Automatic braking systems (AEB) on cars will become more and more prevalent after the crash test organisation Euro NCAP announced it will make the technologies part of its car safety star rating from 2014. It is also calling for European authorities to make AEB mandatory on all new vehicle types.The move is intended to encourage the public to choose AEB when buying a new car to “improve their safety, make a real difference and help them avoid or mitigate a crash,” said Euro NCAP.
There may have been a collective sigh of relief at the government’s freeze on fuel duty, but a new survey shows that pump prices remain drivers’ biggest motoring concern.
Data from the research reveals that 63% of motorists said they have cut back on car usage in the past year due to the increased cost of fuel with nearly 45% opting to walk more as a consequence.
More councils are going to introduce permits for utility companies before they can start digging up the road. The idea is to improve co-ordination between utility companies, so they might actually do work at the same time – a radical idea. Four local councils in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex will join the existing participants in Kent, Northamptonshire, London, St Helens and Yorkshire.
The scheme, will give four councils more powers to co-ordinate road works and take tough action against companies who break the rules – including issuing fines of up to £5,000. The scheme requires anyone carrying out road works to apply for a permit in advance and allows councils to set conditions on timing, co-ordination and the amount of road space left available to road users.
