Green grant blow is unbelievable
I REFER to the article ‘Fleets’ dismay at green grant blow’ (Fleet NewsNet, June 15). We are the manufacturer of the Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter and as such we find this news of no grant at this late stage almost unbelievable.
The Government has a real responsibility to promote clean transport which in the UK accounts for 25% of CO2 emissions – and has failed.
There are now certain technologies that are production-ready, which, for the first time ever, allow you to go green with no sacrifice to lifestyle.
These transport solutions, of which Vectrix is one, offer range and performance exceeding their petrol counterparts.
Other European countries offer in excess of £1,300 grant to zero emission vehicles (ZEV).
The UK Government is dishing out the cash but it is to its consultants and not end users who will make the difference.
These grants were to help fill the price gap between established petrol/diesel vehicles and by their very nature marginally more expensive ZEVs. It beggars belief that this Government thinks that the consumer would prefer to receive a leaflet explaining ‘climate change’ rather than £500 supporting a real-time purchase that is real and perhaps enables future generations to sleep easy.
ALEX BAMBERG
Managing director, Vectrix UK
White cars will soon make a comeback
I THOUGHT the St George’s flag arranged in Toyota Yaris’s (Fleet NewsNet June 22) was very patriotic by the Japanese company, which is doing lots of fine work in the UK.
However, the remark by Martin Ward in his column ‘Thinking CAP’ about the lack of interest in white cars and their resulting weaker res-idual values may need to be reviewed in the near future.
A couple of our company drivers have admitted to be considering white cars when replacements are due and I must admit that the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI (pictured left) looks stunning in white.
JOHN HOLLINGSWORTH
Customer services manager, Machine Mart,
Nottingham
Deep-seated apathy on risk reduction
WITH reference to the article ‘Ladyman in plea to Fleet News readers’ (Fleet NewsNet, June 15), for businesses to support risk management, this highlights an age-old issue. While a few enlightened businesses see the measurable benefits of adopting a risk management culture in their organisations, most see it as a waste of time and money.
This is a deep-seated cultural issue within UK companies which won’t evaporate overnight.
I am not convinced either that another report on the cost of inaction will prompt otherwise cynical businesses to embrace risk management.
In the final analysis, companies need to understand that poor health and safety procedures in their organisations are no longer ‘nice to have’ and are fast becoming non-negotiable aspects of a bigger picture.
Reducing risk is all about caring for your people and any financial bonus should be considered as an additional benefit.
Changing people’s attitudes takes time and it is clear that risk management has still to find itself as an item on too many boardroom agendas.
And while the SAFED driver training initiative has had a positive effect on the fleet sector, the withdrawal of its subsidies next year begs for a more consistent approach to awakening fleets’ understanding of risk reduction.
Someone once said, ‘if you can’t measure it, it won’t get done’.
Perhaps it’s time for the Government to lead the way and set minimum targets for fleet safety. At present, most fleets have an incident rate of around 60%. Why not set a target of 45%, encouraging fleets to use risk management solutions which could be part-funded by subsidy?
DIARMUID FAHY
Fleet risk manager, ING Car Lease
Insurance advice misleading
THE insurance advice given in the Fleet News risk management Helpline (Fleet News, June 22) is misleading.
Point one: ‘Motor policies will allow another person to drive a vehicle with the owner’s consent’ – only if the policy is written on an ‘any driver/open driving’ basis or the ‘other’ person is named.
Point two: given one or other of the above applies then the cover that applies to the ‘other’ driver will in the normal course of events be matching.
If the vehicle is insured comprehensively, then all who drive the vehicle will be covered comprehensively.
Point three: the other alternative is that the Helpline is confusing this with the ‘driving of other cars’ but again the thinking appears to be flawed as this benefit rarely if ever operates on commercial fleet policies.
This particular benefit only operates in the main on policies in an individual’s name and then only to the policyholder, with a few insurers now offering the benefit to the policyholder and their legally married spouse.
Point four: there are insurers now slowly extending the ‘driving of other cars’ benefit from purely spouse to common-law partners regardless of their gender.
DAVID EDMUNDS
Manager underwriting & claims, Special Risks Division, NIG
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