Latest news with #carsafety
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
New UK cars to come with breathalysers and black boxes
New cars sold in Britain will follow European laws and be fitted with black box-style recorders and new equipment that enables breathalyser installations, amid claims the move is a political ploy by Labour to reset its post-Brexit relationship with the EU. Sir Keir Starmer 's Government argues that differences in car manufacturing between Britain and Europe will lead to higher costs being passed on to the customer. But critics argue such a move shows a desire by Labour to closely align Britain to rules and regulations implemented by Brussels. Labour previously agreed the UK would align with EU plant and animal health rules as part of concessions to form a closer relationship with the bloc. Now Lord Hendy, Minister of State for the Department for Transport, stated earlier this week in parliament that the government 'takes an explicit presumption in favour of alignment' in regards to how cars are manufactured. He added that the Government would be 'considering options for requiring the fitment of the safety technologies mandated by the EU's general safety regulation' and would discuss these with individual manufacturers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and the National Franchise Dealers Association. Under the regulation, all new models must have equipment in place to facilitate a breathalyser installation. These are likely to only be fitted to vehicles used by motorists with a record of driving driving. Event Data Recorders (EDRs), which can provide information on how fast a car was travelling before an accident, and Driver Drowsiness Warning (DDAW), which can alert a driver if they are becoming sleepy, are also required to be fitted into new vehicles. Northern Ireland follows GSR2 rules as part of the Brexit deal to prevent a hard border with the Republic of Ireland. But differences between new cars made under EU and UK rules could mean customers in Northern Ireland would face higher costs for purchasing a new vehicle from the mainland. Labour is understood to back an 'alignment' of the EU and UK safety laws to stop Northern Irish consumers being treated unfavourably. Car manufacturers are also said to see the advantage of aligning the rules. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders told The Telegraph : 'With the heavily integrated nature of the UK and European automotive sectors, regulatory alignment supports efficient production, keeping costs down for consumers while retaining the widest possible model choice.' But supporters of Brexit argue that UK car manufacturers do not need to be led by Brussels and the move is simply an attempt by Labour to woo the EU. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, said: 'This is a game being played out where they keep incrementally moving back towards the European Union.' Mark Francois, chairman of the Conservative European Research Group, added: 'This is still rule-taking from the EU, however you try and dress it up.' Away from the theatre of politics, in-built breathalysers - or 'alcolocks' as they are also known - are actually backed by the majority of motorists as a solution to stopping drink drivers from reoffending. A recent poll by the RAC found 53 per cent of drivers want courts to have the power to order anyone convicted of drink-driving to have alcolock breathalysers installed in their cars. Support for the interventionist approach comes as a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA found 27,000 individuals were convicted of multiple drink-driving offences in the 11 years leading up to July 2024. On the back of this evidence, the RAC is pushing for the Government to take up this method - already in use in other countries including Australia, Belgium and parts of the US - in a bid to reduce drink-driving. Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: 'Too many lives are lost and ruined by drink-driving. 'It's also very apparent that many of the drink-drivers caught by the police are reoffenders which implies something different needs to be done to change this dangerous behaviour.' Alcolocks – what are they? Could they become standard? Not everyone will have heard of alcolocks or alcohol-interlocks as they're properly known. Alcolock is actually a brand name – founded in the 70s – but has become the common name for breathalysers fitted to the car's ignition system. Once fitted a driver has to provide an alcohol-free breath sample in order to start the engine – usually blowing for five seconds. If there's little to no alcohol the engine will start. If it exceeds a set level it won't start.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's Tesla Reveals Jaw-Dropping Stat on Autopilot Technology
There has been an ongoing debate about how safe Autopilot technology is in cars as compared to when humans drive. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been adamant that Autopilot technology is safer. As Musk fights a pair of lawsuits over Autopilot technology after settling at least four lawsuits over deadly accidents involving the feature in the past, Tesla released numbers showing Autopilot is safer. According to tech reporter Sawyer Merritt, Tesla found that in the second quarter of 2025, there was just one crash recorded for every 6.69 million miles that were driven by the company's self-driving feature. Meanwhile, human drivers who didn't use it were responsible for one crash for every 963,000 miles driven. "By comparison, the most recent data available from NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) shows that in the US there was an automobile crash approximately every 702,000 miles," Merritt added. Tesla just began rolling out its robotaxis last month, so showing the safety of Autopilot technology is especially important for the company. While many have recorded a positive experience with Tesla's robotaxis, others have shared instances of the vehicles breaking traffic laws and experiencing other issues, which has led to obvious concerns. "Tesla self-driving will be far safer than human driving," Musk said earlier this year. Musk and Tesla have won a pair of lawsuits in California that looked to blame accidents on the company's technology, so not all of the filed lawsuits against Tesla have led to a settlement. It's still far too early to make an exact determination on how much safer self-driving cars are compared to humans, but the early returns suggest Musk is Musk's Tesla Reveals Jaw-Dropping Stat on Autopilot Technology first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 23, 2025
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Are Automakers Getting Rid Of Dedicated Fog Lights?
New cars incorporate tech you never realized you needed, like 360-degree cameras, blind spot warning systems, and adaptive cruise control. As new innovations are introduced, other features are slowly phased out of new cars, including physical gear selectors, spare tires, and physical buttons. Fog lights are another feature offered in fewer new cars. Mounted low on the vehicle, fog lights produce a sharp beam of light directed towards the road, enabling the driver to see lane markers and other features under the fog, whereas headlights are positioned higher on the vehicle. The National Weather Service (NWS) recommends using fog lights and low-beam headlights in tandem during poor visibility conditions, as high-beams can cause glare during fog, reducing visibility and making it challenging to see the road ahead. Providing a unique purpose compared to headlights, fog lights can be crucial to vehicle safety. However, this once common feature has been replaced in recent years as innovations have made headlights more effective. Read more: These Mods May Look Good, But They'll Just Make Your Car Slower Why Have Fog Lights Disappeared? Fog lights were introduced to mitigate the visibility deficit of halogen headlights, as halogen lights were unable to provide the concentrated beam of light required for visibility in fog. However, some automakers believe that advancements in headlight technology make the inclusion of fog lights redundant. Hyundai and Genesis credit Multi-Face Reflector (MFR) headlamps and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps for diminishing the need for fog lights. Genesis claims that vehicles equipped with LED and MFR headlights, especially those using clear covers, reflector plates, and refractive lenses, provide notably improved visibility. LED-equipped headlights produce a shorter wavelength and almost white light, which is said to provide great visibility, even in fog, removing the need for fog lamps. Although fog lamps aren't particularly high-energy use items, another advantage of LED lights is that they are said to be 20 times more efficient than halogen lamps. Genesis claims that the weight loss from the elimination of fog lamps can improve vehicle performance and give designers more aesthetic options. Meanwhile, repurposing the space fog lamps occupied for functional air curtains has enabled engineers to improve the vehicle's aerodynamics. Another contributing factor to the elimination of fog lights is that they aren't required in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which sets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, requires components like seat belts, airbags, tire pressure monitoring systems, and backup cameras, yet does not mandate fog lamps. Meanwhile, the U.K. requires a rear fog light at a minimum. Can You Still Buy A Car With Fog Lights? Regardless of new lighting technology, if you still want fog lights, you have some options. First, not all automakers have eliminated fog lights. For instance, they're standard on the discontinued Infiniti QX55 luxury crossover, while the Polestar 2 EV offers front fog lamps, cornering lights, and rear fog lights, which makes the vehicle more visible to others on the road during conditions such as snow, fog, or smoke. Your second option is to add fog lamps to a vehicle that did not come with them from the factory. Fog light kits are available for purchase, and 1A Auto provides a detailed video on how to install them as part of a DIY. While a DIY will save you labor costs, paying extra for professional installation might be worth the peace of mind. New technology, like LED lighting, and the fact that fog lights have never been federally mandated safety equipment, have caused dedicated fog lights to become less common. Fortunately, there are still cars that offer fog lights, and for the ones that do not, there are fog light kits available as aftermarket accessories. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Trump's Auto Safety Pick Promises Rapid Self-Driving Deployment
President Donald Trump's choice to lead the nation's top car safety regulator pledged to prioritize safety while at the same time making it easier for automakers to deploy-self driving cars. Jonathan Morrison, who was nominated by Trump on February 11 to be administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, told lawmakers in a hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee Wednesday that the agency he hopes to soon lead should craft self-driving rules that go beyond the current voluntary guidelines that were enacted under previous administrations.
