The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • FRSC advocates safety for road users

    FRSC advocates safety for road users

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Head of Operations, Abuja Command, Mr Uche Wihioka, has urged road users to take issues of safety seriously.

    Wihioka, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, urged the public to be safety conscious, especially drivers.

    “Road users should be safety conscious in all applications and the public should be enlightened on the use of vehicles and the risks of inadequate safety precautions.

    “It is our duty to sensitise road users in Nigeria on this issue from time to time and this is why we have organised many safety programmes in various zones.

    “We are carrying out an awareness programme for now, after which there will be enforcement of the law and punishment for any violators,’’ he said.

    According to him, every individual has a role to play in reducing the rate of accidents on the roads, and one of such roles is to possess adequate safety equipment in vehicles.

    Mrs Chinyere Nweke, a safety expert, enjoined government and safety institutions to work harder to ensure reduction of accidents.

  • Lack of enforcement responsible for increase in deaths

    Lack of enforcement responsible for increase in deaths

    African countries need to tighten their road traffic enforcement laws or risk losing more lives in avoidable road accidents, the South Africa chief executive of Road Traffic Management, Mr Collins Letsoalo, has said.

    Letsoalo, who disclosed this while presenting a paper at the Africa Road Safety Conference last Wednesday in Johannesburg, said South African drivers were the worse culprits in terms of not wearing seatbelts and adhering to road safety laws.

    He said lack of enforcement of traffic laws was responsible for the high number of deaths on the road in the continent.

    “There is need to understand that killing people on the road was murder. South Africans are not doing the simplest of things, like wearing a seatbelt and they don’t see it as a problem. It has been proven that if we can double our seatbelt wearing rate from what we have now, we will have a 30 per cent reduction in road fatalities,’’ Letsoalo said.

    He said that some of the countries in the continent had done the simplest of things to reduce road accidents.

    “They focus on drunk driving and seatbelt usage. Speeding, drunk driving, and failure to wear seatbelts and helmets are the most critical challenges facing most Africa countries,’’ Latsoalo said.

    He said that South Africa was losing between 280 and 350 people to road crashes every week.

    “About 40 per cent of those killed were pedestrians. At present, 14, 000 people a year die on South Africa’s roads, with accidents reportedly costing the country 307 billion rands a year,’’’ he said.

    Letsoalo added that the issue of road safety could no longer be left to government authorities alone.

    “We have reached that stage now where we are calling on society to work with us. It cannot be a government thing. People need to understand that if they behave the way they are doing and continue to do so, they are likely to lose more lives,’’ he said.

    He noted that the laws were not lenient but enforcement was lacking.

    Letsoalo said that the communities needed to understand that, “today it can be me and you and tomorrow it will be somebody else.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that South Africa National Prosecuting Authority charges irresponsible drivers with murder instead of homicide and this has been welcome by some people in the country.

  • Double drivers licence in Lagos

    Double drivers licence in Lagos

    Double taxation is a major problem that organisations and other well – meaning individuals have been fighting against because it is seen as a form of oppression and extortion.

    The monster of double taxation has crept into drivers licence system in Lagos State. The rule now is that drivers, particularly commercial drivers holding the national drivers licence are to obtain a re-certification card from the Lagos State Drivers Institute after the payment of the stipulated fee.

    I regard this as double taxation because, the Lagos State government is fully involved in the issuance of the national drivers licence through its agencies (Motor Vehicle Licence Authority, and the Vehicle Inspection Unit), collaborating with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

    Before anyone obtains a drivers licence, he undergoes the relevant training programme in the driving schools. The law also stipulates that the VIO should test the theory and practical skills of each candidate before recommending him or her for the national drivers licence.

    Under the rule of the Lagos State Drivers Institute, holders of the national drivers licence are to go for re – certification yearly at the institute at the stipulated fee, including eye test and classroom training. All these are part of what the FRSC have incorporated into the national drivers licence issuance and renewal for drivers particularly commercial drivers.

    No matter how much the operation of the Lagos State Drivers Institute is defended, it is nothing but a duplication of the national drivers licence process in which the Lagos State government is fully involved.

    The drivers are being compelled to cough out about N6,000 for the national drivers licence and another N2,000 for the re – certification card of the Lagos State Drivers Institute to be renewed annually at N1,000 which amounts to N4,000 within a period of three years amounting to N10,000 for both, apart from other vehicle particulars.

    If income generation is not the principal objective, then the Lagos State government should allow only the national drivers licence procedure to stay and support it to work as in other states of the Federation.

    The FRSC has appointed medical establishments in every local government to handle the eye and medical checkups which is more comprehensive than what obtains at the five centres of the Lagos State Drivers Institute.

    The FRSC and state VIOs have also appointed the driving schools to train and certify drivers for the national drivers licence. What other role is left to justify the operation of the Lagos State Drivers Institute apart from income generation?

    The situation in Nigeria is not easy for many households.

    The same drivers will pay rent, tenement rate, school fees of children, family medical bills, food, water, PHCN light bills, generator fuel, vehicle particulars, tax, psp and several others. How much is the monthly income of the target drivers.

    I hereby plead with the Lagos State government and other authorities to desist from implementing policies that will amount to double taxation or putting unnecessary financial burdens on the masses. I advise that this case should be revised with the necessary adjustments made. The instruments, equipment and facilities already acquired can be transferred or sold to the VIO, FRSC and driving schools as appropriate.

     

    Ojo writes from Lagos

  • London minicab firm to test 50 electric cars

    London minicab firm to test 50 electric cars

    A LONDON-BASED minicab firm is aiming to be the first of the city’s taxi companies to use an entirely electric fleet, after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese car maker BYD.

    Greentomatocars is to take delivery of 50 fully-electric BYD e6 models to trial in the capital from the second quarter of 2013. The five-seat crossover car is claimed to have substantial legroom and luggage space, while its BYD-made iron phosphate battery is claimed to offer a range of up to 186 miles on a single charge in urban conditions.

    The battery is also said to last more than 4,000 charges and discharge cycles, giving it genuine appeal as a long-term inner-city minicab if the claims prove accurate. At present BYD is China’s fastest-growing electric car manufacturer.

    Greentomatocars Managing Director Jonny Goldstone, said: “We are very pleased to be working with BYD on this project. As a partner company, BYD has shown great leadership to challenge the status quo, innovate and electrify mass transport – principles which go to the very heart of greentomatocars.”

    “As a car, we see strong parallels between the e6 of today and the then-unfashionable Toyota Prius of 2006,” he continued.

    “It is exciting to think that, even as a five-car start up, we played a major role in making the Prius popular; given the scale, experience and high-tech infrastructure we now have at our disposal, we would love to “do a Prius” with the e6, and help propel electric vehicles into the automotive mainstream – where they deserve and, for all our sakes, need to be.”

    Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: “It is my aim that London’s minicabs and taxis will be zero-emission by 2020, which will have a major impact on air quality. Every year the fleet is getting cleaner, making our city an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

    “Encouraging many more electric vehicles is a key part of this transformation, so it is great news that greentomatocars has committed to operating 50 of these super-clean machines from next year.”

  • 2013 Honda Accord: Agile, stable

    2013 Honda Accord: Agile, stable

    After a long wait, Honda has finally added power and efficiency-enhancing direct fuel injection to the Accord’s standard 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. This power plant is now paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that becomes the automatic transmission for cars using the four-cylinder. With this combo, the Accord earns an EPA-estimated 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway, one of the best ratings for a midsize sedan and even better than those of the diminutive Honda Fit.

    The 2013 Honda Accord’s styling is a careful evolution from its predecessor, and while this may not please those seeking more adventurous lines, the new Accord design is visibly less bulky. Inside the cabin, the new car is noticeably improved, with a more coherent design and higher-quality materials. Also the new is HondaLink, a connectivity system that integrates Internet audio streaming, social media applications and cloud-based content through iPhone and Android apps.

    As improved as it is, the Accord, just like the Toyota Camry isn’t the no-brainer choice it once was. There are now many excellent choices for a family sedan, and each presents certain advantages. The new Ford Fusion is more stylish, while the new Nissan Altima is still sportier and more engaging. Equally appealing are the value-packed Kia Optima and the European-influenced VW Passat. Choosing one won’t be easy, but we’re pleased to say that Honda has restored an encouraging degree of the old magic to the new Accord.

    Body styles

    The Accord is available as a midsize sedan and coupe. Four-cylinder sedans come in five trims: LX, Sport (new for 2013), EX, EX-L and EX-L with Navi. Opt for the Accord’s 3.5-liter V6 and three trims are offered: EX-L, EX-L with Navi and Touring.

    The 2013 Accord coupe comes in LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L with Navi, while the V6-equipped coupe comes only in EX-L and EX-L with Navi trims.

    The base four-cylinder LX comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, an 8-inch video display, Bluetooth (phone and audio), a rearview camera, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a height-adjustable manual driver seat, a folding rear seat and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, iPod/USB audio interface and Pandora functionality.

    Opting for the new Sport trim brings a bit more horsepower, 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles for the CVT. Compared to the LX, the Accord EX trim gets you 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, the power driver seat, the leather-wrapped steering wheel, Honda’s new LaneWatch blind-spot display and a six-speaker sound system.

    Powertrains and performance

    Most of the front-wheel-drive examples in the Accord range are fitted with the 2.4-litre inline-4, whether sedan or coupe. For all coupes and sedans except the Sport trim, the engine generates 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, some 8 hp and 20 lb-ft better than the previous base-model Accord’s four-cylinder. The Sport trim’s less restrictive dual exhaust frees up the engine to the tune of 189 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque.

    The standard transmission paired with the four-cylinder for the LX, Sport and EX sedans and LX-S and EX coupes is a six-speed manual. Optional for the four-cylinder sedans and coupes and standard for the four-cylinder EX-L sedan and coupe trim is Honda’s newly developed CVT.

    The Accord’s 3.5-litre V6 is upgraded and now develops 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a conventional six-speed automatic, the V6’s fuel economy numbers are still quite impressive at 21/34/25. With the V6 running through the six-speed manual transmission in the Accord EX-L coupe, fuel economy drops to 18/28/22.

    With the four-cylinder, performance is markedly improved.

    Safety

    Every 2013 Honda Accord comes with antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems are available on upper trim levels.

    Worthy of particular mention is the LaneWatch blind-spot system (EX trim and above), which instantly switches the eight-inch screen’s display to a low and expansive view of the passenger side of the car when the right turn signal is engaged. A camera in the right-side mirror dedicated to this function provides a confidence-inspiring view, and acclimating to catching the view in the center-dash display is quick and natural.

    Interior design

    The revised Civic debuted last year disappointed in its interior quality. Matters are much improved for the 2013 Honda Accord. With a few exceptions, the materials have a high-quality look and feel, while the overall cockpit design is elegant and well-constructed enough for a luxury car.

    The center stack embraces the spirit of legibility with an effective three-tier layout. At the top is the eight-inch display that offers varying levels of information depending on trim level and the presence of audio/navigation. Meanwhile, the main instrument binnacle contains the right amount of information and not too much.

    Despite the Accord’s slightly smaller exterior dimensions, its interior room remains impressive. There is plenty of leg and shoulder space for front occupants, and rear-seat passengers should be quite comfortable and happy. Road and tire noise — often a Honda bugaboo — are noticeably reduced in the 2013 Accord thanks in part to two active noise-cancellation systems plus improved aerodynamics.

  • Stallion gets franchise for Korean vehicles

    Stallion gets franchise for Korean vehicles

    Stallion Motors, a leading automobile dealership has won exclusive dealership for SsangYong, Korea’s fourth largest automaker, bringing to nine similar automobile franchises managed by the conglomerate.

    Other exclusive franchises controlled by Stallion Motors include Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, Honda, Hyundai, Ashok Leyland and Foton.

    The firm will by virtue of this recognition be responsible for marketing, sales and after sales activities of SsangYong brand in Nigeria.

    An archetypal replica of Mercedes-Benz, SsangYong adapted Mercedes Benz technology in 1991 after the company brokered skill partnership acquisition with Daimler-Benz to develop SUV using Mercedes-Benz know-how.

    SsangYong leveraged on this influence to build its infrastructure while utilising the existing Mercedes-Benz network to raise the profile of its evolving presence in the competitive SUV market.

    SsangYong Nigeria Marketing Director, Mr Jatin Nadkarni, told journalist at the unveiling of SsangYong product line-up in Lagos that Stallion Motors is committed to creating a niche for SsangYong in Nigeria.

    Nadkarni said Stallion Motors is working towards generating consistent demand for SsangYong in Nigeria and that it plans to impel clientele with the powerful technological affiliation SsangYong enjoys with Mercedes Benz.

    The company has already taken delivery of the entire SsangYong range in preparation for the formal launch that would come up at a later date.

    The models include Rexton, Kyron and Actyon Sports, all of which are available in Stallion Motors branches nationwide. The Korando is expected to be available in Nigeria early next year.

    A notable highlight among the models from SsangYong is the Actyon Sports Pick-up 4WD, expected to interest clientele seeking solutions for haulage and other commercial uses.

    The new Actyon Sports Pick-up is available in three variants – 4WD Manual Transmission, MT), 4WD MT with ABS+ABG and 2WD Manual Transmission.

    A veritable pioneer automaker, SsangYong initiated the era of four-wheel drive vehicles in the 80s when it independently developed Musso and Korando – Korea’s most enduring SUV brands in the global market.

    Today, SsangYong has established itself as leader of SUVs by building a full line-up of SUVs consisting of Rexton, Kyron, Actyon, and Actyon Sports.

    The icing on the cake for the evolving automaker is SsangYong’s Chairman W luxury sedan which is currently rated as Korea’s new sensation in the luxury segment.

    ‘Chairman W’ is Korea’s first luxury vehicle with V8 5000cc engine and a 7-speed automatic transmission which compares with other leading luxury cars around the world.

    SsangYong Motors is also committed to the advancement of eco-friendly diesel technology through the development of a sophisticated, world-class common rail engine to strengthen its global competitive edge by producing environment-friendly, small eXDi200 engines that conform to the EURO5 standards. This is in addition to the company’s recent efforts to develop EURO6 compliant engines.

    SsangYong SUVs is sold through 1,250 sales networks in over 96 countries and is actively entering the global market by establishing strong and viable local bases in major markets including Nigeria.

  • Kill these driving habits

    Kill these driving habits

    Habits once formed are in most cases very difficult to drop. In this write up, I want to talk about the driving habits that must be dropped and detested by all categories of drivers in Nigeria (including vehicle owners).

    •Restlessness :Some drivers are so friendly with impatience that they cannot stay on the queue or in traffic when there is traffic Snarl. They move from one lane to another in a bid to beat the traffic. Drivers must be patient and show sanity on Nigeria roads.

    •Drunk driving :Alcoholism and drug addiction are great enemies of driving. They work on the human brain thereby creating effects such as slow reaction time, wrong judgement, blurred vision and aggressiveness among others.

    •Distraction: Drivers must avoid every act of distraction such as making or receiving calls, texting, eating, drinking, smoking, making up, shaving, etc.

    •Tailgaiting: Inadequate following distance is very dangerous. Under normal driving environment, you should apply the two – second rule but on wet roads, you should increase it to four – seconds. Following too closely is the main cause of multiple accidents.

    •Dangerous:Overtaking vertaking wrongly is dangerous and has become a major cause of road crashes in Nigeria. Before you commence the overtaking process, you must ask whether it is necessary, whether it is safe and whether it can be done without violating the speed limit rule.

    •Poor lane management:Many drivers (private and commercial) don’t know how to keep their vehicles in lane when driving. Your vehicle should always be positioned at the middle of the lane without trespassing to the next lane except when overtaking.

    •Overspeeding:Some drivers are already addicted to overspeeding even on bad roads. This is also another major cause of accidents on roads. Other bad habits formed by some drivers include wrong lane formation, driving off – lane (driving on road shoulder), driving without seat belt, speeding at traffic lights to beat the red light, vehicle overloading, driving with underage children sitting at the front, speeding on wet road, disobedient to traffic officers and driving against traffic among others.

    According to an adage, the best way to break a plate is to drop it. To break the above dangerous driving habits, drivers must drop then without delay. Dropping the above habits by all the drivers concerned will promote sanity and safety on Nigeria roads.

  • Mark appeals for equity in FERMA projects

    Mark appeals for equity in FERMA projects

    The Senate President, David Mark, has urged senators, especially chairmen of committees, to ensure that projects included in budgets representative of the entire country.

    Mark made the appeal while reacting to an allegation by Sen. Ita Enang (PDP-Akwa Ibom) that the 2012 budget of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was skewed to favour only one zone.

    The Senate president said although he had not seen the budget, if Enang’s allegations were true, the senators were not being fair to the rest of the country.

    “The important thing is that every senator is a senator of Nigeria. If you are a chairman of a committee, you must also know that there are other senators who are chairmen of other committees.

    “We must be fair, and we must ensure that there is justice and that there is equity. I don’t know what they have advertised, but if it is skewed in one direction, it is not correct.

    “ It must be representative of this country. That is what the Senate is all about,” the Senate president said.

    Enang had earlier observed that the FERMA budget was lopsided as all projects for road construction were centred in only one state.

    “The budget of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is not representative of this country. It starts almost in one state and ends in one state.

    “The roads start mostly in the Southeast and are concentrated in Enugu State. I’m sorry to say this, and that should not be done in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I am saying this from what is on record,’’ Enang emphasised.

    He had advocated that the budget of FERMA be stopped immediately, and the money for road projects be shared to the zones.

    “Let Enugu State alone not take the money that belongs to the entire country. Mr President, I want us to even dissolve FERMA because it is not doing what it is supposed to do.

    “One person alone has the opportunity to write the budget, he diverts everything to his village and starves the entire country.

    “This is not the purpose of federal character. Even the village of the Senate President is not captured in the FERMA projects, ’’he said.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Ayogu Eze had, in his response to the allegations, said that the issue was completely mistaken.

    Eze explained that there had been an earlier publication of constituency projects of some individuals which was not a representation of the FERMA budget.

    “What was advertised during the holidays was mainly some of the new projects that came as a result of constituency projects of some individuals.

    “It is not a representation of the entire budget of FERMA. Before they made this last advertisement, they have awarded about 90 per cent of their contracts in different parts of the country,’’ Eze said.

    He also alluded to the fact that every zone of the country was represented on the committee of works.

    The Senate also confirmed the nomination of Mr Nnoli Nnaji (South East) as a member of the governing board of FERMA.

    Mark congratulated the new board member and urged the board to live up to the expectations.

  • Agency advises motorists on parking lots

    Agency advises motorists on parking lots

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has urged motorists to use designated parking points at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport and the General Aviation Terminal, Lagos.

    A statement by the General Manager, Corporate Communications Yakubu Dati said, there are laid out signages provided to guide motorists on the routes around the terminals.

    The airport environment, Dati said, is a special place and the need to keep international standards is uppermost, hence the need to create a safe and sane environment for steady flow of traffic.

    He said towing of vehicles at the airport is to help FAAN focus on its main business of running airports and terminals, and to serve as deterrent to errant motorists that will not abide by the rules.

    He said: “The action is to compel motorists to conduct themselves in orderly fashion and to transform the environment into a world class airport as envisioned by the management. We want to discourage the arbitrary parking of vehicles and often cases of abandoning of vehicles for days on end, which results in crisis in traffic management.

    It is against standard practice worldwide for vehicles to park at designated no-parking zones, park haphazardly or be left unattended at airport environments. Such vehicles not only constitute a nuisance to the scenic environment being envisaged, but are a threat to the security and wellbeing of the airport and the general public.”

  • Kia rewards customers

    Kia rewards customers

    Kia Motors Nigeria has launched a new promotion scheme tagged Everybody is a winner with gifts including LCD televisions, home theatre systems, DVD players and much more to be won.

    This promotion, aimed at rewarding Kia’s teeming customers, would run throughout month in celebration of Nigeria’s Independence Day.

    The auto giant has over the last few months come up with various promotions and schemes aimed at making it easier for Nigerians to buy their dream KIA.

    Kia Motors Marketing Manager Kayode Adejumo said: “In this new promotion, every buyer of any KIA model gets to win prizes instantly. Once a buyer purchases a Kia, he gets to select a scratch card right there and goes home with any gift found on the scratch card.”

    Chief Commercial Officer, Mr Sandeep Malhotra also corroborated Adejumo adding that the customers are at the heart of their brand.

    “We aim to continuously improve the quality of our service and reward them for their loyal patronage,” Malhotra said.

    KIA Motors Nigeria has been in operation in Nigeria since 2002 and will be celebrating 10 years of doing business in Nigeria this November.