‘Driver Information’ Archive

The Health & Safety Authority, together with AVIVA, has developed a new Roadsense Guide aimed at reducing the harm caused by vehicles at work, through better management of work practices by employers. The guide is a valuable resource to fleet operators who want to safeguard their employees and business. To view or download the guide, please click here.

THOUSANDS OF Irish tourists who will take their car with them to France this summer will face fines unless they are carrying a breathalyser with them in their vehicle.

A new law is coming into operation before the start of the summer which will make it obligatory for all drivers in France to have an alcohol breathalyser with them at all times. It is the latest part of a clampdown on road deaths and accidents by President Nicolas Sarkozy, who last week announced the latest in a series of hard-hitting road safety measures.

In recent years legislation has been introduced forcing drivers to have a hi-visibility jacket within reach, along with an accident warning triangle. From the end of spring, all drivers in France will also now be required to carry the personal alcohol testers in their vehicles.

The breathalysers will become available at reasonable prices throughout France – some for as little as €2 – but Irish motorists could have to fork out as much as €50 if they buy them here before departing for France.
However, an award-winning road safety officer has said that while the new French law has some merit, he did not see a need for it here. Noel Gibbons, road safety officer with Mayo County Council, said the French were trying to promote a message of zero alcohol for drivers. “The French plan is a good one ideally, but there is no requirement for it here at all. We already are preaching the message that there is no safe limit to drive with drink in your system, so what use would carrying a breathalyser do?” he asked. “We don’t want people to be taking a chance if they are close to the legal limit, putting people’s lives at risk.”

France is the world’s largest tourist market – 78.95 million tourists visited there in 2010 – and visitors will need to take care when bringing their own cars to the country. An estimated 765,000 Irish people travel to France from Ireland each year. Anyone bringing their own transport and found in breach of the new French law faces a €17 fine.

The operator of one of Ireland’s biggest specialists in French camping holidays, Pearse Keller of Keller Travel in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, says holidaymakers will have to be fully aware of the implications.

“I suppose it will be up to us as travel agents to make sure our customers are made aware of the new rules of the road in France. Just like drivers have to carry a high-visibility vest and an accident triangle, they will now have to carry the breathalyser,” Mr Keller said. “While it appears it will not be an expensive item, it is one more thing that holidaymakers have to be aware of before leaving,” he pointed out. “But in fairness to the French administrators, they have made a concerted effort to reduce their accidents on the road. Going back 10 or 12 years they had huge numbers of road deaths, but the hard work in that department should be applauded. Anything that makes it safer for our holidaymakers is a positive thing,” he continued.

President Sarkozy’s latest manoeuvres come on the back of his 2007 pledge to cut road deaths in the country to 3,000 in 2012. Last year the death toll on French roads dipped below 4,000 for the first time, but is still a long way off target.

JOHN FALLON, The Irish Times, 30th Jan 2012

The prices of petrol and diesel have surged upwards at the pumps again in the last month, according to the latest survey of retail prices from AA Ireland. A litre of petrol now costs 154.9 cent, up by a full 7 cent per litre since December. Diesel prices also rose sharply, up by 6.2 cent to an average of 153.1 cent in the last month.

That increase alone adds €10 per month to the cost of running a modest family car. The AA calculates that a car doing 12,000 miles per year at a fuel economy rate of 30 miles per gallon uses 150 litres of fuel per month. 7 cents per litre equates to just over €10 for petrol users and 6.2 cent per litre equates to €9.30 for diesel users.

“The bad news keeps coming and this is one of the biggest monthly rises in price that we have ever seen.” Says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. “These increases include the rise in VAT which came into force on 1st January, and indeed that is a key part of the story. Rising international prices are made much worse here in Ireland by this government’s decision to do exactly what the last government did – up the taxes.”
The VAT increase added approximately 2.4 cent per litre to the cost of both fuels. The rest of the increase is down to an increase in European prices.

“This is causing huge frustration right across Europe.” Says Faughnan. “It is down to a combination of a falling Euro and rises in the price of gasoline and diesel coming out of refineries. Unfortunately there is no sign of prices easing, and after a dreadful year in 2011 it appears that 2012 is starting off even worse.”
Rising fuel prices are now a serious threat to businesses and major drain on the disposable income of almost every family in the country.

“For the price to go up by €10 per car in just one month is a massive blow.” Says Faughnan. “But we should all remember that for the most part this has not happened because of international prices or because of the global financial situation. It has happened because our own government is doing it to us. Like its predecessor, the current government has made a serious mistake in thinking that it can raise revenue by continually raising prices. People simply do not have the money to spare. Force them to spend it on fuel and they cannot spend it elsewhere in the economy.”

“The cost of fuel has now reached crisis level. Even this early in the year, the government should look again at its budgeting and drop those super-taxes. As it stands nobody wins”.

While many motorists feel trapped by high prices the AA points out that you can fight back. By applying the fuel saving tips on the AA’s website you can reduce your fuel consumption significantly – enough to give yourself back that lost €10 and more.

Note: The AA’s Fuel Saving Tips.
• Buy fuel in units of litres, not euros. This makes it obvious where you get the best value
• Shop around: don’t always use the same garage out of habit
• Drive smoothly and slowly; a harsh driving style burns more fuel
• At this time of year the heaters are in constant use. This is hard to avoid but try to take it easy: Air conditioners can add up to 10% to fuel usage.
• Service the car if it needs it – it will certainly save you fuel. AA Members can have their car serviced on their own doorstep (or anywhere else) by its mobile Service Team.
• A simple tip: check that the tyres are properly inflated. Soft tyres add significantly to fuel consumption.

Full details of the AA fuel price survey for May along with previous months for comparison are available on the Association’s website at http://www.aaireland.ie/AA/Motoring-advice/Petrol-Prices.aspx.

16/01/2012, The AA

The AA, 14/12/2011

In the countdown to Christmas AA Motor Insurance is warning frazzled shoppers not to leave presents or other valuables in the main cabin of their car when dropping off items mid shopping spree. This advice while seasonal, is delivered against the backdrop of the AA’s latest Motor Insurance Poll where 12% of drivers surveyed said they habitually leave items on view in their car. A further 18% also stated they often leave valuables and important documentation in their glove compartments.

The nationally representative poll of 12,400 drivers also reveals that women are marginally more inclined to have a bit of visible clutter in their cars than men. 15% of women compared to 11% of men said they’ll routinely have items strewn about the interior of their cars.

Further analysis of the AA findings also highlights varying degrees of security consciousness in accordance with a driver’s county of residence. Drivers in Limerick (8.6%), Waterford (9.3%) and Dublin (9.9%) were identified as the least likely to have anything on view in their car while those in Leitrim (19.6%), Roscommon (19.5%) and Sligo (19.4%) were identified as most inclined to do so.

“Leaving a stash of brand new items complete with tags, receipts and in their original bags is nearly as careless as leaving a wad of cash on your back seat in plain view.” Remarks John Farrell, Director of AA Insurance. “The risks of a smash-and-grab break in are much higher around Christmas and by leaving a pile of easy to exchanges good on display, the unfortunate reality is that you’re singling out your own car as a target.”

AA Motor Insurance also highlights that the terms and conditions relating to the theft of personal belongings will vary from one motor insurance policy to the next. “In some cases your personal belonging will only be covered against theft if locked in the boot so all the more reason to get into good habits.” advises Farrell.
The AA Motor Insurance Poll which equally looked at a wider matrix of car security measures also identifies other areas where complacency has crept in among motorists.

22% of the drivers polled said they rarely bother to lock their car when paying for fuel, something the AA particularly urges lone female motorists to avoid doing. The AA Motor Insurance Poll again identifies quite an inter county variance in this regard. At the upper end of the scale, 34%, 31% and 31% of motorists in counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo respectively say they’re not inclined to lock up when slipping in to pay for fuel and use the shop. Inversely least likely to do so were drivers in Kerry, Offaly, Monaghan and Dublin yet again.

Tallying in with Dublin motorists more security conscious behaviours, Central Statistic Office figures for the third quarter of 2011 reveal that car related crimes were almost seven times higher in the Dublin Region Garda Division than in the Limerick Garda Division, the region second most afflicted by car theft and associated crimes.

The AA Motor Insurance Poll does however show that most motorists are clued in to the theft beacon that is their Sat Nav. Just 8% of Sat Nav owners polled said they’re in the habit of leaving their Sat Nav in place once they’ve parked up their vehicles.

Other anti vandalism and theft security practices queried during the AA poll included the use of steering wheel locks, security car clamps, car covers and the tucking in of wing mirrors and aerials when parking.
At 14%, Dublin drivers were identified as most likely to regularly use a steering wheel locking device while just 1.4% of Monaghan drivers said they use one.

TOP 10 SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN SNOW AND ICE from the Road Safety Authority

When temperatures dip below freezing driving conditions can become treacherous, the risk of ice or snow on the roads increases. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has, the following ‘Top 10 Safety Tips’ for motorists driving in snow and ice. They are:
1. Get a grip.
Remember your only contact with the road surface is your tyres so it’s vital that they are up to the task in icy and snowy conditions. Check tyres, including spare wheel, and replace them if the tread depth falls below 3mm. Check that tyres are inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Lack of grip can occur even on treated roads so drive slowly in the highest gear possible, manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking. Replace tyres if necessary.

2. Make sure you can see.
Clear your windows and mirrors before you set out, carry a screen scraper and de-icer. Do not use hot water on the windscreen as it can crack the glass. Replace windshield wiper blades if necessary. De-mist the inside of your windows thoroughly. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Remember too that heavy snowfall will reduce visibility! Watch out for grit/salt spreaders and snow ploughs. The glare from the sun can be dazzling in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, so wear sunglasses in these conditions.

3. Check & use your lights.
Use your dipped headlights so that others will see you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are all in working order, replace broken bulbs. Make sure lights are clear of snow.

4. Gently does it.
Manoeuvre gently, slow down and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Too much steering is bad and avoid harsh braking and acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends. Falling snow, fog, rain, or hail will reduces visibility. Do not hang on to the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you as it can give a false sense of security. When you slow down, use your brakes so that the brake lights warn drivers behind you.

5. Watch out for “black ice.”
If the road looks polished or glossy it could be, “black ice” one of winter’s worst hazards: Black Ice is difficult to see! It is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Watch out for black ice, especially in sheltered / shaded areas on roads, under trees and adjacent to high walls.

6. Give yourself a brake.
If you get into a skid, you need to know if your vehicle has ABS (Anti- Lock Braking Systems). After you “Step” on the brake the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working. It’s easy to properly use antilock brakes: Remember – Step, Stay and Steer. Step on the pedal. Stay on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency).
For vehicles without ABS, you’ll have to rely on the old-fashioned ‘Cadence Braking’ system: Push the brake pedal until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again.
Repeat this sequence rapidly. Your goal is to have the tyres producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow or ice.

7. How does your vehicle help?
Check in your owner’s manual and find out if your vehicle has any safety assist technology like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) or Anti Lock Braking System (ABS) and know how they assist your driving in severe weather conditions. But remember technology offers no miracles. Don’t let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

8. Be Prepared!
In prolonged icy or snowy driving conditions it is advisable to carry the following in the boot of the car
a. High Visibility Vest
b. Tow rope
c. Spare bulbs
d. Spare fuel
e. A shovel
f. Appropriate footwear in case you have to leave your vehicle ie boots
g. A hazard warning triangle
h. Spare wheel (with tyre at correct pressure and tread)
i. De-icing equipment (Both for glass and door locks)
j. First aid kit (in good order)
k. A fire extinguisher (fully operative)
l. A working torch
m. A car blanket, additional clothing & some food and water

In preparation for driving you should also ensure:
n. The vehicle is properly maintained, serviced and engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold conditions.
o. Have the strength of coolant/antifreeze measured.
p. Ensure vehicle has adequate supply of fuel for journey.
q. Consider carrying some salt or sand. And
r. Give someone an estimated time of arrival at your proposed destination. Carry a mobile phone and spare, fully charged, battery (if you don’t have a car charger)

9. Get informed.
Listen to local weather and traffic reports. The RSA has prepared a helpful guide “Severe Weather Advice for Road Users” which you can download from the RSA’s website. It has lots more useful advice on dealing with the difficult road conditions.

10. Stay at home.
The best thing to do in extremely bad weather is to stay off the road. Take heed of warnings not to go out. This leaves the emergency services free to deal with real emergencies instead of rounding up stranded motorists.

Businesses are in danger of resting on their laurels when it comes to grey fleets (employee-owned private vehicles used for business travel), according to new research from Thrifty Car and Van Rental in the UK. A recent poll of 3,000 drivers by the company revealed that employers are missing basic duty of care responsibilities when it comes to employees using their own vehicles and overlooking the benefits of using rental vehicles as an alternative.

The survey shows well over a third of grey fleet drivers (43%) have never been asked by their employer to demonstrate their vehicle is fit to drive, whether it is insured or even if they have a driving licence. It also seems drivers are increasingly relying on their own vehicles to do business, with 76% admitting to travelling up to 1,600km each month in their own vehicle for business purposes. Almost half (49%) also admit this figure has increased by as much as 500km a month in the last two years.

Furthermore, only one in ten employees surveyed now has access to a company car. This means businesses may be missing a trick when it comes to seeing the benefits of using rental vehicles, according to Linda Malliff, director of central services at Thrifty Car and Van Rental.

She said: “Despite the turbulent economic climate, people are driving more than ever for business. While the majority are doing so in their own vehicles, companies shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that renting can provide an equally viable and often more manageable and cost effective alternative for their employees. “Regardless of whether drivers use their own car or a rental vehicle to seek out new business opportunities, it is ultimately crucial that employers take duty of care responsibilities seriously and monitor the effectiveness of their fleets accordingly.”

The survey also reveals some interesting differences between the motivations of men and women when it comes to their increased business mileage. 41% of women admit that being away from the stress of the office is the main motivating factor, while men, it seems, feel the need to be more sociable, with 46% highlighting they need to get out of the office and meet people.

Source: Fleet News, Nov 2011

Motornet.ie, October 2011

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that a penalty points system introduced as part of a new crackdown on drink driving is a soft touch. The new regime, which is now in force, will give authorities a sliding scale to deal with offenders instead of mandatory court appearances. Mr Varadkar dismissed accusations that removing the automatic driving ban for first time lawbreakers was too lenient.

“It’s important that people don’t mistake this as being a soft touch,” he said. “It’s not, it’s actually getting a lot stricter.”

The new measures, which took effect at midnight on Thursday 27th October, will see the drink drive limit reduced from 50mg to 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood for specified drivers, which includes people who have been driving for less than two years and professional drivers. The limit for other drivers will be reduced from 80mg to 50mg.

If a motorist is caught driving over the limit but between 50mg and 80mg, and has not already been disqualified, they will be served with a fixed penalty notice, a fine and three points on their licence.

Motorists caught over the limit but between 80mg and 100mg will receive a fine and a six-month driving ban.

The specified drivers – learners, newly qualified and professional drivers – who are over the 20mg limit up to 80mg will be fined and disqualified for three months.

The old system would have seen offending drivers sent straight to court and if convicted of an offence, immediately stripped of their licence.

Minister Varadkar explained: “It’s a system of graduated penalties. If somebody is between 50mg and 80mg they’ll get penalty points. If they are above 80mg they’ll be banned from driving.”

By reducing alcohol limits to as low as 20mg for specified drivers, Mr Varadkar said the message was to encourage people not to drink at all if they intend to drive. “We want this to be a weekend in which nobody loses their lives,” he said.

“The evidence is that when limits are reduced in other jurisdictions, in Australia for example, there’s an 18% reduction in deaths associated with drink driving. So that could be another 11 or 12 lives saved this year.”

The Department of Transport, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Siochana worked together to develop the new measures.

Garda spokesman Chief Superintendent Aidan Reid warned roadside checks would increase – and not just at weekends, but through the week too.

He said: “The advice is never ever drink and drive. You’re either fit to drive or you’re not fit to drive. We’re asking people not to drink and drive and to slow down. Speed is still the number one issue in our roads.”

Drivers are also advised to carry their licence at all times. Anyone who fails to produce their licence when stopped will be automatically classed as a specified driver, whose alcohol limit is 20mg.

The Irish Times, 12/10/11

You probably think that in the future your car will be able to stop you from having a crash. That when some high-tech network of computers and sensors buried under the bonnet detects you’ve run out of talent, skill or luck, the car will take over, apply the brakes, tweak the steering and prevent the worst from happening. You’d be wrong. This isn’t some sci-fi notion written into a footnote by Isaac Asimov in some book about robots: this is happening now – and it’s not even that expensive.

The EU will next year introduce legislation to make Electronic Stability Programme (ESP, also known as Vehicle Stability Control) standard on all new models. ESP already takes control of our cars in dangerous conditions, steering and controlling the vehicle by applying the brakes sequentially, and often doing so without the driver noticing. It has been combined with systems that nudge the steering to return you to safety if you lose concentration and begin drifting across the road (available on the Volkswagen Passat, among others). It can even be used with a system that can apply the brakes if it detects a pedestrian stepping off the kerb in front of you (a Volvo creation).

So what’s next?

There are very real plans afoot to create cars that simply will not crash. Volvo is at the forefront of this technology and recently made a startling claim that within a decade no one who drives a Volvo should be hurt in an accident. “Our aim is to build cars that do not crash,” says Jan Ivarsson, the company’s head of safety strategy. “By 2020 no one should be killed or even moderately injured in a Volvo.” Even though Volvo qualifies this by saying it cannot foresee every eventuality and not safety system is entirely perfect, it’s still an astonishing claim.

To put it in perspective, Volvo sells 400,000 cars a year and plans to double that to 800,000 in the next few years. That’s 800,000 people buying a new car in which they will be incredibly unlucky to be even mildly hurt. Considering the World Health Organisation calculates 1.2 million people worldwide are killed in car crashes every year, that is a remarkable thought.

The next big step in car safety, according to Bosch, the German electronics giant that first developed ESP in the late 1990s, is to make the ESP system the central controller for all of the car’s dynamic systems: steering, brakes, suspension, airbags etc. Then, as with modern fly-by-wire aircraft, no command issued by the driver will be transmitted to the car unless the ESP system clears it. It sounds excessive, Orwellian even, but it will happen so fast and so seamlessly that the driver’s control will almost never be affected, unless the worst happens, when the metaphorical electronic parachute will be deployed.

Subsequent to that, the next big advance will be getting cars to talk to one another. As high-end electronic systems proliferate, the logical step is to have cars broadcast information to one another across a simple lo-fi radio link. If you’ve had a skid on oil or ice, for instance, your car can warn others coming behind to alert the driver and pre-load the ESP system to compensate. Such a system could even be used to ease traffic jams.

After that it’s a matter of letting the cars do the driving, and once again, Volvo is leading this next stage. The Swedish company is one of the main partners on the EU’s Sartre project to establish road-train technology for long journeys. Along with, say, five others headed in the same direction, your car could be electronically linked to a lead vehicle, which would take care of all the steering, braking and controls for you. You could literally, and safely, be able to sit back and read a book on long motorway journeys. Sounds far-fetched? Prototypes are already up and running.

So is control going to be removed entirely from drivers? No, at least not yet.

Legally, under the Vienna Convention, a driver is always responsible for their vehicle, whatever the electronics do, so all such systems can be overridden. Consider aircraft technology: an Airbus could take off, fly and land almost without any human intervention, yet airlines still pay hefty salaries to the person sitting in the cockpit. Ford, in the US, for example, is launching Driving Skills For Life, a programme that will imbue teenage drivers with better habits and stronger skill sets.

For all our mechanical marvels, a better, safer driver will always have less need for them.

60% of Motorists would change their route to avoid new tolls
The AA, 12/08/2011

Additional tolls on Dublin’s M50 and on other routes around the country would cause extensive traffic congestion on alternative routes, according to the AA.

An AA survey of over 13,000 Irish motorists shows that 60.9% of drivers would change their route to avoid a new toll if one were applied. The results show that proposals for new tolls on the M50 would do much more harm than good because they would cause additional traffic to avoid the motorway and re-congest suburbs like Sandyford, Dundrum and Blanchardstown instead.

“To apply a toll on the entire length of the M50 would be an act of traffic planning madness.” Says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. “Tolls cause traffic to divert. This is a simple fact of life that neither the government nor the NRA can ignore. To apply a toll to the M50, which was built as a by-pass in order to relieve the congested suburbs, would have the effect of immediately channelling traffic back onto those unsuitable suburban roads.”

The AA has never been in favour of tolls on Irish roads because of the diversion effect. This has been borne out by the experience of places like Fermoy, Drogheda and Kinnegad where large volumes of traffic still drive through the towns despite the existence of multi-million euro by-passes. This congestion is a significant cost to local businesses and communities.

The NRA is currently engaged in a study to assess the feasibility of charging tolls on the entire length of the M50 rather than just the Westlink Bridge. The AA is calling on Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to call a halt to this immediately.

“It goes against all common sense to put a toll on a by-pass.” Says Faughnan. “You don’t find it anywhere else in the world. For Dublin, new M50 tolls would mean a return to the bad old days of major congestion in the suburbs. Residents and businesses, who well remember what it was like before the M50 was completed, are contacting the AA expressing their dismay at the idea.”

Despite its apparent attractiveness as a revenue-raising measure, tolls are not in fact as lucrative as they seem. The M50 toll raises €80 million per year but it also costs over €20 million to run the enormously complicated collection system – money that the AA sees as pure waste.

“Compared to the €2.5 billion that we pay in fuel taxes it is relatively small money.” Says Faughnan. “In fact just a couple of cents of excise duty on petrol and diesel raises more money than every toll in the country combined. Considering the collateral damage that they cause, tolls just aren’t worth it.”

Ford safety research shows UK motorists are driven to distraction
Fleet News 22/08/2011

A Ford survey of British motorists reveals a lack of confidence behind the wheel. While women believe themselves to be the safest drivers, many male and female motorists confess to potentially dangerous driving habits.

The majority of drivers reckon they could not easily pass the driving test if they took it today, with the newly qualified having the least belief in their ability to pass a second time.

Nearly half of all women believe they are safer behind the wheel, a view shared by only one in five males. Adrian Walsh, director of motoring safety partnership RoadSafe, said: “Women are generally much safer drivers than men; every piece of substantial research done on this subject reveals that. Fundamentally it’s because they take fewer risks.”

Around 67 per cent of drivers are not confident they would easily pass the driving test if they had to take it again today. Worryingly this is highest amongst the newly qualified, with 73 per cent of 17 to 24 year olds not confident of passing a retest.

Said Adrian Walsh: “The driving test is primarily about skills, it’s not a measure of motoring attitudes. It’s the attitude this age group takes to risk which has a negative impact on road safety. “Males aged 17 to 24 are high risk drivers, and so are involved in proportionately many more accidents. “There is a need for people to learn again how to drive. Advanced driving lessons are an extremely good idea.”

The most dangerous pastime at the wheel is texting (including posting messages on social networks using a handheld phone). The 10 per cent of UK drivers texting on the move doubles among 17 to 24 year olds.
The data shows other hazardous behaviours are frequently displayed at the wheel. Motorists confess to being driven to distraction: changing the CD or radio station is the most common habit (by 60 per cent), followed by driving with one hand (40 per cent), eating and drinking on the move (30 per cent), driving when tired (20 per cent) and talking on a handheld phone (10 per cent).