Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding

Motorists may no longer be reduce any slack when it comes to the 70mph limit thanks to the roll-out of a new wave of motorway speed cameras.

Drivers on motorways about the UK are facing a considerably greater threat of becoming fined for exceeding the 70mph speed limit.

This is due to the roll-out of the Wise motorway scheme, in which varying speed limits are enforced at various occasions of day to assist smooth the flow of targeted traffic.

‘Unfair approach’

Smart motorways, which so far include components of the M1, M2, M6 and M25, control site visitors making use of a series of overhead gantries with variable speed-limit signs and speed cameras.

Even so, official figures show that the cameras are not only becoming utilized to catch motorists who exceed reduced speed limits.

More than current months, thousands of drivers are believed to have been caught – some going at only a small more than the 70mph limit – by this new wave of cameras.

But critics say that this strategy is unfair – firstly since the cameras are painted grey and are harder to spot, but also because motorway driving is relatively safe and travelling a few miles per hour more than the 70mph limit is typically unlikely to lead to a significantly higher threat of an accident.

Guidance provides leeway

Guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) says that motorway drivers ought to be given some leeway and only fined or stopped for driving at over 79mph.

This policy is not legally binding but is generally followed by most of the country’s police forces.

Paul Watters at the AA added that the ACPO guidance stated drivers should be offered the selection of attending a speeding-awareness course rather than becoming fined and obtaining points on their licence unless they have been caught going above 86mph.

“Motorways are the safest roads – only about 4% of accidents happen on them,” he said.

Should limit be strictly enforced?

Nonetheless, Watters added, the security and effectiveness of intelligent motorways depended on drivers observing the speed limits.

“Even though we can’;t anticipate the police and Highways Agency to divulge specifically what the strategy is we would like to believe that speed enforcement on motorways is security and not revenue-associated.

“But if every thing is protected, the roads are clear and the national speed limit is set, there is not the exact same justification to enforce the limit.”

Roger Lawson from the Alliance of British Drivers mentioned: “These cameras are not painted yellow: they are essentially concealed and are set to trigger fines for anybody who breaks the 70mph speed limit.

No security benefits

“If there is a especially dangerous stretch of road, speed cameras can be useful if individuals see them and slow down.

“But that is not the case here simply because drivers don’t know the cameras are there.”

Government figures show that speeding on the motorways is extremely widespread: Division for Transport figures published last year show that 47% of drivers go above 70mph in free-flowing situations.

About 12% of drivers go at 80mph or a lot more, the DfT also found.

Scheme to beat congestion

Watters stated: “These statistics show that speeding is not that serious but some drivers exceed the limit by an even bigger margin and place other folks at threat.”

Wise motorways have been introduced by the Highways Agency in 2013 for use on particularly congested parts of the road ne2rk.

At instances difficult shoulders are utilized as an further lane, and central lanes can be utilized by visitors travelling in either direction based on the time of day.

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Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding

Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding

Motorists could no longer be reduce any slack when it comes to the 70mph limit thanks to the roll-out of a new wave of motorway speed cameras.

Drivers on motorways about the UK are facing a significantly greater danger of becoming fined for exceeding the 70mph speed limit.

This is due to the roll-out of the Smart motorway scheme, in which varying speed limits are enforced at various times of day to help smooth the flow of visitors.

‘Unfair approach’

Intelligent motorways, which so far contain components of the M1, M2, M6 and M25, handle targeted traffic utilizing a series of overhead gantries with variable speed-limit signs and speed cameras.

Nonetheless, official figures show that the cameras are not only being employed to catch motorists who exceed decrease speed limits.

Over current months, thousands of drivers are believed to have been caught – some going at only a small over the 70mph limit – by this new wave of cameras.

But critics say that this method is unfair – firstly simply because the cameras are painted grey and are tougher to spot, but also because motorway driving is comparatively secure and travelling a few miles per hour over the 70mph limit is normally unlikely to lead to a substantially greater threat of an accident.

Guidance gives leeway

Guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) says that motorway drivers must be provided some leeway and only fined or stopped for driving at over 79mph.

This policy is not legally binding but is generally followed by most of the country’s police forces.

Paul Watters at the AA added that the ACPO guidance mentioned drivers ought to be offered the option of attending a speeding-awareness course rather than getting fined and getting points on their licence unless they have been caught going above 86mph.

“Motorways are the safest roads – only about 4% of accidents occur on them,” he mentioned.

Must limit be strictly enforced?

Nevertheless, Watters added, the safety and effectiveness of smart motorways depended on drivers observing the speed limits.

“Although we can’;t expect the police and Highways Agency to divulge specifically what the method is we would like to consider that speed enforcement on motorways is safety and not revenue-connected.

“But if every thing is safe, the roads are clear and the national speed limit is set, there isn’t the identical justification to enforce the limit.”

Roger Lawson from the Alliance of British Drivers said: “These cameras are not painted yellow: they are essentially concealed and are set to trigger fines for anybody who breaks the 70mph speed limit.

No security advantages

“If there is a specifically dangerous stretch of road, speed cameras can be useful if men and women see them and slow down.

“But that is not the case right here due to the fact drivers do not know the cameras are there.”

Government figures show that speeding on the motorways is very widespread: Department for Transport figures published last year show that 47% of drivers go above 70mph in cost-free-flowing circumstances.

Around 12% of drivers go at 80mph or a lot more, the DfT also discovered.

Scheme to beat congestion

Watters said: “These statistics show that speeding is not that critical but some drivers exceed the limit by an even bigger margin and put other folks at threat.”

Sensible motorways had been introduced by the Highways Agency in 2013 for use on especially congested components of the road ne2rk.

At instances challenging shoulders are utilized as an extra lane, and central lanes can be utilised by traffic travelling in either path based on the time of day.

Compare car insurance coverage – you could find a great deal in minutes Get a car insurance quote

Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding

Crackdown continues on whiplash larceny

Concocted or exaggerated claims for whiplash injury are a pain in the neck – and the wallet – for sincere motorists.

It is we who end up paying the price of ill-gotten compensation payments and needless medical bills via larger automobile insurance coverage premiums.

The insurance sector reckons whiplash fees a standard motorist £90 a year on their premium. Around £60 of that is believed to be unjustified.

A whacking wonderful £2 billion a year, all told.

Go figure

Some apologists for the present situation – mostly legal pros who say they have the interests of motorists at heart – say insurers are crying wolf more than whiplash to enhance their profitability.

But ponder this. There had been 190,000-odd road accidents in 2006, and 150,000 in 2012 – a welcome fall of about of 22%.

In the identical period, the quantity of individual injury claims filed subsequent to a road accident increased from 520,000 to more than 800,000 – a 60% improve.

Vehicles are also obtaining safer – they’re built to shield the occupants in the occasion of a collision. So clearly, one thing dodgy is going on.

In a recent survey by insurance firm Axa, one particular in 10 men and women admitted they had lodged a false claim, or knew a person who had tried to scam their insurer over whiplash.

Tricky diagnosis

It’s not particularly hard, either. Whiplash is notoriously difficult to diagnose due to the fact there are no visible symptoms.

It’s essentially injury to the soft tissue, so you might not suffer cuts or bruises. In other words, if you complain of neck ache, your medical professional have to either sign you off with whiplash or get in touch with you a liar.

No wonder 73% of folks agree that whiplash claims are less difficult to embellish than any other type of insurance coverage claim.

Government action

The government is keen to tackle the difficulty and has not too long ago introduced a series of measures in an try to curb our compensation culture.

For example, it has imposed a ban on referral costs in individual injury claims, so information of accidents cannot be sold onto lawyers.

It also desires future whiplash claims to be substantiated by accredited medical experts, with no industrial tie in between authorities and lawyers.

Lawyers won’t be able to provide inducements (such as a laptop) to encourage folks to claim, and these who generate medical reports can no longer provide treatment.

Insurers and lawyers will be encouraged to share details in a bid to bring a serial fraudster’s previous mis-deeds to light. And the entire caboodle will be scrutinised by an insurance claims fraud taskforce under David Hertzell, a massive cheese from the Law Commission.

Definition of whiplash

But Axa is calling for additional reforms – and it seems to have public backing.

Most folks, for example, consider you must only be able to claim if your neck ache is serious, which appears entirely reasonable.

Axa for that reason proposes a clear definition of whiplash in accordance with anything named the Quebec Task Force Classification, which grades injuries in growing order of severity from 1 to 4.

Virtually 93% of whiplash claims in the UK would be classed as grades 1 and 2, so Axa suggests that compensation must only apply to grade 3 and 4 injuries. The claims bill would consequently plummet.

Healthcare assessment

A lot of men and women also believe that medical assessment of whiplash ought to be much more rigorous.

Axa is strongly in favour of independent examiners in line with the government proposals for a panel of authorized and disinterested specialists.

Time limit

The government seems much less keen to introduce a time limit for whiplash claims, even though limits operate in other nations such as Sweden – and seem to have widespread support.

The current system in the UK gives people up to 3 years to make a whiplash claim, which a lot of argue is as well lengthy and wide open to abuse.

It’s possibly no surprise that nearly 3 quarters of the respondents in the Axa survey consider the time limit must be reduce to a single year, although 43% judge one month to be extended sufficient to sort out the paperwork.

Aviva, one more insurer, also suggests compensating minor whiplash with rehabilitation rather than money to deter fraudsters.

Hard to remedy

All of which is fine and dandy, of course. Anything which confronts the scourge of fraud and assists minimize premiums for sincere policyholders has to be embraced.

But I’m far from optimistic. This sort of crime is akin to these fairground games exactly where plastic frogs pop their heads out of holes in a table top and you have to bash them back in once again with a hammer.

Staunch the flow of ripped-off funds to low-life fraudsters from one particular certain source, and you can bet subsequent year’s automobile insurance premium that they’ll create a fresh provide in double-fast time.

Fraud of this nature will only be curtailed if and when insurers cease to seen by a hefty chunk of the populace as ‘fair game’ – that is component of the brief to the Hertzell taskforce.

We can only keep our fingers crossed.

Crackdown continues on whiplash larceny

Crackdown targets Blue Badge fraudsters

Criminals are not known for their high moral standards, but certainly committing Blue Badge fraud is a specific low point.

The Blue Badge scheme grants parking concessions to more 2.5 million disabled men and women. A Blue Badge holder can, for example, park for cost-free at an on-street parking meter.

But the fraudsters do not appear to care about the genuinely disabled.

Rocketing prosecutions

Blue badge fraud prosecutions have doubled more than 3 years, according to figures from the Local Government Association (LGA).

There had been 686 effective council prosecutions last year, up from 358 in 2010-11. Manchester City Council was particularly successful, achieving a 100% conviction price, with far more than 500 prosecutions over the last 5 years.

Shameless criminality

The criminals are really quite shameless. Some were caught making use of a dead relative’s badge or leaving a disabled particular person at property to get free of charge parking whilst shopping or at operate.

As Robert Goodwill, transport minister, says:

“Pretending to be disabled to dodge parking costs and restrictions is plain shameful and prevents those who have genuine need for Blue Badge from receiving to the parking spots they require.”

Fraud crackdown

The increase in prosecutions is partly down to a crack down on parking fraud making use of new powers that have been granted in 2011. It is now less difficult for councils to seize fake badges or badges that are getting misused.

Handwritten badges are also becoming replaced by electronic badges that are tougher to alter and forge. Some nearby authorities have even set up unique enforcement teams to tackle the fraud.

Bogus internet sites

The Department for Transport is also warning of web sites that charge men and women to apply for a Blue Badge, when it is totally free to apply from a neighborhood authority or via www.gov.uk

So serious is the dilemma that a cross government functioning group led by the Cabinet Office Government Digital Service has been set up to investigate misleading internet sites.

Blue Badge information

The Blue Badge is obtainable only to eligible disabled individuals. Some people are automatically eligible, such as these who are registered blind. Others may possibly have to undergo an independent mobility assessment.

If an application is productive, the council charges an administration charge of up to £10 for the badge, but there is no application fee.

Neighborhood guidelines

Blue Badges are administered by the local council, which can supply info on the nearby parking rules. The scheme is nationwide, though it does not operate in some town centres and particular London boroughs, where parking is currently restricted.

Blue Badge holders might also be eligible for additional concessions. London residents, for example, are exempt from the Congestion Charge.

Misuse penalties

Always make sure you realize the rules, or you could finish up in difficulty. The local authority can cancel or take away your badge if you are identified guilty of misuse, whether or not unwitting or not. You could also be fined up to £1,000.

You can uncover out if you are eligible and apply for a Blue Badge by contacting your neighborhood authority by way of the site www.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can get in touch with the Blue Badge initial enquiry assistance service on 844 463 0213.

Crackdown targets Blue Badge fraudsters

South Carolina Crackdown: Police Stings Target Ridesharing

Police are warning the public about the insurance coverage-associated risks of ridesharing service Uber, according to South Carolina news reports.

Charleston police will hold “sting operations” to warn Uber drivers and possibly fine them after the service launched in Charleston weeks ago, according to The Post and Courier, which also reported that Uber intends to spend these fines for its drivers there.

Uber and other ridesharing solutions use smartphone apps to connect passengers and drivers. Drivers normally use their individual vehicles to drive passengers, raising questions with authorities over gaps in coverage and public safety.

Uber launched in Greenville, Columbia and Myrtle Beach on July 8. According to other news reports, ridesharing drivers in all of those cities could be stopped by police for warnings and citations.

Earlier this month, the state regulatory office for South Carolina auto insurance issued a consumer alert about ridesharing and the transportation ne2rk companies (TNCs) that offer you such services.

“Most standard personal auto policies include exclusions for livery—which usually means ‘driving for hire,’” according to the consumer alert. “Consumers need to read their policies meticulously, specifically the exclusions section of the policy.”

Under Uber’s auto insurance coverage, $ 1 million in industrial liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is in impact throughout the period from when a driver accepting a rideshare trip to the finish of that trip.

A driver’s private auto insurance policy applies to the period just before a rideshare trip starts, usually when the driver has the Uber app open but hasn’t but accepted a rider. Throughout this period, according to Uber, the company gives 50/25/25 in “back-up coverage coverage/when/if driver’s personal auto insurance coverage declines claim.”

A equivalent insurance coverage setup also exists at Lyft, another ridesharing firm.

Lyft announced alterations to its auto insurance coverage this month that tends to make its $ 1 million commercial policy the principal payer in case of a claim for incidents that occur for the duration of a ride. Previously, commercial coverage for that period was secondary, which means it would only kick in if an insurer denied a claim or a driver’s own policy limits were exhausted.

South Carolina Crackdown: Police Stings Target Ridesharing