports that 17% of UK motorists are expecting to use their cars more after the pandemic than they did prior to the pandemic, which will lead to increased levels of traffic and thus a rise in premiums.

Head of motor insurance at Compare the Market said: ‘Motor premiums, which have fallen recently could be about to jump once more. More drivers will need to adapt their policies to include cover for commuting, and insurers may increase their prices in anticipation of more cars and more crashes on the road.’

He concluded by urging drivers to shop around for the best insurance cover costs as the pandemic draws to a close:

‘At a time when money is already tight, it’s important that motorists look to save money where they can and shopping around for the most competitive policy remains the best way to do so.’

Have you been positively impacted by the low car insurance cover costs over the last year? Are you anticipating a rise in cover costs once the pandemic comes to an end?

Let us know in the comments.

Improvements on the way for motorway electric vehicle charge points

Mar 16, 2021

Transport Minister, Rachel Maclean, has announced new legislation that will improve electric vehicle charging on motorways. The rules are expected to make electric vehicle charging on motorways much more reliable and accessible.

Under the new set of rules, every motorway service area in England will need to have at least six open-access charge points by 2023. This will increase to 2500 charge points across the road network by 2030. It will more than double again to 6000 by 2035.

The rules will form part of the government’s ‘build back greener’ plan, says Maclean, and will support the proposed 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles.

Maclean also made it clear that any new charge points installed will be ‘obviously reliable’ and high-powered, allowing electric vehicle drivers to ‘charge your car in the time it takes you to get a cup of coffee.’

The announcement has been met positively by motoring groups, including the RAC. Spokesman Rod Dennis said:

‘This is extremely welcome news as charging electric vehicle cars at motorway service areas needs to be fast, reliable and easy to pay for so drivers can make longer journeys with the minimum of fuss.’

Mr Dennis also addressed some of the critical issues preventing drivers from making the electric vehicle switch, including ‘range anxiety’. The term is one coined by drivers concerned by how far electric vehicles may be able to travel before they need charging again. A lack of charge point options has only served to worsen the anxiety. Mr Dennis hopes that the new legislation will quell this particular concern:

‘It should also go a long way towards showing would-be EV drivers that ‘range anxiety’ is a thing of the past, further speeding up the switch to electric.

‘Nothing is more frustrating to an electric car driver than the sight of an out-of-order charge point, so the fact that there will be a commitment to having chargers ‘in service’ will make a big difference.’

To conclude his comments, Mr Dennis also suggested that allowing drivers to establish how much they will be paying to charge their vehicle before they charge it will help to encourage an electric vehicle switch:

‘The promise of clear pricing is also important as drivers are used to knowing what they’d be paying before filling up thanks to petrol price ‘totems on forecourts.’

While this new legislation is a positive move towards greener transport, its first stage will not be complete for another two years, leaving motorists wondering what to do between then and now.

[Image Source: Shutterstock, March 2021]

The current state of motorway electric vehicle charge points

Ecotricity’s Electric Highway currently dominates England’s motorway charge points. However, a recent Zap-Map study found that Ecotricity was ranked the worst by drivers for satisfaction and reliability. One user stated that Ecotricity had ‘kickstarted the market, but now they are out of date and unreliable.’

In the same study, Tesla charge points came out on top. However, this excludes non-Tesla drivers, meaning that unreliable charge points persist for the majority. Their main concern is that any long car journey with an electric vehicle immediately becomes unpredictable due to the lack of reliable charge points.

Technical office and co-founder of Zap-Map, Dr Ben Lane, suggests: ‘Poor performing networks will need to take a long, hard look at the quality of services they offer if they want to retain their customers as the EV market grows apace.’

There are also concerns about off-motorway charge points, or lack thereof. A recent study found that only 9,300 on-street electric car chargers are set to be installed between now and 2025, despite the numbers of registered electric vehicles continuing to climb.

Amanda Stretton, sustainable transport editor at Centrica, warns: ‘charging infrastructure and energy systems will need to be upgraded to cope with the demand and support drivers.’

In her announcement, Rachel Maclean addressed this issue, suggesting electric vehicle drivers should get in touch with their local council if they felt there was a lack of reliable charging points near their home.

Despite a few more hurdles to jump, it seems that the announcement of new legislation to improve motorway electric car charging reliability is yet another positive step towards making a success of the government’s 2030 petrol diesel plan.

Are you pleased with this new announcement? Will the improvements make you more inclined to switch to an electric vehicle?

Let us know in the comments.

Price of electric vehicles impacting uptake in some areas

Mar 9, 2021

While the switch to electric vehicles is being encouraged, it seems that the government’s go-green scheme has failed to take into consideration the price of these vehicles and what that means for overall uptake.

New research has revealed that there is an apparent rise in uptake in more affluent areas, while other areas are lagging behind. There are concerns that this could impact the success of the proposed 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

Data shows that out of the 172,500 electric vehicles registered, 86,310 are privately owned, and 36% of all EVs are registered in the South East and London, compared to just 2.7% in the North East.

This is Money suggests that this North-South divide is largely to do with the cost of electric vehicles: ‘Even the smallest of EVs, like the new Fiat 500, cost from around £20,000. And drivers wanting the latest technology from brands like Tesla will need to fork out in the region of £50,000 and £100,000.’

As the UK’s average household income currently stands at £29,900 per year, it is clear to see why the switch to electric vehicles may simply not be possible for many drivers.

However, experts believe that the beginning of the UK’s endeavour to make the electric vehicle switch is still a positive one, despite pricing concerns.

Rod Dennis, RAC’s data insight spokesman, said: ‘While starting from very small beginnings when you consider there are around 32 million cars licensed for use in the entire United Kingdom, the growth in the pure electric vehicles is extremely promising.

‘There is a long way to go, not least as only half of these vehicles are in private hands, compared to nine-in-ten of all cars, but it’s clear that the numbers are only going one way.

He also suggested that as more companies invest in electric vehicles, other motorists may have to resort to buying these second-hand in a few years to avoid high prices:

‘The biggest annual rise in the number of vehicles among those licensed by companies, which suggests clear tax benefits given to company car drivers are beginning to stoke demand . It’s vital this continues, as in many cases the new company vehicles of today will be the ones appearing on the second-hand consumer market in three or more years from now.’

While the cost of electric vehicles is having a noticeable impact on uptake in some areas, experts are concerned that other factors are at play when it comes to putting off the switch to electric vehicles.

[Image Source: Shutterstock, March 2021]

Lacking infrastructure also impacts electric vehicle uptake

A recent study of Zap-Map (electric vehicle mapping service) enabled experts to conclude that good-quality EV charging point suppliers were lacking, causing concern amongst electric vehicle drivers and those looking to make the switch.

One of the most widely used charging providers, Ecotricity, was deemed unreliable in a Zap-Map driver survey. This is especially concerning as this is a key charging provider installed at many motorway services.

The survey also found that Tesla charging points ranked first overall, with a five-star rating. This, again, excludes drivers who do not have the means to fork out hundreds of thousands of pounds for an electric vehicle and leaves them with unreliable charging points – another clear deterrent.

Technical office and co-founder of Zap-map, Dr Ben Lane, said: ‘As the survey demonstrates, EV drivers are very clear about the factors that make for a good charging experience, with reliability and ease of use being key priorities.

‘A new generation of drivers want to arrive at a charge point and be confident that it will be simple to use and a trouble-free experience.

‘Poor performing networks will need to take a long, hard look at the quality of services they offer if they want to retain their customers as the EV market grows apace.’

Overall, combined issues with electric vehicle pricing, unreliable charging points and lack of infrastructure are all having an impact on the electric vehicle uptake. Without being addressed, it seems that the divide in uptake between areas and lifestyles will continue to grow, putting the 2030 new petrol and diesel vehicle ban in jeopardy.

Would you be able to fork out for an electric vehicle? Are you surprised by the divide in uptake based on location and lifestyle? Do you think it will impact the overall success of the 2030 petrol diesel ban?

Let us know in the comments.

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