What is driver distraction and how serious an issue is it?
Is it time to put the brakes on in-car entertainment systems asks Geraldine Herbert How significant a factor is driver distraction to road collisions? Every year, almost 25,000 people lose their lives on European roads and more than 135,000 are seriously injured. It is estimated that driver distraction is likely to be a factor in 10% to 30% of all road collisions. Drivers who text are twice as likely to crash as those who have been...
How to declutter your car
Is your car disappearing under the weight of all the family clutter? Use our easy hacks to clear and organise writes Geraldine Herbert Is car clutter driving you round the bend? Steer things around and get on the road to lasting cleanliness with our tips and tricks. Here’s where to start: Clean First job, clear out all rubbish. Start from the front and work your way to the back, including under the seats. Organise items...
Tips for driving in the countryside
Too Many of us drive too fast on country roads, oblivious to what could be lying just around the corner writes Geraldine Herbert Slow down and expect the unexpected. You never know when you go round a bend what you might encounter from a cyclist to a broken down vehicle. Tractors & Farm Vehicles When overtaking, leave nothing to chance, take your time and be safe. Don’t start your manoeuvre until you know exactly how you...
The eight most important questions to ask when buying a used car
Sellers have a legal responsibility to give you accurate and truthful answers so ensure you ask the right questions writes Geraldine Herbert When buying from a private seller you do not have the same consumer rights as you do when buying a car from a dealership, it is very much a case of ‘buyer beware. However, it is an offence for a seller to withhold or provide misleading information about the car so with this in mind there are...
Interview with Astrid Linder, creator of the first female dummy
Swedish researcher Astrid Linder, creator of the first female crash test dummy, receives the WOW (Woman of Worth) award by Women’s World Car of the Year award Road safety researcher Astrid Linder works at VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute. Linder has received the WOW (Woman of Worth) award from Mia Liström, one of the judges of the Women’s World Car of the Year in Sweden. The award was given...
Ten things to know about the iconic Rosemary Smith
As Rosemary Smith joins the global motoring hall of fame here are ten things to know about this Irish rally legend writes Geraldine Herbert Rosemary was born in Dublin in 1937, the youngest of three children. She was smart but hated her strict convent-school education. Her father John Smith, an amateur racer himself, taught Rosemary to drive when she was only 11 and at 16 she secured a driving licence by pretending to be a year older....