Bone Of Contention – Parking Tickets For Parking in Loading Bays
Companies hit with £1.7m of fines for parking in Loading Bays.
According to research by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, UK businesses have been issued with £1.7 million worth of fines in the last three years for vans incorrectly parking or stopping in a loading bay.
The figures show that Local Councils have issued an average of 13,000 parking fines a year since 2015. These figures have been rising by a 10% year-on-year increase – perhaps indicating how the rules around loading bays are actually becoming increasingly unclear for van drivers.
As if to further demonstrate the confusion surrounding parking in loading bays, the research also showed that nearly a quarter (23%) of appeals against Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for incorrect use of a loading bay were successful – so even the ticket issuers don’t seem sure!
What are the rules about stopping in a loading bay?
Legally, van drivers are allowed to stop at a loading bay to drop off or collect goods. The new research reveals though that still thousands of drivers don’t seem to fully understand the rules.
In terms of when can you use a loading bay, the majority of loading bays can be used to collect pre-ordered goods or unload goods that require a vehicle to transport them. If a vehicle is left unattended, it needs to be clear (through the use of hazards for example) that goods are being loaded and unloaded.
They can’t be used by drivers however for;
- without loading or unloading or to use it to wait for parking
- dependent on the time restrictions within each loading bay (and these vary from council to council).
- for collecting or dropping off passengers.
According to the research, Glasgow, Manchester and Haringey councils have issued the highest number of loading bay PCNs over the past three years. Van drivers working in those areas need to take most care when making deliveries or stopping on red routes.
How to avoid getting a PCN for parking in a loading bay.
As part of its “Working With You” brand promise, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles advises drivers to make use of various parking apps on smartphones (obviously making sure you don’t get pulled over for using your smartphone whilst driving!)
The brand additionally offers Park Assist to ensure drivers can make the most of the spaces available and stay within the designated loading bay lines to avoid fines.
Sarah Cox, head of marketing at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented:
“As this research reveals, PCNs are costing businesses thousands of pounds a year when, in fact, they can be avoided completely if you understand the rules correctly. Loading bays are an essential part of the red route network as they allow businesses to access central locations to make and receive important deliveries. As the rules change between councils, it is crucial that you check before you park.”
Leave your comments
Have you – or you fleet – received PCN’s for parking in Loading Bays. Have you had yours overturned on appeal? Could there be more signs to make the restrictions clearer? Have your say in the comments below.
New – Clean-Air Zone Friendly – Mitsubishi L200 Pick-Up On Sale
Following on from our recent article about the Greater Manchester Clean-Aid zone – more and more popular vehicles are getting the necessary upgrades. The latest is the ever-popular Mitsubishi L200 pick-up truck which has not only been revised to offer increased safety equipment but also comes with a new Euro 6d diesel engine – compliant with the new clean-air zones.
What are the main changes with the L200?
As well as the new Euro 6d-compliant, the new L200 comes with a new 2.3-litre turbo diesel engine and a new six-speed automatic gearbox, while larger brakes all-round are fitted to the majority of the range.
Priced from £21,515 for the entry-level 4Life Club Cab variant, the L200 Series 6 also offers an increased payload of 1,080kg (up from 1,045kg-1,060kg) and gross train weight of 6,155kg, as well as an upgraded four-wheel drive system which incorporates a new ‘off road mode’ and hill descent control system.
What else is included in the new Mitsubishi L200?
- Blind spot warning system with lane change assist function
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure warning
- Hill start assist
- Emergency stop signal
- Trailer stability assist.
Styling changes include a new front-end, a 40mm raised bonnet for easier manoeuvring, LED headlamps and LED driving lights on the majority of the range, and squared off wheel arches.
Interior updates include revised seating with improved bolstering, new instrumentation, including a full-colour LCD display, and a chunkier steering wheel.
If you would like to find out more about the different finance deals available on the new Mitsubishi L200 Pickup then feel free to contact us – or give us a call on 01543 229722.
New Aston Martin “Volante Vision” Aims to Bring Luxury Personal Air Mobility
Nearly all the old Sci-fi movies saw flying cars as an absolute shoe-in by now. Despite this, reality has always to seemed to ensure that flying cars cannot be made remotely practical.
Recently the new Aston Martin “Volante Vision” concept emerged – which is actually a light aircraft rather than a “flying car” – and despite some pretty nifty realistic looking images – it is still hard to see past it being nothing more than something for James Bond movie – or a one-off play-thing for some bored multi-multi-Billionaire rather than “the future of personal transport”.
How realistic is it?
But… Aston Martin are taking it seriously. They have worked with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Rolls-Royce plc (the air engine company, not the car-making division) to look at a way of making this the future of “luxury personal air mobility”.
It is a concept designed for every-day use. For urban areas it features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities,similar to a Hawker Harrier “jump” jet – technology that has actually been around since the 1960’s.
In true Aston Martin fashion – it’s green too, albeit in the sense that it is conceived with hybrid power, combining an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, for inter-city rather than inter-continental travel.
Will It Take Off? (Pardon The Pun!)
This isn’t the first concept like this – and it won’t be the last. Getting the technology right so that it is practical (and affordable) are the main obstacles to overcome. However – you think about any piece of technology and the same could be said of those – from personal computers and video players to the Electric Car – and we’re still only part of the way there with that with what can be achieved!
So in our opinion, we think it’s inevitable something like the Aston Martin Volante Vision will become a reality – and possibly for the mainstream. With the names getting involved in this project, you would also have to say it is probably only a couple of decades away too.
Do you think this is the future – or is it just a fantasy pipeline best left to James Bond movies? Leave your comments below.
Is Your Vehicle Exempt From The Upcoming Manchester Clean Air Zone Charge?
What Is The GM Clean Air Zone?
Most major cities up and down the UK are looking ways of becoming greener and cutting emissions. Manchester is one of them.
This means if you, or your company are making regular visits in to the upcoming Clean Air Zone you could be liable to a daily charge which is currently touted as;
- Buses, coaches and HGVs – £100 (from 2021)
- Taxis and private hire vehicles – £7.50 (from 2021)
- Vans and minibuses – £7.50 (from 2023)
If the daily penalty is not paid, a PCN payment of £120 is proposed which would be in addition to the original daily penalty.
This could obviously have a significant impact on a small business – particularly if you have a few vehicles regularly travelling into the zone.
How To Find Out If Your Vehicles Are Compliant
We have found a tool where you can quickly establish if your vehicle is compliant or not. If you click on the button below you will be taken to the vehicle checker section of the Clean Air Greater Manchester website.
If you find out your vehicles AREN’T compliant, then if you come back to us, fill in the form below and we will contact you to advise what your options are.
If your vehicles are liable for the charge, fill in the form below...
Worrying Stats Revealed About Employee Mobile Use Whilst Driving and Lack of Checks on “Grey-Fleet” Drivers
New Research Reveals Worrying Trends Fleet Managers Need To Tackle
A study that was commissioned by Driving for Better Business (DfBB), has revealed a series of worrying and frankly shocking stats regarding Mobile Phone use by employees. The study also went on to reveal an equally worrying lack of checks for employees driving their own car for work – the so-called “grey fleet”.
What The Research Reveals
As reported in Fleet News, the report revealed;
- Half of business leaders polled (49%) expect their employees to answer their phone at any time, including while driving for work.
- Almost half of employees (45%) said they experience stress when they receive a call from their boss while driving for work. One in six employees who drive for work (17%) said they have been involved in an incident when driving for work due to a phone call from a colleague.
- One in 20 executive directors and one in eight employees thought the hard shoulder was a safe place to take a phone call.
- Meanwhile, six in 10 (61%) employees admitted they do not always, or only sometimes, find a safe place to make or receive a work call when driving for work with just over one in eight (13%) thinking it safe to take a phone call while parked on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
- The findings also showed that despite three quarters (75%) of executive directors claiming to ensure employees are aware of their legal obligations in relation to driving for work, nearly half (45%) of employees surveyed who drive their personal car for work said they have not been given a copy of their employer’s driving for work policy.
- Managers were not performing checks on grey fleet drivers and 60% of respondents said they were unsure if any or how many employees use their own car to drive for work purposes.
- Nearly a half of employees who use their personal car for work purposes (45%) said they have not been given a copy of their employer’s driving for work policy.
- 90% of drivers used their personal cars for work journeys, 75% doing so at least once a week, yet a third of these drivers (33%) were not insured to do so – saying they do not have cover for business use on their vehicle insurance. Only a third (34%) said their employer had checked their driving licence.
- Nearly three quarters of employees who drive for work (74%) said when they check their tyres they simply take a quick glance to see that tyres look ‘OK’.
Simon Turner, campaign manager for Driving for Better Business said:
“The report shows a disparity between what employers and employees are saying when driving for work.”
“Leaders are failing to carry out basic due diligence checks such as ensuring that all employees have a driving licence or vehicle insurance,” he said.
“At the same time, the study highlights employees are putting themselves at risk while driving for work, not checking that vehicles are roadworthy and exhibit reckless behaviours when using their mobile phone.”
He continued:
“Leaders must implement a driving for work policy that enforces legal and ethical obligations on all employees that drive on work-related journeys.
“Regular checks need to be put in place to ensure that employees have read and understood the guidelines laid out in the driving for work policy. In doing so, the associated risk to road users and pedestrians is reduced.”
Driving for Better Business promotes a free seven-step programme of action to reduce occupational road risk. Organisations that introduce the DfBB programme have experienced significant operational, financial and employee benefits.
Turner concluded:
“A good practice driving for work policy ensures that at a minimum, organisations are compliant with all relevant legislation and guidelines. Once implemented, these policies complement more general employee safety and wellness programmes as well as introduce efficiencies that reduce costs associated with employees that drive for work purposes.”
DfBB surveyed 1,006 employees and 255 executive directors from the UK. The survey was conducted by Censuswide.
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