Since 2011 all new cars in the UK are legally required to have ‘daytime running lights’, or DRLs, that come on automatically when the engine is started. These low-wattage lamps are designed to increase visibility and reduce vehicle accidents during the day but in many cases the DRL system does not automatically illuminate rear lights. If you’re relying on DRLs on winter roads with poor … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 November
Chinese car makers have Europe in their sights with highly specified, lower priced cars which come with the highest safety ratings as well such as the NIO ET7. Matthew Avery, director at Thatcham Research, a British car research centre funded by insurers and a Euro NCAP board member said the latest testing regimes had given top awards to a handful of Chinese makers looking to enter Europe … [Read more...]
Shocking car thieves considered by drivers
Nearly a third (31%) of drivers would challenge a thief trying to steal their car - men 41% and women 22% and rising to 35% of over 55s, compared to 26% of under 54s. More than one in ten (11%) would also like to take drastic action to protect their car, e.g., putting an electric shock device on the car door to stop thieves men 14% and women 8%. The Opinium survey of 2,000 UK drivers by … [Read more...]
Net Zero Mobility Wales manager appointed
Dana Williams CEng (IMechE), is the Welsh Automotive Forum's new Project and Operations Manager, responsible for Member liaison and also the delivery of our Net Zero Mobility Wales project. With a 22-year career in the automotive and aerospace industry, she started as a graduate at Ford Motor Company (Bridgend), within Manufacturing Engineering, after which she spent 4 years at BAE Systems … [Read more...]
Stolen to order for just a few pounds
Reasearch for Direct Line Motor Insurance reveals thieves typically secure at most five per cent of the value of a stolen car, despite the huge distress this crime causes for the vehicle owner, though it is often just 1.25 per cent. Interviews with car thieves reveal £2,000 is a typical value for a popular performance car such as an Audi S3, or a similar Mercedes and BMW model, that is valued at … [Read more...]
Councils cutting corners on carriageway care, reports RAC
Six-in-10 drivers (60%) believe the condition of local roads they use regularly is worse than a year ago, with a similar proportion (55%) complaining the standard of pothole repairs is – at best – ‘poor’, new RAC data* has found. What’s more, only 4% think the state of the local roads in their area has improved in the past 12 months, down from 6% for the last two years. The research conducted for … [Read more...]
Menai Bridge defects seen in 1990s
Defects which led to the closure of the Menai Bridge last month were identified nearly 30 years ago but not remedied. Commenting on the defect which led to the closure of the Menai Bridge in October was first identified in the 1990s, and will not be partly reopened until next year at the earlierst, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS said, “This is an absolute … [Read more...]
Young are misguided about autonomous cars
Thatcham Research is launching findings from its Trust in Automation consumer study which has revealed that just over half of UK drivers think that they can buy a fully autonomous car today. This is despite the fact that only Assisted Driving systems, which require driver support, are currently available in the UK. “Realising the government’s stated safety ambition for Automated … [Read more...]
Row erupts over Welsh Government 20mph limit in 2023
A new 20mph default speed limit in communities across Wales could save £100m as deaths and injuries are reduced, according to new research, but it will cost £4.5Billion to implement. New research showing a reduction in deaths and injuries as traffic slows down is being published yesterday longside new survey results showing continued public support for the national roll out of the lower … [Read more...]
Community ev charging scheme plugs into Zap-Map
JustCharge, the community electric vehicle (EV) charging network from JustPark, has gone live with a brand new partnership with leading charge point mapping service Zap-Map. The partnership offers Zap-Map users the ability to find and book JustCharge chargers directly through the Zap-Map app. The partnership goes live as new data from Zap-Map’s annual survey of more than 4,300 EV drivers has … [Read more...]