The Woodfines Solicitors Road Transport team were delighted to host their 16th Transport Conference at Imperial War Museum Duxford on Thursday 25th November. With it being two years since the last face to face conference, the team were thrilled to be back ‘talking transport’ in person and celebrating the industry that has quite literally ‘kept the show on the road’ during the pandemic. The conference was opened and hosted by Partner and Head of the Transport and Regulatory team, Mike Hayward who gave a legal round-up and update of what has happened within the industry since everyone last met ..read more

The DVLA has set up a new online service allowing lorry, bus, and coach drivers to apply, renew, replace and pay for tachograph cards online in minutes. The online service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and drivers should have their new tachograph card issued within 24 hours from applying compared to 10 days or more when posting their paper applications. Drivers using the online service need a valid GB photocard driving licence to apply. After applying, they will receive an email notification confirming their application, and can choose to be updated on its progress by text messag ..read more

In February, Uber drivers celebrated as the UK’s highest court handed down a judgment that had been years in the making: Uber drivers are workers under employment legislation, and not independent contractors. The landmark Supreme Court ruling means that Uber drivers are entitled to at least the national minimum wage and paid annual leave, in addition to certain other protections. It’s a judgment that is also likely to have wider ramifications for what has become known in modern parlance as the ‘gig economy’. So, what are the implications for the future? Implications for workers Around five mil ..read more

A report from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that workers in so-called ‘insecure’ jobs – i.e. agency workers or those on zero-hours contracts – are twice as likely to have died from COVID-19 as those in more secure forms of employment. According to the research, the COVID-19 mortality rate for male insecure workers was calculated at 51 per 100,000 (compared with 24 per 100,000 for male secure workers) and 25 per 100,000 for female insecure workers (compared with 13 per 100,000 for female secure workers). Many of the UK’s 3.7m insecure workers were on the frontline of the coronavi ..read more

It’s not an April fool’s prank when I say that vehicle tax goes up on the 1 April 2021. In the revised fee rate schedule you will see the bandings for each vehicle type. It is well worth familiarising yourself with these tax bands, especially if you are planning to make a new car purchase, where the first year VEL payment can come as quite a shock, especially if the emissions are high. I still fondly remember the paper tax disc which served as a yearly or 6 monthly reminder to head down to the Post Office to obtain one. As we move through the challenges faced by the pandemic, we will be return ..read more

As we gradually move to more unlocking of restrictions, we will be seeing an increase in vehicle movement, whether that be for the school run, commuting and in the ever-important logistics sector. The logistics sector has continued to operate throughout the restrictions in providing the essential supply chain for all goods and services that are our daily necessities. Those operating vehicles in the passenger and logistics sector have to ensure that they are properly maintained at regular intervals, similarly for taxis and private hire vehicles which are closely monitored and regulated by the a ..read more

The last time you reached for the Highway Code was probably when you were learning to drive. Until the 29th March you can have your say in a consultation launched by the Highways Agency concerning high speed roads. This includes the controversial smart motorway scheme and those ‘X’ signs. This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to The Highway Code to improve safety for users of motorways and high-speed roads. The proposed changes include new and additional guidance on: the availability, appearance, and safe use of emergency areas; the use of variable speed limits to manage congestio ..read more

Woodfines’ Transport Law team has recently reported seeing an increased number of individuals receiving summons for cases of careless driving. This is usually, but not always, accompanied by allegations of failing to stop and failing to report. A common response to receiving a summons for such an offence is contemplating whether pleading guilty to the offence will make things easier, will be less hassle and will reduce costs. Whilst this may be true in some cases, getting legal advice early can make all the difference and will enable an individual to make an informed decision about how best to ..read more

Revised guidance on how defects affecting a vehicle’s roadworthiness are categorised during DVSA vehicle inspections came into force on 1 February 2021. Changes include a ban on tyres over the age of 10 years on the front axles of buses, lorries, coaches and all wheel positions of minibuses (we have explored this ban and what it means for Operators in more detail in a separate blog, which you can access here). Dash-mounted objects Further notes on dash-mounted objects and technology, such as tables, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, have also been added to the section relating to issues affe ..read more

On 9 December 2020, the government amended The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use Regulations), updating the rules relating to tyres over 10 years of age on certain types of vehicle. The changes came into effect on 1 February 2021, meaning tyres that are 10+ years old are now banned from use on the front axles of HGVs, buses and coaches, as well as all wheels fitted on minibuses. The rules relating to manufacturer date codes have also been updated, with this change also coming into effect on 1 February this year. It is now a legal requirement for all tyres fitted to HGVs, trailers over 3.5 to ..read more