BVRLA sets out new fleet agenda

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) is due to meet with government policymakers to discuss how its members can contribute to safer, greener and more cost-effective motoring.

The meetings comes as the association publishes its four policy papers on Vehicle Safety, Air Quality, Business Car Taxation and Intelligent Mobility. The papers detail issues such as the current legislative and policy landscape and sets out a series of policy recommendations.

The Vehicle Safety papers calls on the government to encourage further take-up of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB). It recommends that the government make a SAEB a mandatory requirement for all new vehicles procured by the government fleet.

The Air Quality paper lobbies for the implementation of a national framework for Low Emission Zones, which will allow fleet operators to make purchasing decisions without unnecessary financial penalties.

The BVRLA’s Business Car Taxation policy paper suggests that the government reform benefit-in-kind (BIK) ratings should include greater incentives for the take-up of lower emission vehicles. In particular, the association maintains that a wider differential at the lower category end would provide a larger incentive for take up of lower (if not ultra-low) emission vehicles over higher emission ones.

The final paper, focusing on Intelligent Mobility, calls on the government to support the interaction of a new ratings system for the cyber security of modern connected vehicles.

Gerry Keaney, BVRLA chief executive, said: “We have consulted with a wide range of fleet operator organisations and believe that the policy measures outlined in these reports could make a major contribution in improving the safety, sustainability and efficiency of road transport in the UK.”

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