Future safety developments put a new onus on car makers to be clear about their systems and what they can and cannot do before a driver must take over. Since its establishment in 1997, Euro NCAP has been the catalyst for significant and sustained advances in automotive safety. It's independent crash tests and continuously evolving assessment protocols have given consumers the … [Read more...]
Education
Ignorance is hit and miss
A study by The Motor Ombudsman, the automotive dispute resolution provider, has found 54% of respondents had very limited or no knowledge at all when choosing which garage to buy their first car from. Similarly, 53% didn’t know where to get their vehicle serviced when they first started driving. The handy one-stop point of reference, which can now be downloaded from TheMotorOmbudsman.org, … [Read more...]
Growing responsibility of drivers’ employers
With the introduction in recent years of roadside drug testing, and the surge in drug-related accidents at work, employers are coming under increasing pressure to ensure their staff are fit to work, and that health and safety aren’t compromised as a result of an individual being impaired. According to a survey carried out in 2015 on employees from a range of sectors, nearly a third of them … [Read more...]
Free check helps avoid buying poorly maintained car
Almost half of all car buyers are completely unaware of a completely free of charge service that could save them hundreds of pounds in repairs when they buy a used car. Researchers from car buying website www.carbuyer.co.uk learned that 47% of drivers were unaware of the government’s free-to-use MoT history checking service (https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/), which indicates how a car has … [Read more...]
Welsh pupils treated to Aston Martin experience
Aspiring engineers have been given a chance to witness what life is like working for one of the most prestigious companies in the automotive world, Aston Martin. Since the end of June, TRJ was appointed by Aston Martin Lagonda to assist in the conversion of the Superhanger at the Aerospace Business Park in St Athan and has been closely working with local schools. Pupils were able to join … [Read more...]
Tougher tests begin for car emissions
More stringent “real world” emissions tests come into force today. The new laboratory test, called Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure, will introduce much more realistic testing conditions for measuring pollutant and CO2 emissions than the previous, out-dated lab test. The WLTP will provide a more accurate basis for measuring a vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions said … [Read more...]
Newslines 1 September
Aston Martin St Athan plant will play a key role in the company’s £500M business deal with Japan over the next few years, said president and chief executive Andy Palmer. He was speaking during a British trade mission to the Far East and outlined the new models being made in Wales and its Gaydon HQs in future years. Parents at an Anglesey school have called for more flexibility over increases … [Read more...]
Uninsured vehicles rising after years of decline
More vehicles are being driven without insurance and having accidents. Approximately 58,000 were crushed last year - a rate of more than 1,000 a week. The Motor Insurer's Bureau, is looking at why they have increased in the year to July by almost 10% to about 12,000 after declining since 2004. MIB expects to pay out £256m from a fund provided by insurers at a cost of £15 to each motor … [Read more...]
Driverless cars benefits “blind” to motorists
Drivers fail to see that automated and driverless vehicles will deliver promised benefits according to a study. When asked about what benefits will be delivered, the second most popular response was ‘none’ as more than a third of respondents could not identify any advantage that would follow future advances. In identifying their feelings about automotive technology the top six issues were … [Read more...]
Convoys carry safety concerns, says IAM RoadSmart
Self-driving lorry convoys of close running HGVs need very careful planning, said road safety body IAM RoadSmart. Britain’s biggest independent road safety charity is advising there must be more reassurances on issues such as cyber attacks as well as basic road safety needs such as telling other drivers which trucks are in the platoon. The trial announced by the Department of Transport is … [Read more...]