Motorists Worry About Safety On The School Run

AS THE start of new school term approaches, the latest research from BCA, a leading vehicle remarketing company, reveals the pressures faced by parents - and other motorists - on school run routes. Both parents and non-parents were surveyed and with nearly half (45%) of non-parents saying they drive by schools or use the same route as parents dropping off their children, it's clear that school runs create some significant pinch-points. Key findings: 46% of all motorists believe parents drive their children to school because it takes too long to walk 30% of non-parents believe children demand to be driven to school, compared to just 17% of parents Over a third (38%) of all motorists think unreliable public transport prompts parents to drive children to school More than half (57%) of motorists see illegal parking outside of school gates 44% of have seen parents and children not looking at oncoming traffic when opening car doors Both parents and non-parents were most in favour of schools creating drop-off areas to tackle congestion and parking issues during the school run at 52% and 57% respectively 29% of parents think police officers should be on patrol to tackle parking issues during the school run Parents in Northern Ireland are most likely to drive their children to school, topping the list at 51%, followed by families in the North East and West Midlands at 39%.

Breakeryard designs 'Woman-Proof' car

Breakeryard, the UK's network of national breakers, has designed a garish pink ‘Woman-Proof' concept car with the aim of making parking easier for ‘non-confident' female drivers. In an exercise with its tongue firmly in its cheek Breakeryard has not only designed, but also commissioned some mock-ups of a car to combat problems highlighted in a survey of 1,421 female drivers. ‘Peripheral visibility' was identified as a problem by 44 percent of respondents, so the concept has a bubble-top design to combat this, which would be framed by a reinforced structure for safety purposes.

Latest news on 1000mph Bloodhound record bid

Work is well underway on Britain’s latest land speed record attempt – the new Bloodhound SuperSonic Car (SSC) which aims to reach 1000mph plus. CAR reported on the preparation of the project in October 2008; one year later a mock-up is ready and the car is due to be built in Bristol’s docklands. The Bloodhound SSC houses one EJ200 Raf Euofighter Typhoon engine sitting above a hybrid rocket.