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Following the terrible events in Japan earlier this year we are working closely with leasing companies and manufacturing partners to mitigate any risk or delay that could affect our clients.
Due to delays and reduced production from some manufacturers we have created a summary of the latest manufacturer's news on lead times below.
* Metallic paint - many manufacturers are experiencing problems with the supply of new and existing metallic paint colours. In many instances colours that are not available will be replaced with a similar colour and we will contact you to discuss any changes.
On the 1st March Nissan announced an immediate price increase on the Majority of its vehicle range. In the last few days both Ford, Honda and Renault have also announced that they will be increasing the price of most of their vehicles. This is due to considerable increases in the global costs of raw materials such as metals, oil based plastics and the fluctuating currency markets.
As a result most manufacturers will almost certainly be announcing shortly a price increase of either a selection or of their entire range:
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You may have read in this morning's national newspapers the article regarding Auto Windscreens Ltd. To clarify, on 14th February 2011 it was announced that Auto Windscreens Ltd have gone into administration and that regrettably all their operations have been temporarily suspended.
Thankfully, however, GMP Drivercare do have another approved windscreen supplier National Windscreens.
In the case of any windscreen matters contact National Windscreens Direct on 0800 622 122 quoting account number BN3567.
GMP request a copy of your driving licence both photo and counterpart if applicable. Also if you request to have Named Drivers on your insurance we would then ask for copies of those driving licences to add to the insurance and to keep within your file. We ask for and updated copy every six months to keep us informed of the Name Drivers if these were to change.
If you hold a paper driving licence and you need to notify a change of address, you should complete a D1 application form, available from most post offices.
If you hold a photo card driving licence and you need to notify a change of address, you should complete the changes section on your paper counterpart licence and send it to the DVLA together with your photo card licence. If you need to notify a change of name, you should use form D1.
For both paper and photo card driving licences, documentary evidence of a change of name is required, for example, a birth certificate, passport or deed poll. You can continue to drive whilst you are waiting for the licence to be returned to you. The DVLA does not make a charge for changing the details of your name and address. However you may be fined for not telling the DVLA about a change in your name or address.
The law requires all children traveling in cars to use the correct child restraint until they are 135 cm in height or the age of 12 (which ever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt. There are very few exceptions, and the main ones are set out below.
All children under the age of 12 will have to use some form of child car seat, unless they are taller than 135cm (4ft 5in). A Booster seat.
DRIVER – Seat belt must be worn if available.
CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OLD - Correct child restraint must be worn.
CHILDREN AGED 3 OR ABOVE, UNTIL THEY EITHER REACH THEIR 12TH BIRTHDAY OR 135 CM IN HEIGHT – Correct child restraint must be used. If not available in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle for a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity. Child 3 or over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of the vehicle if seat belt are not available.
CHILD OVER 1.35 CM 12 TO 13 AND CHILDREN AGED 14 AND OVER, DRIVER OR PASSENGER – Seat belts must be worn if available.
If you are convicted of failing to wear a seat belt as a driver or passenger, you could face a fine of up to £500. As a driver, if you are convicted of failing to ensure that a child passenger is using an appropriate child restraint or wearing a seat belt according to the legal requirements described above, you could face a fine of up to £500.
In addition to the legal penalties, failure to wear a seat belt or failure to ensure that a child passenger uses an appropriate child restraint or wears a seat belt according to the legal requirements described above, could affect any claims against your motor insurance cover.
You could also face civil proceedings for damages, if (for example) you failed to safely carry someone else's child.
Driving or attempting to drive a vehicle over the permitted limit or whilst unfit through drink or drugs
Being in charge of a vehicle over the permitted limit
Failing to provide a roadside test or an evidential specimen
Under Section 4 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act and Section 1 of the 1991 Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to use or be in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place whilst under the influence of drink or drugs.
The law relating to drink driving is complicated and given the severity of any potential punishment, expert assistance from a qualified solicitor should always be obtained. Many road users are confused by alcohol levels, drink drive limits and what actually constitutes either driving or being in charge of a vehicle.
In technical terms, you are over the limit if there is:
35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; or
80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood; or
107 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine
The legal drink drive limit cannot be safely converted into a certain number of units, as it depends on a number of factors to include gender, body mass and how quickly your body absorbs alcohol into the blood stream.
One unit of alcohol is 10ml (1cl) by volume or 8g by weight, of pure alcohol.
| Wine | |||
| ABV | Small Glass 125ml | Standard Glass175ml | |
| 12% | 1.5 units | 2.1 Units | |
| 14% | 1.75 units | 2.45 Units | |
| Beer | |||
| ABV | Half Pint | 330ml Bottle | 1 Pint |
| 3% | 1 Unit | 2 Units | |
| 4% | 1.1 Units | 2.2 Units | |
| 5% | 1.4 Units | 1.75 Units | 2.8 Units |
| Spirits | |||
| ABV | Single Shot 25ml | DoubleShot 50ml | |
| 40% | 1 Unit | 2 Units | |
| 20% | 0.5 Unit | 1 Unit | port |
For any offence of driving or attempting to drive while over the prescribed alcohol limit, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of one year's disqualification. This can only be waived in very exceptional circumstances, such as if the offence was committed in response to a medical emergency, or if the offender would be completely unable to earn a living. A first offender will also receive a fine, typically around £300 - £400, although fines can be below £100 for offenders of limited means.
Magistrates have the power to impose longer periods of disqualification and are increasingly making use of this - in some cases 18-month bans have been imposed for BACs below 120 mg. The maximum sentence that can be imposed for driving with excess alcohol is a fine of £5,000, and a 6-month prison sentence, something that is not as widely appreciated, as it should be.
If an offender has committed a second offence within a ten-year period, or has a BAC over 2.5 times the legal limit (i.e. 200 mg or above), they will be classed as a "high-risk offender". They will receive a three-year minimum mandatory period of disqualification, and before they can drive again will be required to satisfy a doctor - at their own expense - that they do not have an ongoing alcohol problem.
| Prison Sentence | Fine | Driving Ban 12-36 months | Penalty Points | Endorsement Code | |
| Driving or attempting to drive while unfit | 6 months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3-11* | DR20 (drink) DR80 (drugs) |
| Driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol | 6 months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3-11* | DR10 |
| In charge while unfit | 3 months | £5,000 | Discretionary | 10 | DR50 (drink) DR90 (drugs) |
| In charge with excess alcohol | 3 months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | DR40 |
| Failing to co-operate with a preliminary test | £1,000 | Discretionary | 4 | DR70 | |
| Failing or refusing to supply an evidential specimen when "driving or attempting to drive" | 6 months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3-11* | DR30 |
| Failing or refusing to provide an evidential specimen when not "driving or attempting to drive" | 3 months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | DR60 |
| Failure to allow specimen to be subjected to laboratory test when "driving or attempting to drive" | 6 months | £5,000 | Obligatory | 3-11* | |
| Failure to allow specimen to be subjected to laboratory test when not "driving or attempting to drive" | 3 months | £2,500 | Discretionary | 10 | |
| Causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs | 14 years | Unlimited | Obligatory 2 years minimum | 3-11* | CD40 (drink) CD50 (drugs) CD60 (excess alcohol) |
| Causing death by careless driving and then failing to supply specimen for analysis | 14 years | Unlimited | Obligatory 2 years minimum | 3-11* | CD70 |
There have been many reports that smoking is to be banned in all vehicles. As of yet this has not become a reality for motorists in private vehicles but smoking in work vehicles is against the law under certain circumstances. One of the rules laid out in the smoke free law, introduced in 2007, was to outlaw smoking on public transport and work vehicles. Work vehicles used by more than one person at the same time must be smoke free at all times. It is also an offence not to display no-smoking signs on public transport or work vehicles.
Smokers who do break the law by smoking in work vehicles are committing a criminal offence. Anyone who is caught smoking in a smokefree vehicle can face a £50 fixed penalty notice. The £50 fine may be reduced to £30 if it is paid within 15 days. If the offender is prosecuted and convicted in court this fine can be as much as £200. Failure to display no-smoking signs can mean a £200 fixed penalty notice or up to £1000 if convicted in court. Anyone who fails to control or stop someone smoking in a smokefree vehicle can face a £2500 fine if convicted in court.
Smoking in private vehicles is not an offence. But if smoking is the reason for careless driving then the authorities could view this as an offence. The Highway Code has been updated to reflect this in section 148:Safe driving and riding needs concentration. Smoking can now be classed as one of the ways to distract a driver that may lead to careless or dangerous driving. If dangerous driving is proven then this could be an offence that leads to a prison sentence.
Although all cases will be different there are fines and penalty points that can be imposed for breaching road safety regulations. A driver who is caught driving carelessly due to smoking can be charged with between three and nine penalty points. Other consequences to this driving offence could include a driving ban or a fine up to a maximum £2,500. Smoking while driving distractions can be compared to driving while using a mobile phone, although using hand held phones while driving is a specific offence.
The new smoke-free law will require company vehicles to be smoke free at all times if they are used. Smoke-free vehicles must display a no-smoking sign in each compartment of the vehicle in which people can be carried. This must show the international no-smoking symbol no smaller than 70mm in diameter.When carrying persons, smoke-free vehicles with a roof that can be stowed or removed will not be required to be smoke free when the roof is completely removed or stowed. Vehicles that are used primarily for private purposes will not be required to be smoke free. Companies may have policies that make further restrictions on smoking in vehicles.
The law states that it is illegal to ride a motorbike or drive a car while you are using a hand held communication device. Hands free phones may be used, but they are ultimately a distraction and you are still open to a charge of careless driving should a police officer think you are driving poorly while using one.
Yes you can. Essentially, you are allowed to push buttons, but not to hold the phone, so make sure it’s in a cradle which is attached to your dashboard. However, do remember that if you are stopped for driving in a poor or careless manner and the police discover that you were using a hands-free mobile phone, you can still be prosecuted for not having proper control of your vehicle - the penalty for which is the same as it is for using a hand held phone while driving - a £60 fine and 3 penalty points.
Since February 2008, there has been a change in the law, which means you are now liable to 3 penalty points and a fine. The definition of ‘use of a mobile phone’ continues to be a new area of law and there are numerous defences, which are both legal and practical.