20/08/2012

 

Ignoring sun-soaked pedestrians

In the summer it’s only to be expected that people will stop wearing their scarfs, trousers and long-sleeved tops, and start enjoying the sunshine.

However, for some drivers this is causing a bit of a problem, because they get distracted by pedestrians when they should be paying attention to the road ahead.

Apparently, according to some research undertaken by a provider of car insurance, 60% of men and 12% of women have been distracted while behind the wheel due to an attractive pedestrian.

Furthermore, an astonishing 21% are even distracted by billboards which have good-looking models on them.

Distracted driving can lead to traffic accidents, so it’s important that drivers avoid staring at pedestrians and re-direct their attentions to the highway.

One moment of inattention could result in a motorist running a red light, colliding with a vehicle, or even clipping a cyclist.

So – everyone just take a cold shower and remain focused on driving safely!  

Photo © GrrLash via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence

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15/07/2011

 

Up, up and away

Have you ever wished that, when stuck in a traffic jam or waiting at the longest red light you’ve ever witnessed, you could just press a button and take off Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-style?

Well, we certainly have – and now there’s a car which may one day reach UK shores which could let us do just that.

The Terrafugia Transition has been “sky legal” for more than a year in America already, and now it’s been made “road legal” too it is set to hit USA showrooms next autumn.

It’s going to cost American motorists $200,000 to buy, that’s around £123,800, and it can only go up to 65mph on the road but it speeds over the land below at 115mph once it unfolds its wings and is in the air.

Now, you know how we said that we might be able to one day fly out of traffic jams – well we lied – sorry. The fact is that this “roadable aircraft” needs 1,700ft (around 500 meters) of road for take-off – so you’re unlikely to be able to escape with only 30cm moving space either end of the vehicle…

Ideally someone will create a flying car which can take off vertically like a Harrier Jump Jet, then we’ll really be happy!

Photo by bucket072 via photobucket

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