Volume 8. No 3. Autumn 10

IRELAND’S FOREMOST FLEET & CORPORATE SECTOR GUIDE

Volume 8. No 3. Autumn 10

incorporating

Newsletter for Approved Driving Instructors

PREVIEW: PARIS MOTORSHOW 2010

So Swedish. So Saab.The new 9-5So Swedish. So Saab.The new 9-5

Fun & Fundraising on the Cannonball Run 2010!

FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 2010 33

www.fl eetcar.ie

34 NEWSMobile phone while driving usage surveyed • GoCar in Dublin • Ford update Mondeo • Save time and money on M50 • Make ESP mandatory • €27m wasted plus Junction Box: short snappy news bites

36 COVERFundraising & Frolics on the Cannonball Run

37-38/47-48 DIRECTION/adiNews: Green Car = Green Drivers • DIA Ireland established • Tom Tom awards best drivers • Report: Driver CPC – Health & Safety Module • Twin Test Drives: Mazda 2 & Mazda 3

49 LAUNCH PADNew Volvo S60 & Saab 9-5

50 MOTOR SHOWParis Motor Show 2010

52 FLEETING SHOTSNews bits from Fiat, Mercedes-Benz, the BTCC & Book Review on the Lancia Delta

contents AUTUMN 2010

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34 FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 2010

NEWS 1

Mobile phone use while driving highlighted in survey

Low emissions highlight New Mondeo range

GoCar gets green light in Dublin

Of 34,000 drivers at 45 locations around Ireland, 1964 were using a hand-held mobile phone while driving representing a

ratio of over 1 in 20 (6%). Th e Road Safety Authority survey also revealed that two regions marked greater levels of mobile phone use than other areas surveyed – Cork City represented the highest levels of non-compliance (12%), twice the national average while 9% of drivers around Maynooth were noted. Th e lowest levels of phone use in this manner were Drogheda and Dundalk at 3% and Athlone with 2% breaking the rule.

Mobile phone use while driving became a penalty point off ence in September 2006. Since then, a total of 93,525 offences have been recorded up to 31st August 2010. It is now

the second highest penalty point off ence in Ireland aft er speeding. Th is represents an increase of almost 16,000 in just 12 months since 31st August 2009.

Following publication of the report, Mr. Noel Brett , Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority, appealed to drivers to be aware of the risks associated with using a mobile phone while driving: “Th e results of this study are extremely worrying, particularly

when we know that you are 4 times more likely to crash if you use a hand held mobile phone while driving. We also know that the results understate the true extent of the problem, as the study did not capture those texting while driving or those using a hands-free kit. In fact, research tells us that using a hands-free mobile phone is no safer than using a hand-held mobile phone while driving.

Having operated successfully in Cork for over two years, GoCar the Car Sharing Scheme has now arrived in Dublin. Th is smarter

travel option which off ers a realistic alternative to car ownership has now entered service with two cars initially based on Pleasants Street, just off Camden Street.

According to Mark Rafferty, GoCar Car Sharing Limited, the benef its of GoCar are threefold – 1) saves money: on fuel, insurance, parking and of course, the initial purchase of the vehicle 2) hassle free: no cleaning, maintenance, servicing or NCT worries 3)

environmentally friendly: potential to remove 8 – 10 vehicles off Irish roads, free up car parking spaces. Mark plans to introduce a number of vans into the vehicle pool, which will also include hybrid powered cars in due course. Integration with the electric car power charge points is also within his sights.

Method of payment is simple, once registered with GoCar.ie, customers can book for anytime from €4.75 per hour and 33 cents per kilometre for the duration of one hour or as long as required.

To discover just how it operates, watch the two minute explanatory video on www.gocar.ie

The most signifi cant development with the new Ford Mondeo range is that all of the manual transmission models have a CO2

fi gure of just 139 g/km, placing the car within Band B €156 annual car tax rate. Another factor with the new model, which has been refreshed inside and out, is that the starting price for the diesel engined style 2.0 TDCi (115 PS) is below €26,000 (that is around €700 less than the entry level 1.8 litre (100 PS) TDCi from the previous model).

Th ree power ratings on the 2.0 TDCi will be

available starting with the 115 PS joined by the 140 PS and 160 PS version. 3 trim levels too – Style, Zetec and Titanium.

“We are delighted with the new revised Mondeo and are really excited about the great value proposition that the new line up will provide,” said Eddie Murphy, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. “Th anks to its great driving quality, Mondeo has been a favourite with Irish motorists since its launch and we are sure this latest model will again prove hugely popular.”

Audi repeats Award winJust like last year, a German jury of experts declared Audi the winner of the Automotive Lean Production Award. And for the fi rst time Audi won the Manufacturer category for its entire car production facility – that of the Audi A4, A5 and Q5 at the Ingolstadt site. Plant Manager Peter Kössler cited the ‘front loading concept and consideration of demographic trends’ impressed the jury.

Professional Driver Chooses Jaguar XJTh e new Jaguar XJ has won the 2010 Car of the Year from Professional Driver magazine, rating it as the top car for chauff eurs and private hire drivers. “Th e new Jaguar XJ makes a statement that none of its rivals can match,” said Mark Bunsa, Editor. “Th e judges love the XJ’s looks, its beautiful and

distinctive interior and outstanding driving dynamics.”

Dora & SpongeBob voice TomTomOffi cial voices of Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SpareParts are now available for users of TomTom devices. So now drivers and passengers can be treated to “We need to exit left ahead – Vamonos! We’re gett ing closer!” In addition to enjoying the character voices, drivers can begin every journey with their favourite cartoon character on their start-up screen.

FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 2010 35

NEWS 11

Drivers receiving incorrect penalty notices on the M50 are obliged to contact eFlow, the barrier-free tolling, immediately aft er

the fi rst notice arrives. By the time the second notice comes through the lett erbox the fee will have jumped from €6 to €85. Th en and only then will video evidence be shown to prove the driver innocent or otherwise. On enquiring about this issue an eFlow spokesperson said that the video information could not be issued before then due to data information protection, therefore it is imperative that their offi ce is contacted immediately aft er receiving the initial fine. “Calls up to their

offi ces can be made all year round, 7 days a week,” she said. “Th e second notice is issued two weeks following the fi rst notice, which should give ample time for the driver to prove their case,” she added.

She did admit that the camera system is not 100% accurate as registration plates can be tampered with or have faded numbers. Tampering includes the placing of a securing bolt or screw in the middle of an 0, for example which may show up as an 8 in the camera footage. Th erefore the obligation is on the driver to prove it is their car or not that’s recorded on screen.

McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, has called on fl eet decision-makers to buy or lease company cars fi tt ed

with life-saving electronic stability control (ESC) technology.

Th e 2008 F1 World Champion made his call in a message delivered at the eSafety Challenge 2010, held at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire.

A range of eSafety technologies is gradually being fi tt ed to all new vehicles. ESC is the most prevalent, as it features in more than 60% of all new vehicles. However, uptake is still slow.

Fleets are responsible for buying almost two-thirds of all new cars sold and the EU-backed road safety organisation say corporates must lead the uptake of ESC.

“Fleet purchasing is a great way to promote road safety and to only operate cars fi tt ed with ESC, " stated Lewis. “Th ere are aff ordability issues around ESC, which is why it is not yet fi tt ed in all cars but where there is an option for fl eets, I would endorse the decision to operate the car equipped with ESC.”

A Department for Transport study concluded that vehicles equipped with ESC were 25% less likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those without it. Th e European Commission has decreed that all new vehicle types should be equipped with ESC from 2012,

with all new vehicles being equipped by 2014.

“When there is an option I would always choose a car with ESC. Don’t wait for ESC to be mandatory,” stressed Lewis.

Save time and money by contacting efl ow if incorrect penalty charge on M50 usage

Don’t wait for ESC to be mandatory

Michelin has revealed that a staggering €27 million is wasted by Irish motorists each year by merely driving with the wrong

tyre pressures. Th e French tyre manufacturer has calculated that more than 58,000 tonnes of CO2 is being needlessly released into the atmosphere around Ireland.

Driving with the wrong tyre pressures can put more stress on the vehicle’s steering and suspension components and cause it to burn extra fuel. It can also negatively aff ect the vehicle’s handling making it unstable and increasing the risk of accidents.

Michelin is campaigning to make drivers aware that the wrong tyre

pressures can mean tyres wear out more quickly as well as increasing the car’s fuel consumption. With fuel prices still high it is now more important than ever that people set their tyres to the correct pressure.

Peter Snelling added, “It is not only the nation’s purse which is suff ering but the environment too. If

motorists consume less fuel by having the correct tyre pressure then they produce less CO2

emissions which is much bett er for the environment.”

During September the Michelin Fill-Up With Air campaign toured Ireland off ering free tyre checks to help improve safety and reduce vehicle CO2 emissions, while also helping motorists save cash.

€27 million wasted on fuel a year by Irish motorists

SEAT scores again in EuropaIn its fi rst year, SEAT’s sponsorship of the UEFA Europe League quickly became the Spanish brand’s most successful sponsorship package. Now the successful partnership continues. A total of 526 million people followed 205 matches played in the fi rst season on their TV screens, while 4.4 million watched the games at the matches. Th e impact on SEAT was huge with the SEAT banner on the vefa.com site generating 48 million hits.

Drogheda Motor Show

12 local franchise motor dealers have come together to exhibit at the fi rst ever Drogheda Motor Show to be held from 5-7 November at the Drogheda Retail Park. Organised by Drogheda & District Chamber, the event sponsored by Permanent TSB Finance will feature over 100 new models over the weekend. Admission is free.

Škoda sponsors cycling Škoda Ireland is the national brand sponsor of Cycling Ireland, the governing body of cycling in Ireland. As part of the agreement Cycling Ireland will receive Škoda’s Octavia Combi (estate) vehicles that will support the organisation on the 2010/2011 cycling circuit.

Pictured (Left to Right) celebrating the sponsorship deal are models Georgia Salpa and Pippa O'Connor with Raymond Leddy, Marketing Manager of Škoda Ireland and Geoff Liff ey, Chief Executive of Cycling Ireland. Škoda is the offi cial sponsor of the Tour de France.

F or any car enthusiast, witnessing examples of the World’s fi nest, on tour around Ireland, is a joy to behold. And all for a good cause. Th e 2010

Cannonball Run in aid of Barretstwon and sponsored by Stobart Ireland brought Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Maserati, Rolls Royce and Bentley cars to the convoy as well as rarities such as the Ford GT40 and a New York Police Car. Even General Lee’s Dodge Charger from the fi lm ‘Dukes of Hazard’ was there. It turned out to be the motoring and social event of the year. Many enthusiastic ‘Cannonballers’ added to the party theme by wearing a colourful array of fancy dress costumes from characters in the famous Cannonball movies such as Burt Reynolds, priests, nuns, Arabs etc.

Starting off from City Centre Dublin, three action packed days took in some of Ireland’s most scenic routes stopping off at tourist locations in Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Tipperary, Kerry and Cork. Spectators lined the streets along the route to welcome the participants as 160 or so cars approached their stop-off points.

Alan Bannon, Chairman of Cannonball Ireland was delighted with the high participation numbers and the welcome received at each location along the route. He paid special tribute to the various sponsors and the Gardai for their generous support and assistance. At one of the stop-off points at Ashford Castle, Fleet Car met up with Sean Brogan, Managing Director, Stobart Ireland and asked him how his company got involved. “From our own point of view we really want to be involved with charities that really mean something and we felt that Barretstown was a great fi t for us and subsequently we had the opportunity to be the sponsor of the Cannonball, so we jumped at it. It was a fantastic opportunity.”

With regard to the establishment of Stobart Ireland, Sean said, “We’re focussed on delivering what the customer wants. We’ve been very successful in Ireland having set up just over 2 years ago and we’ve got some huge growth plans now, I’m very excited about the

future and things are looking very good for us.” Stobart Ireland has subsequently been awarded Tesco Ireland’s transport contract.

Using their expertise in the logistics business Stobart Ireland’s involvement was more than sponsorship. “What we’ve tried to do is to provide them with as much as we can in order to keep the running costs down. We’ve been able to use our own equipment, to bring over the Teletubby, and the media buses for example. Just from the organisers point of view they didn’t have to be spending money on it.”

COVER

36 FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 2010 Text: Jarlath Sweeney - editor@fl eet.ie

Stobart Ireland lends guiding hand on 2010 Cannonball Run

About Barretstown

Barretstown was founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman in 1994 aft er the success of his Hole In Th e Wall Camps in the USA. Barretstown located at Barretstown Castle in County Kildare has grown from serving 124 children in a marquee in 1994 to over 12,000 children and their families from 23 European countries. Th e site has grown to off er a fi rst-class facility for seriously ill children with an excellent medical centre and a unique therapeutic programme backed by the medical community. All of the children and families have come to Barretstown free of charge. Th e families don’t pay a cent. Everything, including accommodation, food, medical assistance and round-trip airfares are provided. Barretstown has to raise over €4.5 million each year to fund its programme, 90% of this money comes from companies and individual donations from Ireland and abroad.

30 FLEETCAR | Summer 2010 Text & Photo: Gerry Murphy - gerrym@fl eet.ie

NEWS

W ith companies beginning to renew their fl eets, IAM Drive & Survive calls for fl eet managers and business drivers to invest in

eco-driver training to improve their effi ciency.

Simon Elstow, IAM Drive & Survive Head of Training explains: “Companies no doubt consider green credentials when buying new company cars, but they may not realise how much more effi ciently their employees could be driving them.

“Simple techniques such as advanced anticipation, intelligent route planning and speed control can increase your fuel economy by 50 per cent, as well as gett ing you from A to B a lot quicker.”

“Ecolution, our fuel-saving driver training course, has increased the MPG of one company’s fl eet by nearly 30 per cent: a huge saving in terms of fuel bills. Effi cient driving also means reduced wear and tear on the car and a bett er resale value,

and less frequent car replacement which is an eco-burden in itself.”

Employers and individuals, mindful of their CSR and environmental responsibilities, are increasingly seeing their car as a catalyst for green change. A forthcoming IAM report Motoring Facts 2010 has found that companies are opting for more fuel effi cient vehicles, with twice as many new diesel company cars as private cars being registered every year.

Mr. Elstow continued: “While companies are looking into providing greener vehicles for their fl eet, we advise them to do the job properly and look at how improving their business drivers’ skills could also save them money and reduce their CO2 emissions.”

An association has been established

f o r A p p r o v e d Driving Instructors. Called DIA Ireland – Driving Instructors Association Ireland to give it its full title, recently held its second meeting in Portlaoise to fi rm up on its constitution and the general structure of the organisation. Other items on the agenda included the formation of a mission statement, logo design and the sett ing up of an offi cial website for both the public and members alike. Discussion was on how the association will operate and aims liaise with the Government, the Road Safety Authority, the Garda Siochana and the media. It is also envisaged that DIA Ireland appoints Regional Offi cers to liaise with ADI’s locally. One of the proposals was to have one DIA Ireland offi cer per County with four for Dublin, three for Cork, two for Limerick and two for Galway. Currently the Northern Ireland Driver Instructors Association is assisting with the initial start-up off ering advice and administration services. Membership to DIA Ireland is €30.00

More information from Kevin Plunkett at Genesis Driving School – info@genesisdrivingschool.com.

Greener Drivers before Greener Cars

TomTom monitors van safety at the MPG Marathon 2010

DIRECTION | AUTUMN 2010 37

TomTom Business Solutions division crowned John Kerswill and Ian McKean as the winners of the Van Safety Award

at this year’s MPG Marathon. Th e duo scooped the award aft er a near-fl awless display of driving over two day, the 400-mile event near Stratford-upon-Avon. Each of this year’s eight MPG Marathon van entries were fitted with the TomTom LINK 300 tracking box which not only provided accurate mileage data but also recorded harsh braking and steering inputs as ‘driver events’. John (driver) and Ian (navigator) drove a Fiat Doblo Cargo and impressively recorded just one minor driving event over the entire two-day’s drive. John and Ian’s smooth and controlled driving style also allowed them to achieve an impressive 58.9mpg, 24.9% above offi cial manufacturer’s f i g u r e s . T h e award, endorsed by Roadsafe and Britian’s Department for Tra n spor t ’s Van Best Practice initiative, sought to recognise both efficient and safe driving in the light commercial vehicle category. I r v i n G r a y , Marketing Manager a t To m To m ’s

Business Solutions division, said: “Safe driving and reducing fuel consumption go hand-in-hand and the TomTom Van Safety Award encourages drivers, and in the real world fl eet managers, to evaluate existing driving styles and make improvements. It is well documented that using telematics systems, in tandem with driver training can produce bett er fuel results, which ultimately leads to safer roads, while reducing fuel costs.” Pictured from left : Ian McKean (navigator), John Kerswill (driver), Caroline Scurr; Director Driving for Bett er Business (a Government backed programme delivered by RoadSafe), Rob Anderson; Technical Manager Van Best Practice and Irvin Gray; Marketing Manager, TomTom UK & Ireland.

DIA Ireland Established

Newsletter for Approved Driving Instructors

REPORT

38 DIRECTION | AUTUMN 2010

To have a tutor with practical experience is a big advantage when att ending a class, lecture or such like. Th at was the situation with John Connell, CPC

Wise, who delivered the Health & Safety for the Professional Driver module for the Driver CPC course at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris the weekend before the September 10th deadline. Th is module deals with the awareness of the importance of physical and mental ability. Within this section the merits of healthy eating and the diff erent types of nutrients required as well as the sources of same were looked at, while the critical eff ects that fatigue and stress has on the driver was also discussed. Section 2 deals with the ability to prevent physical risks. Ergonomic issues associated with driving, manual handling, personal protection and pain relief exercises were explored. Th is is where John Connell came to the fore in addressing the class on these subjects. John was not reluctant to disclose that he worked as a coalman and in oil distribution over the years and now specialises in Manual Handling training as well as a Course Director for other transport related issues.

It was with Section 2 that John started fi rst. Around the room was a good mix of drivers from the road transport and public transport sectors. Some worked in timber haulage, others in construction while the bus drivers concentrated mostly on local runs. John began with some general housekeeping regarding the venue and then explained to the class why exactly they were there!

“Th e EU Directive 2003/59/EC Driver CPC confi rms and expands the existing knowledge and skills of each driver, ensuring professional drivers continue to be safe, courteous and fuel-effi cient

from a road sharing prospective,” he explained. He highlighted the signifi cant diff erences between the Transport Manager CPC and the Driver CPC, which still causes confusion as the latt er primarily deals with the driver’s everyday lives with a focus on road safety and thereby reducing accidents.

Ergonomics is much talked about in the car industry, but what does it mean? According to John (who asked us to underline the terminology in the manual provided), “Ergonomics is the science of fi tt ing the job to the worker and adapting the work environment to the needs of humans.” For the professional driver, the design and the driver’s use of the driving position is the crucial ergonomic factor. “However,” said John, “drivers may also be exposed to other risk factors for lower back pain such as poor posture while driving and manual handling while loading and unloading goods.” In explaining the basic principles of ergonomics, John asked members of the class to read out various paragraphs, which was a good idea in relation to interest retention. “Th ere is no sympathy for anyone that suff ers f rom back pa in,” stated John, “but it is preventable. By simply having the seat adjusted to your size and weight and the steering column in the best position for you is a good start.” He also said that by taking your wallet or

other bulky items out of our back pocket could prevent back trouble. For the self-assessment of knowledge, questionnaires at the end of these chapters, the class was divided into groups of three where the response was discussed and then followed up with John to ensure the right answer was writt en in. Th e importance of the correct method of entering and exiting the vehicle and load area was also discussed before moving onto the manual loading section (D). In outlining his expertise in this area, John cited that the main concern with manual handling activity is the increased risk of injury due to wear and tear on the back, especially on the lumbar inter-vertebral discs. Alarming fi gures were revealed such as 80% of us will hurt our backs during our lifetime and that 33% of time off work is due to injuries associated with manual handling. “And it’s not always associated with heavy items,” stressed John. “It can happen be merely tripping, twisting or falling.” He described how the skeleton works using a vertebrae column model emphasising that the correct posture is paramount. “In making a successful life John introduced an easy to remember term TILE – Task, Individual, Load and Environment, which he uses all the time in his manual handling classes. He then went on to demonstrate the correct method of lift ing, carrying and putt ing a box down. “It does not have to be even loaded,” he emphasized.

Accidents in the workplace amount to approximately 1,000 non-fatal injuries in the road transport industry. Of the 306 workplace fatalities recorded since 2003, 33 of these deaths involved drivers and mobile plant operators. Only the agriculture and construction sectors have higher fatality rates. Both the employers and employees obligations in relation to safety in the workplace in transport have become more to the fore by the Road Safety Authority and the Health & Safety Authority. From using the recommended personal protective equipment that’s regularly checked to

Driver CPC – Health & Safety for the Professional Driver

. . . CONTINUED ON PAGE 47

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fl eet.ie DIRECTION | AUTUMN 2010 47

REPORT

vehicle parking arrangements, vehicle inspection and maintenance to training and supervision are just some of the issues covered here together with loading and unloading procedures. As accidents are prevalent in the bus & coach industry, more time was taken up to cover safe working practices, as more humans are involved here. John recommended the purchase of the offi cial DSA Guidebooks on Driving Buses & Coaches/Goods Vehicles as good reference material.

John’s son Ultan came in to deliver the second session, appropriately enough aft er the lunch break as it deals mainly with healthy and balanced eating. B.V.M. are three lett ers to embed into your minds – Balance, Variety and Moderation. A balanced diet ensures you get all the nutrients necessary from a variety of foods while moderation lets you eat all foods! “Th e more colour you have on the plate, the bett er it is for you,” suggested Ultan. He told us about an amusing video he once saw of an American truck driver who managed to scoff 2 large donuts and a litre of milk while talking about his healthy eating practices!

As drivers spend most of their day relatively inactive between drops, how they eat and exercise determines their long-term health condition. “Healthy eating can lower your risk for disease,” said Ultan. “Healthy eating also may reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, the latt er a growing risk among drivers. A selection of exercise tips are included in this chapter but for a more comprehensive regime, see Session 2 – Section C on Physical Fitness which suggests a set of 10 essential stretches that could be done during a rest break, on the way to the car park, while on the phone or any time you can fi nd 2 minutes.

Th e serious issue of the eff ects of alcohol on driving ability came up next. “One in three drive under the infl uence of alcohol and 25% of all road fatalities in Europe are alcohol related. As the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the driver increases, the crash rates also rises,” says Ultan. “Compared to a sober driver, the crash rate of a driver with a BAC of 0.8 g/L is 2.7.” Regulations in Ireland will see the further reduction of BAC limits for professional drivers and new licence holders. Among the fi gures and graphs featured in the manual, the fact that Ireland is among the highest when it comes to alcohol consumption is alarming. “On average, we don’t drink very

oft en but when we do, it’s quite a lot,” added Ultan. It indicates the seriousness that still remains with us.

More focus than ever must now be paid to drugs or other substances likely to aff ect driver behaviours. Many drugs including prescr iption dr ugs (which must be checked from a fi tness to drive point of view) remain in the body for up to 72 hours. Even everyday

cold or fl u remedies can cause drowsiness. “Some operators concerned about drug abuse amongst staff , have introduced random drug testing for their drivers,” stated Ultan. Drivers who fail such tests face instant dismissal. He went onto highlight the main ‘banned substances’ whilst driving such as diet pills, sleeping pills, tranquillisers and stimulants. He mentioned the strict drug test programmes in the US and Australia to eliminate the activity and that the relative authorities in Ireland will have a similar programme in operation. A question and answer session followed which drew good interaction from the mature students that att ended.

Th is subject led to driver fatigue and the high risks involved. Th e symptoms and causes, eff ects of fatigue and stress (in Section D) is an everyday threat to the safety of a professional driver and other road users. Extreme tiredness or weariness resulting from physical or mental activ ity will bring on driver fatigue even though modern day vehicles are less demanding to drive. Road and traffi c condit ions require full concentration at all times. The RSA continue to promote that drivers take some exercise or a 15 minute nap aft er 2 hours behind the wheel and Ultan endorsed this measure as well as dispelling the common prevention methods such as opening the window, turning up the radio etc.

With stress disturbing sleep patt erns the subject of driver fatigue led into this other growing health issue. In a recent survey 78% of drivers

say they are oft en stressed, angry or excited when behind the wheel which has an impact on road safety. Described as ‘Th e Spice of Life or the Kiss of Death’, stress aff ects 40 million workers in 15 EU Member States, which contributes to a host of human suff ering, disease and death. Before gett ing into the recommended reduction methods, each ‘student’ had to do a self-assessment to ascertain their current stress level. Reminders on the driver’s basic work/rest cycles were then covered before rounding off with a summary of the module session.

Although basic in content, this full day module was made all the more interesting by John Connell’s life long experiences and the inclusion of numerous anecdotes such as the fi rst motor vehicle fatality, the advent of seat belts and the safe methods of manual handling as practised during his days as a coal delivery man. His pleasant and easy style of delivery was also appreciated by us all.

40,000 undertake Driver CPC to date

As the deadline approached for truck drivers to undertake Driver CPC training, over 40,000 licenced drivers have completed their course to maintain their entitlement to drive for a living. Last year the periodic training course began for bus drivers in order to take in the required 6 modules over 5 years. Th e whole process is ongoing aft er that, continuously evolving as the road and passenger transport changes. Failure to have the signed Driver CPC Certifi cate to prove att endance at a designated course can lead to fi nes of up to €5,000 for the transport operator and €2,000 for the actual driver.

Under the Directive 2003/59/EC, new entrants to the profession are required to pass an advanced test, which examines not only the person’s driving skills but also the knowledge that the person has regarding the industry he/she is about to join. So, new drivers along with current truck/bus drivers must undertake 35 hours of training (with each course being at least 7 hours in duration) over 5 successive years.

In the lead-up to the September 10th deadline, the Governing body, the Road Safety Authority received many queries from drivers who failed to complete their training on time. In these exceptional circumstances the RSA is advising drivers to complete their training as soon as possible but must notify the RSA in writing as to the reasons for the delay, along with their contact details, driver licence and PPS numbers. Check out the RSA website www.rsa.ie for more details and a comprehensive list of Driver CPC training providers.

. . . CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

The economic downturn has given the small and medium family car sectors a fresh lease of life, with many customers opting to downsize from

larger vehicles to save on both purchase and running costs. Mazda Motors is well placed to capitalize in both segments with the fresh faced 3 which arrived in Ireland just under a year ago, while the smaller 2 is about to receive a mid-life facelift to be unveiled at this month’s Paris Motor Show.

Th e appeal of the C-Segment Mazda3 has been broadened, at least for the Irish market, by the introduction of a four-door saloon model. Indeed it has proved to be a signifi cant success for the Japanese manufacturer, only the Toyota Corolla saloon outselling it for much of this year. Indeed unlike many smaller cars, which oft en look as if the saloon version is an aft erthought to the hatchback version, the four-door Mazda3 is arguably a bett er-proportioned car than its fi ve door rival.

In the current environment diesel is king, and therefore it's not surprising that the most popular engine variant in the Mazda3 line-up is the 1.6 diesel off ering. And quite frankly it’s an engine that is very well matched to this car, off ering plenty of performance from its 110 bhp to satisfy all but the most demanding of speed merchants. Combine

this with excellent fuel economy – Mazda quote 4.5 l/100 km, we managed a very creditable 5.2 l/100 km over mixed driving conditions – as well as the fact that with CO2 emissions of just 119 g/km the Mazda3 falls into Tax Band A, and it’s easy to see the appeal of this unit.

Sharing a platform with the Ford Focus, the Mazda3 is also very much a driver’s car, sharing the Ford’s pin-sharp handling and responsiveness. Th e suspension takes bumps and undulating surfaces in its stride, and the steering is nicely weighted to give the right amount of feedback to the driver without being overly light or heavy.

Th e interior too has been signifi cantly improved compared to the old model, with good quality plastics now used throughout, and an ergonomically pleasing fascia layout.

Th e forthcoming facelift to the Mazda2 will see the B segment challenger receive an upgraded Euro V powertrain line-up, an automatic version, and an upgraded chassis as well as detail changes including a new front end and an upgraded interior.

For this size of car, petrol engines continue to remain popular. Mazda off ers a 1.3 litre version with two power outputs of 75 and 86 bhp, strangely

enough with identical CO2 outputs of 125 g/km putt ing them into Tax Band B. Also off ered is an 86 bhp 1.4 diesel in Tax Band A.

When it was launched the current version of the Mazda2 was one of the fi rst cars to reverse the trend of increasingly heavy models, weighing in 100 kgs lighter than its predecessor. In a small car, that’s not an insignifi cant amount, and with the more powerful of the two petrol engines as fi tt ed to our test car, the Mazda2 feels surprisingly peppy and willing. Unlike a lot of small cars you feel you can execute an overtaking manoeuvre without putt ing your life at risk. Th e weight reduction also makes itself felt when it comes to handling – it’s good fun to chuck into corners, although over poorer surfaces, the Mazda2 can feel a bit unsett led on occasions.

In fi ve door version, the Mazda2 will comfortably seat four adults. A boot volume of 250 litres won’t carry the kitchen sink, but is generous enough for most everyday tasks.

In two of the most competitive market segments, Mazda’s 2 and 3 are certainly worthy of serious consideration. Prices for the Mazda2 start from €14,535 up to €15,930, while the Mazda 3 ranges from €20,495 to €24,995.

TWIN TEST

48 DIRECTION | AUTUMN 2010 Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fl eet.ie

Mazda2 & Mazda3 make their mark on Family Car sectors

Like its Swedish rival Volvo, Saab is facing into a future under new ownership, following its aquisition by Dutch sports

car company Spyker at the start of this year. Th e new 9-5, which has just arrived on Irish shores, is the fi rst new model to be launched since then, but can trace its roots fi rmly back to former owners GM, sharing its Epsilon II platform with, among others, Opel’s Insignia. We’ll have to wait for the next generation 9-3 due in 2012 for the fi rst all-new model under Spyker ownership.

With its future now secured, Saab’s priority will be to woo back traditional customers to the brand

with its latest executive off ering. Production of the new car, as well as the various 9-3 models has been moved back to Saab’s manufacturing facility in Trollhatt en in Sweden, with an estate version of the 9-5 joining the line-up next year.

Available at launch with a 2 litre TiD turbo-diesel engine producing 160 bhp, in manual form this engine produces 139 g/km of CO2 putt ing it in Tax Band B. A 190 bhp twin-turbo diesel will follow shortly aft er, while there will also be 1.6 litre turbo petrol, 2 litre BioPower and a 2.8 V6 petrol versions added to the range later.

Two model specifi cations, Linear and Vector, will be available at launch. Th e Linear has 17” alloys, cruise control and dual-zone climate control as standard, while Vector models add Bluetooth, front and rear park assist, leather upholstery and heated front seats.

Saab says that prices for the new 9-5 compare favourably compared to rivals such as the Audi A6 and BMW 520D. Prices start at €36,500 for the 2 litre 160 bhp Linear with manual gearbox with an extra €3,000 for the Vector. With automatic tranmissions, prices for the Linear and Vector are €39,300 and €42,300 respectively.

The new S60 saloon, which has just gone on sale in Ireland, looks set to provide Volvo with its strongest challenger yet

to the established German manufacturers in the premium family car class.

To be followed later by the estate V60 model, the S60 follows current design trends with a coupé like appearance. Volvo says that the new car is the most sporting Volvo ever built, with a newly developed Dynamic chassis and 10% faster steering gear ratio.

At launch two fi ve cylinder diesel engines are off ered, a 2-litre D3 version with 163 bhp, and a 2.4 litre D5 with 205 bhp. Matched with manual gearboxes both engines fall into Tax Band B with 139 g/km of CO2 emissions, and into Bands C and D respectively when combined with an auto gearbox.

A Tax Band A 1.6 litre DRIVe diesel engine is set to join the model line-up in the coming months as will an all-new 1.6 litre GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) petrol engine.

Natural ly being a Volvo, safet y features are very much to the fore w ith the focus fi rmly on accident prevention. City Safety, f irst seen on the XC60, is standard f itment on all X60 models. At speeds of up to 30 k m/h it automatically brakes the car if the vehicle in front stops sudden ly.

Volvo also off ers a new Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake system that can detect if the vehicle is in danger of colliding with a pedestrian and brake accordingly. Another option is a Driver Support Pack that features technology including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), adaptive cruise control with Distance Alert and Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Driver Alert Control (DAC).

Four levels of trim are off ered, S, ES, SE and SE Lux. Prices start from €32,250 for the S model with D3 engine up to €45,050 for the D5 SE Lux.

LAUNCH PAD

Text & Photos: Cathal Doyle – cathal@fl eet.ie FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 2010 49

New Volvo S60 goes head - to head against German rivals

Saab Faces bright new future with new 9-5

Paris Motorshow 2010 – 2/17 October – Porte de VersaillesParis Motorshow 2010 – 2/17 MOTORSHOW

50 FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 10

Global car manufacturers were present and numerous World premieres awaited visitors.

MazdaMazda focused on low fuel consumption and reduced emissions with 3 new model introductions. It’s lightweight Mazda2 has been upgraded inside and out while the Mazda5 gets a new 1.6 litre diesel as does the Mazda3. Th is unit off ers 6% more power, 12% more torque and 15% reduction in emissions (CO2). A new lighter 6-speed gearbox is fi tt ed too.

ChevroletTh e new Cruise 5-door hatch was just one of 4 World premiers from Chevrolet at the Show. Th e Cruise saloon has made a big impact on the touring car race scene both in the World Series and British Championships. Upgraded Aveo and Captiva models were also on display as was the new Orlando, its fi rst real stab at the European family MPV segment.

OpelAlthough in concept form the 3-door Astra GTC points the way for the next generation 3-door sports hatch from Opel. It features a four-cylinder, 2.0 litre turbo direct injection petrol engine with Start/Stop technology, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. As per the Insignia’s signature blade aff ect on the side panels, the Astra GTC has even more curves all round.

FordFord’s focus on the Paris Show was literally the Focus! It had the global reveal of the new high performance 250 PS Focus ST (set for launch in 2012) and the fi rst public showing of the new C-Max and Mondeo ranges. Th e ‘blue-oval’s’ continuous eff ort in reducing CO2 emissions was demonstrated through its expanding Ecometic Technologies and electric vehicles. Th rough the company’s ONE Ford strategy the ready for production Ford Focus family is Ford’s fi rst truly global product development. Alan Mulally, Ford’s President and CEO and Stephen Odell, newly appointed Chairman & CEO, Ford of Europe addressed the press corps.

RenaultWhen the current Laguna was introduced the press and customers alike criticised its look as bland and un-French like. Th ey had litt le to berate the drivetrain however. Now for Model Year 2011, the new Laguna has a more assertive front end. More agile and dynamic it will also feature Euro 5 compatible engines with the dCi 110 emitt ing 10 g/km less than before.

CadillacFamed US brand Cadillac is making a fresh start in the European market. It presented a full range of Model Year 2011 vehicles including the CTS Coupe, CTS Sport Wgon, CTS-V Sedan, SRX Crossover and also the Escalade Hybrid. “All these vehicles can be ordered through our newly established retailer network of fully authorised dealers in Europe,” stated Hans Peter Ryser, Cadillac spokesman.

Paris Motorshow 2010 – 2/17 October – Porte de Versailles October – Porte de Versailles

Text: Rob Van Dieten – rob@fl eet.ie FLEETCAR | AUTUMN 10 51

MOTORSHOW

ToyotaToyota’s presentation at Paris included the Hybrid Synergy Drive Gallery, an interactive exhibition, which charted the Japanese company’s drive towards sustainable mobility through its development of Hybrid Synergy Drive for us in plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel cell hybrid vehicles. Mentioning plug-ins, the Prius Plug-in will now be ready for global sale in 2012.

NissanTownpod is the new name for the Nissan zero emissions concept that was launched to the World at the event. Only a passing interest was made to the LEAF electric car as we have it in Ireland already. Th e biggest news however, was centred towards the new Micra which surprisingly is not bigger than its predecessor but has a new 3 cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine that has a low emission level of 115 g/km and fuel return of 5L/100km.

Mercedes-BenzDetails of the new CLS coupé from Mercedes-Benz were released prior to its World premier in Paris. Since its fi rst introduction into the marketplace back in 2003 over 170,000 units have been sold. Th e new model continues on the sleek appearance of its predecessor but now also takes on the look of the new SLS AMG with its wide grille set forward from the headlights. Sharing its limelight was an interesting display marking the 125 years of the automobile.

PeugeotFamily car users will appreciate the smooth curves of the new 508 saloon and SW estate which made its public debut at its homeland show. It is built on the SA Group’s Platform 3 in Rennes in France for the EU market and interestingly in China next year for Asian markets. As well as more effi cient engines, Peugeot’s new e-HDi Stop/Start system will be available as will Hybrid 4 technology, which will provide 200 bhp, all-wheel-drive and emissions of just 99g/km CO2.

HondaTh e number of hybrid cars is continuing to increase and Honda demonstrated its commitment to this petrol/electric technology with the revealing of the Jazz Hybrid. Using the parallel system, its 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine is combined with a CVT auto box and an electric motor sandwiched between. Revised lights, new front grille and re-styled bumpers as well as modifi cation to the interior diff erentiate it from the current model.

Fiat GroupAlfa Romeo, Lancia, Abarth, Fiat and Chrysler marques were the mainstream brands represented by the Fiat Auto Group in Paris. Deemed the safest compact car in the World according to Euro NCAP, the Alfa Guiliett a has added a new 140 bhp 2.0 JTDM and a 170 bhp 1.4 multi air turbo petrol with AGF TCT auto box to the family. Lancia returned to Paris with special versions of the Delta, Ypsilion and the Musa but joined on this occasion by some Chrysler vehicles.

Abarth has increased its range by introducing additional kits for the new 500C and Punto Evo models while Fiat had nothing majorly new except for changes to the Qubo and some new engines.

FLEETING SHOTS

52 FLEETCAR | AUTUMN Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney – editor@fl eet.ie

Punto Evo gets Fiat dancin’!

BTCC Touring Car NGTC prototype

Dr. Carl Benz Car Museum

Featured as a three minute ‘Prommercial’ advert on Channel 4 the Fiat Punto Evo music video got feet tapping to the latest single from dance act Faithless. Th e move set to transform both music and

automotive marketing is a sure fi ne bet to become one of the biggest music productions of the year as the ‘Feeling Good’ video plot follows the exploits of a young man and woman, whose incredible dance moves are directly aff ected by the movements of small dells hanging from the rear view mirrors of two Fiat Punto Evos.

Th is is not the fi rst occasion that Fiat has used a top group to provide their wears as ‘Middle of the Road’ performed Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum to advertise the new Fiat 127 in 1971.

Near Mannheim is Ladenburg, which, in 1908 witnessed the fi rst C. Benz Söhne automobile leave the production line from what was originally conceived as an engine assembly plant.

Today the facility is a fi tt ing memorial to the main architect behind the project – Karl Benz. Lovingly restored and renovated to its original splendour, the Dr. Carl Benz Car Museum has star exhibits such as the last two C. Benz Söhne vehicles built in Ladenburg and many other classic vehicles from the Benz and Mercedes-Benz brands. There is also a wealth of historic documents and exhibits, which help to gain further knowledge on Karl Benz.

This is an advanced artist’s impression of the BTCC’s Tou r i n g C a r NGTC

prototype. Based on the current Toyota Avensis model, it is being built by GPR Motorsport and will soon be testing ahead of its public track debut at the Dunlop-backed series’ Final Day fi xture at Brands Hatch (9-10 October).

“NGTC is the BTCC’s new formula of touring car that will be eligible to run in the series from next year. Although the Avensis - for which the base vehicles were generated by Toyota UK – teams are free to choose the car/engine they wish to build and develop to the new regulation from 2011,” stated BTCC Series Director, Alan Gow.

The sight of the Lancia Delta Integrale in Martini Racing livery on the cover of Veloce Publishings ‘Rally Giants’ book

is enough to invoke excitement in motorsport enthusiasts from the late 80’s and early 90’s. Many to this day mourn the loss of the Fiat Group owned brand’s withdrawal from the World Rally Championship in 1993. However, according to the books writer Graham Robson, Lancia never had any intention of using the Delta HF 4WD (launched in 1986) for rallying but from the very beginning it was a winner.

From humble beginnings as a Giugiaro styled 5-door front-wheel-drive hatchback from 1979, the Delta family later spawned the HF (High Fidelity) and the S4, the formidable Group B competition car. Following the ‘killing-off ’ (as Graham describes it) of the Group B

rally category, Lancia luckily had a workable replacement to the awe-inspiring S4 in the shape of the HF 4WD and looked to rally preparation specialists Abarth for inspiration. Despite some initial design and mechanical hurdles a credible and rally winning Group A machine was created. While all this investment and development was going on additional fi nance was directed towards att racting top notch drivers such as Markku Alen, Didier Auriol, Miki Biasion and Juha Kankkunen, and of course Carlos Sainz.

Between 1987 and 1992 the Group A Delta scored 45 wins, won 6 World Championships for makes and two driver’s titles each for Biasion and Kankkunen.

As a proud owner of two Lancia Prisma models (the saloon versions of the Delta) in the mid-to-late 80’s it was good to re-kindle the many memories that the famous Italian brand achieved at that time with this 128 page book that’s packed with over 100 photographs that for me was one of the most gracious yet explosive rally cars that ever competed in the World Rally scene.

Lancia Delta 4WD/Integrale by Graham Robson

Veloce.co.uk – ISBN 978-1-845842-58-1

NEW PEUGEOT 5008

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www.peugeot.iePEUGEOT RECOMMENDS TOTAL *Price not inclusive of dealer delivery charges. CO2 =140g. Mixed consumption 5.3litres/100km.

OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES IN l/100km FOR THE SPORTAGE ARE: URBAN: 6.8 – 6.0, EXTRA URBAN: 5.1 – 4.8, COMBINED: 5.7 – 5.2. OFFICIAL CO2 EMISSIONS ARE: 156 – 135 g/km. *Warranty is for 7 years / 150,000km and subject to terms and conditions as defi ned in the owner’s warranty and service handbook. See kiamotors.ie for more details. Model shown may not be to Irish specifi cation. Delivery and related charges are extra. Metallic paint extra.

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