28/08/2012
Our speeding nation is slowing down
I have some news which should brighten every safe and considerate motorist’s day.According to the RAC Foundation, working alongside the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety – quite a mouthful – the number of people speeding on the UK’s roads is decreasing!
In 1998, around 69% of drivers were breaking 30mph speed limits, however, in 2010 this figure dropped to 46%.
Likewise, the amount of road users choosing to travel at over 70mph on motorways has reduced from 57% in 2003 to 49% in 2010.
Apparently, says the director of the RAC Foundation, part of the reason for this reduction in speeding motorists, is the high cost of fuel during an economic downturn.
However, I hope the main reason is that people are finally starting to realise that by speeding they are putting their life and the lives of others in danger.
I suppose we’ll just have to see what happens if fuel prices get lower and people start feeling better off. Will speeding figures increase again? Only time will tell.
Photo © Pug50 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: driver, fuel, motorist, motorway, Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety, RAC Foundation, road, safe, speed limit, speeding
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!
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
Labels: billboards, car insurance, colliding, distracted, driver, highway, pedestrians, red light, road, safety, summer, traffic accident, wheel
13/08/2012
Driving as a hobby
According to a survey undertaken by a car insurance company and Populus, out of more than 20,000 respondents, 55% of motorists have been on an aimless drive.
It might sound like an odd thing to do, but, just like any other hobby, such as fishing or painting, it’s all about having some time to enjoy an activity without other distractions.
Similarly to how fishing as a career or painting as a trade are perhaps not as enjoyable as having these activities as past-times, driving to get somewhere is sometimes not as fun as just driving to drive.
However, there should be a limit as to how often someone gets behind the wheel on a road to nowhere. Ten per cent of people reportedly go on a purposeless drive every week!
Think of how much fuel and money they’re wasting! I know I certainly can’t afford to be driving from point A to point A once a week.
Still, it would be nice to get away from my usual routes every now and then and just explore. There are a lot of streets I never have to go down to get to the shops or to work, and I’ve often wondered where they lead…
It might sound like an odd thing to do, but, just like any other hobby, such as fishing or painting, it’s all about having some time to enjoy an activity without other distractions.Similarly to how fishing as a career or painting as a trade are perhaps not as enjoyable as having these activities as past-times, driving to get somewhere is sometimes not as fun as just driving to drive.
However, there should be a limit as to how often someone gets behind the wheel on a road to nowhere. Ten per cent of people reportedly go on a purposeless drive every week!
Think of how much fuel and money they’re wasting! I know I certainly can’t afford to be driving from point A to point A once a week.
Still, it would be nice to get away from my usual routes every now and then and just explore. There are a lot of streets I never have to go down to get to the shops or to work, and I’ve often wondered where they lead…
Photo © Dominic’s pics via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: activity, car insurance, drive, driving, fuel, hobby, motorist, road, route, streets, wheel
23/04/2012
Scooter safety deemed a serious issue
Motorised scooters have long been one of the most popular forms of transport among the elderly and people with mobility issues. Unfortunately media stories regarding the dangers posed by these slow-moving vehicles are all too common.
In 2010 an Essex resident sustained serious injuries after accidentally driving his scooter into a pothole and being jolted forward into the road. The following year a scooter user accidentally drove into an unsuspecting elderly shopper, who is yet to fully recover from her injuries.
It has been suggested that such accidents will keep happening until the scooter users are legally required to register for some form of on-road training. The Labour MP for Plymouth Davenport has also called for regular in-depth safety checks.
She said, “With an increasing ageing population, some action has to be taken to ensure that standards are maintained in terms of the safety of these vehicles and that some basic training is undertaken by all users.”
Any changes in the law are likely to be readily accepted by individuals who might have had to rely heavily upon friends and family if it hadn't been for their scooters. If the car world is anything to go by then training could even come with the incentive of a reduction in scooter insurance premiums.
In 2010 an Essex resident sustained serious injuries after accidentally driving his scooter into a pothole and being jolted forward into the road. The following year a scooter user accidentally drove into an unsuspecting elderly shopper, who is yet to fully recover from her injuries.
It has been suggested that such accidents will keep happening until the scooter users are legally required to register for some form of on-road training. The Labour MP for Plymouth Davenport has also called for regular in-depth safety checks.
She said, “With an increasing ageing population, some action has to be taken to ensure that standards are maintained in terms of the safety of these vehicles and that some basic training is undertaken by all users.”
Any changes in the law are likely to be readily accepted by individuals who might have had to rely heavily upon friends and family if it hadn't been for their scooters. If the car world is anything to go by then training could even come with the incentive of a reduction in scooter insurance premiums.
Photo © Lighthelper :) back at work for now. :) via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: insurance, mobility, pothole, premiums, road, scooters, transport, vehicles
16/04/2012
New Volkswagen Up comes with a slim size treat
If there's one major advantage of city vehicles it has to be the access that they allow to narrow, winding streets. Indeed, the ability to explore routes outside the range of big 4X4's and saloons is one of the greatest lures for purchasers of cars such as the Volkswagen Up!
To celebrate the miniature appeal of their highly popular urban cruiser the German manufacturers have teamed up with the critically acclaimed photographer Harry Cory Wright to produce a book featuring the UK's thinnest roads.
It is hoped that the Volkswagen drivers will take the book with them on journeys around some of the most picturesque towns and cities, rather than resigning it to the coffee table. Just to make this intention clear they have provided GPS coordinates along with each of the fabulous shots.
The Volkswagen Fleet Communications Manager said, “This book illustrates the beautiful scenery surrounding some of the smallest roads of Britain and is a perfect companion for the Up! driver; whether venturing in cities, towns or out in the open countryside air.”
Full details of the featured roads have yet to be disclosed. However, we're betting that Stone Street in Merseyside won't be included. Measuring at only three feet wide it is barely large enough for some model cars to be driven down.
To celebrate the miniature appeal of their highly popular urban cruiser the German manufacturers have teamed up with the critically acclaimed photographer Harry Cory Wright to produce a book featuring the UK's thinnest roads.It is hoped that the Volkswagen drivers will take the book with them on journeys around some of the most picturesque towns and cities, rather than resigning it to the coffee table. Just to make this intention clear they have provided GPS coordinates along with each of the fabulous shots.
The Volkswagen Fleet Communications Manager said, “This book illustrates the beautiful scenery surrounding some of the smallest roads of Britain and is a perfect companion for the Up! driver; whether venturing in cities, towns or out in the open countryside air.”
Full details of the featured roads have yet to be disclosed. However, we're betting that Stone Street in Merseyside won't be included. Measuring at only three feet wide it is barely large enough for some model cars to be driven down.
Photo © ell brown via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, coordinates, driver, GPS, road, route, saloon, streets, vehicle, Volkswagen Up
05/03/2012
Three-piece disaster waiting to happen
Nissan Micras are useful little cars, used and well-loved by many motorists in the UK.
However, they are not the ideal transport when you have a three-piece suite to move from A to B.
One driver thought they’d try anyway though, and was spotted by another road user near Exeter on the A30 with a settee and an armchair on his car’s roof, and another armchair in the boot.
There was no roof rack, and the items were only held down with some lengths of string and the passenger’s left hand.
It seems that the motorist was well aware of the inadequate job he’d made of securing the furniture to his vehicle, since he was only travelling at 30mph on the 70mph stretch of highway.
The whole affair could have resulted in a very serious accident and the head of Devon and Cornwall police’s traffic department has stated that they will be making contact with the driver.
He said, “Drivers who decide to use entirely unsuitable vehicles to carry large loads present a danger to other road users.
“The load may be tied on to the vehicle but the vehicle itself is entirely inappropriate for carrying such large pieces of furniture.”
So, the next time you’re going to carry large items of furniture on a small car – don’t – hire a van instead.
However, they are not the ideal transport when you have a three-piece suite to move from A to B. One driver thought they’d try anyway though, and was spotted by another road user near Exeter on the A30 with a settee and an armchair on his car’s roof, and another armchair in the boot.
There was no roof rack, and the items were only held down with some lengths of string and the passenger’s left hand.
It seems that the motorist was well aware of the inadequate job he’d made of securing the furniture to his vehicle, since he was only travelling at 30mph on the 70mph stretch of highway.
The whole affair could have resulted in a very serious accident and the head of Devon and Cornwall police’s traffic department has stated that they will be making contact with the driver.
He said, “Drivers who decide to use entirely unsuitable vehicles to carry large loads present a danger to other road users.
“The load may be tied on to the vehicle but the vehicle itself is entirely inappropriate for carrying such large pieces of furniture.”
So, the next time you’re going to carry large items of furniture on a small car – don’t – hire a van instead.
Photo © rileyroxx via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 30mph, A30, accident, armchair, car, driver, furniture, motorist, Nissan Micra, police, road, roof rack, settee, three-piece suite, transport
02/03/2012
Baffling double yellows
Hopefully we’re all aware that double yellow lines mean motorists can’t park or wait on that part of the road at any time.
However it seems that Oxfordshire County Council may not be so clear on the meaning of these common road markings.
In Headington, new double yellow lines have been painted on Bickerton Road. They stretch straight across the road parallel to a speed bump.
Residents are naturally completely baffled.
“What I would take from it is you cannot park in the middle of the road. But I cannot understand what the council is doing. It must be some sort of mistake,” said one local.
The lines, which are part of a £500,000 road safety scheme to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists, may have been painted onto the tarmac in good faith but are unfortunately pretty useless.
That is unless there’s a driver out there stupid enough to park horizontally across the middle of a road…
We’re hoping there isn’t.
However it seems that Oxfordshire County Council may not be so clear on the meaning of these common road markings. In Headington, new double yellow lines have been painted on Bickerton Road. They stretch straight across the road parallel to a speed bump.
Residents are naturally completely baffled.
“What I would take from it is you cannot park in the middle of the road. But I cannot understand what the council is doing. It must be some sort of mistake,” said one local.
The lines, which are part of a £500,000 road safety scheme to make the area safer for pedestrians and cyclists, may have been painted onto the tarmac in good faith but are unfortunately pretty useless.
That is unless there’s a driver out there stupid enough to park horizontally across the middle of a road…
We’re hoping there isn’t.
Photo © dumbledad via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: double yellow lines, driver, Headington, motorist, Oxfordshire County Council, painted, park, road, road markings, speed bump, tarmac
27/01/2012
Police spot female driver practicing eulogy
After catching a rugby player heading towards the motorway in a golf buggy and a U.F.O doing whatever a U.F.O does above Cardiff, the police could be forgiven for claiming that they’ve seen it all. That is until Scottish officers spotted a woman reading The Bible while driving in Scotland.
Apparently the female driver felt so unprepared as she made her way to a funeral in Perth that she felt impelled to seek holy inspiration. She failed to realise that by perching The Bible on her legs she was placing herself and other motorists in danger.
A representative of the Tayside Police said, “This weekend a road policing unit patrol car travelling on the A90 dual carriageway between Dundee and Perth noticed the female driver deep in concentration and apparently talking to herself.
“As the officials drew alongside the car, the driver was found to be reading from a bible propped up on the steering wheel.”
Although the officers had great sympathy for the woman’s situation they were left with little option but to issue a fine and add points to her driving license. This case should act as a reminder of the dangers of multi-tasking while on the road.
Apparently the female driver felt so unprepared as she made her way to a funeral in Perth that she felt impelled to seek holy inspiration. She failed to realise that by perching The Bible on her legs she was placing herself and other motorists in danger.A representative of the Tayside Police said, “This weekend a road policing unit patrol car travelling on the A90 dual carriageway between Dundee and Perth noticed the female driver deep in concentration and apparently talking to herself.
“As the officials drew alongside the car, the driver was found to be reading from a bible propped up on the steering wheel.”
Although the officers had great sympathy for the woman’s situation they were left with little option but to issue a fine and add points to her driving license. This case should act as a reminder of the dangers of multi-tasking while on the road.
Photo © jmwk via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Cardiff, driving licence, motorists, police, road
06/01/2012
Icy roads are no problem with the Volkswagen Aqua!
Over the winter months many motorists think very carefully before they get behind the wheel and hit the road – rain, ice and snow can all have a negative effect on driving safety, and, to avoid a road accident, drivers sometimes choose to use an alternative form of transport or to not go out at all.
However, a Chinese designer has sought to change all this with the invention of a new super car called the Volkswagen Aqua.
According to reports, 21-year-old Yuhan Zhang designed an all-terrain vehicle which can seamlessly move between different surfaces for a competition run by Volkswagen.
The vehicle is able to drive on sand, water and roads alike and works similarly to a hovercraft. Two engines mean that it is able to hover above the ground as well as moving forward.
Plus, the car is environmentally friendly with zero fuel emissions as it is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The car has been designed with technology which is currently available, but we have a feeling we might be waiting a long time to experience driving one of these!
However, a Chinese designer has sought to change all this with the invention of a new super car called the Volkswagen Aqua.
According to reports, 21-year-old Yuhan Zhang designed an all-terrain vehicle which can seamlessly move between different surfaces for a competition run by Volkswagen.
The vehicle is able to drive on sand, water and roads alike and works similarly to a hovercraft. Two engines mean that it is able to hover above the ground as well as moving forward.
Plus, the car is environmentally friendly with zero fuel emissions as it is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
The car has been designed with technology which is currently available, but we have a feeling we might be waiting a long time to experience driving one of these!
Labels: Aqua, car, conditions, dangerous driving, road, vehicle, Volkswagen, wheel
25/11/2011
The overlord of all 30mph signs
Do you get sick and tired of people speeding past you on the road?
Then you might like to the applaud the efforts of one man who lives in the village of Bow in Devon, who has painted a huge 30mph sign on the side of his home.
It’s 4.5 metres high, cost him £100 in red, white and black paint, and took him five hours to complete!
The man’s aim is to remind motorists of the speed limit as they enter the village during Road Safety Week.
I think it’s a great idea and should be a permanent fixture and potentially copied all over the UK, but sadly the Department for Transport has said that the sign is in fact illegal.
However, before you go and camp next to it in protest – neither the Department for Transport or Devon County Council plan to take action against the giant 30mph sign because it’s painted on a private property and the owner plans on painting over it himself on the 5th of December anyway.
It’s a shame really…maybe they could change the legislation against over-sized speed limit signs?
Then you might like to the applaud the efforts of one man who lives in the village of Bow in Devon, who has painted a huge 30mph sign on the side of his home. It’s 4.5 metres high, cost him £100 in red, white and black paint, and took him five hours to complete!
The man’s aim is to remind motorists of the speed limit as they enter the village during Road Safety Week.
I think it’s a great idea and should be a permanent fixture and potentially copied all over the UK, but sadly the Department for Transport has said that the sign is in fact illegal.
However, before you go and camp next to it in protest – neither the Department for Transport or Devon County Council plan to take action against the giant 30mph sign because it’s painted on a private property and the owner plans on painting over it himself on the 5th of December anyway.
It’s a shame really…maybe they could change the legislation against over-sized speed limit signs?
Photo © bengrey via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: 30mph sign, Bow, Department for Transport, Devon, Devon County Council, paint, road, speed limit, speeding, UK
07/11/2011
Getting out of the Google car
When you use Google maps you’re probably used to landing in the middle of the road you’ve typed into the search bar and strolling up and down right in the path of the frozen traffic.
But now, Google are adding a new service to their Street View map.
Users will now be able to have a look inside selected shops and restaurants instead of squinting at the building from half-way across the road.
Google explains to companies who elect to have their premises viewable, “We ask that you notify customers and employees of the photo shoot by putting up signs and making announcements about the scheduled photo shoot.
“We ask also that during the photo shoot you inform all persons in the area that a photo shoot is in progress and request that they move out of view.
“We’ll either run the 360-degree imagery through our state-of-the-art blurring technology to blur out faces of any employees and customers who appear in the imagery, or we won’t publish the still photos if people are in view.”
It will be interesting to see how many businesses open their doors to Google and it will be nice to have the ability to finally get off the Google map road.
Now we’d quite like Google to let us walk down some of the enticing little side-streets, alleyways and country-side paths which are still currently out of bounds.
But now, Google are adding a new service to their Street View map.Users will now be able to have a look inside selected shops and restaurants instead of squinting at the building from half-way across the road.
Google explains to companies who elect to have their premises viewable, “We ask that you notify customers and employees of the photo shoot by putting up signs and making announcements about the scheduled photo shoot.
“We ask also that during the photo shoot you inform all persons in the area that a photo shoot is in progress and request that they move out of view.
“We’ll either run the 360-degree imagery through our state-of-the-art blurring technology to blur out faces of any employees and customers who appear in the imagery, or we won’t publish the still photos if people are in view.”
It will be interesting to see how many businesses open their doors to Google and it will be nice to have the ability to finally get off the Google map road.
Now we’d quite like Google to let us walk down some of the enticing little side-streets, alleyways and country-side paths which are still currently out of bounds.
Photo © sanchom via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: alleyway, businesses, Google map, path, restaurants, road, shops, side-street, Street View, traffic
09/08/2011
Hitchhickerssssss
Here’s a scenario Indiana Jones wouldn’t have enjoyed one bit!
While travelling along an American highway at 65mph, a family from Memphis, Tennessee, were shocked to see a snake emerge from the windscreen wiper vents on the bonnet of their car before looping itself round one of the wing-mirrors and dropping itself onto the road.
The family were stunned – so naturally they videoed the whole event and uploaded it on YouTube. As you do.
It’s had more than 120,000 views since the family put it on the site last week.
Would you like to add to that number? Well, we’ve embedded the video for your entertainment.
Mostly you can just hear the mother screaming and saying “Oh, my God, Oh, my God”, the young son singing “Snaky, snaky, snaky”, and the dad having a good laugh.
The family think that their reptilian hitchhiker must have been enjoying the heat under their car bonnet, and was disturbed by the vehicle’s movement.
We just hope that the snake made it across the tarmac to safety – because despite how scary they can appear and the father’s short chant of “kill it” at the end of the footage, snakes are largely misunderstood animals who’d rather be left alone than go around biting people.
While travelling along an American highway at 65mph, a family from Memphis, Tennessee, were shocked to see a snake emerge from the windscreen wiper vents on the bonnet of their car before looping itself round one of the wing-mirrors and dropping itself onto the road.
The family were stunned – so naturally they videoed the whole event and uploaded it on YouTube. As you do.
It’s had more than 120,000 views since the family put it on the site last week.
Would you like to add to that number? Well, we’ve embedded the video for your entertainment.
Mostly you can just hear the mother screaming and saying “Oh, my God, Oh, my God”, the young son singing “Snaky, snaky, snaky”, and the dad having a good laugh.
The family think that their reptilian hitchhiker must have been enjoying the heat under their car bonnet, and was disturbed by the vehicle’s movement.
We just hope that the snake made it across the tarmac to safety – because despite how scary they can appear and the father’s short chant of “kill it” at the end of the footage, snakes are largely misunderstood animals who’d rather be left alone than go around biting people.
Labels: bonnet, car, highway, road, windscreen wiper vent, wing-mirror
01/07/2011
Warning: Poor road maintenance ahead
There are so many potholes on Britain’s roads at the moment that price comparison website Confused.com is petitioning the Department for Transport to introduce a pothole warning sign to be used across the country.
The company has commissioned a common red-bordered triangular sign, and in the centre it has chosen to place the image of a car with one wheel down a hole.
Confused.com decided that enough was enough when it realised, after doing some research, that even if councils had sufficient budgets for road maintenance it would take them about 11 years to fill all of the potholes and generally repair damaged areas of road.
The price comparison company’s chief marketing officer stated, “Although repairing these roads is obviously the long term solution, something needs to be done now.
“Currently the UK’s road signs include warnings for wild horses, wild animals, cattle and even toads but potholes aren’t considered worthy enough. A pothole road sign is a vital step in preventing accidents and reducing insurance claims.”
The AA however, is not so taken with the idea. A spokesperson explained, “It costs up to £100 to put up a sign but £50-£60 to fix a pothole.”
Hmm, now we don’t know what to think. Generally we like the idea of a pothole sign, but money-wise it doesn’t look so appealing.
Well, if you like the scheme, you can always sign the petition. We’re going to mull it over some more.
The company has commissioned a common red-bordered triangular sign, and in the centre it has chosen to place the image of a car with one wheel down a hole.
Confused.com decided that enough was enough when it realised, after doing some research, that even if councils had sufficient budgets for road maintenance it would take them about 11 years to fill all of the potholes and generally repair damaged areas of road.The price comparison company’s chief marketing officer stated, “Although repairing these roads is obviously the long term solution, something needs to be done now.
“Currently the UK’s road signs include warnings for wild horses, wild animals, cattle and even toads but potholes aren’t considered worthy enough. A pothole road sign is a vital step in preventing accidents and reducing insurance claims.”
The AA however, is not so taken with the idea. A spokesperson explained, “It costs up to £100 to put up a sign but £50-£60 to fix a pothole.”
Hmm, now we don’t know what to think. Generally we like the idea of a pothole sign, but money-wise it doesn’t look so appealing.
Well, if you like the scheme, you can always sign the petition. We’re going to mull it over some more.
Image by Mike Willis via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Department for Transport, potholes, repair, road, sign, wheel
17/06/2011
Don’t always follow instructions
Here’s a water-based story that warns against paying too much attention to your sat-nav and not enough to the road in front.
In Washington, USA, three women went plunging into the Mercer Slough river in their SUV when they trusted the commanding voice of their GPS system a little too much.
Now it was dark – but if they had the vehicle lights on and weren’t driving too fast, they should have been able to see that they were being guided right down a boat slipway that led straight into the water.
Luckily for the women aboard the newly submerged vehicle, they were able to get out quickly as the Mercer Slough came pouring in.
After that all they could do was watch as their car sunk below the surface – no doubt drowning the engine completely.
A tow truck driver tried to drag the SUV out, but to no avail, and today the police are trying their hand at car fishing instead.
We doubt the car will be drivable after that ordeal.
Don’t get too drawn in by the sat-nav instructions – you have been warned.
In Washington, USA, three women went plunging into the Mercer Slough river in their SUV when they trusted the commanding voice of their GPS system a little too much.Now it was dark – but if they had the vehicle lights on and weren’t driving too fast, they should have been able to see that they were being guided right down a boat slipway that led straight into the water.
Luckily for the women aboard the newly submerged vehicle, they were able to get out quickly as the Mercer Slough came pouring in.
After that all they could do was watch as their car sunk below the surface – no doubt drowning the engine completely.
A tow truck driver tried to drag the SUV out, but to no avail, and today the police are trying their hand at car fishing instead.
We doubt the car will be drivable after that ordeal.
Don’t get too drawn in by the sat-nav instructions – you have been warned.
Image by Kirrus via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car, driver, GPS system, road, sat-nav, SUV, vehicle
15/06/2011
Future super car
Bored of having to drive on the road?
A 21-year-old Chinese mechanic design graduate has created a sleek space-ship of a car which she claims can drive over road, sand, ice and water!
She designed the super car for a competition which was held by Volkswagen to find a great “go-anywhere” vehicle, and has called it the Volkswagen Aqua.
Apparently it can not only pass from one type of environment to another seamlessly, but has a top speed of 62mph, which may sound quite low but isn’t bad for a vehicle which is supported by airbags and pushed forwards by four fans and a hydrogen fuel-cell motor.
Yes, you read correctly, this fantastically futuristic vehicle also emits zero carbon emissions.
We love the photos and information we’ve seen so far on this car, but we’re a little put off by one aspect.
People getting into the car will go through a hatch at the rear of the vehicle, which is very cool, but we imagine this means there’s no boot to speak of.
So this might not be a great car for going on holiday or to the shops with – oh, and you’re only allowed one friend, since this automobile is a two-seater.
Still, a quick look at the concept pictures of this car will make you forget anything that you were previously concerned about, vehicle-related or not.
A 21-year-old Chinese mechanic design graduate has created a sleek space-ship of a car which she claims can drive over road, sand, ice and water!
She designed the super car for a competition which was held by Volkswagen to find a great “go-anywhere” vehicle, and has called it the Volkswagen Aqua.
Apparently it can not only pass from one type of environment to another seamlessly, but has a top speed of 62mph, which may sound quite low but isn’t bad for a vehicle which is supported by airbags and pushed forwards by four fans and a hydrogen fuel-cell motor.
Yes, you read correctly, this fantastically futuristic vehicle also emits zero carbon emissions.
We love the photos and information we’ve seen so far on this car, but we’re a little put off by one aspect.
People getting into the car will go through a hatch at the rear of the vehicle, which is very cool, but we imagine this means there’s no boot to speak of.
So this might not be a great car for going on holiday or to the shops with – oh, and you’re only allowed one friend, since this automobile is a two-seater.
Still, a quick look at the concept pictures of this car will make you forget anything that you were previously concerned about, vehicle-related or not.
Labels: carbon emissions, drive, hydrogen fuel-cell, road, super car, vehicle, Volkswagen Aqua
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