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...
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....
Tips for Travelling with pets
We have some tips for travelling with our furry friends writes Geraldine Herbert For the safety of people and pets, animals should be restrained in the car. Never let a pet travel in the front because it could be seriously injured or killed, just as a small child could be if an airbag deploys. Also, it is never a good idea to put a pet in the boot. They deserve your attention and who knows what they could get up to? Tips for...
New regulations for e-scooters and e-bikes are on the way
The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 has finally been signed into law so what are the implications for e-scooters and e-bikes writes Geraldine Herbert What is the current situation with e-scooters? Despite the growing popularity of E-scooters they are currently illegal on Irish roads and this is due to the fact that they are classified in law as mechanically propelled vehicle or MPVs. In order for an MPV to be used legally on our...
Six of the most spectacular landscapes you will ever drive through
From twisting coastal routes to rugged mountains and scenic fjords, here are six of the best driving routes around the world for epic landscapes and ocean views writes Geraldine Herbert IRELAND – THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY Stretching from the northern Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to the southern town of Kinsale in County Cork, the Wild Atlantic way is the longest defined coastal route in the world. The twisting coastal...