Often, vehicle theft occurs due to opportunists spotting a ‘vulnerable vehicle’. Avoid leaving items such as wallets, mobile phones and luggage on display. If your vehicle has a portable navigation device, remove it from the windscreen and make sure to wipe away the suction marks left by the mount. If you tend to hide items under the seat or glove compartment, chances are someone could have seen you, try to take items with you where possible or place them in the boot of the vehicle before making your journey.
Recent data from Co-op Insurance revealed that nine of the ten hotspots for car crime in the UK are located in the capital, including the exclusive borough of Kensington and Chelsea. With this, it’s important you choose your parking space smartly. Search for areas that are well lit with high footfall. Even opportunists won’t take the risk for a small reward if they believe they are being watched.
This may seem obvious, but always ensure both doors and windows are locked. It doesn’t matter if you’re popping to the shop or parked outside your own home, its a simple prevention method that could go a long way. If your vehicle has a sunroof, ensure this is closed too, and if your drive a convertible, close the soft-top.
Technology plays a vital role in keeping your pride and joy safe. The use of vehicle trackers has fast become the most successful way of monitoring and securing your vehicle or fleet. Simplytrak can pinpoint your vehicle to the exact location, whilst in a remote location and have quickly become one the market leaders in automotive security with our excellent solutions and features. Our vehicle tracking system comes with standard features that enable you to drive down costs and improve efficiency. We also offer immobilisation features and cameras to increase vehicle and driver security.
Vehicle theft using the keys will negate your insurance. Simplytrak’s new SimplySecure system aims to prevent fleet drivers from ever leaving the keys in the ignition, even during quick drops. Whenever the driver’s door is opened with the keys still in the ignition, the horn will sound, hazard lights will flash and the vehicle is instantly immobilised. The vehicle cannot be stolen. To mobilise the vehicle again, the driver must contact head office who are able to re-mobilise the vehicle remotely.
SimplySecure Uses TurnKey Technology To:
Contact us today to learn more about protecting your vehicle!
More than 1,500 whiplash claims are made in the UK every day. That is costing the insurance industry more than £2 billion a year. And adding £90 to the average annual motor insurance premium.
Some claimant have severe pain in their neck and are suffering quite badly. If there is also quite a lengthy prognosis then they are likely to receive maximum compensation. Which would be in the region of £11,000. A claimant with the same amount of pain and suffering but prognosis of less than maybe two years is likely to receive compensation between £6,500 and £11,500. The average compensation amount is in the region of £3000.
The ABI has campaigned for reform of the personal injury claims system for many years and welcomes the introduction of the Civil Liability Act 2018. The reforms will:
Reform how the Discount Rate used to calculate larger personal injury awards is set, to ensure it is up to date and reflects how claimants typically invest their compensation
However, back in April, the MoJ announced that it would delay the introduction of the Civil Liability Act, citing the coronavirus pandemic. But the ABI warned the department against undue delays, claiming any additional stalling would “impact on the benefits to claimants and consumers”.
Now, the new laws are set to arrive in April 2021, 12 months after the original scheduled introduction in April 2020. The delayed introduction of new rules designed to cut the value of personal injury compensation has cost Britain’s motorists a combined total of £1.3 billion.
Sources:https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/personal-injury-claims/whiplash-claims/https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/new-setback-in-race-to-begin-whiplash-reform-in-aprilhttps://www.accidentclaimsadvice.org.uk/whiplash-claims-calculator/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/delayed-whiplash-reforms-cost-drivers-082000214.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMD62pFp9tXh1T6nBQvwCulJi7rHBs6foVuShq9gyFlw7oqmWDZ11FF9B9W0uBPAiavaUGKDKZcwrDkaycR8JHIcu_Rdu3iZONbBgjYgjHHo52amWRs6bFVYd9eccouOlsG0xyIHoY7iqEWqComrKY16lyibIqzuN8Ma55uYitDP
FORS stands for Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme. It is a voluntary accreditation scheme aiming to raise the quality level within fleet operations. The scheme makes sure companies manage their work-related road risk – exceeding the industry standard.
Being accredited helps transform a business by helping them stand out from the crowd. Through the accreditation process fleets improve road safety, increase environmental awareness by reducing fuel emissions and improve fuel efficiency. FORS helps operators remain compliant with the latest regulations and gain greater industry intelligence through insights and networking opportunities.
Operators can gain a bronze accreditation by showing good business practice and complying with FORS standard requirements. To achieve silver accreditation, operators must maintain a bronze accreditation and fleets must be compliant with the Standard for Construction Logistics.
To achieve a gold accreditation, operators must perform best industry practice measures and demonstrate meaningful improvements against the baseline data gathered for a silver accreditation.
Recorded data is key for operators to perform and identify key areas of improvements in fleet efficiency. Members can use FORS fleet management tools to help collate data on fuel consumption, emissions and fleet incidents all of which can help to understand where chances in efficiency can be made.
Simplytrak’s tracking platform is a major asset to any new or existing member of FORS, using modern algorithms to accurately calculate fuel usage, emissions, collision reports, vehicle operation hours and video footage from our witness cameras.
All play a vital role in the progress from Bronze to Gold. Our data logging servers are cloud based ensuring any historical vehicle data will always be at hand.
Simplytrak can tailor any of our packages to suit your fleets needs. We offer a variety of extras such as temperature probes, fluid level sensors, driver ID interfaces plus many more.
Get in touch with us today to find out more and see how we can help you.
From October 2020, all heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over twelve tons operating in Greater London will need to abide by new Driver Vision Standard (DVS). This is designed to stop deaths caused by lorry blind spots. Like most regulations, it is slightly complicated by exemptions. However, rules will be rigorously enforced whenever vehicles enter the capital. Whilst these regulations are designed for London now, you can expect them to be rolled out across the country.
Operators should not wait until the last minute to make vehicles compliant. Acting now is in the interests of the whole industry and not just for vehicles London bound or based. Every HGV operator in the country should invest a relatively small amount in maximizing the safety of their fleet – and then promote the fact that they have done so.
Fleet operators everywhere can look upon DVS compliance as an investment in both safety and marketing. Being at the top end of the safety ladder is good for business, something to shout about and simply sound business practice.
All qualifying HGV’s operators must apply for a free star rating for each vehicle in the fleet. This will need to be done prior to operating in Greater London after 26 October 2020. Enforcement will commence immediately on that date. New vehicles will likely have a rating from the manufacturer although operators will still need to apply for the permit.
All fleet operators must apply through the Transport for London (TfL) website. Operators will enter vehicle details and add pictures of any post-manufacture safety equipment added to comply with the regulations. TfL will issue a star rating. If the rating is zero then the operator will have to upgrade the vehicle to comply before the deadline. If rated 1 then it is good to go until 2024 when the minimum rating increases to 3. TfL will issue a 10-year permit for companies with a 5-star rating.
DVS compliant equipment includes vehicle safety cameras, front and sideview mirrors and audible sirens. These tools alert pedestrians and cyclists that the vehicle is planning to turn. Side safety barriers stop cyclists or people from going under the side of the vehicle. Digital Video Recorder (DVR) cameras are a requirement and they must also be multi-camera systems. They must come with in-cab monitors fitted in approved areas to maximise usage whilst minimizing distraction for the driver. Side bar protection is another professional install but the mirrors can probably be sourced and self-mounted, as can safety stickers.
Act now.
Whilst there is no approved suppliers list from Transport for London, many companies exist in the market to help. Equipment prices range in the market. They don’t cost a fortune, but they require professional fitting. A lot of companies cover many or all of the required technology. They can sometimes also install anywhere in the country.
While the regulations currently only apply to the capital, operating safely everywhere is part of the role of every fleet operator. So why not install ahead of the curve and slash your company accident statistics to zero now, wherever you are based.
The Mayor of London’s Vision Zero is a strong idea. The elimination of HGV blind spots to save lives is well overdue when technology has been available for some time to achieve this.
As a fleet management operator specialising in bespoke vehicle tracking and camera solutions, Simplytrak have been working with the freight industry for many years.
Given the unprecedented circumstances we all find ourselves in with the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become even harder for fleets to operate. TfL are currently reviewing the enforcement start of the new rules. However, one thing is sure and that’s that the DVS will come. And not being prepared will cost you.
We know there is a lot to think about when installing aftermarket equipment on mixed fleets in particular. Avoid last-minute hassle and please reach out to our experts for free advice now.
Get in touch today by calling 01430 879197 or emailing enquiries@simplytrak.com.
Vehicles that don’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards will have to pay a daily charge to drive within the zone, on top of the congestion charge.
You can check your vehicle on the TfL online checker but generally the charges are:
Non-payment will result in a fine of £160.
Obviously, this is bound to have an impact on businesses and the cost of operating in and around London.
While the changes are likely to encourage businesses to consider upgrading their fleet in the long-term, right now they’ll be keen to monitor journeys in and around to ULEZ and only venturing into the zone if absolutely necessary.
Thanks to the geofencing feature available on the Simplytrak system, our customers have the ability to zone useful areas on their map and then set up reports and alerts to inform drivers when they breach a geofenced area.
With this feature, fleet managers are able to run a report at the end of each day to show which vehicles have been in the ULEZ and therefore arrange to pay the total daily charges for your fleet.
To make it even easier for our customers, we’ve already created geofences for the ULEZ and the wider Low Emission Zone (LEZ).
To apply this to your portal, please email enquiries@simplytrak.com or contact our customer support team on 01430 879197.