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Articles Matching “Safety”

• Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid Experimental Safety Vehicle

  Banovsky on July 13, 2009

  Readers: take a long, hard look at this car, because it's the future of motoring. With a hybrid powertrain and safety gizmos like — get this — airbags in the seatbelts (!), Mercedes-Benz has pulled out all the stops for this experimental safety concept.

  

  Pay no attention to all the decals and rice-boy rims…

  Because the release is incredibly long and dry, here are the main features of this concept:

  • PRE-SAFE Structure: Inflatable metal structures save weight and increase the stability of structural components. When at rest, the metal section is in a folded state to save space. If its protective effect is required, a gas generator builds up an internal pressure of 10 to 20 bar within fractions of a second, causing the sec-tion to unfold for significantly more stability.
  • Braking Bag: This auxiliary brake accommodated in the vehicle floor is a new type of PRE-SAFE® component. If the sensor system concludes that an impact is unavoidable, the Braking Bag is deployed shortly before the crash and stabilises the car on the road surface by means of a friction coating. The vehicle's vertical acceleration increases the friction, and helps to decelerate the vehicle before the impact occurs.
  • Interactive Vehicle Communication: The ESF 2009 is able to communicate di-rectly with other vehicles, or via relay stations. Using "ad hoc" networks and WLAN radio technology, it is e.g. able to receive and transmit warnings of bad weather or obstacles in the road.
  • PRE-SAFE Pulse: This further development of PRE-SAFE® is able to reduce the forces acting on the torsos of the occupants during a lateral collision by around one third. It does this by moving them towards the centre of the vehicle by up to 50 millimetres as a precautionary measure. As an active re-straint system, it uses the air chambers in the side bolsters of the seat backrests.
  • Spotlight lighting function: This partial LED main beam specifically illuminates potential hazards. If the infrared camera of Night View Assist PLUS e.g. detects deer at the roadside or pedestrians on the road, these can be briefly il-luminated beyond the normal area covered by the main beams, as if by a spot-light.

  Read on for photos and videos of this very safe Merc in action

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Future, Green, Mileage, News, WTF, Europe, Sedan, Concept, Misc, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Safety, Hybrid, Car seat, 2009

• Designated driver companies could be forced off the road

  AshleyW on July 9, 2009

  It is estimated in the United States that every forty minutes a person is killed by a drunk driver. In Canada, it has been estimated that in 2006, 1,278 people were killed because of impaired driving.

  Three designated driving companies in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada have come together to oppose a city bylaw that could cripple their business. DD4U, Keys To Us, and Home Safe Designated Driving Services could be forced to pay for new licensing and insurance that is estimated to cost each driver over $1,000.

  Just how will these Canadian do-gooders get out of this mess?

  Read on…

  [Via Newsdurhamregion.com]

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under drivers, driving, News, Safety, drivers, designated driver, impaired driving

• News: Right to repair bill could become law in Canada

  AshleyW on July 2, 2009

  Bill C-273 may force car manufacturers to share information regarding repairs for vehicles.

  The bill is named C-273 or "the right to repair bill", and it is in the process of debate among government officials in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as to whether or not manufacturers must share information regarding repairs of vehicles with computer software. Repair shops for some time haven't been able to access the necessary computer codes for certain repairs as manufacturers have kept these codes to themselves.

  This proposed bill would actually save consumers money by allowing them to go to any repair shop to have their car serviced as opposed to the dealership where they purchased the car in the first place.

  The bill has been opposed by manufacturers and car dealers but has been endorsed by CAA, Pollution Probe, Automotive Industries Association, Canadian Association of Retired Persons, and The Retail Council. It may take another nine to twelve months before it becomes law as it will be going through a third reading in parliament.

  Read More:

  • Cash for Clunkers Questions Answered
  • vLane Car Care Workshop Series
  • Mandatory Tire Pressure Testing in California from 2010

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under drivers, News, Technology, Safety, Maintenance, Autoshop, drivers, law, law, repair, government, right to repair, manufacturers, repair, Canada

• Take your driver's test…again

  Banovsky on June 18, 2009

  Ok, so this doesn't sound like such a great idea, but stay with me here.

  

  For the fifth year in a row, GMAC Insurance set out to gauge the knowledge of the American driving public in the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test, where 5,183 respondents were administered actual questions taken from DMV tests. And it's clear Americans need a refresher course - nearly 41 million licensed drivers would fail if retested today.

  I took the test and scored a perfect 100 per cent, but don't fret if you can't match up. The site allows you to challenge your Facebook friends to the test, too.

  What are you waiting for? Take the test!

  Read full article | Comments (2) | Filed under drivers, Link, Safety, drivers, insurance

• The Future of GM Part 1: 2010 Buick LaCrosse

  AshleyW on June 17, 2009

  In this five-part series, we'll take a look at some of the most exciting products that GM has in the pipeline. It's not a commercial, either: with 60.8 per cent of the company now owned by the US taxpayers — and 11.7 per cent by Canadian taxpayers — it's a good time to look at how well our investments are holding up.

  

  The new LaCrosse is leagues ahead of the current model.

  The 2010 Buick LaCrosse uses the same platform as the Opel Insignia from the European Division of GM, a popular vehicle in Europe that was given the honour of European Car of the Year, 2009, and Top Gear's Executive Car of the Year, 2008. Wise decision, I think, to share the award-winning platform with its American cousin.

  Read on for more analysis and photos…

  Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under GM, General Motors, Luxury, News, Feature, Safety, design, Allure, Insignia, Opel

• Residents challenge city on potholes and win

  AshleyW on June 12, 2009

  Taking it to the streets literally, residents of a small town in New Brunswick, Canadam come together to fill bothersome potholes.

  So what would you do if your city council was slow to move on fixing potholes that were damaging your car? Fix them yourself. That is precisely what a group of men in Saint-Paul, New Brunswick attempted to do, but once word spread about their task to the Department of Transportation and that media would be present, a crew was sent out to fix the road which a citizen counted had 71 potholes. They even planted a tree in one.

  The potholes were causing some of these citizens to have cracked windshields and busted tires. I think in this David and Goliath episode, David won.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under drivers, News, Humor, Safety, drivers, potholes, city council

• Teen drivers beware: Ford MyKey is in town

  AshleyW on June 10, 2009

  I think I can hear parents breathing a sigh of relief...if you drive a 2009 Ford Focus Coupe, that is. The new MyKey system will be introduced on that model to assist parents in controlling their teenagers driving habits and enforce safer driving.

  

  Click through for a video demonstration

  How the MyKey System works is that a parent can program any key with the vehicle messenger system to control audio volume, seat belt usage and speed of the vehicle when their teenager is driving.

  The key has a chip within it that updates the vehicles SecuriLock passive anti-theft system when the vehicle is turned on. The system will read the chip within the key and locate the MyKey code which will update the restrictions a parent has programmed.

  The car can be limited to a speed of 80 mph (128 kph), and the key can be programmed to chime at 45, 55 and 65 mph. We think the coolest is that a seat belt reminder will chime every minute for five minutes and the audio will remain at mute until the seat belt is put on. Other features are included.

  Ford is the first company to have a feature like this as a standard feature on their vehicles. Lincoln, Mercury and other Ford models will be equipped with this system in the near future.

  Click through for a video demonstration.

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under drivers, driving, speed, features, News, features, Technology, Ford, Ford, Safety, parents, drivers, teenagers

• Car care workshop part 6: Maintenance

  AshleyW on June 9, 2009

  This is the last part (1, 2, 3 4, and 5 here) to this informative workshop that I went to. I must say that the staff at this Speedy Auto Service have really set the bar for me in what I will look for in a mechanic and auto repair shop. Everyone was extremely welcoming and told all of us so much information that I know I will use.

  

  North American-made tires will have this stamp

  Most importantly, they emphasized and reminded us that as consumers it is our right to ask questions about any repair.

  I left that workshop with a wealth of information and I hope from what is written here, those who read this learn as much as I did. Thank you to the amazing staff: Marcella-Lynne Durant-Abraham, VP of operations, Carl Abraham, owner and operator, Abdul Sankar, mechanic, Vittorio Puzzo, mechanic, and Arman Abdollahian, apprentice, for providing women and men with the tools to understand the automotive repair environment.

  Here are some tips and helpful tools in car maintenance from Abraham.

  Read on…

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under News, Advice , Safety, tires, rims, maintenance, Autoshop, women, women, Speedy, repair, exhaust, batteries, women, repair, headlights

• The BMW drive experience

  AshleyW on June 5, 2009

  When I first pulled up to the area of Downsview Park in Toronto, Canada, where this event would take place I saw all these BMWs — and I had no idea what to expect. Would I get to drive each and every one of them? Luckily for me and the many other people who attended, we pretty much did.

  

  I really thought the Audi A4 would ace the track, and surprisingly, it didn't.

  We were given an introduction by Saladin Karl, senior event marketing specialist, Driver Training for BMW Canada. He has been with BMW for fourteen years, and with BMW Canada for the last two years. He pointed out to us that we would get to experience driving BMW sports sedans and BMW sports sedan powered by diesel. He also said we would get to drive and compare three other cars that are in direct competition with BMW, a Mercedes, Audi and Lexus. Next was a very informative presentation by Chief Driving Instructor Pierre Savoy. He has held this role for the last eight years and has been putting on driving events with BMW for the last 17 years.

  More…

  Read full article | Comments (0) | Filed under Lexus, driving, on ramp, interior, Audi, Feature, BMW, Diesel, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Convertible, Safety, lifestyle, Performance, design, interior, Z4, sports sedan

• Car care workshop part 5: Suspension and warning lights

  AshleyW on June 5, 2009

  In Part 5 (parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 here) of the Speedy Auto Service Women's Car Care Workshop we were told about the significance of the suspension, and a short overview on the instrument panel on a dashboard.

  

  A new strut (left) and a worn strut (right.)

  Suspension

  Shock absorber — These are used to absorb vibrations from the road and should be changed every 60-80,000 km. They work in and up and down motion to provide a smoother ride in your vehicle.

  Strut — A strut works the same as a shock absorber but the spring is longer. If you have weak suspension system contact is lost between the tire and the road. Mechanic Abdul Sankar said you need that contact, especially in the winter. With a weak suspension your tires will be bouncing on the road and the outside of the tire starts to wear rapidly. "The better the suspension the longer your tires will last," said Sankar.

  Continued…

  Read full article | Comments (1) | Filed under News, Feature, Advice , Safety, maintenance, Autoshop, speedy , suspension, instrumental panel, ball joint, shock absorber, emergency brake, SRS