The Nation Newspaper

Category: Motoring

  • Govts’ sins on traffic signs (2)

    The sloppy portions of the Lokoja- Abuja road are lacking the necessary traffic signs and road markings particularly to warn the Drivers to slow down very well as they approach the slopes. These lapses have  been causing accidents at those spots virtually every week with the bridges and road medians badly damaged. Many of the mobile road medians have been shifted by vehicles, thereby becoming dangerous hazards to road users on these roads with no one bothering to reposition or remove the obstructions for years now. The erratic diversion of traffic on the same Abuja-Lokoja road without adequate traffic signs nor Traffic Officers has been causing accidents for some time now. Why must we fold our arms and allow the lives of innocent citizens to be wasted without taking actions until the lives of VIPs are lost to same negligence?

    The Federal Government should  complete the Abuja-Lokoja- Okene road speedily and install the correct traffic signs and road markings to prevent further loss of lives on the roads.

    The falling rocks on the Vom- Jos road has no signs of falling rocks. I advise that the Federal or state government should engage the road construction company to cut the rocks and sand further inside, to prevent them from rolling to the roads. The same should be done on the Lokoja axis of the Abuja-Lokoja road. Governments need to get more proactive in their transport and road safety- related policies, actions and projects.

    I hereby suggest an intensive training programme for the officers of the relevant ministries and agencies responsible for the design, production and installation of traffic signs and road markings to enable them clearly and deeply understand the meanings and implications of the signs and markings for enforcement on the various roads. Governments must intensify enforcement to ensure our roads are safer every passing day.

    I will conclude this article with the word of Lesley Young, the Chief Driving Examiner of the United Kingdom -”The UK has some of the safest roads in the world and we have a reputation of being well-mannered and considerate Drivers. However, while things have steadily been getting better, far many people are still being killed and seriously injured on our roads every year. So there’s still work to do!”   If this can be said of UK which has a rate of 2.97 and ranked 169 out of 172 countries(one of the countries with least cases of road traffic crashes, deaths and injuries)  can say that the number of people being killed on their roads are too many and that they have more works to do to further reduce the rate of road accidents and deaths in the country, what should be the resolve and actions of Nigeria which has a rate of 35.39 and ranked 9 on the list of the countries with high rates of road accidents and deaths out of  172 countries?

    An adage says it is never late to become what you ought to have been. It, therefore, behoves on  the Federal and state governments and their Agencies to wake up to their responsibilities to further prevent the loss of innocent lives and valuable properties on Nigeria roads.

    State VIOs and FCT VIOs must get more committed, sincere and proactive in pre-Driver Licence theory and practical tests.  The Federal Road Safety Commission  must speedily complete the handshake between the Driving School Standardisation  Programme(DSSP)Portal and  the Driver Licence Portal to prevent further obtention of Driver Licence through the back door by half-baked drivers and untrained people.

    In addition, the Governments must do something about the car racing games which a lot of youths and children are playing at the game centers. The games are developing high speed mentality in the children which would negatively affect their driving habit in the future.

    Officials of Federal and state governments or their Agencies should drive round all their roads to identify the black spots which are prone accidents and other points that need embankments, speed control bumps and other construction, or repairs to further promote free and safe flow of traffic as well as address the security challenges on these roads.

    It is not the time of the day that vehicles move on these roads that matters if the needful are properly done by all concerned.

  • Ford loses $200m for closing Mexican plant

    Ford said it took a $200 million hit from costs related to cancelling a $1.6 billion small car plant in Mexico.

    The auto giant reported a fourth-quarter loss, reflecting pension accounting and write-downs for abandoning the Mexican factory plan, and reaffirmed its forecast that profits for 2017 would be lower.

    Ford spent much of 2016 at the centre of a political storm over its decision to shift production of Ford Focus compact cars to Mexico from a factory in Wayne, Michigan, near Detroit in United States.

    President Donald Trump, during his election campaign, attacked the decision and vowed to have it reversed. Earlier this month, Ford said it was abandoning the planned $1.6 billion plant in Mexico, and that it would add 700 jobs in Michigan tied to production of electric and autonomous vehicles.

    The company said the decision was driven by slack demand and weak pricing for small cars, but Ford executives said they were encouraged by Trump’s promises of corporate tax cuts and regulatory relief.

    Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said last Thursday Ford would await specific policies of the Trump administration for an idea of how they will affect the company’s future investment plans.

     

  • GM to pay $1 million fine for ignition switch case

    General Motors (GM) has reportedly agreed to pay $1 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of the settlement for its faulty ignition switch.

    The SEC announced its verdict last Wednesday. The civil penalty of $1 million to be paid by GM will finally settle the ongoing government investigations into the company’s handling of the defect.

    The ignition switch scandal is the result of faulty ignition switches which reportedly shut off the engine during driving and as a result prevented the airbags from inflating.

    The case was first highlighted in February 2014, when GM recalled nearly 800,000 of its small cars due to faulty ignition switches. The number of recalls, however, continued to climb in the following months and nearly 30 million cars were recalled from all over the world.

    Due to the ignition switch flaw, nearly 124 people lost their lives and 275 people ended up being injured.

     

    Prosecution and penalties

    The first major lawsuit was filed on in July 2014 at a U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The lawsuit was filed on the behalf of 658 people who claimed to be severely affected by the ignition scandal. The lawsuit alleged that even if GM was aware of the problematic switches since 2001, it did not take any measures and recall any of the affected cars till 2014.

    Another lawsuit was filed by the Orange County District Attorney on behalf of the people of California when the company failed to disclose its defects. The lawsuit alleged that GM was engaged in unfair competition and cited false advertisements violating the law of California.

  • ‘Nissan is only automaker to get Brexit letter’

    ‘Nissan is only automaker to get Brexit letter’

    Nissan is the only automaker to be sent a letter about the United Kingdom’s policies toward the auto industry after the country quits the European Union, Britain’s Industry Minister Nick Hurd said.

    Ministers and officials have spent “quite a bit of time” talking to other automakers about the country’s Brexit plans, listening to their concerns and providing reassurances, Hurd said on Friday in an interview in London.

    Business Secretary Greg Clark revealed in October he would made four key pledges in a letter to Nissan, including that Britain would seek to maintain tariff-free access to the EU during divorce talks that the government aims to start by the end of March.

    “Inevitably they have the same issues and concerns about Brexit,” Hurd said. Asked if a similar letter had been sent to any other automaker, he replied “no,” adding “there’s no special deal with Nissan. In terms of Brexit, it’s the same message for everyone.”

    Manufacturers have expressed concerns that Brexit may lead to costly barriers to the cross-border passage of components and vehicles, including tariffs and bureaucratic hurdles such as customs declarations and certificates of origin to prove where parts come from. On the back of Clark’s reassurances, Nissan decided to expand manufacturing in Sunderland, northern England.

    U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain intends to withdraw from the EU’s single market and its customs union, while brokering a free-trade agreement that ensures “frictionless” commerce across borders.

    “We want to make sure there’s a free-trade agreement to protect our investment in the country,” Ford Motor Corporaton’s European president, Jim Farley, said in an interview in London, adding: “It’s encouraging for us to see that the government’s approach is zero-tariff. My main message for the company is that we’re really optimistic that the governments can work through and find the right solution for our industry and for our employees.”

    Ford employs 15,000 people in Britain, including engine manufacturing plants at Dagenham, eastern England, and Bridgend in Wales. It no longer assembles cars in Britain. Asked whether Ford had asked for the same guarantees as Nissan, Farley said: “Everyone should be treated similarly in our industry. We don’t think there should be any winners and losers in this. All companies should be created equal.”

  • Ford introduces SYNC AppLink

    Ford introduces SYNC AppLink

    With most smartphone owners saying they use navigation apps while driving, Ford Motor Company is introducing new SYNC AppLink capability that will project navigation apps directly from a smartphone to the vehicle touch screen. Sygic Car Navigation is first to take advantage of the new capability.

    According to a 2015 study by Pew Research Centre, two-thirds of Americans are now smartphone users. Of more than 1,600 who participated in the study, 67 percent said they use their smartphones at least occasionally for turn-by-turn navigation when driving, while 31 percent frequently use navigation apps via their smartphones.

    When a smartphone is paired to the vehicle via USB cable, control of the Sygic app is removed from the device. The app is automatically projected to the vehicle touch screen making the navigation app more convenient to manage. The technology aims to reduce a driver’s urge to pick up and look at a mobile device.

    Ford Connected Vehicle and Services Executive Director, Don Butler, said: “Ford understands how customers are using their smartphones, so it’s important we offer them more choice in how they connect and control their capabilities in the car. Our new SYNC AppLink mobile navigation capability will help keep drivers’ eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel while using the apps that they love.”

    Sygic is the first mobile navigation app to take advantage of Ford AppLink capability to move mobile navigation from the phone screen to the in-vehicle touch screen. Available in more than 200 countries and about 40 languages, Sygic technology is used by 150 million smartphone owners across the globe. The Sygic Car Navigation app is optimised to work seamlessly with Ford SYNC 3 – giving drivers more choice in how they navigate.

    Sygic Chief Executive Officer Michal Štencl, said: “Sygic is committed to exploring the boundaries of navigation, a philosophy that directly contributes to our enduring reputation as the leader in navigation for connected cars. We look forward to unveiling premium new cutting-edge features and further developments as part of our global relationship with Ford.”

    The new SYNC AppLink mobile navigation capability will launch on 2018 Ford vehicles.

  • Kia Motors donates 110 vehicles to Australian Open

    Kia Motors donates 110 vehicles to Australian Open

    As the major sponsor of Australian Open 2017, Kia Motors handed over a fleet of 110 official tournament vehicles to Tennis Australia during a ceremony in Melbourne attended by executives from Kia Motors Australia and Tennis Australia, as well as Kia’s global brand ambassador and former Australian Open champion, Rafael Nadal. This year celebrates Kia’s 16th consecutive sponsorship of the Australian Open, and Kia will roll out various on- and off-line programs for tennis fans around the world.

    “We are delighted once again to accept the fleet of Kia vehicles to help keep the Australian Open moving smoothly over the next few weeks, connecting visiting fans from around the world to the biggest annual sporting event in January,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley, said, adding: “It’s a huge logistical exercise to move all our players, officials, media and staff around Melbourne during the tournament and every year this is achieved thanks to Kia’s reliability and support.”

    This year’s fleet of vehicles, including 50 Carnival MPVs, 40 Sorento CUVs and 20 Optima mid-size sedans, will ensure smooth and safe transportation for Australian Open 2017 by transporting players, officials and VIPs to and from matches and other activities throughout the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.

    Tennis superstar and Kia global brand ambassador Rafael Nadal joined the ceremony as he handed over the ceremonial key to fleet to Tennis Australia.

    Over the past 15 years, Kia’s courtesy fleet has clocked up close to five million kilometers in tens of thousands of journeys carrying champions and journeymen alike in comfort and safety.

    This year the Kia courtesy fleet will be continue that tradition, driven by more than 200 volunteer drivers who expect to clock up more than 400,000 kilometers in thousands of journeys shuttling players, officials, media and fans during Australian Open 2017.

    “The Australian Open is Kia’s longest running major sports sponsorship, and as a proud sponsor we’re delighted to be a driving force behind the growth of the tournament, not only by providing safe, stylish and comfortable transportation for players and participants, but also by engaging with tennis fans worldwide with various on & off-line campaigns to share the excitement we are about to witness over next few weeks,” said Bryan Cho, Vice President of the Overseas Marketing Group at Kia Motors Corporation.

  • Kia releases first images of all-new Picanto

    Kia releases first images of all-new Picanto

    Kia Motors last Thursday released images of the all-new Picanto, the third-generation of one of Kia’s global best-selling cars.

    Created by Kia’s design centres in Namyang, Korea and Frankfurt, Germany, the new Picanto brings youthful and energetic character to the A-segment.

    The new model – revealed in Kia’s sports-inspired ‘GT-Line’ specification – conveys a more assertive stance through bolder body lines and subtly sculpted surfaces.

    A 15 mm-longer wheelbase (2,385 mm to 2,400 mm) also pushes the wheels further out into each corner for a more confident appearance.

    The Picanto’s colour palette is more vibrant than ever, with a choice of 11 bright paint options designed to make the car stand out.

    Inside, Picanto’s suite of high-tech comfort, convenience and safety features is underscored by a modern and refined new cabin design. At the heart of the cabin is a new ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system, making the latest in-car technology available to occupants. The Picanto offers greater potential for customer personalisation, with buyers able to choose from a range of colours for trim and upholstery.

    Buyers of the all-new Picanto will enjoy smarter packaging efficiency than ever before, with more cabin and cargo space than rivals in the segment. In spite of its extended wheelbase, the Picanto retains its characteristically compact dimensions. With a shorter front overhang and longer rear overhang, the all-new model is the same length (3,595 mm) as the car it replaces.

    Kia will reveal the all-new Picanto in public for the first time at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show in March, and will go on sale at the end of the third quarter of 2017.

  • Boko Haram and road accidents (2)

    Hence the continuous reports of road accidents and fatalities daily or weekly basis nationwide.

    The disgraceful compromise in the issuance of driver’s licence has also put more burden on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) as to which strategies to employ to reduce the carnage on Nigeria roads.

    This is evident in the recent announcement by the authorities of FRSC that fuel tankers should no more move in the night. This is a policy adopted out of a confused mind. Before deciding on the strategies to adopt to reduce the rate of accidents among the fuel tanker drivers, we must seek the true answers to the following question: Were the tanker drivers given the right foundational and re-training? No is the answer. Were the drivers subjected to adequate pre-driving sleep or rest? Is there an effective drug abuse prevention and counseling programme for the drivers? What time of the day is best suited for the transportation of petroleum products considering the flammable nature and traffic? Do the tanker drivers have Licence? If yes, how did they obtain the licence? The back door of course!

    Unless these and allied foundamental questions are properly addressed, the no night movement law of the FRSC will not solve the problem of articulated vehicle accidents.

    The United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011 – 2020) aimed at drastically reducing the rate of road accidents and fatalities is just about 3 years to end with Nigeria still wallowing in Corrupt Driver Licence System, weak Road Safety Administration and Traffic Management as well as poor road user education. Nigeria is still far from accomplishing the five pillars of the UN  Decade of Action as at today. Yet the Governments are not feeling concerned. Rather, they are gallivanting around to raise billions of Naira to finance the Boko Haram war and the resettlement of the North East. This is right but should not be to the neglect of road accident prevent. We should not forget that Boko Haram was a product of neglect as well.

    It is time for the Federal Government to set up a result-oriented think-tank comprising all the stakeholders in the road safety and transport sector, including representatives of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government at the Federal and state levels) to chart the right way forward to prevent further loss of innocent lives on Nigeria roads.  President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn to an oath to protect the lives of Nigerians and he must be seen as genuinely doing so in words and in actions. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • Nissan halts joint development of luxury cars with Daimler

    Nissan is halting joint development of luxury cars with Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz, sources close to the companies told Reuters, suspending a key project in their seven-year partnership and potentially hitting profitability at a new shared factory in Mexico.

    Nissan decided in October its premium Infiniti brand would not use “MFA2”, an upgraded Daimler car platform that the companies have jointly funded, in part because Infiniti was not performing well enough to absorb Mercedes technology costs, the sources said.

    “It wasn’t possible to close a deal on the basis of MFA2,” said one of the people. “The targets set by Infiniti were too difficult to achieve.”

    The move could reduce efficiency at a $1 billion shared factory opening this year in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where the companies had planned to use the same compact car architecture to cut complexity and production costs, two of the sources said.

    It could also ultimately force Nissan to write down part of a 250 million pound ($306 million) investment at its UK plant that included Mercedes-based tooling, they added.

    Daimler and Nissan pursue joint programs only when “beneficial for both sides”, the companies said in separate statements to Reuters, without directly addressing emailed questions about their plans for MFA2 vehicles.

    Projects are constantly reviewed against targets to account for “developments beyond the control of management”, they added, and discussions about joint development of future premium compact cars are ongoing.

    Nissan’s decision deals a blow to the broad cooperation deal struck between Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn and his Daimler counterpart Dieter Zetsche in 2010.

    It also underscores the mixed results of Nissan’s battle over almost three decades to transform Infiniti into a significant global player in the lucrative luxury car market.

    The decision predates Donald Trump’s election as the next U.S. president, the sources said, and was unrelated to campaign vows to penalize Mexican imports that have rattled the auto industry. Ford (F.N) on Tuesday scrapped a planned compact car plant in the country.

    Nissan and Daimler are pushing ahead with Aguascalientes, where they will build Infiniti and Mercedes models for the United States (US) and other markets from a single assembly line opening in 2017.

    The project nonetheless faces weakening U.S. demand for smaller cars that contributed to Ford’s cancellation and has further raised profitability hurdles for new Infiniti compacts.

    Persistently low oil prices accelerated the market shift to larger vehicles last year, Ford sales chief Mark LaNeve said last Wednesday, adding: “All the growth was SUVs and trucks.”

  • Hyundai plans autonomous cars

    Hyundai Motors is planning autonomous cars for the masses.

    The auto giant’s Ioniq draws little attention as it manoeuvres the streets of Las Vegas in United States last Friday.

    The mid-sized sedan is one of a number of autonomous cars roaming the city’s streets during the high-tech Consumer Electronics.

    The South Korean automaker wants to stand out by being ordinary: making a self-driving car for the average consumer.

    “The autonomous Ioniq concept is a normal car, not a science project,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Hyundai North America, during a demonstration for AFP.

    “We believe in democratising this technology,” O’Brien said.

    Hyundai’s unremarkable car stands in contrast to others being shown at the huge tech show, which include a number of pricey models with more horsepower and luxury features.

    Many automakers are planning for autonomous vehicles but O’Brien says Hyundai “can deliver at an affordable price point” for the average consumer.

    In the demonstration, the Ioniq was able to use its turn signal, change lanes, stop at a red light and yield to pedestrians.

    In one instance, it began to accelerate with a green light but then suddenly braked.

    Vehicle technology manager Andre Ravinowich said the sudden shift came because “the car in front started moving, but braked” and the Ioniq acted to avoid getting too close.

    Engineers are working to refine the algorithms which govern these kinds of decisions, based on data collected from sensors in the car and other information.

    Hyundai and other automakers are using a technology called LIDAR, or light detection and ranging, for remote sensing of vehicles, pedestrians and other things in the environment.

    Ravinowich said there are still a few hurdles before autonomous driving becomes mainstream.