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I can’t believe I’m writing this piece but I felt it should be included. It’s to do with pregnant women and the wearing of seat belts. Volvo, who is the only car manufacturer to have a pregnant test dummy (look – leave it – I’m just reporting it OK) called Linda, it’s true, the bloody dummy is called Linda – good grief. Anyway, Volvo, on a very serious point says ‘car safety for unborn children is rarely documented as foetal injury and deaths often do not show in statistics.’ As a result of extensive tests with Linda they have found Read more »

As any of you that have become readers of my weekly ramblings would know I am a great supporter of the safety system ESP developed by Bosch. I believe that it should be fitted in all new cars as it is relatively cheap and would save more lives than ABS. Well, the good news is that Bosch have started work on a new version that will hopefully move them closer to having the system fitted in all cars. The new version integrates sensors for Read more »

When it comes to fuel saving the RAC Foundation has pitched in asking commuters to car share. It said that 25 million people commute daily to a fixed place of work, 71% of whom use a car (bloody big car that’s all I can say – the old ones are always the best). “Car sharing has the potential to reduce the financial, environmental and congestion costs associated with some of these 18 million work-related journeys” it said. Look, I know that’s pretty obvious but it’s not me who’s treating you like a moron – I’m just reporting what they said! Good grief!

There has been a great deal of talk recently about extending the use of tachographs to all vehicles used for business as it seems unfair that the driver of a commercial vehicle is covered by European driving hours directives whilst sales people and service engineers driving small vans or cars aren’t but are just as likely to fall asleep at the wheel. However, many are not aware that the law already applies if the car, or 4×4, plus trailer plated gross weight exceeds 3.5tonnes. If this is the case the vehicle should be fitted with a tacho and drivers Read more »

With fuel prices constantly hitting record highs Peter Hollinshead, head of vehicle finance at HSBC Bank, has provided the following advice to motorists and companies in order to try to contain the soaring fuel costs.

•  Is the journey necessary? It could be that meetings can be carried out via video conferencing or webinar – a web based seminar or presentation.
• If the journey is unavoidable work out the shortest route to the destination before leaving. Read more »

Do you suffer with hay fever? Are you taking anything? If you take antihistamines in order to relieve the symptoms of hay fever they can cause drowsiness which can increase the risk of an accident. Not only that if you take any drugs at all, prescription or non prescription that can make you unfit to drive the penalties are the same as drink driving. You don’t have to be snorting crack cocaine to be considered to be driving under the influence of drugs it can simply be something that relieves pain! Be careful and don’t lose your licence – or your life!

A subject dear to my heart is the way that this Government taxes larger cars as a means to reduce the carbon emissions with no consideration given to the mileage that these cars are covering. A 25,000 mile a year repmobile is much worse for the environment than a 10,000 mile a year big 4 wheel drive jobee. But my belief that companies should make greater use of communications technology has been supported by the RAC who Read more »

If you are a regular reader of my newsletter you will know how I love the way the press and various bodies roll out statistics that are totally meaningless but are meant to enlighten us drivers – well I have a great set of stats this week which may well change your mind over the colour of the next car you will drive. Apparently white cars are more likely to be stolen than any other colour according to someone who has access to the police national computer and far too much time on mis hands! And even better, Read more »

This piece of research is aimed at one of my customers in particular – you know who you are! Swansea Metropolitan University found that a windscreen chip had an 80% chance of developing into a crack, requiring the whole windscreen to be replaced, if not treated immediately and repaired. Get that windscreen repaired!

The Association Of Chief Police Officers are pushing to have the drink drive limit reduced from 80 milligrams to 50 milligrams in order to bring it into line with most of Europe. They admitted that the message seemed to have been received by young drivers but that it was now time to refresh that message. Another factor is that many British travellers to Europe are not aware of the differences in drink driving levels and with the possibility of drivers losing their licences in the UK as a result of drink driving in the EC drivers should become accustomed to drinking less if they are to drive abroad.