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It's Your Call
You’ve probably heard the latest call to ban mobile phone use in cars – even if they are hands free. We are told that tough new laws to ban all mobile phone use in vehicles are being considered by transport ministers after a report found that even hands free devices dramatically increased the risk of crashing.
The draft, which federal and state ministers are reviewing stated:-
“There is evidence to support bans on all mobile phone use while driving”
A spokesperson admitted it would be difficult for many people to stop using hands free phones, so the first stage of the strategy would be to encourage drivers of heavy vehicles, buses, taxis and government cars to stop using hands free voluntarily.
It seems that several police authorities support the ban, as Superintendent Max Mitchell of the NSW police force commented:- “In my view it is just as dangerous as speed and drink driving.” Others contend that using a mobile phone is the equivalent of driving with a 0.08% alcohol level.
It looks like this is an onerous step towards a total ban, so let’s examine some of the arguments for and against.
FOR A TOTAL BAN
- Figures suggest that even the use of hands free mobile phones cause accidents
- Driving is a difficult and dangerous undertaking and anything that can eradicate any distractions is worthwhile, and must be vigorously pursued.
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST A TOTAL BAN
- Some research refutes this argument. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported last month that hand held phone bans have no effect on the frequency of car crashes. They stated “month to month fluctuations in rates of collision causes in jurisdictions with bans didn’t change from before to after the laws were enacted”
- If you ban hands free you should ban kids in cars, billboard advertising, radios and chatty passengers.
- What about CB radios in trucks and police cars – will they still have radio communication, or will they be an exception? If so, why?
- Some luxury cars have a phone system that is purely voice activated, so you don’t even have to touch a button or take your eyes off the road. This means that this law would, in these cases, prevent you even talking (OK that’s a bit extreme, but they have a point.)
- It would be unpopular; many motoring organizations (including the NRMA) think it’s going too far, and newspaper surveys suggest that around two thirds of respondents wanted hands free phones, and are against any changes in the legislation.
Do you think is it right, will it happen? Have your say below.
Buffett Cars
BYD is a Chinese car company (BYD = Build Your Dreams). Easy to ignore, unless one of the world’s canniest investors says differently. Not only says – but acts. Warren Buffett bought 10% of the company a couple of years ago investing $230 million. So there must be something special about BYD.
They caught the interest of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and they interviewed the founder, Chief Executive and Chairman Wang Chuanfu.
What has emerged from their interview is one of the most astonishing stories of a company’s expansion in modern history, with huge implications for future transportation.
Wang Chuanfu was a government scientist when he borrowed the equivalent of $300,000 fifteen years ago to make batteries for mobile phones, in Shenzhen in Southern China, just north of Hong Kong. He had a staff of 20 employees.
The company flourished so much so that it expanded into making automotive batteries ten years ago. Yet again, it flourished, and in 2003 it started to make complete motor vehicles. By 2009 it was producing nearly half a million vehicles a year, (to put this into perspective, that would account for nearly half of all motor cars sold in Australia last year).
Just two years ago it launched the first petrol/ battery powered hybrid car in China. It was a huge success and BYD now employs over 200,000 workers.
BYD Hybrid Car
So when the Chairman talks it’s worth listening to.
Interviewed by Peter Day, Wang Chuanfu says that BYD will be the largest car manufacturer in China by 2015 and the largest in the world by 2025. Big claims, but can he back it up?
On the basis of their current speed of growth you have to take them seriously, but even more so when you see their current product range. China has no petrol reserves, so the country is totally dependent on foreign oil – a position that they find uncomfortable. They need to limit their dependence on foreign oil, and are thus very keen to help with the development of battery powered vehicles. In fact the cost in the showroom of a BYD F3 ( the battery/petrol hybrid) is nearly 50% less than its full retail price due to the subsidies received from both the national and local governments. It retails for less than $14,000. Such assistance from the Government has naturally led BYD to concentrate on its development of the electric vehicle, and they are making amazing progress.
Currently there are virtually no fully electric passenger cars on the market in Australia, the exception being the Mitsubishi i Miev (leased out to some government agencies). Its range is 150km before a full overnight recharge.
BYD has already produced a taxi that is fully operational in its home city with a range of 300km between full recharges, and 200km before a part charge that takes less than an hour!
Fully Electric BYD Taxi
That means that they have a fully operational 23 hrs out of 24 electric taxi that can cover 400kms each day.They claim that by 2012 they will have a 400 km range electric car in production for the Chinese market, and it won’t be much longer before they start an export programme for the long range electric cars to the USA, Europe and possibly Australia. Now we can see why Warren Buffett was so keen to invest in this operation.
For the Australian motorist it is pretty clear that electric cars are going to play a crucial role in Australia’s automotive future.
Women Passengers
Riccardo Patrese was a top Formula One race car driver. He was working on a corporate test day for Honda at the Jerez racing circuit in Spain when he invited his wife to accompany him for a lap.
He put a camera on the dash board and recorded her reaction.
It’s very funny, and the film clip has raced around the world with over 3 million hits in just a few months.
Click this link to see it.
Silent Band
There seems to be a whole heap of interesting car ads being released at the moment. The latest is from Capetown featuring a silent band. As you’ll see, the car that is being advertised is not even shown – now there’s confidence for you!
Level 2, 9 Help Street