1999 Lincoln on 2040-parts.com

Increase in crashes linked to mobile phone use

As many of us admit to taking selfies at the wheel, researchers have noticed a rise in the number of rear-end shunts on UK roads – despite many manufacturers now offering cars with collision avoidance systems that can brake automatically. According to new research by Accident Exchange, crashes involving one car hitting the back of another have increased by 7% in the last three years. Rated: self-braking cars that avoid a crash Nearly 1 in 10 admit to taking selfies at the wheel With each rear-end smash costing insurers £2,000 on average, premiums could rocket until driverless cars hit our streets.

Car Insurance ‘Black Box’ a good idea? We find out.

We’ve been testing a new ‘Telematics’ App from Confused.com which mimics the ‘Black Box’ technology insurers are offering in an attempt to make car insurance cheaper. The inexorable rise and rise of car insurance premiums is a fact of life, and will continue until government gets a handle on ambulance-chasing lawyers and the UK’s idiotic whiplash claims industry. But if you’re looking to find a way to cut your insurance premiums, then having a ‘Black ‘Box’ fitted to your car to monitor your driving so you get charged for how much – and how well – you drive looks a promising idea.

L'argus European Design Competition 2004 announced

French magazine L'argus de l'automobile has launched its 3rd European Design Competition , with the theme: "Imagine the convertible utility vehicle" The competition has been run since 2002, asking students at European design schools to design original utility vehicles. The 2003 competition recieved more than 350 submissions from students of Europe's best schools of art and design. This year there are two major new features: extension of the competition to design students in the new European Union countries, and greater freedom for entrants, with a theme allowing more room for creativity.