Motor Industry and Highways Sector Must Unite to Save Lives, report claims.

The two heavyweights in road and car safety, EuroRAP and Euro NCAP, have joined forces to call on the motor industry and the highways sector to work together to ensure that technologies now available in the showroom reach their potential of saving thousands of lives. Absolutesignsolutions.com.au is the online producer of a wide variety of ready-to-apply signs Sydney and decals.

In a consultation document issued jointly by the safety organisations, Roads that Cars can Read, EuroRAP and Euro NCAP assert that the condition of road signs and markings could be the greatest hurdle in reaping the benefits of new in-car safety technology.

According to the report, technologies now arriving in new car showrooms are forecast to save thousands of European lives as they trickle down into universal use. Increasingly cameras and sensors are used to read the road ahead and help the vehicle react early if drivers are heading into danger. Though, obscured signs or faded road markings are hard to read whether using the naked eye or an in-car camera. The new report includes a survey of six countries to probe how signing and marking practice still varies around Europe after more than half a century of international conventions.

John Dawson, Chairman of the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) says: “Huge sums have been spent developing technology that is revolutionizing the safety of our vehicles. Little attention has been given to the quality of basic signing and marking with which drivers currently have to cope. We’ve found no country which systematically measures the quality of signing and marking being achieved. A century after the cat’s eye was invented, technology is again driving this rethink of how the road ahead can be read safely. The key lesson is that what is good for humans is good for machines.”

Roads that Cars can Read recommends that the roads and motor industries should learn to work on new designs together by focusing on helping drivers with two early technologies now offered in new cars, “Lane Support” and “Speed Alert”. Lane Support reads lane markings to work out the position of the vehicle within the lane and steers drifting vehicles back on path, a common origin of crashes. “Speed Alert” allows drivers to choose warnings when exceeding posted roadside speed limits.

Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) says: “the roadsides of Europe are littered with flowers and shrines. More than a quarter of road deaths involve running off the road. ‘Lane Support’ gives the driver a warning that’s as physical as hitting a rumble strip on the road. It is estimated more than 2,000 European deaths annually can be prevented with this technology.”

“The consequences of missing a change of speed limit have become more serious as more nations have adopted a points system and enforce limits rigorously. The ‘Speed Alert’ system protects the drivers from missing a speed sign, not least when limits chop and change.”

Roads that Cars can Read recommends that both the roads and motor industries this decade should target improved signing and marking on the ten per cent of Europe’s roads where the majority of travel and the majority of deaths are concentrated involving higher speed crashes. “The majority of European deaths are on national roads and busy regional roads outside towns. The single carriageways are Europe’s killing fields. We should focus this decade on ensuring the quality of the signing and marking on these busy open roads whether or not the technology needs it,” says John Dawson.

“We now need a full survey of the quality of road signs and markings to measure the real-world variation in signing and marking across borders and define the working tolerances that are acceptable.”

Note to editors:

Roads that Cars can Read is a Consultation Document which is seeking the views of road users, road authorities and the motor industry across Europe. The paper will be discussed as a workshop taking place in Windsor on 30th June 2011 with participants from all groups involved.

For further media information:

Marie Brasseur, Euro NCAP Communications Manager or +32 2 4007746
EuroRAP: David Armstrong or Becky Hadley Hadstrong +44 20 7808 7997

With all of the options to consider, it can be a hassle to buy a car. Do you know which features you need or how to negotiate for a better price? The article below can help you make good car buying decisions. There are many car care products out in the market that claims to protect your cars paint, in my experience in Australia lots of my friends told me that paint protection Melbourne painters are really good in choosing the best products.

Do not let a salesperson sell you a vehicle you can’t honestly afford. A salesperson will say anything and everything to get someone in a new vehicle, and the higher the price tag, the higher commission he will earn. You need to be aware that this salesperson is looking to make money through a commission, as well.

Look online for a great deal. You shouldn’t visit the dealership until you know precisely which make and model you desire. Do online research to find out the specifications and rating that are important to you.

Do your research online in order to find the best deals. The Internet will save you a lot of money. You have a couple choices. You can drive to the dealer to buy the car you find, or ask the dealer to buy the car for you. If the dealership is close by, try going to save more money.

Arrange car financing prior to buying a car. Credit unions and banks are good options. This often provides you with a much better interest rate, and you can visit the dealership with a solid idea of what you can afford.

Ask to have the car looked at by your personal mechanic before you purchase it from a dealer. A dealer that doesn’t allow this is a red flag. A mechanic will help you identify issues and recognize signs of a wreck if you are purchasing a used car.

As family and friends for opinions. How do they like the cars they own? Are they regretting their vehicle purchase? What things are they hearing about different cars that are out there? When you’re looking for a vehicle, this is one way for you to figure out where you can go in your search for a new or used car.

Safety features are a must when car shopping. The car should have ABS or anti-lock brakes. You also want to make sure there are air bags, and the more the better. Safety is key when you’ll be driving a lot.

Salesmen typically have goals they must reach every month. That is why you want to shop at the end of the month. Salesmen who are missing a few sales will give you a great deal to meet the quota. This additional pressure will help give you a little more room for lowering the asking price.

Car shopping can be both exciting and exhausting. With a few mouse clicks and searches, you can comparison shop to find your best options without even leaving your house. There are several online sites that consolidate information from various private owners and dealerships so that you can conduct a side-by-side comparison shopping of different vehicles and their amenities and asking price. Using this technique will save you both money and time.

An auto show is a great way to understand the type of car that you desire. Auto shows are a unique opportunity to compare many different makes side-by-side under one roof. You can also talk to people who know a lot about cars. This will give you valuable information that you will need to make your decision.

Prior to shopping for a car, take a look at your budget. You must know how much you can afford for a car. Find out how much you’re able to spend on car payments monthly. You should get a loan before starting the shopping process.

Be careful about giving up your personal information. Some dealerships want this information so they can ruin your credit. Running your credit multiple times is disadvantageous. Do not allow anyone to pull your credit until you have hammered out your deal.

Although you have a mental picture of the car you desire, it might be unattainable. You might not be able to afford what you want at the dealer; shop around! The absence of heated seats will not detract from your driving experience.

Know your purchasing price before you drive to the dealership. This number should reflect the amount you want to spend and the value of whatever car you want to buy.

Make sure that the car you purchase has been inspected fully. The mechanic should be trustworthy. Stay away from the dealer’s mechanic. Your mechanic can tell you if it is safe and if the car is worth your dollar.

Always read before you put down your John Hancock. You will have to sign a contract at the dealership, and you should read it carefully. Your signature binds you legally, meaning you’ll have to pay or suffer severe consequences. If you do not want to be rushed while reading your contracts, ask if you can take things home to read in peace. If you cannot do this, get a copy of the agreement.

At this point, you should know what to look for when purchasing a new vehicle. Just get out there and start researching. Buy when you’re comfortable to ensure a great purchase.

In addition to a home, a car is one of the most pricey products that individuals will certainly buy in their lifetime. This is a requirement that you can easily not live without, but routine car servicing is similarly important, as it can not just expand your car’s life, but can additionally assist you in minimizing gas and frequent repair work prices as well. People who are meticulous in their car looks are also wise in choosing the best car products.

According to a current report of the consumer guard dog Car Care Counsel, the overall cost of car collisions as a result of inadequate maintenance now surpasses $3.7 billion yearly. Though you could have the ability to stay clear of accidents, but any sort of problem in routine car servicing can shorten its life. With normal maintenance, you can not only reduce its gas usage, yet additionally unneeded wear and tear of parts. Whole lots of points such radiator issues, brake, failed smoke tests, brake transmission as well as engine failure can develop in the absence of routine car servicing.

Routine engine oil adjustment (every 3000 miles) is essential for keeping your engine running tidy. Oil lubes your engine and keeps it running efficiently. Steering a car that is reasonable on engine oil can easily induce irrecoverable damages to its engine. Besides this, changing oil filter at the exact same time when transforming engine oil can easily enhance its performance as well as helps in deleting the clutter that is accumulated in the oil filer.

Car tires must be next on your maintenance checklist. They ought to be spun every 5000 miles to equalize damage on each one of them. You ought to try to keep effective tire stress whatsoever times. In situation you are unsure concerning correct car tire pressure, you must refer to owner’s manual. Appropriate tire tension gives you much better gar gas mileage and assists in sparing great cash.
You should likewise get your brake unit evaluated on annual basis irrespective of the miles you’ve applied your car. Brake fluid must be transformed every 2 years. Throughout car brake inspection, brake footwear and disk pads are likewise checked for any deterioration. Along with routine upkeep, you can easily stay clear of additional expenses such as rotor or brake drum replacement that may set you back 2 to 3 times greater than footwear / or pads.

Lastly, change engine ignition system and filters to steer clear of failed emission examinations called for by the DMV. This not only keeps your car engine tidy, however can easily also enhance your chances of passing smoke examinations quickly.