Hiring More Female Lorry Drivers Would Cut Accidents
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in The Times.
A study by the University of Westminster has shown that women drivers have less accidents.
This is a paragraph from the article.
Academics called for more women to be recruited to driving jobs in light of their better road safety record. They said that greater gender equality in positions that rely on motoring skills such as driving taxis, HGVs and delivery vans was needed to help cut deaths.
The article didn’t give any prediction about what will happen in the future.
So here goes!
We are already seeing taxis and delivery vans going zero carbon and I think within twenty years or even less, a large proportion of taxis, HGVs and delivery vans will be either battery-powered, or more likely, in my view, hydrogen-powered.
Look at the LEVC black taxi and compare it to its diesel forerunner.
- It is more environmentally-friendly.
- It has a lot of driver and passenger-friendly features.
But it is more expensive.
I suspect that the capital cost of a zero-carbon HGV bus or delivery van, will also be more expensive, than the current diesels.
- As to the fuel costs between diesel, battery and hydrogen, this would depend on the application, but fuel costs tend to even themselves out.
- There could be a saving with battery- and hydrogen-powered vehicles in terms of maintenance, just because they are less complicated.
Summing up I could say the following.
- I am fairly sure, that a zero-carbon taxi, HGV bus or delivery van will have an acquisition cost, that is higher than a diesel version.
- I also think that if the vehicle was run on a twenty-four hour basis, that the fuel costs would be comparable per mile, but maintenance costs would be less.
- So I think it likely, that vehicle owners would be more likely to want to run vehicles on a twenty-four hour basis, to get a better return on their capital.
Surely, this would require more drivers.
Consider.
- A lot of black taxis in London are shared between two drivers.
- There have been several instances, where I have read that a couple have both been London Underground drivers, as they can arrange shifts to fit in with child care and domestic duties.
- The partner of a driver, will surely know what the job entails.
- Driving a modern HGV or bus, is a lot less gruelling than it used to be.
Will more family-friendly methods of working emerge, that allows partners of existing drivers to join the profession?
London Underground certainly changed working conditions to get enough driver for the Night Tube.
Conclusion
Would employing more female drivers cut accidents?
It all depends on the quality of the drivers; both male and female.
But, I suspect that improvements in all vehicles in the future, will cut accidents anyway!
Should Everybody Aim For NoDrive Months?
Over the last few years, we have had vegan and alcohol-free months.
So why shouldn’t people try to organise months, when they don’t drive?
I suspect people would perhaps start with one summer month in a particular year.
Bumpy Ride Over $44m Ferrari’s Missing Gearbox
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in The Times.
Apparently, a guy paid $44 million for a Ferrari without a gearbox.
He must have had more money than sense!
I wonder how much tax, he will pay on that sort of transaction, if we get a Corbynista government?
Do Sat-Navs Exploit Rat Runs
This afternoon my son brought me home in his car through North-East London.
- He was using a sat-nav and it was a mazy drive down a succession of narrow residential roads usually with cars parked on both sides.
- I’m sure we did two totally unnecessary loops.
- He also approached my house the wrong way, so he did two unnecessary right turns.
I’ve never used a sat-nav and doubt I ever will, as I don’t drive any more and when I’m walking, I prefer to use a proper map, like there are on most London bus stops or train stations.
I wonder how many acxcidents and traffic jams are caused by sat-navs.
Electric Cars Can Beat Petrol For Value After Less Than Two Years
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on The Times.
The article is based on work by the consultant; PWC.
This is an example of what was found.
The electric Zoe cost from £21,920 compared with £19,795 for the petrol Clio. The £2,125 difference was made up in less than two years, three months for a motorist with an average annual mileage of 8,351 miles. A higher-mileage driver clocking up 13,355 miles a year could make it up in 18 months.
The day when electric cars will be good value is approaching.
Bristol Poised For Seven-Day Ban On Diesel Cars
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the introductory paragraph.
Bristol is set to become the first city in Britain to ban diesel cars under the toughest measures yet seen to combat air pollution.
A few points.
- It will apply to all diesels.
- It will apply in part the City Centre.
- Petrol cars will be exempt.
Although, I agree with the need to improve air quality, I doubt the measure will be passed. Selfish interests will prevail!
Pollution Charge For Diesels Has Cut City’s Toxic Fumes By A Third
The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Page 4 of today’s copy of The Times.
The only applies to London at the moment.
Surely other cities should follow the capital’s lead.
Heathrow Congestion Charge Is Expected To Raise £1.2bn A Year
The title of this post is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the first paragraph.
Heathrow airport could make £1.2 billion a year from a congestion charge levied on drivers arriving at the airport by car, according to analysis.
The article also says.
- The charge will start when the third runway opens.
- The charge will be levied on all cars, even the cleanest.
It is designed to encourage drivers to use public transport, like buses, coaches and trains.
I don’t believe that you can force a lot of passengers to give up their cars, when going to the Airport,. But then for the sake of the planet, they must give up their diesel 4x4s and large cars.
As a non-driver and almost a non-flyer, I’m not affected!
Fire Up The Quattro: My Other Car Is An Energy Supplier
An article with this title is on Page 3 of the Business Section in today’s Sunday Times.
This is the first paragraph.
Car companies could be encouraged to become electricity suppliers under an overhaul of the energy market being explored by the government and the regulator.
This is an excellent idea.
These are a few of my ideas.
All-In-One Deals
It would open up the scope for all-in-one deals for the purchase of electric cars.
The cost of the car, servicing and electricity would all be included.
A cost per mile could be guaranteed, which might rise with distance.
Most importantly, he car company would handle all the hassle and give the customers appropriate training.
It Could Be A Range Anxiety Solution
Some articles in the media, are saying that range anxiety is holding back sales of electric cars, as no-one wants to get stuck in remote locations with flat batteries.
Up market brands already have their own rescue service and I can envisage a network of electric trucks, which can rescue stranded vehicles, by giving them sufficient charge to get to the nearest charger.
These trucks could even be in a common fleet with video screens informing everybody they were a particular car company’s Electric Vehicle Rescue Truck. So when rescuing an Audi, they would say Audi’s El;ectric Vehicle Rescue Truck.
If a prospective punter, saw a rescue truck, with their favourite make on the side, it might persuade them to pop in to a showroom.
Free Or Reduced Cost Parking In Electric-Only Car Parks
In Airport Plans World’s Biggest Car Parks For 50,000 Cars, I outlined how a massive car park like this could hold electric cars with a total battery capacity of 1.35 GWh.
This storage capacity could be used to store surplus energy, whilst cars were parked.
I can see a consortium being put together to provide electric-only car parks.
- National Grid to provide and distribute the electricity.
- The car companies to provide the customers.
- Airports and rail stations, local authorities to provide the land.
But not all car parks would be large!
I can imagine new housing developments bringing in an electric vehicle-only rule.
I wouldn’t mind living in one of that type of development.
There would be various charges in these electric vehicle-only car parks.
- An hourly or contract charge for the actual parking.
- A charge for the electricity used to charge the vehicle.
There would also be a payment from Nation Grid based on the amount of energy stored in the vehicle’s battery.
Billing would be automatic, based on when you were connected to the charger and the various energy flows.
\suppose you were flying away from Heathrow for a week, National Grid would have use of your vehicle’s battery to store electricity for seven days.
The car companies would be in a unique position to enable this deal.
- They have the customers.
- They can make their cars compatible with the car parks.
- They can handle the complex billing, as part of an All-In-One deal.
- \drivers would probably prefer to deal with BMW, Jaguar etc., than an energy company.
I would expect this model of car-parking to multiply.
- Many drivers would only use public transport on pain of death, so buying an electric car is the lesser of two evils.
- It would cut emissions in the centre of towns and cities.
- It would appeal to High Streets and Town Centres, as it could attract shoppers and visitors.
- For those with home chargers, it must surely reduce range anxiety
The only disadvantage, is that it might increase the use of cars for short journeys and increase traffic congestion.
But at least the extra vehicles would be non-polluting electric ones.
Conclusion
Used creatively, the proposal of allowing car companies to be energy suppliers, would appear to have possibilities.
.
The Anonymous Widower 