Drivers due to incur even more costs as we approach winter
Posted by Kevin Lewis on Oct 24, 2011 | No Comments »
Drivers with an interest in commercial vehicle insurance are facing yet another bleak winter if reports from several different organisations allied to the transport industry prove to be correct.
Fuel price to accelerate… again!
First of all, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), a motoring group that many van drivers are members of, are predicting petrol and diesel prices will hit record levels again in the next few months as the weak performance of the pound in the money markets against other currencies effectively means the cost of importing oil is rising. A spokesman said that if the proposed increase in fuel duty for January goes ahead then van drivers will have experienced an 11% increase in diesel taxes by the Government in just 12 months. With inflation racing ahead at twice the predicted levels, the scenario for further price rises next year is already being set.
Road maintenance schemes derailed
Further gloom for the drivers who make their living from their vehicle comes in the guise of a report by motoring organisation the RAC. They have been asking local authorities about their spending plans regarding highways for the coming year. Despite two years in which severe winter weather has taken a heavy toll of the UK’s roads, 4 out of 5 authorities say their road maintenance budgets have been cut and repairs to roads caused by last year’s deep freeze have only been temporary. The councils say they cannot afford to spend more, and most are just hoping this winter will be less severe than the last two.
Insurance claims will rise
It also seems likely that many hauliers, couriers and professional tradesman can expect an increase in their van insurance quotes as the RAC report suggests that the poor road surfaces are causing damage to many vehicles, which is forcing them to make claims on their vehicle insurance. The report also reveals that many private motorists are neglecting to have minor repairs caused by the road surface, treated, which in turn will cause more accidents as the cars become less safe.
Work for the new Minister
The new Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, will be having urgent talks with Chancellor George Osborne about funding, highway maintenance and fuel duty in the not too distant future, if she wants to make her mark, and gain the trust of the transport lobby in Parliament, not to mention the millions of people who rely on a good transport system to earn a living.
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Tags: Winter