Latest news with #PACTS
Auto Express
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
E-scooter trials expand across London, with 10 million kilometres clocked up
Electric scooters may be controversial for many drivers, but London travellers have clocked up more than 10 million kilometres on rented two-wheelers since the UK's biggest trial launched. Wandsworth is the latest borough to join the trial, which means a third of the capital's boroughs are involved. Unlike the hordes of illegal e-scooters being used routinely on UK roads with no apparent sanction, the fleet of 4,000 e-scooters operating legally in the trial are limited to 12.5mph and have 'always on' lights in an effort to improve safety. According to Transport for London (TFL), just 0.0004 per cent of legal e-scooter journeys have resulted in serious injuries, but outside the trial the picture is more chilling. According to official figures, there were six fatalities involving e-scooter collisions in 2024, and an estimated 1,194 casualties. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) recently pointed to the fact that 49 e-scooter-related deaths have occurred since 2019, and has recommended that the Government should take action against retailers of illegal e-scooters, as well as promote more active police enforcement against those using them on the roads. Advertisement - Article continues below PACTS also says the Department for Transport should improve the recording of e-scooter casualties, after the council's investigations showed fewer than 10 per cent of e-scooter-related injuries showing up at hospital casualty units are being recorded in official data. TFL, meanwhile, paints a much more appealing picture of the officially regulated trials. It says new analysis shows the injury risk rate for the trial decreased year-on-year over the first three years of operation, while there have been no fatalities during the trial. It says operators also reported that more than 94 per cent of e-scooter trips complied with rules around parking. Want the latest car news in your inbox? Sign up to the free Auto Express email newsletter... Find a car with the experts EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs Running costs for car share club EVs are £6k higher than ICE equivalents according to new data Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change Not bothered by MoT advisories? That may be about to change The number of MoT failures caused by worn tyres is on the rise, and experts are calling for mandatory follow-ups on advisories Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future Mazda MX-5 goes electric: the iconic roadster's radical future The next Mazda MX-5 roadster is set to be offered as a pure EV, and our exclusive images preview how it could look
Auto Express
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
You could soon be forced to rectify MoT advisories, and here's why
Over one in three MoT test failures in 2024 were found to be caused by faulty tyres, with safety concerns surrounding the decaying state of the rubber on British cars leading to calls for mandatory advisory follow-ups. Last year (2023-24), more than 2.15 million vehicles failed their annual MoT test after they were found to be fitted with heavily degraded tyres. This represents around one-in-five MoT failures and is an increase of roughly 100,000 over the previous year, as well as contributing to a total over a quarter of a million since 2019-20. Such a decline in the condition of the tyres on British cars is also highlighted by the fact that, of the over two million vehicles that failed, 750,000 had previously been flagged with a tyre-related advisory. This suggests that many drivers are ignoring advisories given during MoTs and could be driving around with illegal, or even dangerous tyres. Advertisement - Article continues below With the number of tyre-related MoT failures on the rise and some 1,700 people losing their lives in 2023 after being involved in accidents where tyre defects have been cited as aggravating factors, road safety charity TyreSafe is calling on the government for change. The charity's chairman, Stuart Lovatt, said: 'These figures strongly suggest a widespread lack of attention to a component that is literally the only contact between a vehicle and the road.' TyreSafe, alongside the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), is now asking for what it describes as 'mandatory follow-up action within three months of a tyre advisory – such as driver alerts, prompts or proof-of-replacement requirements'. Of course, asking drivers to replace their tyres more frequently will, of course, come at a cost to the consumer. However, director of fleet risk management firm Verifleet, Richard Stowe, was keen to remind the public that, 'The consequences of inaction can be fatal. It's time we treated tyre safety with the seriousness it deserves.' All of this follows Auto Express' recent investigation into part-worn tyres, which found that shady businesses across the country are selling tyres that are below the legal requirements stated by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Consumer editor, Chris Rosamond, wrote to the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, calling for an immediate review of the regulations surrounding the part-worn tyre industry because, with TyreSafe estimates suggesting 94 per cent are being sold illegally, action must be taken to protect road users. Looking to replace your car tyres? Discover the best car tyres to buy now ...
