Archive for the ‘Motor Home Laws’ Category

Police Launch Crackdown on Speeding Motorists

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Motorhome users driving in the Borders area of Scotland will be under careful scrutiny this week as the local police force looks to crackdown on speeding drivers in rural locations.

Figures released by the Lothian and Borders Police Authority show a disappointing increase in the number of motorists caught speeding and drink driving in the area and police are determined to reverse the trend before the holiday season gets into full swing. The quiet roads of rural Scotland change dramatically in the summer months and vehicles typically covered with motorhome or campervan insurance make up a large part of the visiting drivers.

With a total of almost 12,000 drivers apprehended for speeding offences in April and March, Chief Superintendent Derek Robertson is determined to put a stop to the increasing number of violations. He said: “We know the impact speeding has on control of vehicles and the severity of accidents. It’s very disappointing to see a rise in the number of drivers caught speeding in built-up areas when much has been done to raise awareness of the dangers. This new campaign will focus on rural roads as we move into summer and more people take advantage of the weather to travel into the countryside. They are often not used to driving there and wrongly feel that the quieter roads mean they can increase their speed.”

The blitz on speeding drivers will start this week with the police using both marked and unmarked vehicles to catch offenders. The report wasn’t all bad news though. Despite an increase of 9% in speeding drivers and a slight increase in drink driving there was good news on figures involving drivers not wearing seatbelts and motorists using hand held mobile phone devices. Both offences showed significant falls of 25% and 21% respectively.

Motorhome Regulations in Europe

Friday, March 30th, 2012

In Europe, breakdown services run a little differently to over here and it’s important to be aware of the differences just in case you find yourself in trouble. Here’s a quick guide to the process in France, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Safety Equipment

Unlike in the UK, you need to carry a few items with you; a hi-vis jacket is a must if you’re stopped on the side of the road, and you’ll need a small warning triangle to let other road users know you’ve broken down. A ‘GB’ sticker will let other motorists know you’re driving a right-hand-drive vehicle and you’ll need to adjust your lights, too. You can buy from most garages a small set of stickers which allow you to cover up the bits that are likely to dazzle drivers on the other side of the road.

Getting Towed

If your motorhome actually breaks down, you’ll need to be towed. Though local services can be friendly and useful, your best bet is to get a motorhome insurance policy which covers you throughout Europe and will provide you with a courtesy car and a tow home if needs be. Only the top providers will offer this sort of thing and it may cost you extra but is certainly a worthwhile investment.

Important Documents

If stopped it is very important to have with you your passport and motorhome license. Without these, the EU authorities have no proof that you are road legal and, unlike in the UK, they’re not able to simply look you up on a database. Keep your insurance documents with you at all times too, just in case someone requires proof.

Though the bulk of Europe abide by the same regulations, check specifically what is required in the country you’re travelling to and make sure you’re not caught out. EU authorities are very thorough so don’t have your holiday compromised by a stop in a police station!

Advent of new LEZ compliance standards approaches

Monday, December 5th, 2011

With the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) less than 4 weeks away, drivers who may be affected by the new regulations are quickly running out of time to make sure their vehicle complies with the new standard.

Many motor homes affected for the first time

Of course the stricter, virtually all encompassing rules are certainly going to affect a lot of motorists for the first time and many vehicles covered by motor home insurance will have to pay the LEZ levy from January 2012 unless they comply with emission standards.

Motor homes newly affected from January 2012 will include vehicles registered for the first time between October 1st 2001 to September 30th 2006 with a gross vehicle weight of over 12 tonnes. Motor homes registered between the same dates and weighing between 3.5 and 12 tonnes will also now have to comply. Smaller motor homes weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes and first registered before January 2001 will also be affected in January 2012 for the first time.

Filter will bring vehicle into compliance

The LEZ compliance for motor homes is based on the Euro IV emissions standard and if motor homes do not comply then the retro fitting of an approved particulate filter will do the trick. It is important the owner ensures the filter is a type approved by the Transport for London organisation (TfL) and once fitted it must be passed by the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA). VOSA will then issue the motor home with a Low Emissions Certificate or a Reduced Pollution Certificate, the certificate will last for 12 months and the owner is advised to carry it with him when travelling as he would his motor caravan insurance.

Charges prohibitive

It will certainly be expensive for any driver not to comply with the new standards as the charges for non compliant vehicles are prohibitive to say the least. A motor home over 2.5 tonnes will be charged £100, whilst motor homes over 12 tonnes will pay £200 a day. The LEZ will cover roughly the same geographical area as the Greater London Authority boundary and so will only affect motorists visiting London. Drivers worried about falling into the zone when passing around the capital can relax as the M25 does not fall into the LEZ at any part.