Smart Motorways and their future

         

 

   

                                      Smart Motorways

Smart Motorways were created by turning hard shoulder into live lane so you have an extra motorway lane keep traffic moving. ie 3 lanes now become 4 lanes.  If hard shoulder can be turned on or turned  off, then its known as Dynamic hard shoulder. This type of dynamic hard shoulder causes additional confusion among drivers, as this is new driving rule. Also unless you have done your Pass Plus you may not be familiar with motorway rules and high speed driving can be very intimidating.

Smart Motorways also have cameras fitted to spot any vehicle breakdown and so that affected lane can be closed to keep people safe. Also extra lay-bys were introduced every 600m where breakdown vehicle could stop.

Initially M42 was converted to smart motorways and it all went well. Currently many smart motorways are scattered around the country.

AA considers Smart Motorways are dangerous and not fit for purpose and if you breakdown, ring 999 and either stay inside your vehicle with Hazard Lights on or leave your car through passenger side and wait on the verge. Waiting in your car is still dangerous and people has been killed while waiting for a rescue to arrive.

According to Highway report it takes 17 minutes to spot breakdown vehicles and  3 minutes to activate sign and then further 17 minutes to recover that vehicle so basically you are sitting duck for about 30min.

RISK STATISTICS

Prior to smart motorways there were 72 near misses reported and in 5 years of smart motorways 1485 near misses were reported, that equals a rise of 20 folds in risk. There has been 38 deaths while people are waiting in or outside there cars for recover vehicles to arrive .

WHATS THE FUTURE

Government has now decided to introduce Radars on all smart motorways and also introduce more lay-bys, although many people think enough is enough and we should do always with so called smart motorways.

What do you think, let us know in comments section.

Fuels for Driving in future

 Fuels for Driving in future

Driving pros from LeaseVan.co.uk have listed  alternatives to petrol and diesel which might be used to power vehicles in the future.

The  price of diesel and petrol,  is constantly fluctuating but has steadily risen over the last couple of decades.

Also  the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels is also being realised, so manufacturers and scientists are trying to find a feasible, eco-friendly alternative to petrol and diesel.

Electricity looks set to lead the way, but many other chemicals  possess the necessary properties to fuel vehicles.

Although hybrid vehicles do still use petrol or diesel, it’s all about taking smaller steps and reducing the amount that individuals use and  who knows what we’ll be filling our cars with a few years down the line?!

Electricity

Electric powered vehicles are more popular than ever, and there’s been a particular rise in hybrid cars. Charging points are popping up all over the country, making electric-powered vehicles a much more feasible – and often cost-effective – option for the car owner.

Solar

Solar powered cars where   sun’s energy would be converted into electricity to fuel the vehicle.

Biogas

Biodiesel is similar to biogas in that it’s created from waste liquid, such as animal fats and vegetable oils. Biodiesel is currently being mixed in with regular diesel to offer drivers a more environmentally friendly fuel option.

Chip fat

One of the components of biodiesel is waste cooking oil, which means that technically speaking, you could fuel your vehicle with chip fat.

Alcohol

The official name for this alternative fuel is biobutanol and it’s made from the barley kernels which are left over after fermenting whisky. It works in exactly the same way as diesel does, just from a more sustainable source.

Hydrogen

Materials required to make hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles  are very expensive , but if a cheap and environmentally sustainable way is ever found to extract large enough quantities of hydrogen from water, this fuel could revolutionise road travel

Should there be Road Tax on Electric Cars

Path Holes

Isle of Man will levy road tax on Electric Cars from April 2020 to cover lost fuel tax revenue from petrol and diesel vehicles.

Currently Zero-emission vehicles  are not taxed at all, but from April 2020 they  will be subject to a £14 charge, infrastructure minister Ray Harmer has told the Isle of Man Parliament.

He said tax is necessary as funds collected from petrol and diesel vehicles will “rapidly decrease over the next 10 years”. and while it is “good to incentivise”, there are “other reasons” for people switching to electric cars, including improvements in technology.

He described at as a “difficult balance” of moving towards a new environment with electric vehicles, and the ongoing responsibilities of road maintenance.

“The highways need to be repaired and we need money to do that,” he said.

Currently, there are 280 electric vehicles and 706 hybrid vehicles registered on the island.

In October 2019,  House of Commons’ Transport Committee called for a national debate on road pricing anticipating an electric car revolution, and suggested some schemes including a Pay You Drive Road Tax.

Some Financial experts have predicted that the popularity of electric vehicles could lead to nationwide road tolls for all drivers totalling £700 a year, so it’s likely that the UK government will be paying close attention to the Isle of Man electric vehicle charge.

The Isle of Man Green Party (IOMGP)  spokes person said financial incentives are “important in encouraging the adoption of low carbon transport”. and  while a tax is to be expected, removing the incentives before people own an electric car is counter productive.

Do you think the government should be incentivising drivers to take up electric vehicles or perhaps you think it’s only fair to tax them like this? Leave us a comment below

Theory test is changing 14 April 2020

 From 14 April 2020, the car theory test will include 3 multiple-choice questions based on a short video you'll watch.

 

The change will make the theory test more accessible, to people with a:

·         reading difficulty .

·         learning disability.

·         developmental condition.

Currently, DVSA outlines a case study and then answer 5 questions about it.

This tests your knowledge and understanding of road rules.

This will change if you take your test from 14 April 2020. You’ll watch one video clip instead of reading a case study, and answer 3 questions about it.

How would video clip work

You’ll watch a short, silent, video clip. The video clip will show a situation, such as driving through a town centre, or driving on a country road and answer 3 multiple-choice questions about it.

You can watch the video clip as many times as you like during the multiple-choice part of the theory test.

For Example You can watch the video, answer a question, and then watch the video again before you answer the next question.

The type of questions you’ll answer about the video clip

You’ll answer questions like these:

1.    Why are motorcyclists considered vulnerable road users?

2.    Why should the driver, on the side road, look out for motorcyclists at junctions?

3.    In this clip, who can cross the chevrons to overtake other vehicles, when it’s safe to do so?

For each of the 3 questions, you’ll have to choose the correct answer from 4 possible answers.

Screen Layout :

Theory question

The left-hand side of the screen will show the video clip, with controls for :

·         play the video

·         pause the video

·         move to a specific part of the video on a progress bar

·         watch the video using the full screen

The right-hand side of the screen will show the question and 4 possible answers.

Who would be  affected

All car theory tests will use video clips from 14 April 2020.

This includes if:

·         you fail a test before then and retake if from 14 April 2020

·         your test is cancelled or moved for any reason, and your new test date is from 14 April 2020

What’s not changing

You’ll still need to study the same books and software to prepare for your theory test.

You’ll still need to:

·         answer 50 multiple-choice questions within 57 minutes

·         get 43 out of the 50 questions right to pass the multiple-choice part of the test

The hazard perception part of the test is not changing. This is where you watch video clips to spot developing hazards.

Other support

You can have reasonable adjustments made to your theory test if you have a:

·         reading difficulty

·         disability

·         health condition

These include:

·         extra time to take the test

·         someone to read what’s on the screen and record your answers

·         someone to reword the questions for you

New research suggests brake dust could be toxic emissions

In a study, where lung cells were exposed to exhaust and brake dust particles, they became inflamed  and less able to protect against bacteria , while lung tissue was also damaged.

Researchers have found that Metal-particle dust created by scraping brake pads account for a fifth of all tiny particle pollution on the roads.

Dr Ian Mudway, who led the research at the MRC Centre for Environment and Health at King’s College, London,  Said“ the focus on diesel exhaust emissions is completely justified by the scientific literature,”

He said: “There is no such thing as a zero-emission vehicle, and as regulations to reduced exhaust emissions kick in, the contribution from these sources are likely to become more significant.”

At the moment,  tail pipe fumes make up only 7% of the tiny particles found in roadside air – tyre wear, clutch scrapings and general road dust which may not be emitted from cars at all account for the rest.

 “But we should not forget, or discount, the importance of other components, such as metals from mechanical abrasion, especially from brakes.”

While brake dust makes up 20% of total roadside particle pollution, non-exhaust emissions make up only 7.4% of particulates from cars.

The share is set to rise to 10% by 2030, this is partly due to the increasing weight of cars and particularly heavy electric vehicles increasing wear on brakes.

Air pollution causes an estimated 64,000 early deaths a year in the UK. Around three-quarters of these are due to particulate pollution.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, spoke in July 2019 on the subject: “The automotive industry is committed to improving air quality and has already all but eliminated particulate matter from tailpipe emissions. Brake, tyre and road wear emissions are recognised challenges and emissions from these sources are not easy to measure.

Should the Motorway speed limit be raised to 80mph ?

Should the Motorway speed limit be raised to 80mph?

Case for Yes

It’s about time the speed limits on motorways and dual carriageways are increased to match  EU states. Driving at  80mph, where it’s safe to do so, would lead to  positive benefits to the economy, travel times, congestion and driver stress .

 With modern technology, cars’ stopping distances are so much less than 20 years ago and  majority of drivers drive at this speed without being prosecuted. In a FairFuelUK survey of 26,000 drivers, 4 out of 5 respondents thought an 80mph limit is now acceptable and should be introduced. But, if the speed limit is to be changed to 80mph officially, there is of course a risk that the new default breaking of the limit becomes even higher. But that could be countered by having severe punishments for anyone driving over 80mph and more police patrols.

 Our motorways are relatively safe to drive  roads on the entire network and, combined with the high safety quality of modern vehicles, it justifies increasing the legal limit.

 With  smart motorways and their information gantries, variable mandatory speed control could be enacted to suit conditions such as bad weather and congestion, so ensuring safety is the paramount consideration.

Case for No

Essentially, the question of  80mph limit is one of safety. Would increasing the speed limit to 80mph make motorways less safe? Evidence gathered in 2012 from our friends at the RAC Foundation found that increasing the limit on motorways could result in an extra 18 fatalities per year and a rise in overall collisions, though of course, journey times would be marginally quicker.
There is  also be concerns about default speeds. At present, the RAC’s research suggests that just over half of drivers admit to breaking the current motorway speed limit, and the average highest speed drivers admit to doing is closer to 80mph. How would we then guarantee that increasing the limit to 80mph would not lead to those drivers already admitting to breaking the current limit, driving at 90mph instead? Finally, smart motorways, where the hard shoulder has been converted into a permanent running lane, are becoming ever more prevalent as a way to increase capacity. While the prospect of breaking down in a live lane with no hard shoulder is already frightening, it would be even more so with vehicles potentially travelling at 80mph towards stationary vehicles.

What do you think ?

NEW ROAD TAX COULD BE PAY AS YOU DRIVE

Motorists could soon be billed for road use on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Government collects about £40 billion each year from   Car taxes like Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and fuel duty.

The House of Commons’ Transport Committee now wants to open a “national debate” on road pricing ahead of a formal inquiry next year.

Funding from fuel duty might eventually dry up entirely, as the motoring industry moves away from traditional fuels.

A road pricing scheme was last considered in 2007, but the Labour administration abandoned proposals following an online petition attracting 1.8 million signatures.

RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes said: “There is no question that the existing fuel duty system is on borrowed time as we move towards electric and other zero emission forms of car travel.

“We know through research that drivers are open to a new form of motoring taxation but three-quarters of those we questioned are worried they may end up paying more tax than they do now. For this reason, we believe any new tax should be in place of the current one and not in addition to it.”

Lilian Greenwood, who chairs the Transport Committee, said: “We need to ask how we will pay for roads in the future and in answering that question we have an opportunity for a much wider debate about our use of road space, cutting carbon emissions, tackling congestion, modal shift and how we prioritise active travel.”

The committee is inviting the opinions of drivers and non-drivers to scrutinise the economic, environmental and social impact of road pricing in early 2020.

Road pricing efforts could include tolls, congestion charges, HGV levies, workplace parking levies, plus low emission and clean air zones.

Similar levies such as London’s Congestion Charge raised £1.9bn in 2017.