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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.

Automotive X Prize teams begin performance testing in Michigan

The 28 teams competing in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize will begin performance testing this week at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. The teams are vying for $10 million in prizes, which will be awarded to consumer-friendly vehicles that exceed 100 mpg. This week begins the first of the three on-track performance testing stages: shakedown, knockout qualifying and finals.

Mercedes celebrates 60th anniversary of Unimog with new concept

The Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks unit (MBS) revealed a design study celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Unimog at the Daimler plant in Wörth recently. The concept, called simply ‘60 Years Unimog', is said to inform the future form language of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle design. Combining of the past and future of the Unimog, the MBS development team, the Daimler commercial vehicle designers in Sindelfingen and a model designing partner have created an avant-garde vehicle that retains the inherent functionality and capabilities of the now iconic vehicle.