06/07/2012
The racing driver who likes to take it slow
Who would have thought it? Damon Hill, once famed for travelling round an asphalt track at 200mph, has told us that he thinks the speed limit should be set at 55mph.
It is certainly a shock to fans of motor racing, many of whom imagine that their helmeted heroes spend their leisure driving at 100mph-plus expertly avoiding traffic police and speed cameras.
Hill couldn’t have done more to disillusion fans. “I’m not interested in cars,” he said, while also confessing that he drivers a decade-old VW Golf and never goes above 70mph because he finds it too stressful.
So, Hill might not be the most electric figure, but considering his safe and sensible driving message, he certainly is a good and slightly unconventional role model.
Also, if younger drivers were to follow his lead and slow down en masse, he just might help many find cheaper car insurance.
What next? Chefs who don’t like food? Lawyers who don’t like arguing? Swimmers who don’t like getting wet?
It is certainly a shock to fans of motor racing, many of whom imagine that their helmeted heroes spend their leisure driving at 100mph-plus expertly avoiding traffic police and speed cameras.Hill couldn’t have done more to disillusion fans. “I’m not interested in cars,” he said, while also confessing that he drivers a decade-old VW Golf and never goes above 70mph because he finds it too stressful.
So, Hill might not be the most electric figure, but considering his safe and sensible driving message, he certainly is a good and slightly unconventional role model.
Also, if younger drivers were to follow his lead and slow down en masse, he just might help many find cheaper car insurance.
What next? Chefs who don’t like food? Lawyers who don’t like arguing? Swimmers who don’t like getting wet?
Photo © Supermac1961 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: cheaper car insurance, damon hill, driving
28/10/2011
Put your car on a diet for cheaper car insurance
Despite the rise in popularity of the compact car, it appears that vehicles are getting fatter because the size of the average driver is increasing.
According to recent newspaper reports, in 1953 a Ford Prefect car was 4ft 9inches wide and its seat cushions measured 18inches long. Today, a 2011 Ford Focus measures 6ft 1inch wide and has a 23inch long seat cushions.
As the world’s bottoms and bellies are expanding cars have become bigger as a result, and heavier too, to cope with the strain of having to transport obese passengers.
And now, it appears, some manufacturers are recruiting volunteers, ranging from slim to overweight, to help them study how today’s larger drivers cope behind the wheel and to gauge what functions and additions their cars need to be equipped with in order to be driven by heavier motorists.
Personally, I think this is crazy, because as the cars get bigger, they will get less efficient and more costly to run, which is unfair on those people who don’t need a reinforced floor in their vehicle or extra tummy space behind the steering.
Hopefully, manufacturers will also see a market for the “healthy-sized” car which will be slimmer, lighter, more manoeuvrable and less hungry at the fuel pump.
And maybe this amazing lightweight vehicle will qualify for cheaper car insurance as well &ndash: now that would be good!
According to recent newspaper reports, in 1953 a Ford Prefect car was 4ft 9inches wide and its seat cushions measured 18inches long. Today, a 2011 Ford Focus measures 6ft 1inch wide and has a 23inch long seat cushions.As the world’s bottoms and bellies are expanding cars have become bigger as a result, and heavier too, to cope with the strain of having to transport obese passengers.
And now, it appears, some manufacturers are recruiting volunteers, ranging from slim to overweight, to help them study how today’s larger drivers cope behind the wheel and to gauge what functions and additions their cars need to be equipped with in order to be driven by heavier motorists.
Personally, I think this is crazy, because as the cars get bigger, they will get less efficient and more costly to run, which is unfair on those people who don’t need a reinforced floor in their vehicle or extra tummy space behind the steering.
Hopefully, manufacturers will also see a market for the “healthy-sized” car which will be slimmer, lighter, more manoeuvrable and less hungry at the fuel pump.
And maybe this amazing lightweight vehicle will qualify for cheaper car insurance as well &ndash: now that would be good!
Image © Stefan via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: cheaper car insurance, compact car
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