The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Group rates FRSC as outstanding public institution

    The Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) has rated the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) among the most effective and efficient public institutions in Nigeria.

    The Executive Director of SDMG, Dr Chima Amadi, announced the rating in Abuja at the unveiling of the Service Delivery Report and Award.

    Amadi said in the course of discharging its function, FRSC had initiated some key policies, such as the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS), which stipulates minimum safety equipment for fleet operators.

    He said the commission also recorded N558, 154,027 as revenues from National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS) and fines from road traffic offenders in the last six months.

    Amadi said ISDMG followed international precedents and models for effective delivery assessment to arrive at its results.

    “ I must say the integrity of the assessment is not in any way compromised by virtue of the fact that the assessed picks the cost of such assessment.

    “We are confident that recognising achievement of agencies of government that deliver on their mandates will not in any way take the zeal and zing off our responsibility of constructively engaging them on issues of rendering efficient service delivery to the people.

    “The fact that the drivers of these MDAs are Nigerians not contracted foreign consultant proves that only Nigerians can bring about the much desired dividends of democracy, “ he said.

    Amadi highlighted some of the criteria used to arrive at the rating as transparency and fiscal discipline, prompt response to mails, contribution to the economy, web visibility and public perception.

    He said public institutions owed Nigerians service and account of service when demanded, stressing that service delivery entails respect for the rule of law.

  • Lagos reassures commuters of Lagos-Badagry expressway

    THE lagos State government has reiterated its determination to ensure that the Lagos-Badagry expressway is motorable and convenient for commuters.

    This assurance was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and signed by its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Biola Fagunwa.

    Fagunwa said the government would reconstruct the road beginning from Eric Moore to Seme border.

    He said due to the huge financial resources, the reconstruction work would be executed in three phases.

    “The first phase, Lot 1, of the project, demonstrates the vision of the government concerning the road. The second phase, being handled by a Chinese company, the CCECC, has further been broken down into three sub-phases,” he said.

    Fagunwa said the government was very mindful of the current status of the road, and had directed CCECC, to apply palliative measures to areas which were reported to have been washed away by the heavy rains witnessed in recent times.

    “It is our pledge and commitment to build a first class road and we will. However, we need the understanding and public support to achieve this,” he said.

  • Port Harcourt-Enugu road to be accessible for Yuletide

    Ahead of the Yuletide the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is giving the Port Harcourt-Enugu road comprehensive attention by providing direct labour thereby making the road accessible.

    Speaking while inspecting the work along the 200kilometre dual carriage way, FERMA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gabriel Amuchi, said the road requires comprehensive attention hence the special direct labour intervention.

    According to Amuchi, the 200km is split into small units of four and being handled by four contractors to ensure speedy completion of repairing the bad sections thereby making the road motorable ahead of Yuletide.

    An inspection of Obehe section shows that the contractor, Fordiac Construction is on site, the refuse along the road are being cleared before work starts. Inspection was also done at the Alaoji, Aba road as well as that of Uranta area. So far, the failed section along Port Harcourt-Enugu road has been recovered while rehabilitation work is also on-going

    The project, Amuchi said, was initially executed by the Federal Ministry of Works before this administration but it had its own challenges and it was stopped.

    “Since this administration came into being, FERMA was directed to repair all the bad locations to be motorable pending when there is a major rehabilitation work to be done,” he said.

  • Acura MDX: Luxury redefined

    Acura MDX: Luxury redefined

    Luxury? The MDX has it. With high-quality materials and craftsmanship, it handily beats other midsize crossover SUVs in its price range and approaches a level of refinement usually reserved for European makes. With three rows of seats and a cargo area that expands to more than 80 cubic feet, the MDX works quite well as a family-oriented runabout.

    But it’s the Acura MDX’s ability to entertain the driver that is most surprising. It might not be the quickest in its class, but thanks to its 300-horsepower V6, the MDX is always eager to please. And even with its taller SUV stance, the MDX remains poised in the curves, thanks in no small part to an advanced all-wheel-drive system that sends power to the outside wheels when cornering. The MDX is fun to drive on dry pavement and sure-footed when the weather hits.

    The 2013 Buick Enclave is more spacious and undercuts the Acura in terms of price, but it is not nearly as refined or entertaining. For comparable luxury and performance plus a third row, one would have to look toward the pricier 2013 BMW X5 and 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL Class. For all-around achievement, the 2013 Acura MDX is uncommonly good.

    Body styles

    The 2013 Acura MDX is classified as a midsize luxury SUV and seats seven. It is offered in one well-appointed trim level with progressive add-on packages.

    Standard features include 18-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlamps, foglamps, heated mirrors, a power liftgate, a sunroof, rear privacy glass, heated eight-way power front seats, two-way adjustable driver lumbar, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, tri-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated rearview camera, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an eight-speaker sound system with six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio.

    The technology package adds a multiview parking camera, GPS-linked and solar-sensing climate control, upgraded leather upholstery, a navigation system with eight-inch display, voice controls and a 10-speaker Acura/ELS surround-sound audio system with an iPod/USB interface.

    The advance package includes all technology package features and adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, a collision warning and braking system, auto-leveling headlamps, sport steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The entertainment package, which can be added to the technology or advanced packages, adds a rear-seat entertainment system, a household power outlet in the front centre console, and heated second-row seats.

    Powertrains and performance

    The Acura MDX is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 that produces 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard.

    In Edmunds performance testing, the MDX accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which is average for this style of luxury crossover. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/21 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.

    Safety

    Standard safety equipment for the MDX includes antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, active front head restraints and stability control with a stabilizing feature for trailer towing. The optional collision warning and braking system (Acura’s CMBS) monitors following distance and closure rate, and uses visual and auditory warnings to alert the driver to a possible collision. If the system senses an imminent collision, it can apply hard braking and cinch up the front seatbelts.

    Interior design and special features

    The MDX’s interior is not quite as luxurious as those seen in some European crossovers, but the materials are high quality and there are plenty of standard features. The MDX’s electronic features are easy to use via a multipurpose knob and a selection of voice commands. As in most Acuras, the centre stack is loaded with buttons for climate control and multimedia. It is an intimidating array at first, but the controls for the various systems are grouped together, so the learning curve is short. The Panasonic/ELS surround-sound audio system is one of the best in the business, as is the navigation system.

    The MDX is pretty spacious for a three-row midsize luxury crossover SUV. The rearmost seats are better suited to children, but adults can ride there for short journeys without complaint. Second-row seats recline for additional comfort, but if one needs legitimate room for adults in the third row, the Buick Enclave and Ford Flex are better choices. The MDX yields 83.5 cubic feet of cargo space with its second and third rows folded, which is above average for a midsize luxury crossover.

  • Obey traffic law, Okada riders urged

    Obey traffic law, Okada riders urged

    Commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders have been urged to obey the Lagos State Traffic Law which banned the operators on some major roads.

    Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, Hon Idris Muse-Ariyoh said during a meeting with the Divisional Police Officers and Okada riders association at the council secretariat.

    Muse-Ariyoh enjoined the operators to be more organised and register their members for easy identity.

    According to him, it is imperative on the riders to have uniform with a registration number and the council logo inscribed on it.

    This, he said, will help exposing other operators who came from other councils to perpetrate evil act.

    Deputy Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, Mr Ibraheem Ashafa, pledges their support for the law.

    Ashafa urged police officers to be wary of criminals’ Okada riders hiding under police uniform to perpetrate evil.

  • Drivers licence recognition and bastardisation

    It is heartwarming to hear that our national driver’s licence is now recognised by some American states and in Europe. This is the desire of well – meaning Nigerians and we are happy that it is fast becoming a reality. Kudos to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and other stakeholders that have made this feat possible.

    This development will in no small measure boost the image of Nigeria.

    My fear, however, is that the joy over this recognition may be short – lived. This is because of the ongoing bastardisation of the driver’s licence issuing process.

    What will happen if a person holding Nigerian driver’s licence attempts to drive in America or any European country and he turns out to be a novice without much knowledge of driving?

    What will happen if a person holding a Nigerian driver’s licence is presented for the DSA’s theory and practical tests in the United Kingdom (UK) and he fails woefully? How will the holders of the driver’s licence be rated generally?

    What will happen if a person holding a driver’s licence serially violates the traffic rules and regulations in America or any other country?

    Each of the above cases is capable of smearing the image of Nigeria and make a mockery of the National driver’s licence.

    If we are not going to deceive ourselves, the above cases will surely happen if the relevant authorities fail to quickly correct the anomalies that are already surfacing in the licence issuance process.

    The procedure says all learners must pass through certified driving schools and be well trained in theory and practical sessions before being presented for a learner’s permit and driver’s licence.

    It is disheartening that some officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Motor Vehicle Licensing Authority and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) engage in unholy alliance to present some candidates that did not pass through the certified driving schools for driver’s licence.

    Some of these officers even descended so low as to collecting the certificates of some certified driving schools for direct issuance to the candidates thus preventing them from going through the normal procedures.

    It is not disgusting that some officers of FRSC, MVLA and VIOs are touting for some driving schools just to make personal money?

    What the perpetrators of these dastardly acts fail to understand is that their compromise is discounting the value of the driver’s licence within and outside Nigeria as well as heightening the rate of road crashes and fatalities in Nigeria.

  • 40% of roads used by commercial vehicles

    40% of roads used by commercial vehicles

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Corps Marshal Mr Osita Chidoka, has said 40 per cent of the nation’s roads are used by commercial vehicles, adding that they are usually the highest cause of crashes on our roads.

    Chidoka made this statement during the fourth annual lecture series of the commission in Abuja.

    “This is telling us that the usage of our roads can be detrimental to our lives. If you can control the behaviour of these drivers, you can control the frequency of road traffic crashes, ’’ he said.

    According to him, the major goal of the commission is to reach a stage where “road crashes will result in zero death in the country’.

    He said the three tiers of government and other stakeholders should work together for the achievement of the goal.

    “States will be ranked by the FRSC according to the kind of safety measures they have put in place. Their legal stand on road crashes will account for seven per cent of the ranking, manpower, 15 per cent, budget of the state to road safety will be 13 per cent. Infrastructure should account for 15 per cent, technological strength of the state, 10 per cent, reduction of road traffic crashes in a state will have 40 per cent, to make it 100 per cent,’’ he said

    Chidoka called for the education of commercial drivers to reduce road traffic accidents.

    The guest speaker, President and CEO of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administration, Mr Neil Schuster urged the FRSC to adopt the American approach to solve road safety issues and improve on the safety mechanism already put in place.

    In a lecture entitled Safe and Sustainable Transportation: A Lesson for Nigeria, Schuster said Nigeria must improve its road safety measures to achieve the goal of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.

    “You must continue to educate people on intelligent method of using transport systems. There are a lot of gadgets put in place to make driving easier, but people don’t use them wisely.

    “For example, an accident might occur because the driver is paying more attention to the car stereo, or the GPRS system, ‘’ he said

    He suggested that Nigeria should have a safety ambassador, who would speak passionately and champion the cause of safety.

    “I would like to see a congressman, that is passionate about road safety, and would use it in his campaign,’’ he said.

    Schuster further advised the commission to study the behavioural pattern of road safety violators.

    He called for the introduction of high tech cars that could detect and help the driver to avoid accidents.

    “There are so many things technology offers. There are vehicl technologies that are specially devised to help a driver stay awake.

    “These are cars that can sense and prevent crashes, detect blind spots and can even warn the driver when he is deviating from his lane.’’

    In his address, Speaker, House of Representatives Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said it was important to tackle the problem of road traffic crashes, which, according to him, had became a threat to development.

    Tambuwal, who was represented by the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs,Mr Zakari Mohammed urged road users to improve their attitude to ensure safety on the nation’s roads.

  • Coscharis Motors organises BMW golf tournament

    Coscharis Motors organises BMW golf tournament

    AUTO giant Coscharis Motors has concluded plans to hold the BMW Golf tournament at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    This is in line with the BMW long-established and successful tradition and invitation to pure fascination while the choice of Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo stemmed from its exclusivity in line with the BMW standards.

    Coscharis Motors views the tournament as an ideal platform to address its prime target group, an extremely efficient medium to intensify contact with existing customers, initiate contact with potential BMW clients and to enhance the premium focus of the BMW brand.

    It is also using the tournament to offer golfers the opportunity to sharpen customers’ loyalty.

    Coscharis Motors identified with the golf tournament because of its exclusiveness, aesthetics and perfection.

  • Here comes women-only car

    Here comes women-only car

    ACROSS the world, building and designing cars remains a male-dominated business, and many companies live by an old axiom that women will buy a man’s car but men won’t buy a woman’s car. While a few companies have attempted to bend that rule, only Honda has chosen to embrace it with the Honda Fit She’s — the only model built by an automaker today aimed exclusively for women.

    There is a long and embarrassing history of automakers attempting to lure women with ladies-only models. At the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were marketed to wives with the pitch that their lack of hand-crank starting would avoid broken shoulders and/or death.

    In 1955, Chrysler made a bid for feminine attention with the Dodge LaFemme — which came in a two-tone pink-and-white paint scheme, along with a storage place for the matching purse and rain hat. Lest you think modern executives learned from errors of the past, in 2000 Ford showed off a concept Windstar minivan developed with Maytag featuring a compact washer/dryer, microwave and vacuum in the rear hatch, because why would a soccer mom ever want to be parted from her appliances?

    As women have grown to buy more cars in recent decades — accounting for about one-third of car shoppers in the United States — such attempts have given way to more savvy marketing. But in Japan, the gender divide remains more stark; half of all working-age women stay out of the workforce due to more stringent societal pressure to choose homemaking over careers, a major reason Japan’s economy has been stuck in a rut for decades. But there’s a cohort of younger Japanese women putting work first, and in a weak market Honda sees an opening.

    Nigeria has her own fair share among women vehicle owners. Women with good earnings nowadays hardly wait for their husbands (if they have) to buy a car for them.

    Sometimes, male commuters slugged it out with their female counterparts on highways and in-roads.

    While many old model vehicles are commonly found with the men, women cruised more on new cars. Honda Fit She’s would make a better sales if introduced to the Nigerian market.

    Launched this summer, the Honda Fit She’s designers say they wanted to take a regular Fit subcompact and make it in their words “adult cute.” That means lots of pink: Pink stitching in the seats and steering wheel and floor mats, matched by pink metallic bezels around the shifter and displays. There are also a few extra shades of pink in the special She’s badge, spelled with a heart for an apostrophe. If pink isn’t a customer’s style, Japanese buyers can also select a Fit She’s in shades of brown and white that a Honda executive told the Yomuri Shinbun, a foreign newspaper match the color of eyeshadow.

    To Honda’s credit, the Fit She’s beauty treatment is not just skin deep. It also comes with special windshield glass that cuts 99 per cent of ultraviolet rays and a “Plasmacluster” air conditioning system that Honda claims can improve a driver’s skin quality, all aimed at stopping those wrinkles that turn adult cute into just adult. With a starting price of $17,500, the Fit She’s got an attractive price for a home-market Japanese car — but automakers would not need special editions if taking advice from women was not such a noteworthy event.

  • Kia ranks among ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’

    Kia ranks among ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’

    Kia Motors Corporation has entered the list of the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands,’ according to the 2012 study released by Interbrand, the world’s largest brand consultancy agency.

    Kia’s remarkable increase in brand value is now estimated at $4.1 billion, which firmly sets the automaker at 87th place on the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ list. This is a 50 per cent increase from last year’s estimated brand value and far exceeds the average automotive brand value growth rate of 11 per cent.

    The 2012 edition of Interbrand’s annual ‘Best Global Brands’ study was executed through a comprehensive brand performance analysis using best practice research methodology by expert analysts. The study measures a corporation’s financial performance in terms of the raw financial return to investors; role that a brand plays in the actual purchase decision; and brand strength, which is the ability of a brand to secure the delivery of expected future earnings.

    The strong increase in Kia’s brand value closely mirrors the company’s recent surge in global sales, which have posted three consecutive double-digit year-on-year gains to cement Kia’s position as the world’s fastest growing major automotive brand. Over this three year period (2008-2011), Kia’s annual global sales have grown by 81 per cent to nearly 2.5 million units.

    Chief Commercial Officer of Dana Motors Limited Mr Sandeep Malhotra said: “Entering the ‘Top 100 Best Global Brands’ validates Kia’s commitment to continuously provide exciting and inspiring brand experiences. And it is amazing to see what we can accomplish by staying true to who we are – a young and dynamic challenger that goes beyond expectations.”

    According to Marketing Manager for Kia in Nigeria, Kayode Adejumo, “We are excited to be in the Top 100 globally and this leadership position is also evident in Nigeria as well. Our brands are award winners both locally and internationally and we are honoured and inspired to do even more for our customers.”