The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Basic safe driving tips (II)

    Avoid dangerous overtaking (passing). Only overtake when it is necessary and when you know you can complete it without over-speeding  and without causing problem for the oncoming vehicles. Don’t block fast (passing) lanes.

    • Always obey the following-distance rules especially when there is free movement of vehicles and on expressways. Avoid tailgating when driving. Increase the following-distance on wet and rough roads.
    • Drivers must be in good health with the right level of energy.
    • Always monitor the traffic ahead, behind and on the sides with special attention on commercial motorcycles (Okada).
    • When driving in the night, you must always watch out for traffic signs, parked vehicles, pedestrians, and other road users. Drive more slowly in the night than during the daylight taking note of the need to make room for adequate braking distance.
    • Master the defensive driving technique and be safety conscious at all times because life has no duplicate.
    • Don’t form illegal lane. Be patient and keep to the main lanes no matter the traffic situation.
    • Don’t drive against the traffic (one way).
    • Always obey the traffic light and be cautious, having it in mind that the other driver on the other side may disobey the traffic light.
    • Whenever you get to a cross-road or junction, you must stop and watch all the sides to ensure that it is safe for you to proceed. Always follow this step whether there is stop sign there or not.
    • Avoid overloading because it affects the balance and braking distance of a vehicle.
    • Car drivers should as much as possible avoid driving in – between two articulated vehicles.
    • Avoid cutting sharply into the front of articulated vehicles.
    • Always keep your eyes moving, capturing the big picture of events around you. This further boosts your hazard perception skills.
    • Don’t speed on service lanes.
    • Obey the pedestrian or zebra crossing rules. That is, stop at zebra crossing lines for pedestrians to cross before proceeding.
    • Beware of animals on the roads
    • Don’t drive with full beam (full light in the night especially when facing oncoming vehicles).
    • Avoid making u – turn on roads without median
    • When you are approaching on intersection, it is always better to move to the right lane.
    • Don’t make a u-turn before roundabout simply because there is enough space to do so. It is a safety risk.
    • Beware of manholes, potholes or Traffic holes on the roads.
    • Beware of parked or abandoned vehicles on the roads.
    • Beware of vehicles carrying unladen loads.
    • Don’t change lanes at road intersections
    • Always obey the right – of – way rules.
    • Be awake to avoid sudden braking.
    • Don’t stop on the road. Move safety to the road kerb or any designated parking lot.
    • Always remember the arithmetic of speed bearing in mind that there is no justification for rushing or impatience when driving.

    Do a proper journey planning and be safety conscious. It is the person that arrive safely and alive that can tell stories.

    1. Be conscious of hydroplaning particularly when driving during the raining season. Use good tyres and adjust your speed appropriately.
    2. Avoid reverse driving on the road. If you miss your way, it is safer to make use of the next exit.
    3. Be conscious of the blind spots and make sure you stay away from other vehicles’ blind spots while you also watch out for your own vehicle’s blind spots.

     

     

     

  • Hyundai hands over 530 vehicles to World Cup

    The four-yearly vehicle handover ahead of the World Cup finals is thus a familiar event, with two weeks before the first game, the ceremony for this year has just taken place.

    A total of 530 Hyundai-branded vehicles will be used by World Cup players, match officials and VIPs. The bulk of them will be Santa Fes and Tucsons, while the H1 Starex minibus will also shuttle people between locations.

    There’s also a fleet of national team buses, each wrapped in bespoke slogans – selected via an international competition that saw 160,000 submissions from global footie fans.

    About 3.45 million fans then voted to pick the 32 winning slogan liveries – and the designer of each is now looking forward to watching their national team’s match live, and actually ride on the team bus they helped design during the match day convoy.

    “Transport is an important logistical element at an event of this scale” said Hyundai Motor’s marketing vice president Minsoo Kim.

    “As the FIFA World Cup’s official automotive partner sponsor, we are committed to assisting the event organisers with running a streamlined event, just as we are committed to caring for our customers by ensuring special and rewarding Hyundai ownership experiences the world over,” Kim added.

    FIFA Director of Marketing Jean-Francois Pathy said the gathering of Hyundais was “a quality fleet. These vehicles will ensure a smooth operation of the event… both FIFA and Hyundai Motor share a passion for football and we are ready to deliver the excitement of the beautiful game to fans around the world”.

     

  • Inadequate focus on road safety

    on May 29, President   Muhammadu Buhari presented a  laudable Democracy Day speech. Among the long list of the achievements of his government, he mentioned how the activities of Boko Haram have been curtailed, how peace has been restored to the Niger Delta region and the efforts of the government to checkmate the farmers-herdsmen killings.

    It is, however, disheartening that no mention was made about the challenges of road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths in Nigeria and what the government has done or is doing to address the challenges.

    The number of people that road accident killed and maimed in a year is more than the number of those killed and maimed by the Boko Haram insurgents, herdsmen and HIV/AIDS put together in the same year.

    I am not saying that the government is doing nothing about road safety issues because as the National President of the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (a coalition of driving schools), I am aware of the commendable activities of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), some state governments and other stakeholders for promoting safety on the roads.

    It is, however, disheartening that the Federal, state, and local government Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms are not publicly displaying that they are truly committed to reducing the carnage on  the roads. I have attended several road safety events where most of the government functionaries invited, only sent representatives with an excuse that they went for more pressing assignments. Which other assignment can be more pressing than saving lives?

    Some state governments have been encouraging shortcuts and other anomalies at the driver licence centres under the guise that they want a boost in revenue generation, thereby fuelling the rate at which untrained and half-baked drivers are getting driver licence in Nigeria. The recent resolutions by the Senate and House of Representatives are pointers to these facts which must not be swept under the carpets.

    Over 80 percent of road accidents were attributed to the human factors (drivers ) yet the driving schools responsible for the training and empowerment of the drivers have not been getting any support from the Federal and state governments to enable us improve on our delivery of quality driver education in all the states and FCT.

    It is time for President  Buhari and the governors to make public pronouncements to Nigerians to know what damages road accidents are doing to their lives, families, businesses, communities, economy and the nation as a whole.

    Nigerians want to know how concerned and committed the government is in finding solution to the pandemic of road accidents, injuries and deaths. If Boko Haram and herdsmen killings are getting government’s attention, road accident which is rampant and more devastating nationwide than these must get more government attention.

    Nigerians are also waiting to see more proactive policies and actions to reduce the loss of irreparable lives and valuable properties on the roads.

  • Mercedes Benz V-Class: Combination of van, saloon

    Following its launch in 2014, the Mercedes Benz V-Class immediately became a huge success, including Nigeria where it was introduced last year.

    This, according to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Weststar Associates Limited(the Authorised General Distributor of Mercedes Benz in Nigeria) Mirko Plath, is as a result of the international growth strategy of Mercedes Benz “Vans goes global” with the goal to further extend the business unit’s technology leadership, expand brand activities and tap into new growth potential outside the core European markets.

    The V-Class, Plath said, fits in perfectly to this global approach as it combines luxury, utility and performance for customers who want to have an enjoyable driving experience with the functionality of a van that can serve their daily needs for both personal use and work-related activities.

    He added that it comes with features that include a generous interior space, an attractive exterior design, technological leadership, high quality equipment and excellent safety highlights that set it apart from its competitors.

    “Customers in Nigeria can now enjoy luxury and utility together in a van as the V-Class is built following the excellent standards of Mercedes Benz passenger cars and is equipped with a generous amount of interior space to accommodate business and family needs of different customer groups. From the interior and exterior designs to the safety and driving assistance systems, the new V-Class is way ahead in its segment,” he said.

    The new V-Class comes in three different lines (Standard, Avantgarde and Exclusive) and in addition an exclusive AMG line which comes with refined sportiness.

    The standard V-Class line’s exterior design is equipped with16-inch steel wheels, halogen headlamps, a manual tailgate with fixed rear window and four individual seats in the rear.

    The Avantgarde V-Class line’s exterior is equipped with 17-inch light-alloy wheels, a waistline trim strip in chrome, separately opening rear windows, LED intelligent light system and an additional left sliding door.

    The Exclusive V-Class line’s exterior is equipped with 19-inch light-alloy wheels, a panoramic sliding roof, an “Exclusive” label on the fender, electric sliding doors and tailgate as well as the Avantgarde sports package included.

    The modern, generously-dimensioned interior is exemplary in the Multi-purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment both in terms of its ergonomics and its visual and tactile value appeal as well. Design and materials meet the highest standards. This is seen among other features in the media display with a high-quality glass surface or the generously sized trim. Even more individually, exclusively and sportily the interior of the V-Class can be optionally equipped with the AMG Line and the Interior Design package or with the V-Class Exclusive and V-Class Avantgarde design and equipment lines as well as the Avantgarde Interior Design package available for this.

    With agile performance and high efficiency, the V-Class engine with 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission impresses with its superior handling characteristics and low fuel consumption. For the Nigerian market, the V-Class comes in a vertical in-line four cylinder petrol engine with 211hp with an output of 155kW and a peak torque of 350nm – delivering plenty of driving enjoyment, thanks to the new innovations in the engine.

    With its unique concept, that combines the functionality of a van with the typical strengths of a Mercedes-Benz saloon, the V-Class has meanwhile convinced customers in around 90 countries including Nigeria.

    Thanks to its exceptional style, high comfort and multiple individualisation options, suiting various needs, the V-Class enjoys a unique position in the global MPV segment and selling at all authorised Mercedes Benz dealerships in Nigeria and available for immediate delivery.

     

  • Ford appoints Middle East, Africa chiefs

    Ford Motor Company has announced key global leadership changes.

    Jacques Brent, president, Ford Middle East and Africa, is the new  Director, Product Marketing.

    The appointement took effect from June 1.

    This move is part of Ford’s push to transform its marketing organisation to drive greater efficiency, effectiveness and customer insight – leveraging the latest tools and technology.

    The company also announced that Mark Ovenden,  the Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Service, Asia Pacific, will succeed Brent. In this role, Ovenden will be responsible for driving growth in the company’s Middle East and Africa operations across more than 70 markets.

    “We are making key leadership changes that will help us accelerate our growth in Middle East and Africa and reshape our global marketing organisation,” Jim Hackett, Ford Motor Company president and CEO, said

    Brent, 48, will assume responsibility for Ford’s global product marketing, working to improve the product planning process, representing the voice of the customer and closely aligning with Product Development. He will report to Joy Falotico, the Group Vice President, The Lincoln Motor Company and Chief Marketing Officer.

    Brent has served as president, Ford Middle East and Africa, since 2016, coming over from Shanghai, where he oversaw the marketing  of 12 major markets as Vice President, Marketing, Asia Pacific.

    Over his 20-year career, Brent has accumulated deep marketing expertise from serving in multiple global assignments spanning three continents.

     

  • Tailgating and stopping distance

    Failure to obey the following distance rule is a very dangerous trend among drivers. This driving error is one of the major factors responsible for multiple crashes.

    A few days ago, multiple crashes were narrowly averted between Togo and Ghana. Four buses were moving bumper to bumper when suddenly, the bus ahead drove by a Ghanaian suddenly slowed down. The bus that followed immediately (driven by a Nigerian) had to swerve to the farmland on the right side to avert a rear-end collision. The second and third buses also driven by Nigerians swerved to the left without due consideration and almost had a head-on collision with an oncoming articulated vehicle. For about 15 minutes, the three drivers and the Ghana-bound passengers were shaking and praising God for the narrow escapes.

    The rainy season just started and drivers should be conscious of the fact that the road will still be more slippery than usual. Drivers should also remind themselves of hydro or aqua – planning which could be caused by an overflow of water on the road. These were the factors at play during my recent road safety research trip to Ghana just as it obtains in various parts of Nigeria.

    Depending on the condition of the road, weather condition and vehicle dynamics factors, drivers must always obey the two, four and six-second rules. This is to ensure that the driver gathers all the information for the safe response. The closer you are to the vehicle ahead, the less the rate of hazard perception and the more the risk of rear-end collision.

    Before increasing speed, drivers must be conscious of the braking and stopping distance as well as the momentum or kinetic energy principles.

    In a nutshell, drivers must avoid tailgating, over-speeding and every form of distraction when driving.

     

     

  • Enter a new SUV – Changan CS35

    Emerging from the stable of Changan, one of China’s oldest and largest auto manufacturers, the Changan CS35 compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) demonstrates aptitude and versatility of an urban-styled crossover with strong stance, smooth-styling-details that predate the automaker’s 32 years’ experience in building and selling passenger vehicles in its 156 years’ industrial history.

    Ranked number one among Chinese auto brands with yearly sales volume of three million units, no fewer than 8,500 new Changan vehicles are sold daily in 6,000 sales and service facilities in more than 60 countries.

    Changan is, undoubtedly, a tech-savvy automotive giant with extensive investment in advanced research and innovative technologies – a commitment that has reinforced its partnership with global R&D organisations.

    The CS35, according to Changan, was borne out of the automaker’s desire for advanced research and innovative technologies through the formation of global R&D (research and development) partnership agreements with renowned European, American and Japanese automakers.

    Built with superbly striking features including six-way manual adjustable driver seat, four-way co-driver seat and eye-catching attractions such as front/rear fog lamps, shark-fin antenna, leather seats, multi-functional steering wheel, rear parking sensors, ABS/EBD with brake assist among others, the CS35 is yet unmatched by archrivals in the small SUV segment.

    “Changan applies new technologies to provide hi-tech, high quality and fashionable automobile products for the customers and this is why the ‘V’ logo, which epitomizes ‘Victory’ and ‘Value’, is committed to building world class automobile enterprise and creating value for customers,” the automaker affirmed.

    The Changan CS35 also won sequence of international design honours especially for styling and cutting edge environmentally-friendly design concepts.

    In 2015 for instance, Changan won the National Science and Technology Progress Award, reaffirming Changan’s commitment to the advancement of technology and innovation through R&D.

    Italian Chief Designer Dambrosio Luciano who designed the CS35 attributed the uniqueness its design and exceptional value additions such as the interior package-type capsule design that centers on the driver, with ultra-quiet cabin as well as rich molding levels.

    According to him, the CS35 was intentionally styled to outclass rival marques in capability and value addition coupled with several other attractive features such as front dual-SRS airbags and anti-theft alarm; six-speaker audio system, front reading lights, front and rear headrest, power windows, remote key control among others.

    Other eye-catching features include front/rear fog lamps, strong and elegant black/silver multifunctional luggage rack, sunroof, leather seats, rear parking sensors, front dual-SRS airbags and anti-theft alarm etc.

    The body is made of high strength steel with four-wheel disc brake system equipped with Bosch’s ninth ABS and BAS Braking Assist Devise as well as energy absorbing steering column.

    As in most advanced climes, the Changan CS35 is already relishing attractions amongst discerning auto buffs in Nigeria and it promises to be competitively priced to enable more patrons have access to the vehicle.

    Stallion Motors’ assemblers of Changan automobiles said its facility in Lagos has been intensified to produce competitively priced entry level CS35 SUV to inspire additional patrons just as it moves to position the vehicle as the most preferred compact SUV.

    Under the hood is a new generation Bluecore efficient H-series 1.6L powerful and fuel efficient engine mated to a brand new Japan made five-speed manual transmission and SsII four-speed automatic transmission incorporating state-of-the-art technologies such as DVVT, DOHC, low friction, light weighted and STT.

    The combination of these technologies enhances fuel economy, nimble acceleration and produces lower Co2 emission.

    Beyond comfort, the Changan CS35 is rated five-star, having met domestic first class safety level and requirements of European Collision Regulations and American Standard on complete vehicles, occupant and roller protection.

    The CS35, it is hoped, would halt the spontaneous tidal movement from C-segment sedans to B-segment cars just as it promises to offer sustainable preference for discerning customers looking for affordably priced entry-level sport utility vehicle.

     

  • Kia holds Green Light Volunteer Week

    Kia Motors Corporation is celebrating its volunteer activities across the globe.

    Kia’s Green Light Volunteer Week, which runs until May 30, will see thousands of its employees around the world volunteering in their local communities.

    In South Korea, Kia employees are taking part in a Green Light Card campaign. Volunteers from Kia’s manufacturing and R&D facilities, as well as the company’s global headquarters in Seoul, have been handing out Green Light Cards to children to promote road safety awareness and prevent traffic accidents. Affixed to children’s school bags, the Green Light Card acts as a high-visibility safety sign, reflecting the light from car headlamps to make students more visible to drivers when crossing roads.

    “Giving back is in the heart of our business, it forms part of our core values. To celebrate our ongoing global CSR projects, alongside our international operations, we’ve created the Volunteer Week – to continue our great momentum of giving back to communities all over the world. This Volunteer Week will have activity in our home country of South Korea and is being expanded across the globe to form a mass festival of corporate social responsibility activities,” said Kyehwan Roh, CSR management team leader.

    More than 1,000 Kia employees have created 80,000 Green Light Cards for school students at over 600 elementary schools across South Korea, and are helping to pin the cards onto children’s bags. Kia plans to extend the Green Light Card program to all elementary schools in South Korea, distributing the Green Light Cards to about 600,000 first graders by 2020.

    Kia’s manufacturing plants in Europe, China, Mexico and the United States are also participating in the company’s Green Light Volunteer Week.

    Seven hundred employees of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG)- the company’s North American production base – have volunteered to take part in a ‘CAN FOOD’ campaign, donating canned food to a charity which feeds lower-income residents in the nearby community.

    Employees from Kia Motors Slovakia (KMS), Kia Motors Mexico (KMM) and Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automoblie Co. (DYK) in China also carried out their own volunteer activities in their neigh6bouring communities.

     

  • Toyota, Suzuki to develop green car tech

    Toyota Motor Corporation and Suzuki will discuss vehicle production and technology development for the Indian market

    The two Japanese car makers will begin talks over future collaborations in technological development, vehicle production and market development.

    The talks are set to provide a joint supply of vehicles for the Indian market. Suzuki was one of the first companies to enter the Indian car market and has been instrumental in pushing India’s automotive technology forward.

    The topics of discussion between the two companies will include Toyota providing technical support for Suzuki’s compact, ultra-high-efficiency powertrain and the supply of models developed by Suzuki but produced by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd for Indian, African and other developing markets.

    Toyota President Akio Toyoda said: “As members of Indian society, Toyota, along with Suzuki, will do its best to enhance freedom and fun in a future mobility society and to make “Made in India” vehicles cherished in Africa and many countries around the world.”

    Talks have been on-going since February last year after both companies agreed on a memorandum of understanding towards business partnership. Talks have now gone public with hopes of closing a deal in the near future.

     

  • Hyundai records 391,197 sales in April

    Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker has announced its global sales results for last month, posting a total of 391,197 units sold, up by 11.1 percent from a year earlier.

    The highest growth since December 2014 was led by strong sales of new SUV models – the all-new Santa Fe and Kona – while a recent sales rebound in the Chinese market also largely contributed to the growth.

    Sales in overseas markets totalled 327,409 units, representing an increase of 12.2 percent year-over-year.

    Sales increased significantly as the company’s popular subcompact SUV Kona expanded to key markets and demand remained strong in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia and India.

    Sales in the Korean market increased by 5.7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, recording 63,788 units sold.