News - Page 1805

Average fuel prices in the UK.

AUGUST was the wettest month on record, but the weather did not douse the British passion for open-top driving as 35% of MINIs sold last month were Convertibles.

If your car is leased or outright purchased, knowing its value is vital, particularly if you want to offer staff the chance to buy the vehicle at the end of the contract. Use our weekly guide to benchmark prices.

THE necessity of vehicle insurance is an area which annually taxes the minds of fleet managers and finance directors, particularly as the cost of insurance and claims now forms a significant part of the fleet budget.

AUDI has revealed details of the new A4, available soon in saloon, Avant and high-performance S4 variants, offering two new-to-the-range FSI petrol engines.

THE head of the Metropolitan Police traffic department is to be a keynote speaker at the Fleet News Hit For Six Conference on September 29.

THE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency wants to ‘modify’ its fee structures.

TOTAL commercial vehicle registrations for the rolling year to August total hit 377,345, a record level. The year to date figure was 241,657, up 6% while registrations for August were 5.5% down at 18,199.

MERCEDES-Benz is claiming to be the first commercial vehicle manufacturer to offer particulate filters on its vans. <P>

A TRANSVESTITE unaccustomed to high heels and a car attacked by monkeys are just two of the excuses given for damage to daily rental vehicles.

A SCOTTISH-based fleet management group is moving south of the border as part of a major expansion drive.

OLYMPIC rowing hero Matthew Pinsent has swapped his four-man boat for something a little more luxurious.

FLEET risk management and driver training firm Ultimate Car Control has moved to new premises at Crowthorne Business Centre.

THE Government has announced plans to review its criminal law proceedings involving careless driving.

FLEETS wanting to improve vehicle security can attend the Techsec security exhibition in London.

ARSENAL Football Club has chosen Renault as its official car supplier for the next two years.

RIVAL, an online risk management product for the vehicle rental industry, has gained its 50th customer.

MOTORISTS driving SUVs have received stinging criticism after a survey found that the vast majority of other road users would welcome an extra tax on 4x4 vehicles. More than 60% of people surveyed favoured either banning 4x4s from city centres or imposing a special tax on them.

HOW about this car on your choice list? Peugeot will unveil a 6.0-litre 500bhp V12 supercar concept at the Paris Motor Show in September, called 907.

EDINBURGH City Council has announced plans to boost its fleet with vehicles from a car-sharing scheme.

IN the race for fleet sales glory, the Ford Focus has achieved a string of gold medals since it was first launched in 1998.

PRODUCING ‘Marg’s Fleet Tips’ to keep drivers abreast of latest developments and slashing insurance premiums by 50% were just two of the achievements that won Margaret Welsh a top fleet honour.

PERSONAL digital assistants (PDAs) are no longer seen as just electronic diaries but can be used for a range of fleet needs, including satellite navigation, tracking vehicles and fleet management.

FLEET technology is often associated with satellite navigation and telematics, focusing on how to maximise drivers’ potential.

ONE of the UK’s largest contract hire fleets made a technological leap after agreeing to use an e-procurement system.

IF 1,000 fleet managers were asked which two major improvements they would like to make to their operations, there is a good chance they’d choose lower costs and greater operational efficiency.

A NEW system which enables vehicle tracking users to become more security aware was launched in the UK this month.

HOWEVER much IT firms promote their products, all fleets really want to know is whether they will improve profits.

FLASHING interactive signs warning drivers of upcoming speed limits and roadworks have been heralded a success and the Highways Agency is now using the same format to improve driver safety.

NEW technology is proving that pool fleets can be run just as cost- effectively as flexible options like daily rental – and local councils could set the standards for the future.