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The Clean Vehicle Portal European Commission has launched a website to help public authorities and consumers choose the best available energy-efficient vehicle.

The supports Directive 2009/33/EC on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient vehicles. It requires public bodies to take energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions into account when purchasing vehicles. The portal provides information on legislation for clean and energy-efficient vehicles across the EU, access to technical data and facilitates joint procurement.

The directive requires the public sector to use its purchasing power to promote clean and energy-efficient vehicles. The Commission wants it to stimulate the market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles and to prompt development and investment by the industry.

The police should be able to carry out random breath tests on motorists, according to the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. The committee believes this would help cut drink-driving-related road deaths.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced new advisory fuel rates for drivers claiming reimbursement for fuel expenses incurred while driving on business.

The rates are applicable to journeys undertaken by employees on or after 1 December 2010. Employers are not obliged to reimburse their employees at these rates, which indicate the maximum tax-free level.

*previous figures in brackets

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has concluded that no new laws are required to regulate the advertising of prices following a study into whether pricing practices misled consumers.

As reported in previous Weekly Updates, a particular focus for the OFT was online sales involving incremental price increases for products and services offered to customers during the buying process – so-called ‘drip pricing’.

The OFT said that it will use existing regulations to safeguard consumers and has set out how it will prioritise enforcement action against traders it believes are deliberately misleading customers.

To all Vans 4 Glass clients please be reminded that our vehicles travelling outside the UK  all drivers have to carry a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103)

With the arrival of winter, the BVRLA is reminding its members that they are not obliged to fit winter tyres to rental vehicles that will be taken to countries where they are a legal requirement. The responsibility for fitting special tyres to a vehicle, and for equipping it with any other motoring accessories required in a foreign country, rests with the driver.

In some countries, essential equipment can include winter tyres or snow chains, warning triangles, a first aid kit and a high-visibility jacket for the driver. BVRLA members may wish to provide such accessories to their customers, as necessary, as an added-value service.
 
Countries requiring the use of winter tyres normally permit the use of all-weather tyres, which are fitted as standard to most vehicles in the UK. However, rental customers should be advised to check the legal requirements of all countries in which they intend to travel. The AA and RAC both make such information available on their websites:

The first mainstream electric cars and vans are set to hit fleets next year, but there are still a host of unanswered questions surrounding this new technology. BVRLA members will be able to find some answers at the Fleet World/BVRLA Electric Vehicle Showcase on Tuesday 22 March 2011.
 
Taking place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, this FREE event will include presentations from a range of experts on some of the key financial and operational challenges involved with electric cars and vans. There will also be an opportunity to drive some of the vehicles hitting the market next year.
 
A Service, Maintenance and Repair (SMR) Forum will also take place at the event.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has published new guidance for businesses to accompany the changes to the Consumer Credit Act that are being introduced as a result of implementation in the UK of the EU’s Consumer Credit Directive.

The new consumer credit laws are due to come into force on 1 February 2011. The guidance provides details on which consumer agreements are exempt from the Consumer Credit Act. It can be read

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) will close a number of its test stations between 24 December and 3 January 2011. The Agency said the move was part of its carbon reduction commitment.

The test stations that will remain open throughout the Christmas period are: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bishopbriggs, Cardiff (Llantrisant), Carlisle, Chadderton, Darlington, Exeter, Gillingham, Grimsby, Guildford, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Leighton Buzzard, Liverpool, Livingston (Edinburgh), Newbury, Norwich, Nottingham (Watnall), Perth, Peterborough, Purfleet, Wrexham and Yeading.

For all other test stations, VOSA is recommending that operators ring its national number to check opening times. Call 0300 123 9000.

The House of Commons Transport Committee is to undertake an inquiry into effective road and traffic management, in the light of the government’s decision not to introduce road pricing on existing roads, except in relation to HGVs.

The committee wants to find ways to reduce congestion.

BVRLA members with comments they would like to be passed to the committee should email legal services executive Amanda Brandon.