Legislation - Page 18

New regulations that will require quoted companies to publish their greenhouse gas emissions could provide fresh impetus for fleet CO2 reductions, says GE Capital’s Fleet Services division.

The Government says it is happy for drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) to be reimbursed at the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rate of 45 pence per mile (ppm). However, nearly three-quarters (71%) of respondents to a Fleet News poll disagree, suggesting the level is flawed.

A reduction in the level of tax relief that can be claimed by leasing companies and fleets is fuelling a downward trend in emissions, figures suggest.

The brake has been applied to the decline in the number of company cars on Britain’s roads, according to latest statistics compiled by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The Freight Transport Association says new careless driving penalties need national guidelines to avoid ‘postcode lottery'.

Police given powers of on-the-spot penalties for careless driving including tailgating and poor lane discipline.

Almost a third of drivers are at risk of getting one of the new fixed penalty notices for careless driving, which come into force on Friday, August 16th, warns the AA.

Independent leasing and fleet management specialist, Venson Automotive Solutions, has launched a Fleet Tax Guide to help customers access up-to-date tax tables, calculate the tax on company cars and employer provided fuel, and provide easy to understand definitions to commonly used tax terms.

New moves by the Government to promote safer driving have been welcomed by ACFO, but the organisation is concerned that the introduction of new offences and tougher fines will prove difficult to enforce due to a shortage of traffic police.

The fleet industry is calling for clarification on how a new online system will work after the paper counterpart of the driving licence is scrapped.

Richard Silver, specialist motoring offences lawyer, on why he expects to see many drivers contesting allegations of careless driving in court.

One in five young drivers (17-24 year-olds) will have an accident within six months of passing their test and 1,552 young drivers were killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads in 2011 - more than 4 per day.

The national network of motorways and trunk roads will get extra lanes, smoother, quieter surfaces, improved junctions and new sections in key areas under a plan published by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

Campaigners say they are “slowly winning the argument” with the Government for drivers to face more stringent eyesight tests.

The Japanese firm has developed an app for mobile phones to give company car drivers instant access to cost of ownership data on every model it sells and a car comparison tool.

The Government has confirmed it plans to introduce tolls to help pay for upgrades to a section of the A14.

Government plans to raise the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph look to have been consigned to the scrapheap with road safety being given a greater priority by the current transport secretary.

Tax changes proposed by the Government to close a ‘disguised employment’ loophole by the creation of some Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are set to impact ‘perks’ including company cars and fuel.

Fleets have been urged to get employees to double-check their payslips after warnings that a radical shake-up of the tax payment system has left tens of thousands paying the wrong amount of company car tax.

Despite nine out of 10 UK motorists feeling they are ‘sitting ducks’ for the Treasury as the Government collects more than £40bn a year in motoring taxation, Britain’s roads are crumbling, a report suggests.

Careless drivers who put other road users at risk face on-the-spot penalties under new measures announced today by road safety minister Stephen Hammond.

Mike Belcher, head of sales, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, on why planning a fleet strategy is now harder than ever before.

Company Car and Van Tax 2013-14, the latest offering from Professor Colin Tourick, has been published by Eyelevel Books.

The courts have dropped two cases against drivers incorrectly charged with not keeping their driving licences up to date.

Every area is to have a dedicated ‘Traffic Court’ to deal with low-level road traffic offences, justice minister Damian Green said today.

International fleet managers can produce cost savings of tens of thousands of pounds for their companies by reducing the average carbon emissions on a typical fleet of 200 cars by just 10g/km, according to the 2013 edition of the annual European Taxation Guide.

FMG has received approval to launch a new initiative to provide bespoke legal services.

Company car and van drivers are being warned against swapping penalty points after former Cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicki Pryce were jailed.

Manufacturers have welcomed the Government’s announcement in the Budget to extend the tax appeal of sub-76g/km models for fleets.

Fleets are being urged to future-proof choice lists so they don’t lose out when new tax policies are announced.

Almost half (48%) of British senior managers with decision making responsibility for company cars say their businesses are unprepared for the changes to company car taxes that come into force this week, research suggests.

Fleets could face delays as Government closes DVLA regional offices to save £26m.

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is not targeting business mileage records and claims to the contrary are without foundation.

Almost half of UK business drivers admit to submitting false mileage claims, a survey suggests.

Just a third of senior leaders in the transport sector feel that the UK Government has a clear vision for the future of the nation’s transport, according to new research released today by transformation consultancy Moorhouse.

In-vehicle camera technology could help fleets avoid becoming victim of fraud.

Fleets are paying nearly 5p per litre more at the pumps than they did at the start of the year, thanks to a weakening pound and soaring wholesale prices.

Industry associations, including the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), have successfully lobbied for minor van modifications such as ply-lining and racking to be exempted from the type approval regulations due to come into force on April 29.

A downward trend in fleet CO2 emissions will help the majority of fleets escape the impact of new rules affecting the tax efficiency of leased vehicles.

New tax rules that take effect in April make the case for including hybrid vehicles on fleet policies more compelling, according to Fleet Alliance.