Nearly four times as many British new car buyers choose connectivity gadgets over safety upgrades when specifying their vehicle, according to WhatCar?. New research by Whatcar.com shows that, despite the nation’s apparent preoccupation with road safety, drivers are shelling out for items like satellite navigation, digital radio and Bluetooth capability rather than safety systems such as lane-keeping assistance and blindspot monitoring. Automated emergency braking (AEB) is the most popular safety system selected, but less than…

PSA Group maintained its position as France’s leading patent filer in 2015, topping the French National Institute of Industrial Property’s (INPI) annual list with 1,012 patents filed. Thanks to the performance of its teams and its efficient Research and Development choices, PSA Group filed more than one thousand patents in 2015, thereby advancing the Group’s innovation strategy in three key areas: clean technologies, autonomous and connected vehicles and Peugeot, Citroën and DS brand attractiveness. In…

A new report from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has revealed that vehicle factors played a role in 1 in 8 (101) fatal collisions in the period 2008 to 2012.

Operators of Heavy Commercial Vehicles are required by law to make an online ‘Self-Declaration’ to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) every year in relation to their heavy goods vehicles, goods trailers, buses and ambulances. Operators need to register online for a CVRT Online Account in order to complete and submit their Operator Self-Declaration. The person or business that normally operates, or is in possession of the vehicle, is responsible for making the ‘Self-Declaration’ – this…

The European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) has published a report on cross-border car purchases as well as country specific fact sheets to help EU consumers with their motor purchases abroad.   In 2014, of the 37,609 complaints received by ECC-Net, only 2.1 per cent concerned purchase of new or second-hand vehicles (cars or motorcycles). However, this topic has been identified as a major concern among consumers largely due to the fact that car purchases are…

The world’s leading manufacturers of heavy-duty commercial trucks and engines called for further progress in regulatory harmonisation and closer cooperation among European, North American, and Japanese regulators in order to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption associated with on-road freight transport. Meeting in Brussels, the chief executives of more than 10 global truck and engine manufacturers discussed key issues facing their industry, including fuel efficiency improvements, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, safety, diesel fuel…

In order to support the development of the scenarios that are used for testing vehicle systems that prevent collisions with pedestrians, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) has joined forces with the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) and test equipment providers to develop an articulated pedestrian dummy which can better simulate a pedestrian crossing the street. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that help prevent or mitigate collisions with pedestrians, such as autonomous emergency braking…