The UK’s main highway security charity, IAM RoadSmart, is looking on the Chancellor to take steps to each saves lives and cut back the impression of highway visitors collisions in her Autumn Finances. By incentivising the take-up of extra highway security programs by means of the tax system, it would 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 yr and being an enormous concern for drivers, notably the under-25s, the charity recommends putting off Insurance coverage Premium Tax for individuals who undertake extra driver coaching.
To offer a lift to weak motorcyclists, IAM RoadSmart additionally desires the Chancellor to scale back VAT on bike air vests.
Whereas the Chancellor could be tempted to extend gas responsibility, IAM RoadSmart urges her to present motorists some respiratory house by retaining ranges on the present 52.95p after a interval of file excessive gas costs over the past 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 looking on the federal government to scale 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 yr, with the common premium costing round £600. The typical premium for below 25s is now greater than £2,000.
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart exhibits 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 exhibits that these excessive premiums have gotten unaffordable notably for these teams which will probably be disproportionately impacted. They may encourage younger individuals to both break the regulation by driving uninsured, or hand over on driving altogether. How can it’s proper that children, usually 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 value of highway visitors collisions precipitated to survivors and their households, in addition to the fee to the Treasury – £43bn per yr. By encouraging drivers to upskill and save on their premiums, numerous deaths and severe accidents will probably be prevented.”
Scale back VAT on life-saving bike air vests
Motorcyclists make up round 3% of all visitors however symbolize 19% of all fatalities, making them essentially the most weak highway customers. Bike helmets are thought to be PPE, so aren’t topic to VAT. This alteration in coverage will merely carry air vests consistent with many different types of PPE.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “Slashing VAT on bike air vests won’t solely be saving riders’ lives however will even lower your expenses by rising their uptake and lowering the fee to the emergency companies.”
Freeze gas responsibility
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart exhibits that the 2 greatest considerations for motorists are both value, or the state of the roads. The charity calls on the Chancellor to take care of the present the 5p minimize that was launched in 2022, which has helped motorists save round £50 a yr. If the speed is elevated, this needs to 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 gas responsibility a bitter capsule to swallow, on condition that they’re already being drained by hefty insurance coverage premiums, to not point out greater restore prices after driving by means of the nation’s crater-ridden roads.
“On the very least, if gas responsibility 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 would extra importantly save lives, particularly for these travelling on two wheels the place the impression of hitting a pothole is more likely to be way more extreme.”
Mature Driver Assessments
Based on the Division for Transport, the variety of individuals which are killed or significantly injured will increase over the age of 70. This accelerates when individuals attain 80.
The price of a standardised mature driver evaluation is £85. An preliminary pilot is advisable for as much as 100,000 drivers, at a value of £8.5m to the federal government.
Nicholas Lyes, Director of Coverage and Requirements, mentioned it was notably regarding on condition 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 need to hold their driving in test, and furthermore, no course of for GPs to have the ability to refer an older driver who they’ve severe considerations over their potential to drive. The nation’s inhabitants is ageing, so there will probably be demand.
“The modest preliminary value may 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, this may give them confidence behind the wheel and have a wider societal profit.”
