News round-up: July 30
Written By Alison Bell Published On: Jul 30 2010 It seems silly season has really kicked off as this week there’s been an influx of weird and wonderful motoring stories.Firstly, The Telegraph has reported that a German nursing home has come up with an unusual idea to stop Alzheimer's patients from wandering off: a phantom bus stop.The replica bus stop, in front of the Benrath Senior Centre in the western city of Düsseldorf, is exactly the same as a standard stop, but, of course, buses don’t stop there.The idea emerged after the centre was forced to rely on police to retrieve patients who wanted to return to their homes and families but had forgotten that in many cases neither existed any longer."If we can’t find them then we have to alert the police,” said Benrath's director Richard Neureither. “It can be particularly dangerous if this happens in winter and they spend the night out in the cold.”
Older drivers outshine younger rivals
Older drivers are more capable than less experienced motorists, new research has shown.
The Daily Mail reported that whether dithering at a junction or taking an age to park, the older motorist often gets a fair bit of stick from their younger counterparts.However, a new study suggests that stick is unjustified.Researchers at the Ben Gurion University in Israel wired up 74 drivers, split into three age categories, to software that simulated driving and tracked responses to hazards, such as cars emerging from blind spots and pedestrians standing on kerbs.Those in the oldest age category, who had been driving for more than 37 years, were as good at responding to risks as those in the middle age category.Inexperienced drivers performed the worst, tending to fixate on what was straight ahead, and many failed to respond to cars emerging from the sides of the road.
Ford to install hands-free smartphone technology
Tweeting addicts will be pleased to know that thanks to new hands-free technology motorists will be able to use Twitter while driving.According to the
Daily Mail, Ford is developing a system called Applink which allows applications on iPhones and BlackBerries to be voice-controlled.The system is expected to appear in the Focus model in Britain next year before being installed across the range.
Unexpected joyride for bear
It seems the animal world is really moving on these days after a bear climbed into an empty car in America.The
BBC said it sounded the horn and sent the vehicle rolling down a hill with the terrified animal still inside.Police in Larkspur, near Denver, eventually freed the animal by opening the door from a distance using a rope.It is believed the bear was attracted by a sandwich left on the back seat.
Teenager quoted £17,000 to insure Corsa
Another
Daily Mail story saw a learner driver receive a whopping quote of £17,000 to insure his £2,000 Vauxhall Corsa.The paper said that student James Hayes, who turns 17 next week, saved for months to buy his modest one-litre car but has been astonished at the sky-high quotes for insurance.He will have to work flat out over the summer to pay the premiums.His case highlights how insurers are increasingly using prohibitive premiums as a weapon against young male drivers.
Driver’s sit-in protest against clampers
Another
Daily Mail story told of William O'Driscoll's attempt at fighting back against clampers by staging a sit-in protest, even as the car was being lifted.The enraged driver jumped into the passenger seat of the 4x4 as it was lifted from the ground and refused to budge.With baffled passers-by looking on and queues of traffic forming around him, the 28-year-old contacted the police and demanded they attend the scene.And, after a lengthy angry exchange with council officials and police officers, Mr O'Driscoll got his way when the Birmingham City Council tow truck placed his car back in its parking space and drove away.He says he is willing to pay the standard parking fine, but may take further action against Birmingham City Council for unlawfully attempting to take his car away.
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