The UK’s main street security charity, IAM RoadSmart, is asking on the Chancellor to take steps to each saves lives and scale back the influence of street site visitors collisions in her Autumn Price range. By incentivising the take-up of extra street security programs via 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 12 months 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 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 present motorists some respiration area by retaining ranges on the present 52.95p after a interval of file excessive gasoline 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 asking on the federal government to cut back Insurance coverage Premium Tax (IPT) from 12 p.c to zero for individuals who undertake extra driver coaching.
The price of insurance coverage reached file highs earlier this 12 months, with the typical 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 will likely be disproportionately impacted. They may encourage younger folks to both break the legislation by driving uninsured, or quit on driving altogether. How can it’s proper that kids, typically firstly of their careers and needing a car to get to work, could also be priced out of driving altogether.
“Moreover, there may be the human price of street site visitors collisions precipitated to survivors and their households, in addition to the price to the Treasury – £43bn per 12 months. By encouraging drivers to upskill and save on their premiums, numerous deaths and severe accidents will likely be prevented.”
Cut back VAT on life-saving bike air vests
Motorcyclists make up round 3% of all site visitors however symbolize 19% of all fatalities, making them probably the most susceptible street customers. Bike helmets are considered PPE, so usually are not topic to VAT. This variation in coverage will merely deliver air vests in step 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 get monetary savings by rising their uptake and lowering the price to the emergency companies.”
Freeze gasoline obligation
Analysis by IAM RoadSmart reveals that the 2 greatest issues 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 reduce that was launched in 2022, which has helped motorists save round £50 a 12 months. If the speed is elevated, this ought to be partially ringfenced into repairing Britain’s crumbling street community and filling in potholes.
IAM RoadSmart Director of Coverage and Requirements Nicholas Lyes mentioned: “Laborious-done-by motorists will discover any improve in gasoline obligation a bitter capsule to swallow, provided that they’re already being drained by hefty insurance coverage premiums, to not point out increased restore prices after driving via 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 street 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 influence of hitting a pothole is more likely to be way more extreme.”
Mature Driver Assessments
In line with the Division for Transport, the variety of folks which can be 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 useful 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 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 wish to maintain their driving in examine, and furthermore, no course of for GPs to have the ability to refer an older driver who they’ve severe issues over their means to drive. The nation’s inhabitants is ageing, so there will likely 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, this can give them confidence behind the wheel and have a wider societal profit.”
