The UK’s main highway security charity, IAM RoadSmart, is asking on the Chancellor to take steps to each saves lives and scale back the impression of highway visitors collisions in her Autumn Finances. By incentivising the take-up of extra highway security programs by way of the tax system, it’ll additionally assist save motorists cash because the UK emerges from a cost-of-living disaster.
With the price of insurance coverage hitting file highs earlier this 12 months and being an enormous concern for drivers, notably the under-25s, the charity recommends hanging off Insurance coverage Premium Tax for individuals who undertake extra driver coaching.
To supply a lift to susceptible motorcyclists, IAM RoadSmart additionally needs the Chancellor to cut back VAT on bike air vests.
Whereas the Chancellor could be tempted to extend gasoline obligation, IAM RoadSmart urges her to provide motorists some respiration area by retaining ranges on the present 52.95p after a interval of file excessive gasoline costs during the last two years.
Lastly, with an ageing inhabitants, the charity calls on the Treasury to allocate funding to permit GPs to prescribe mature driver assessments, stopping deaths involving aged drivers.
Cancel Insurance coverage Premium Tax
IAM RoadSmart is asking on the federal government to cut back Insurance coverage Premium Tax (IPT) from 12 % to zero for individuals who undertake extra driver coaching.
The price of insurance coverage reached file highs earlier this 12 months, with the common premium costing round £600. The typical premium for beneath 25s is now greater than £2,000.
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart reveals a rise of 25% within the variety of drivers aged 17-20 being caught driving with out insurance coverage between 2022-2023.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “This reveals that these excessive premiums have gotten unaffordable notably for these teams which can be disproportionately impacted. They may encourage younger folks to both break the regulation by driving uninsured, or surrender on driving altogether. How can it’s proper that kids, typically at the beginning of their careers and needing a automobile to get to work, could also be priced out of driving altogether.
“Moreover, there’s the human price of highway visitors collisions prompted to survivors and their households, in addition to the associated fee to the Treasury – £43bn per 12 months. By encouraging drivers to upskill and save on their premiums, numerous deaths and critical accidents can be prevented.”
Cut back VAT on life-saving bike air vests
Motorcyclists make up round 3% of all visitors however characterize 19% of all fatalities, making them probably the most susceptible highway customers. Bike helmets are considered PPE, so usually are not topic to VAT. This transformation in coverage will merely convey air vests according to many different types of PPE.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “Slashing VAT on bike air vests is not going to solely be saving riders’ lives however may also get monetary savings by rising their uptake and decreasing the associated fee to the emergency companies.”
Freeze gasoline obligation
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart reveals that the 2 largest considerations for motorists are both price, or the state of the roads. The charity calls on the Chancellor to take care of the present the 5p lower that was launched in 2022, which has helped motorists save round £50 a 12 months. If the speed is elevated, this must be partially ringfenced into repairing Britain’s crumbling highway community and filling in potholes.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “Onerous-done-by motorists will discover any enhance in gasoline obligation a bitter tablet to swallow, provided that they’re already being drained by hefty insurance coverage premiums, to not point out larger restore prices after driving by way of the nation’s crater-ridden roads.
“On the very least, if gasoline obligation is to extend, the Chancellor ought to ringfence this cash to restore Britain’s crumbling highway community. Not solely will this save motorists cash in repairs, it’ll extra importantly save lives, particularly for these travelling on two wheels the place the impression of hitting a pothole is prone to be way more extreme.”
Mature Driver Assessments
Based on the Division for Transport, the variety of folks which are killed or significantly injured will increase over the age of 70. This accelerates when folks attain 80.
The price of a standardised mature driver evaluation is £85. An preliminary pilot is really helpful for as much as 100,000 drivers, at a price of £8.5m to the federal government.
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Coverage and Requirements, mentioned it was notably regarding provided that it’s taking place when the nation has an ageing variety of licence holders.
He mentioned: “We’re involved there’s nothing formally in place to assist older drivers who wish to hold their driving in examine, and furthermore, no course of for GPs to have the ability to refer an older driver who they’ve critical considerations over their potential to drive. The nation’s inhabitants is ageing, so there can be demand.
“The modest preliminary price might make an enormous distinction if it encourages in any other case unsafe drivers to cease driving. Likewise, if older drivers want reassurance that they’re nonetheless match to drive, it will give them confidence behind the wheel and have a wider societal profit.”
