The UK’s main highway security charity, IAM RoadSmart, is asking on the Chancellor to take steps to each saves lives and cut back the affect of highway visitors collisions in her Autumn Finances. By incentivising the take-up of further highway security programs by the tax system, it is going to additionally assist save motorists cash because the UK emerges from a cost-of-living disaster.
With the price of insurance coverage hitting document highs earlier this yr and being an enormous concern for drivers, notably the under-25s, the charity recommends placing off Insurance coverage Premium Tax for individuals who undertake further driver coaching.
To supply a lift to susceptible motorcyclists, IAM RoadSmart additionally desires the Chancellor to scale back VAT on motorbike air vests.
Whereas the Chancellor is perhaps tempted to extend gas obligation, IAM RoadSmart urges her to provide motorists some respiratory house by retaining ranges on the present 52.95p after a interval of document excessive gas 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 scale back Insurance coverage Premium Tax (IPT) from 12 % to zero for individuals who undertake further driver coaching.
The price of insurance coverage reached document highs earlier this yr, with the typical premium costing round £600. The typical premium for below 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 shall be disproportionately impacted. They may encourage younger individuals to both break the regulation by driving uninsured, or surrender on driving altogether. How can or not it’s proper that children, typically firstly of their careers and needing a car to get to work, could also be priced out of driving altogether.
“Moreover, there’s the human value of highway visitors collisions triggered to survivors and their households, in addition to the associated fee to the Treasury – £43bn per yr. By encouraging drivers to upskill and save on their premiums, numerous deaths and severe accidents shall be prevented.”
Cut back VAT on life-saving motorbike air vests
Motorcyclists make up round 3% of all visitors however characterize 19% of all fatalities, making them probably the most susceptible highway customers. Motorbike helmets are considered PPE, so are usually not topic to VAT. This transformation 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 motorbike air vests is not going to solely be saving riders’ lives however will even get monetary savings by rising their uptake and decreasing the associated fee to the emergency companies.”
Freeze gas obligation
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart reveals that the 2 largest 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 obligation a bitter tablet to swallow, on condition that they’re already being drained by hefty insurance coverage premiums, to not point out increased restore prices after driving by the nation’s crater-ridden roads.
“On the very least, if gas 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 is going to extra importantly save lives, particularly for these travelling on two wheels the place the affect of hitting a pothole is more likely to be much more extreme.”
Mature Driver Assessments
In keeping with the Division for Transport, the variety of individuals which might be 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 really helpful 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 occurring 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 verify, and furthermore, no course of for GPs to have the ability to refer an older driver who they’ve severe considerations over their skill to drive. The nation’s inhabitants is ageing, so there shall 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, it will give them confidence behind the wheel and have a wider societal profit.”
