Newsroom

We’ve recently received many tickets from the Croydon Council for entering the pedestrian zone on Elm Park Road junction South Norwood Hill.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 17/11: England v Malta football match @ Wembley Stadium
• 17/11: Louis Tomlinson concert @ O2 Arena Greenwich
• 18/11: Christmas event on Kings Road between Walpole Street and Sloane Square
• 18/11: Peter Kay Live @ O2 Arena Greenwich
• 18-19/11: Drumsheds concert @ Tottenham Hale
• 19/11: Demonstration @ Westminster

We’ve recently received many tickets from the London Borough of Lewisham for entering the pedestrian zone on Ewhurst Road.

Please make sure to check all road signs and markings when you drive, otherwise you may get a £130 PCN.

We’ve recently received many Warning Notices from the London Borough of of Lambeth for entering the restricted zone on Valley Road.

Please note, the Streatham Wells Low Traffic Neighbourhood trial has been introduced in October and will run for 12 to 18 months.

As part of the trial, only buses and taxis are able to enter Valley Road from both ends, with drivers who take the same route facing a fine of £130.

Please make sure to check all road signs and markings when you’re driving.

We’ve recently received many tickets from the Luton Borough Council for parking in the taxi rank on Spittlesea Road.

Please note, PCO cars must not stop or wait in taxi ranks.

Please make sure to check all road signs and markings when you’re driving. Otherwise you could get a £70 PCN, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

A friendly reminder that all PCO drivers must declare their income earned from private hire driving.

From 1 Jan 2024, Uber will need to report how much drivers earn automatically to HMRC, and the tax office will use the data to compare to the self-assessment income.

The new rules require digital platform operators including AirBnb, Etsy, Deliveroo, Upwork, Fiverr and Uber.

HMRC introduced a new tax check​ last year for drivers when renewing a PCO licence. It is a simple check to confirm if you have appropriately registered for tax. The process should only take a few minutes.

We’ve recently received a number of tickets from the Lambeth Parking for driving in the prohibited zone on Downton Avenue. Don’t get caught out.

We’ve recently received a number of tickets from the Hackney Council for driving in the prohibited zone on Lansdowne Drive (Junction Trederwen Road – Westbound).

The penalty charge of this notice is £130, and will be reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days.

Don’t get caught out.

We’ve noticed that some drivers are getting tickets from the Enfield Council for using the bus lane on Bull Lane N18.

This ‘flying motorbike sign’ means ‘no motor vehicles allowed’.

It has always been misunderstood. Almost a third of drivers think it means ‘cars and motorcycles only’, which is the opposite.

Please make sure you know all road signs mean to save your hard-earned money.

The government has announced the new Plan for Drivers to “back people who use cars in their daily lives”.

The 30 measures include issuing 20mph zone guidance, permitting red flashing lights for breakdown cars, and delivering the new parking platform.

The full plan for drivers will make journeys smoother by:

– strengthening guidance to make sure bus lanes operate only when buses are running
– guiding local authorities on allowing motorcycles to use bus lanes and holding a consultation about whether motorcycle access should be standard
– permitting red flashing lights for breakdown vehicles, helping to protect recovery drivers by making them more visible at the roadside
– supporting councils to introduce more lane rental schemes, which reduce roadworks by incentivising utilities to avoid the busiest roads at the busiest times
– consulting on requiring local authorities with lane rental schemes to use at least 50% of any surplus on pothole repairs or resurfacing
– consulting on extending fines for overrunning street works at weekends and increasing fixed penalty notices
– rolling out the Live Labs 2 programme to explore new, low-carbon and high-tech ways of managing local highway networks, – supporting the transition to net zero carbon local roads and infrastructure
– developing a New Road Condition Data Standard to provide local authorities with access to new technologies enabling them more easily to identify and deal with road defects like potholes
– £30 million fund to upgrade traffic signal systems, replacing unreliable and obsolete equipment to improve reliability
– £20 million ‘Green Light Fund’ to tune up traffic signals to better reflect current traffic conditions and get traffic flowing
– £20 million to deploy advanced technology for traffic signals, making use of machine learning and AI to optimise traffic flow and balance traffic across city centres

They’re also stopping unfair enforcement by:

– issuing 20mph zone guidance for England to help prevent inappropriate blanket use.
– consulting on measures including the removal of local authorities’ access to DVLA data to enforce such schemes by camera
– focusing on the importance of local support and consider as part of the LTN review how to address existing LTNs that have not secured local consent
– strengthening government and sector-led guidance on enforcement of moving traffic offences such as entering yellow box junctions, to ensure consistency and stop drivers from being penalised unfairly
– launching a call for evidence on options to restrict local authorities’ ability to generate surpluses from traffic offences and over-zealous use of traffic enforcement powers

They’re making parking easier by:

– delivering the new National Parking Platform by autumn 2024, ending the need to use multiple parking apps
– consulting on revising guidance about the public’s right to challenge local authority parking policies
– introducing digitised traffic regulation orders to help easily identify where it is legal to park anywhere in the country

They’re tackling inconsiderate driving by:

– consulting on removing the right of uninsured drivers to claim compensation for property damage
– launching a communications campaign and enforcement to tackle lane hogs and other inconsiderate driving on the motorway
allowing local councils to roll out noise cameras to target unacceptable vehicle modifications
– clamping down on roadside littering, extending the trial on camera enforcement across the strategic road network

They’re supporting the transition to zero emission driving by:

– reviewing grid connections process for EV chargepoints, with the aim to accelerate it
– consulting on measures to speed up the approvals process for installation of chargepoints
– providing dedicated, targeted support for schools to install chargepoints, using existing grants
– widening eligibility of EV chargepoint grants to include cross-pavement solutions to make EV ownership a more practical option for those without off-street parking
– providing guidance on the use of safe cross-pavement solutions
– consulting on the expansion of permitted development rights, making private chargepoint installation cheaper and easier
– working with industry to myth-bust concerns about EVs

UK petrol prices have risen for the 4th month in a row, up by 4.5p/L to 157p in September on the back of global oil production cuts, according to data from the RAC.

It’s the 13th biggest monthly jump in price in the last 23 years.

The RAC says the price rises are being driven by oil producer group OPEC+ restricting global supply in conjunction with the weaker value of sterling which makes wholesale fuel, which is traded in dollars, more expensive to buy in the UK.

Drivers have to pay £86+ for a 55L petrol car, the highest cost since December 2022.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 7/10: Danny Elfman @ Royal Albert Hall
• 7-9/10: Southbound Blackwall Tunnel closure
• 8/10: Royal Parks Half Marathon @ central London area
• 8/10: RuPaul’s Drag Race @ The O2 Peninsula Square
• Until 7/10: Lanes two and three (northbound) on Edgware Road will be closed at the junction of A4205 Praed Street
• Until 10/10: Epsom Road is closed in both directions between Purley Way and Duppas Hill Road

Blackwall Tunnel will be closed to southbound traffic from Saturday 30th September to Monday 2nd October morning.

In addition, Sadiq Khan has confirmed that drivers will have to pay a toll to use the tunnel from 2025.

There are planned train and tube strikes in September and October.

Dates affected:

‣ Tube strikes — Wednesday 4th and Friday 6th October

‣ Train strikes — Saturday 30th September and Wednesday 4th October

‣ Train drivers overtime ban — Friday 29th September, Monday 2nd to Friday 6th October

The strike action is expected to cause severe disruption across London. Expect increased demand for private hire services.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 23-24/9: London Shine Night Walk 2023 @ Battersea Park
• 24/9: 2023 Vitality London 10K @ central London
• 24/9: The Hermes Experiment @ Southbank Centre
• 24/9: Charing Cross station forecourt closed
• Until 6/10: Brixton Hill closed between its junctions with the A205 Christchurch Road and Brixton Water Lane
• Until 10/10: Epsom Road closed in both directions between Purley Way and Duppas Hill Road
• Until 5/11: Marylebone Road closed eastbound (lanes one and two of four) between its junction with Part Square West

As some of you may be aware, there are a number of smart motorways around London with variable speed limits.

The Otto Team has recently received many tickets for breaking variable speed limits on M25 and M11.

Please make sure to drive at safe speeds on smart motorways, or you may receive a fine, just like driving on a normal motorway.

We’ve noticed that some drivers are getting tickets from Islington as they performed a prohibited right turn on Digswell Street.

Please check road signs or you may get a £130 PCN.

The Otto Team has noticed drivers are getting tickets for performing a prohibited right turn at the Clapham Common North Side Jct Stormont Rd.

The Otto Team would like to remind you that the speed limit on the A40 (Terrick St/North Wharf Road) is 30mph.

🚀 Tips: It might be helpful to download some free camera apps such as Radarbot and Speedtrap Alert to check speed restrictions or get warnings.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 21-22/7: Junction 2 Festival in Hounslow
• 21-23/7: Hyper Japan exhibition at Olympia London
• 22/7: UFC Fight Night at the O2
• 22/7: Elrow Festival in Barking
• 22/7: Ben Howard concert at Alexandra Palace
• 23/7: Demonstration in central London
• 23/7: London Athletics Meet at the London Stadium
• 24/7 until Sept: Wandsworth Bridge will be closed to all motorised traffic
• Until Dec: Closures on the Piccadilly underpass for improvement works

Update 14:19 21st July: Tube strikes planned for 23-28 July have been cancelled.

There will be tube strikes from Sunday 23rd to Friday 28th July.

• Sunday 23rd July: Tube services will close early

• Monday 24th July: Services will start later than normal, with a good service expected by late morning

• Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th July: Little or no Tube service running across London Underground

• Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 July: No Tube service expected, including Night Tube

The strike action is expected to cause disruption across London.

Expect increased demand for private hire services.

Yellow box junctions have been a regular PCN issue among PCO drivers.

This junction at Langley Road and Croydon Road in in Elmers End Bromley accounted for the most fines in 2022 for example.

Please check the road markings when you drive to avoid getting a PCN.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 30/6: Overnight junction and road closures in the Whitehall area
• 30/6-1/7: WWE events @ O2, North Greenwich
• 30/6-2/7: BST Hyde Park concerts
• 30/6-2/7: England vs Australia @ Lord’s Cricket Ground
• 30/6-2/7: Finsbury Park music events
• 1/7: Pride in London 2023 Parade @ Whitehall, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square

We have noticed that many drivers are getting tickets from Bath Street Islington for failing to comply with a prohibition on certain types of vehicles.

Please check the signs when you drive to avoid getting a PCN.

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 23/6: Community event @ Hyde Park
• 23-25/6: Sporting fan zone for the Major League Baseball London Series @ Trafalgar Square
• 23-25/6: The Queen’s Tennis Championships @ Kensington
• 24/6: Demonstration @ Parliament Square
• 24-25/6: Major League Baseball tournament @ London Stadium
• 24-25/6: BST Hyde Park concerts @ Central London area
• 24-26/6: Southbound Blackwall Tunnel and A102 weekend closures
• 25/6: The Armed Forces Day Bridge Walk @ Central London area
• 25/6: The Blackheath Race For Life/Pretty Muddy @ Blackheath

Here are some works or events that may delay your journey:

• 10/6: Trooping the Colour @ St James’s Park
• 11/6: Combined Irish Regiments Cenotaph Parade @ Whitehall
• Until 17/6: Hampton Court Palace Festival @ Hampton Court Palace
• Until 24/6: HS2 works @ Swiss Cottage
• 12/6-8/7: Weeknight works @ Chiswick Roundabout

We have noticed that many drivers are getting speeding tickets from St Johns Wood Park between junctions Queen’s Grove and Boydell Court northbound NW8. Please note that the limit is 20mph.

The Otto Team have noticed that drivers are getting speeding tickets from A4000 Horn Lane near Julian Avenue northbound W3.

Please note, the speed limit is 20mph.

It is a camera enforcement spot. Please always check the signs when you drive to avoid getting a PCN.

According to a recent research conducted by Bonnet, EV drivers can potentially save up to £260 a year by using public chargers overnight.

The research found those using smart off-peak energy tariffs have already saved hundreds in 2023.

Off-peak tariffs are currently offered by a number of major charging networks, such as GeniePoint and Chargy, which are especially helpful for PCO drivers who don’t have a driveway to install a home charger.

The smart tariffs allow drivers to take advantage of cheaper rates overnight.

Assuming normal use, Bonnet’s data shows that EV drivers who take advantage of their Boost packages and off-peak tariffs can save £260 annually.

Fuel prices at a glance 

To help PCO drivers have a quick look at the current fuel costs, we put together the latest average prices of petrol, diesel and EV charging regularly so you don’t have to.

We have noticed that drivers are getting tickets when they failed to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings. Park Avenue N22 from the photo is one of the many examples.

Please note, if you fail to stop, you could get a £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

Please be vigilant and drive safely.

Non-Tesla EVs can now use Tesla’s Supercharger network in the UK.

With the company’s Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot, some Supercharger stations are accessible to non-Tesla EV drivers via the Tesla app. Simple select ‘Charge Your Non-Tesla’ and you can find your Supercharger site.

Pricing for non-Tesla drivers varies by site, and you can view charging prices in the Tesla app.

Here are the eligible stations within the M25:

– Uxbridge

– Heathrow

– Romford

– Sidcup

The Supercharger experience will remain unchanged for Tesla drivers.

Learn more about their Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot here

Following the launch of Uber Green in 2021, Uber has introduced Uber Green Reserve, which allows passengers to pre-book fully electric PCO cars up to 90 days in advance.

Uber Green works in exactly the same way as a regular Uber. The only difference is that it’s only limited to electric PCO cars.

We’ve recently noticed that a significant number of drivers received a ticket for speeding in a 20mph zone, including the following hotspots:

– A4202 Park Lane northbound near Mount Street

– A41 Finchley Road northbound near Queens Grove

– Vauxhall Bridge Road southbound between junctions of Wilton Road and Neathouse Place

– A2199 Croxted Road southbound between junctions with A205 South Circular and Norwood Road

We would like to remind you that new 20mph speed limits have been introduced in five London boroughs: Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets.

Please be vigilant and drive safely.

A double bank holiday is coming up. PCO drivers should expect double traffic over the next two weekends.

The RAC estimates this coming weekend will be the busiest May bank holiday since 2016, while the Coronation weekend will be slightly less busy.

Inrix is warning drivers about the potential long delays on the M5 southbound between J15 and J23, and the M6 northbound from J18 to J24.

Over the Coronation long weekend, the RAC expects an even spread of traffic: around 2m trips each day – with the afternoon of 5th and 6th May likely to see the most congestion.

Here are some road works or events that may delay your journey:

–  15 April: Finsbury Park will be hosting the Haringey Tough Mudder event 08:00-18:00

–  15-16 April: A Petrol Headonism event will be taking place 10:30-16:30

–  From 17 April 2023 until January 2024: There will be a series of lane closures on Tolworth roundabout, and on the A240 Kingston Road between Tolworth roundabout and the junction with Jubilee Way. At times, there may be some local diversions in place.

– Until 30 April: There will be 24/7 lane restrictions and speed restrictions on the A40 Western Avenue between the junction with the A4127 Greenford Road and the junction with the A4180 West End Road. There will also be some overnight directional closures 22:00-05:00 each night.

The Otto Team have noticed that drivers are getting tickets from Lambeth Parking when they failed to give way to oncoming vehicles.

It is a camera enforcement spot and the penalty is a £130 fine.

Please always check the signs when you drive to avoid getting a PCN.

The Otto Team have noticed that drivers are getting tickets when dropping passengers off at St Thomas Hospital in the Congestion Charging zone.

We would like to remind you that the drop off zone is in their car park.

Please don’t stop and drop off in a no stopping zone to avoid getting a PCN.

Uber announced it’s offering 10 hours of free childcare for 1,000 of their UK drivers as a trial.

The company said its drivers on average earn £34 an hour in London, and the cost of childcare is often a barrier for women in joining Uber.

Uber’s free childcare will be provided through on-demand app Bubble.

The Blackwall Tunnel will be closed southbound from 10pm on 31 March until 5am on 3 April to facilitate the construction of a new walking and cycling footbridge across the A102 in Greenwich.

The northbound Blackwall Tunnel will not be affected by this closure, but drivers will be subject to local signed diversions on Saturday night while the main bridge span is craned into place over the carriageway.

For more information please refer to the TfL website here

Following the introduction of a tariff for its EV charging in November 2022, Tesco announced to increase its EV charging rates from April 3. 

Its rates will start at 44p/kWh. 

7kW 44p/kWh

22kW 49p/kWh

50kW 62p/kWh

75kW 69p/kWh

Payment is accepted via the Pod Point app for the AC chargers, or by contactless for the rapid points. 

According to the AA, the average cost of using a public AC charger now is 37p/kWh, and a rapid charger costs about 66p/kWh. 

The Otto Team have noticed an increase in PCNs for PCO drivers who get caught exceeding a 20 mph speed limit on the A202 Vauxhall Bridge Road by Chapter Street southbound.

Here are some road works or events that may delay your journey:

– Until Saturday 18 March, there will be overnight lane restrictions between 22:00 and 05:00 on the A205 Kew Bridge Road between the junction with Lionel Road South and the junction with Kew Bridge.

– Until Saturday 1 April, there will be lane closures on the Wandsworth roundabout between 08:00 and17:00.

– Until Sunday 30 April there will be 24/7 lane restrictions and speed restrictions on the A40 Western Avenue between the junction with the A4127 Greenford Road and the junction with the A4180 West End Road.

– Until May 2023, lane restrictions will be in place between Boston Manor Road and Lionel Road North. In addition, there will be full overnight road closures between Monday 6 and Sunday 12 February.

As you may already be aware, there will be tube and national rail strikes this week which are likely to cause major disruption across London. Expect increased demand for private hire services. 

• 15th Mar (Wed): Tube strike
  – Little or no service is expected on the Tube network
  – London Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR & trams:
  Closure of Tube stations may mean some services will be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destination

• 16th, 18th Mar (Thu & Sat): National rail strike
  – Reduced services across many parts of the national rail network
  – London Overground, Elizabeth line and DLR & trams:
  Closure of Tube stations may mean some services will be unable to stop at all stations or run to their normal destination
  

The Otto Team have noticed a recent PCN hotspot on the A406 near its junctions with Western Avenue to near Apsley Way westbound.

We would like to remind you that the speed limit is 40mph.

Please check road signs and drive at the correct speed to save your hard-earned money.

Queen Victoria Street is closing permanently where it meets Bank Junction. Mansion House Street is restricted to one-way traffic westbound until July, with access to Cornhill eastbound maintained via Princes Street southbound.

As you may already know, London’s ULEZ will expand to cover the whole Greater London area from 29th August 2023.

The daily charge of £12.50 remains unchanged, however if your PCO car does not meet the emissions standards and you forget to make the payment, the fine will be £180 instead of £160 (reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days).

Fuel prices at a glance 

To help PCO drivers have a quick look at the current fuel costs, we put together the latest average prices of petrol, diesel and EV charging regularly so you don’t have to.

We’re sure that you’re familiar with calculating petrol or diesel costs. But how about the running costs of an electric PCO car? Here is a simple formula: Size of your car’s battery pack (kW) × charging cost (p/kWh)

For example, the estimated cost of charging a Kia Niro EV would be 63.8kW x 49.5p/kWh / 100 = £31.6

The Otto Team would like to remind you not to enter a smart motorway lane with a red ‘X’, or you could receive a fixed penalty of up to £100 and three points. Remember, it’s illegal and dangerous to drive there.

The Otto Team have noticed that the PCN hotspot on A40 near Terrick Street W12 has been generating a huge number of NIPs.

We would like to remind you that driving at any speed above the legal limit may result in a PCN being issued. Please check road signs and drive at the correct speed to save your hard-earned money.

The Otto Team have received many PCNs from the Metropolitan Police regarding speeding on A219 Putney Hill near Westleigh Avenue northbound. Please note that you’ll get a ticket if you go over the 20mph speed limit.

ULEZ expansion 2023 confirmed

Sadiq Khan confirmed the ULEZ will cover the whole of Greater London from August 29, 2023.

The proposed expansion plan was announced in March, affecting areas including Redbridge, Croydon, Enfield, Harrow and Wembley.

The fee currently covers all areas within the North and South Circular Roads. But the ULEZ expansion means driving in a vehicle that does not comply with minimum emission standards will have to pay a daily fee of £1 2.50 for entering Greater London.

Mayor Khan said “Expanding the Ulez London-wide has not been an easy decision.The easy thing for me would have been to kick the can down the road. But in the end, public health comes before political expediency.”

Currently fully electric cars and most petrol models registered from 2006 are exempt.

The Otto Team have received many warning notices from the London Borough of Lambeth regarding restrictions at the Streatham Hill Low Traffic Neighbourhood. No charge has to be paid for now, but PCO drivers should check the signage before turning into the roads there.

ULEZ expansion 2023 confirmed

Sadiq Khan confirmed the ULEZ will cover the whole of Greater London from August 29, 2023.

The proposed expansion plan was announced in March, affecting areas including Redbridge, Croydon, Enfield, Harrow and Wembley.

The fee currently covers all areas within the North and South Circular Roads. But the ULEZ expansion means driving in a vehicle that does not comply with minimum emission standards will have to pay a daily fee of £1 2.50 for entering Greater London.

Mayor Khan said “Expanding the Ulez London-wide has not been an easy decision.The easy thing for me would have been to kick the can down the road. But in the end, public health comes before political expediency.”

Currently fully electric cars and most petrol models registered from 2006 are exempt.

Speed limit threshold lowered

The Metropolitan Police have quietly dropped their speed tolerance by 1mph, triggering a 259% increase in the number of drivers being penalised. 

Driving at any speed above the legal limit is an offence, but more forces allow a small degree of tolerance before drivers are prosecuted. 

The Times reported that the Met changed the tolerance level in 2019 but didn’t make any announcement.

The formula was 10% of the speed limit plus 3mph before that, and the new rule has become 10% plus 2mph. 

For example, a driver in a 20mph limit can now expect to get away with driving at 24mph before the police commence any enforcement actions. 

With the new rule, an estimated 347,000 drivers were warned they would be prosecuted for speeding between January and June, compared with 97,000 in the six months before the change.

London-wide strikes

As you may already be aware, there will be strikes from Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 August.

18 August

• Nationwide train strikes to cause severe disruption

• Most TfL services will run as normal, but expect disruption on London Overground, Elizabeth line, District line and Bakerloo line

19 August

• Tube, London Overground and bus strikes will affect most TfL services

20 August

• Nationwide train strikes to cause severe disruption

• Following the Tube strike the previous day, Tube services will start after 08:00. Most TfL services will run as normal after 08:00, but expect disruption on London Overground, Elizabeth line, District line and Bakerloo line

The strike actions are expected to cause major disruption across London. Expect increased demand for private hire services.

Uber launches new Trip Radar and new Clean Air fund payment option

Operators introduce new features from time to time, and today we’ve got two updates from Uber.

The first one is the new Trip Radar feature which allows Uber drivers to see and show interest in UberX requests happening nearby.

When you’re not on a trip, you’ll see an alert for Trip Radar in the Uber driver app. You can tap on any requests you’re interested in and select as many as you want. 

You won’t get all your picks, as other drivers will see the list too. The more you tap, the more likely you are to match with an option that works for you.

Uber said the purpose of the new Trip Radar feature is to help you get trip requests that go where you want. And if you don’t want to wait for your next trip request, you can use it to make your pick and get going quickly.

The second one is about the Uber Clean Air Plan. If owning a new electric PCO car via one of the approved vendors doesn’t work for you, Uber is offering another option. 

Uber drivers can now claim their Clean Air Plan funds (or EV Assistance) after upgrading to an electric PCO car and receive it in monthly instalments. 

To claim the funds you need to have: 

1. £100 or more funds accumulated
2. 150 completed trips in the past 8 weeks, which must have been in an EV
3. The EV against which the claim is being made must be ‘Active’ on your Driver account

If you’re eligible, you’ll get £100 every month until the Clean Air Plan funds that you are eligible for runs out. You’ll also still eligible to claim your funds through approved vendors like Otto Car.

Met Office issues red extreme heat warning 

For the first time, the Met Office has put a red extreme heat warning in place for Monday (18th July) and Tuesday (19th July) for parts of England, including London.

The warning says, exceptional heat is expected to affect a large part of England, with temperatures likely in the high 30°C in some places and perhaps even reaching 40°C.

This may affect the demand for private hire services.

Private hire drivers are advised to stay hydrated.

⚠️⚠️ Red Extreme heat warning issued ⚠️⚠️

Parts of England on Monday and Tuesday

Latest info https://t.co/QwDLMg9c70

Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/YHaYvaGh95

— Met Office (@metoffice) July 15, 2022

TfL launches new mobile speed cameras

Transport for London (TfL) and the Metropolitan Police have launched 5 new mobile safety cameras to catch speeding motorists in London.

The ability to relocate the cameras to where they are most needed means that they can be used to target non-compliance ‘hot-spots’ and in areas where local communities are concerned about speeding on residential roads.

Since the new cameras have been in operation the MPS have enforced 9,500 speeding offences with them, including one driver who was travelling at 90mph in a 30mph speed limit.

Diesel hits another record high

Diesel prices have reached another record high of 180.29p per litre.

That was up from the previous record 179.90p per litre in March on the day of the spring statement, with the announcement of cutting fuel duty by 5p a litre for a year.

Current prices mean it costs about £90 to fill a 55-litre family car with petrol, and £97 for diesel.

The RAC suggested a link between rising diesel costs and efforts to reduce supplies of Russian diesel.

• Fines for drivers who break rules along London’s red routes will increase to £160 from 17 January.
• Congestion Charge will operate during 7am-6pm on weekdays and 12pm-6pm on weekends from 21 February.
• Drivers are banned from using mobile phones to take photos or videos in addition to making a call or sending a text while driving from 2022.

The Otto Team have noticed an increase in PCNs for PCO drivers who get caught running a red light.

Please be careful and watch out as you’ll be liable for a £100 fine and 3 penalty points.

Met Office issues amber weather warning for Friday (18 Feb)

The Met Office has put an amber warning in place for Friday 18 February across London.

The warning says, “Storm Eunice may cause significant disruption due to extremely strong winds on Friday.”

“Whilst there is still some uncertainty in the track of Eunice, there is an increasing likelihood of widespread inland wind gusts of 60-70 mph and up to 80 mph in a few places.”

This may affect the demand for private hire services.

Private hire drivers are advised to exercise caution on the roads and follow the latest travel advice.

Weather warnings have been updated in association with #StormEunice

Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/0Dwyx5cevB

— Met Office (@metoffice) February 16, 2022

How to drive safely at night or in low-visibility conditions
Learn more

Electric PCO drivers should display a warning sign when charging

Electric PCO car owners have been told to display a warning sign and park close to charge points in a new update to the Highway Code.

The code says you should:

• park close to the charge point and avoid creating a trip hazard for people walking from trailing cables
• display a warning sign if you can
• return charging cables and connectors neatly to minimise the danger to other people and avoid creating an obstacle for other road users

It is for the first time the Highway Code includes guidance about using EV charging points.

Did you know Otto Car has the largest charging network in London?
Learn more and get access to >4,500 charging points with our Otto Charging Network 

New BP Pulse EV charging hub opens at Gatwick Airport

The new EV charging hub includes three ultra-fast 150kW charging units that charge an EV to 80% capacity in 10-15 minutes providing a range of around 100 miles.

Using new hardware, these units will be upgraded to 300kW giving compatible EV vehicles an even faster charge.

The site also includes four 50kW chargers.

The new hub is located on the Ring Road South approach to Gatwick’s South Terminal and adjacent to the M23.

Gatwick has become the world’s first international airport to have its own dedicated EV charging hub.

Did you know Otto Car has the largest charging network in London?
Learn more

The Otto Team have found two hotspots where PCO drivers are picking up warning notices for failing to comply with a prohibition on certain types of vehicle. And we thought it’d be helpful to share with you all to avoid a potential PCN.

Louisville Road Junction Elmbourne Road SW17

Vallentin Road E17 / Shernhall Street E17

No payment is required for now. But please do take care and make sure to check the signage.

Check out our guide to the Top PCN Hotspots 2021 For Uber Drivers.

There may be increased demand for private hire services in the following areas because of these events:

• This weekend, Lunar New Year celebrations and cultural experiences will be taking place in Chinatown
• On 5 February, James Blunt is performing at the SSE Arena in Wembley
• On 5 February, Cerrone is performing at the Jazz Cafe in Camden
• On 5 February, The Stranglers are performing at the O2 Academy in Brixton

New mobile phone laws while driving will come into force from March 25, drivers will face £200 fines and six points if caught.

The government announced last year that it would tighten the rules on the use of mobile phones, banning drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scrolling through playlists and playing games.

Read more: New mobile phone driving laws 2022: What they mean for PCO drivers

Straighter new laws will make phone use while driving illegal in nearly all instances, unless you have to make calls to emergency services, or use contactless payments at drive-thrus and to pay tolls.

However, drivers will still legally be allowed to use their phones as sat-navs, only if they are secured in a holder. Hands-free calls are also still permitted.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that the new rules will take effect from March 25, with the necessary legislation now making its way through Parliament.

What are the new rules on the use of mobile phones while driving?
Learn more

Southwark – Townley Road Junction Carlton Avenue (Northbound)

Many drivers got caught out by this one in Dulwich. There’s a banned left turn for any motor vehicle, except buses, taxis and cycles (Monday to Friday, 8-10am, 3-6pm).

The Otto Team has included this as one of the Top PCN Hotspots 2021 For Uber Drivers.

Please do take care and make sure to check the signage to avoid a fine.

As of 1 January 2022:

• there were 28,375 public electric vehicle charging devices available in the UK
• of the total devices available, 5,156 were rapid chargers

Compared to 1 October 2021:

• available devices increased by 2,448, an increase of 9%
• rapid devices increased by 233, up 5%
• there was an increase in total and rapid devices across all regions of the UK

Since 1 January 2021, the number of public devices has increased by 37%, corresponding to 7,600 devices. The number of rapid devices increased by 33%, with an additional 1,276 public devices.

There is an uneven geographical distribution of charging devices within the UK.

London and Scotland had the highest level of charging provision per 100,000 of population, with 102 and 52 devices per 100,000 respectively. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 42 per 100,000.

Northern Ireland had the lowest level of charging device provision in the UK, with 18 devices per 100,000, followed by the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber with 24 and 26 devices per 100,000 respectively.

All regions across the UK saw an increase in total charging devices between 1 October 2021 and 1 January 2022. London had the greatest increase at 16.4%, whilst Northern Ireland and the North West had the smallest increases at 3.9% and 4.6% respectively. London also had the greatest increase in absolute number of devices at 1,292 devices, contributing to more than half of the increase in devices across the UK.

Source: Department for Transport

Did you know Otto Car has the largest charging network in London?
Learn more

• On 23 January, Comedian Mike Wozniak is performing at the Up the Creek Comedy Club in Greenwich.
• Until 23 January, the 100 Club on Oxford Street will be hosting the January Blues Festival with live music events.
• On 22 January, Wayne Snow is performing at the Jazz Cafe in Camden.
• On 21 January, Boney M are performing at the Boisdale Club in Canary Wharf.
• On 15 January, Session Victim is performing at the Jazz Cafe in Camden.

• Tube Strike: Strike action could affect Night Tube services on the Central and Victoria line every Friday and Saturday night, during 20:30-04:29, until 19 June 2022.
• Bexley/Greenwich: There’ll be a series of overnight directional closures of the A2 between Dartford Heath, junction with the M25 and Blackwall, junction with the A207. Work will take place between 10pm-5am, Mondays to Fridays only until 5 February.
• Westminster Bridge: It will be restricted to one lane in each direction for all traffic until late January.
• Hammersmith Gyratory: Planned road works will take place on Hammersmith Gyratory until 1 April.
• A40 Westway: There will be a series of overnight lane closures and weekend directional closures on the A40 Westway until summer.
• Woolwich Ferry: There is no service on the Woolwich Ferry. Use alternative river crossings at Dartford, Blackwall and Rotherhithe.
• Lewisham Market: Access to the service roads for Lewisham Market are for permit holders only and strict enforcement via camera will soon commence resulting in the issue of PCNs.

• Shell has converted its fuel station in Fulham into an EV charging hub, replacing the fuel pumps with 175kW ultra-rapid chargers.
• Electric vehicle chargers will be a mandatory feature of new homes and buildings in England from 2022.

Did you know Otto Car has the largest charging network in London?
Learn more

• Fines for drivers who break rules along London’s red routes will increase to £160 from 17 January.
• Congestion Charge will operate during 7am-6pm on weekdays and 12pm-6pm on weekends from 21 February.
• Drivers are banned from using mobile phones to take photos or videos in addition to making a call or sending a text while driving from 2022.

• Heathrow Airport Drop-off Charge: A £5 charge now applies to vehicles dropping off passengers at the designated drop-off zones located directly outside the terminals. It is operated via ANPR and there are no barriers. You’ll be given an £80 PCN if you fail to pay.
• Tower Bridge: There are automatic speed cameras installed on both sides, and the speed limit over the bridge is 20mph.

What are the top PCN hotspots in London for Uber drivers? Learn more