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...]
Education
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...]
Newslines 25 August
Witter towbars of Deeside is making 90 people redundant. UNITE said it was talking to the company, which hopes to keep 60 other workers on its books but is considering manufacturing abroad. Vauxhall has taken 20,000 used models under its scrappage scheme relaunched in May after spells over the last two years. Unlike other schemes, the Vauxhall recyclers will identify potential classic … [Read more...]
Ford offer selective scrappage scheme
Ford is the latest manufacturer to offer an incentive of up to £2,000 off list prices of certain models until the end of the year in a scrappage scheme aimed at cars and vans over seven years old. It covers both petrol and diesel models from 2010 or earlier, and the move is being seen as an attempt to clean up emissions while also boosting sales of new models after a steep decline since spring. … [Read more...]
Piston engines’ future narrows
In recent months Britain, France and India all have announced plans to gradually phase out gasoline- and diesel-powered engines, and other countries are heading in the same direction. The moves, which aim to curb air pollution and tailpipe emissions linked to global climate change, seem to signal a death knell for internal combustion engines (ICEs). But the process will take time—India’s … [Read more...]
Newslines 21 August
The UK’s biggest independent road safety charity IAM RoadSmart maintains that we will not gain the full safety benefits of self-driving cars until every car on the road is connected to each other – a statement that has now been backed up by a white paper produced by experts at the University of Michigan. Until then, IAM RoadSmart believes that the human mind holds the edge, until such point … [Read more...]
Successful students face learning to drive test
While learning to drive is an exciting rite of passage for many teenagers, it’s often an equally fraught time for their parents. And with only 13% of parents convinced they themselves could pass the current driving test without lessons, it’s easy to see why they’ve transferred their fears to their nearest and dearest. The research from AA Cars, which asked parents how they feel about their … [Read more...]
Admiral Insurance shield members with Autoglass
Autoglass will provide emergency replacement services for Admiral’s private customers for the next five years. The repairer will also calibrate ADAS sensors in vehicle’s requiring this service across its fixed locations and as part of its mobile offering. Neil Atherton, Sales and Marketing Director at Autoglass said, “We are thrilled to be working even more closely with … [Read more...]
Dashboard dilemma of drivers puts them in danger
Millions of Brits are driving without any knowledge of the symbols on the dashboard. A study of 2,000 drivers shows nine in 10 have had a symbol pop up on the dashboard which they haven’t recognised. One in three cannot recognise which symbol is the headlamp indicator, while 27 per cent can’t identify the ‘check engine’ sign and when people do understand what the warning them, very few know … [Read more...]
Newslines 15 August
Posting selfies behind the wheel, horn-happy drivers and litterbugs have been voted by Brits as the top modern day driving irritations, in a Kwik Fit poll. Over half (57%) of Brits surveyed said that being tailgated by other road users is the biggest driving annoyance, whilst aggressive driving (55%) and failing to indicate (53%) also grinds their gears while digital devices continue to … [Read more...]