A new analysis attacks the “whole life” costs of diesel cars. Transport and Environment has been looking at the well to wheel impact of diesel versus petrol and concludes it is far more polluting than many realise, apart from the exhaust emissions now in the headlines. While used diesel cars are collapsing in value and manufacturers are racing to replace diesel with more petrol models in … [Read more...]
Education
Back to school lessons for parents
With the majority of schools going back last week, AXA Insurance says one in four parents were involved in a car accident whilst taking their children to school during the last academic year. Nine per cent claimed that they had been in a somewhat major accident, whilst another eight per cent said their accident was ‘severe’. Eighteen per cent also said that whilst they had not been involved in … [Read more...]
Milestone reached on the road to a safer world
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...]
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...]