New data has revealed that almost half of speed cameras across England and Wales are not in operation. The road safety technology company Road Angel made a freedom of information (FOI) request to analyse how many fixed-speed cameras are inactive in each region of England and Wales. The FOI request revealed that 46% of fixed-speed cameras in the areas that responded are not working. Not all of the police forces in England and Wales responded to the request.

Whilst there are only eight speed cameras in Northamptonshire, the request showed that all eight were inactive. Gwent in southeast Wales only had one active speed camera out of the 31 in the region. Six of the 13 police forces who responded to the FOI request had over half of their speed cameras standing inactive.

Derbyshire has more speed cameras out of action than any other region, with only 20 of the 113 across the county capable of catching speeding motorists. Derbyshire (113), Essex (110) and Devon & Cornwall (110) are the regions across England with the most speed cameras – each having at least 40% incapable of catching speeding drivers.

Whilst there are only eight speed cameras in Northamptonshire, the request showed that all eight were inactive. Gwent in southeast Wales only had one active speed camera out of the 31 in the region. Six of the 13 police forces who responded to the FOI request had over half of their speed cameras standing inactive.

Derbyshire has more speed cameras out of action than any other region, with only 20 of the 113 across the county capable of catching speeding motorists. Derbyshire (113), Essex (110) and Devon & Cornwall (110) are the regions across England with the most speed cameras – each having at least 40% incapable of catching speeding drivers.

Only two areas had all speed cameras working – Dyfed-Powys in Wales, and Suffolk, but these have just four devices each. The West Midlands had only 5% of their speed cameras standing inactive, with 62 out of 65 devices in operation.

Road safety experts are urging UK police forces, councils and the government to ensure speed cameras are fully operational to catch speeding motorists.

Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, said: “It’s shocking to see how many speed cameras across the country are standing inactive and are letting speeding motorists get away with driving dangerously.

“We are urging local authorities and police forces to ensure speed cameras are fully working to catch speeding motorists who may be driving recklessly by breaking the limit. This in turn will help to reduce the number of dangerous drivers and help to keep our roads safer for everyone.

“As it stands, speeding on the road is a contributing factor for 25% of fatalities – and motorists who break the legal limit need to be penalised so they further recognise the importance of sticking to the speed limits. However, with such high numbers of inactive devices, thousands of drivers are getting away with speeding every day. The UK police force, councils and the government must take action on making sure these fixed speed cameras are fully operational.”

According to Which?’s Annual Sustainability Report 2023 published this month, the number of people considering an electric car has reduced over the past two years because of the perceived barriers of cost and charging infrastructure. The report was based on the findings of a poll of 2,067 adults by Yonder Consulting on behalf of  Which? Magazine. The report compared the 2023 findings with previous surveys in 2021 and 2022.

The 2023 survey found that only 46 per cent of those polled would consider buying an electric vehicle in the future, down from 64 per cent in 2021. The proportion who intend their next vehicle to be electric has fallen to 8 per cent from 11 per cent two years ago.

The survey was carried out in June 2023 before Rishi Sunak postponed the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales. The prime minister said last week that the delay to 2035 was because costs were too high and time was needed to improve the charging infrastructure.

The Which? Survey suggests that those concerns over cost and inadequate charging infrastructure are widely shared. On barriers to buying an electric car, 63 per cent cited the expense, while 51 per cent pointed to the availability of public charging points. Interestingly 50 per cent also cited the cost of installing a charge point at home as a barrier to purchase.

Higher-earning households are more likely to consider buying an EV as their next vehicle than lower-income households, yet cost remains a barrier for all groups. For household incomes of £55,000 and above, 17 per cent considered buying an EV next, falling to 7 per cent for households earning £28,000 and below.

Younger people favoured EVs, with 15 per cent of 18-34-year-olds intending that their next car would be electric, a figure that fell to as low as 2 per cent for over-65s. However, the survey found that 82 per cent acknowledged their role in reducing their environmental footprint, a figure that has climbed from 77 per cent two years ago.

“It’s clear consumers want to play their part in helping tackle climate change, but our research has found that lack of awareness, reliable information and the cost of some green technologies is holding them back from leading more sustainable lives,” Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said.

The general conclusion of the Which? Report was that the general reluctance to buy an EV stems from concerns around pricing with high purchase/lease costs and the expenses related to setting up home charging points putting people off. Additionally, half of people express scepticism that there are enough public charging points available to keep their future EV running.

The full report can be found here.

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With tools and apps available such as Zoopla to track the value of a property and Monzo to track finances, it’s now easier than ever to manage the value of the items you own. Despite this, 41% of car owners say they don’t know how much their car is worth.

Car values are changing all the time. So whether you’re a proper petrol-head, or just need a decent set of wheels to get from A to B, chances are you’re not sure if your car is going up or down in value. This presents a problem when you’re ready to sell your car: how do you know it’s actually a good time to sell and get your best price?

Most people choose to sell their car before they’ve checked what it’s worth. But that doesn’t get you the best price for one of your most valuable assets. Motorway’s created the answer with its Car Value Tracker, a free online tool to see monthly price movements and track the ongoing value of up to six vehicles at once.

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used-car marketplace, connecting people selling their car directly with their network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on their platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. Motorway helps car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free.

Car Value Tracker is Motorway’s latest product innovation, which is free to use on motorway.co.uk. The interactive tool displays your vehicle’s value over time, with up to 24 months of historic pricing plotted on the graph. This allows you to see how your car’s value is changing, whether that means depreciating, holding value, or even rising in price. Check your car’s value at any point, or sign up for monthly value alerts over email.

What’s causing car value to change?

Car values don’t follow a predictable trend. All cars depreciate at varying rates, dropping value slower or quicker from year to year as demand shifts. And it’s not just about depreciation. In fact, due to the pandemic and a lack of new car supply, many popular models actually went up in price year-on-year in 2021. It’s therefore almost impossible to predict the factors that will impact your car’s value every year, although some (mileage, condition, availability of new cars) are much more obvious. It’s useful to understand what impacts your car’s value, but even more important to visualise how that price changes over time, from month to month.

Car Value Tracker is a first-of-its-kind product, using advanced data science techniques to leverage historic data from thousands of similar cars that have sold through the Motorway platform, and hundreds of thousands of bids from dealers, to model each individual car’s valuation history. Car owners will be presented with an interactive graph showing their car’s value today and how it has depreciated – or appreciated – over the previous 24 months. If the car owner has valued their vehicle on Motorway in the past, those valuations are also included on the graph.

To use Car Value Tracker, all you have to input is your reg and mileage for a live valuation when you’re logged into your free Motorway account. Your interactive map will display your latest valuation, and a plotted graph with historical valuations, as well as your overall two-year change (e.g. -2.23%). You can turn on or off monthly alerts reminding you to confirm your mileage for an updated valuation.

What if my car is on finance?

The perfect time to sell a car or van with outstanding finance is when the vehicle’s valuation is higher than your remaining balance to pay, normally at least three or four years into contract. This is called being in positive equity. At this point, you can sell your car to a verified dealer with Motorway, who will clear the outstanding balance and pay you the surplus.

By following the dynamic valuation of your financed vehicle on Car Value Tracker, and monitoring your finance payments too, you really can choose the perfect time to sell. This product release from Motorway has changed the way people think about their car as a financial asset, for good.

To track the value of your car, visit

motorway.co.uk/track

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UK drivers are being warned to check three key things before towing the caravan this holiday season to help keep them safe on the roads and protected from fines and penalties. Caravan insurance comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk warn holidaymakers to check their licence, vehicle weight and insurance before hitting the road.

There isn’t a special caravan driving licence; however, changes by the DVLA mean not everyone is eligible to pull all loads without sitting additional driving tests – so it’s essential to know and check the caravan’s weight. Most drivers pass with a category B licence and should be eligible to drive a car, a small van, or a motor tricycle and tow another vehicle, such as a caravan, up to a certain weight.

However, drivers need to note the change in what they can pull; as of December 2021, drivers who passed their car driving test from 1st January 1997 are only allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) – less than half the weight (8,250kg) that older drivers can pull, who passed their test before January 1997.*

Caravanners must also check the car’s handbook to find its gross train weight (GTW). This is the total allowable weight of the car, plus the trailer and load. Checking the weight or ‘nose weight’ of a caravan is a vital part of any caravanners preparations. It can be done using a simple, inexpensive noseweight gauge to ensure the caravan is not overloaded.

Overloading the caravan can be very dangerous and cause damage to the tyres and tow bar. Inadequate tyres can lead to a fine of up to £2,500 and up to three penalty points per tyre.

Caravan insurance’s not legally required to cover damages, but it is recommended.

Price comparison expert Lee Evans at Quotezone.co.uk said: “With a soaring number of holidaymakers continuing to staycation in the UK and an ever-increasing rate of caravan thefts due to shortages in the market. It’s important caravanners and their families are protected and do these three simple checks before heading off this summer – check the drivers driving licence, check the vehicle weight and check the insurance policy.

“Many car insurance policies will provide drivers with basic third-party liability cover for towing a touring caravan. However, with 4,000 caravans stolen each year, specific insurance to cover the costs of theft is the best way to ensure they aren’t left out of pocket.**

“Car insurance will also not cover a caravan while it is parked or if it sustains damage. This is why we encourage holidaymakers to take out dedicated caravan insurance – it also protects those who are victim to theft of personal belongings or fire damage.

“Vehicle owners also need to update insurance providers with full and accurate details, failure to do so may render the policy invalid and the holidaymakers unprotected. Caravans are not just a vehicle to many families, they are an escape, a break and a place where memories are made, with the summer just beginning, caravanners need to make sure they are protected.”

Here are Quotezone.co.uk’s top tips to keep caravans safe and help save money:

Storage

If you can park it privately, make it as close to the house as possible and easily visible from your windows – even park your car behind it to pen it in. If parking at a communal caravan park, make sure to remove all valuables or keep them out of sight for anyone who may be able to peer in through the windows; also, choose a reputable park with good access control. You can even ask your insurer for their preferred storage sites for keeping your caravan – this might help reduce the cost of the premium.

Security

Visible security measures are ideal to deter opportunist thieves; wheel locks/clamps, padlocks, hitch locks, window locks, cameras, alarms with warning stickers – anything you can do to delay thieves or put them off is well worth doing. It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for any reductions on your insurance premium; sometimes, these additional measures can reduce the cost.

Cover up and Keep Track

Use a cover to disguise the caravan’s value and attractiveness from potential thefts. Install a tracker and security mark the caravan with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Chip – to help increase the chances of its safe return should it be stolen.

Breakdowns

It is also important for motorists to review their breakdown cover, as some policies will only cover car breakdowns. This could put unprepared motorists in a difficult position, having to leave their caravan behind and vulnerable in the case of a car emergency.

Abroad

If the caravan is taken abroad, the owner might need to check that the insurance provides European Union coverage. Note that caravan insurers typically place an annual limit on the number of trips and days the caravan could be used abroad, and exceeding these limits may invalidate the policy.

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It’s worth checking the insurance policy details to ensure you have ‘new-for-old’ versus market value to help ensure you get back what you paid for it or a new or latest equivalent should you need it replaced rather than the current market resale value.  

Quotezone.co.uk can help you compare and find savings on specialist holiday insurance, such as static caravan, motorhome and trailer insurance.

References:

* https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-rules-for-towing-a-trailer-or-caravan-with-a-car-from-autumn-2021

**https://www.theaa.com/car-insurance/advice/caravan-insurance

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.