Check your tyres before long journeys this festive season

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Traffic volumes on the busiest national roads increase to over 2000 vehicles per hour¹ during the festive season when many people travel long distances to visit family or enjoy a summer holiday away from home. The South African Tyre Manufacturers’ Conference (SATMC) urges all motorists to check their tyres and ensure their vehicles are safe before starting their journey.

“The number of road accidents over the festive season last year was disturbing, especially because so many fatalities are preventable,” said SATMC CEO Dr Etienne Human.

According to the Ministry of Transport², between 1 December 2013 and 6 January 2014 there were 1147 crashes and 1376 fatalities on South African roads. KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng’s roads were the most dangerous with 284 and 268 fatalities respectively. Accidents were caused by un-roadworthy vehicles, drunk driving, speeding, driver fatigue, failure to wear seatbelts and unlicensed drivers.

“We can all play a role in reducing these statistics if we are responsible citizens and have respect for life. Every motorist should make an effort to protect themselves and their passengers by ensuring that their vehicle is roadworthy, starting by checking the condition of their tyres,” said Human.

Daily inspect the tyres of your vehicleby ensuring that there are no cuts, bulges, foreign objects or visible irregularities. Passenger car tyres should not have any damage or repairs on the sidewalls. If in doubt, rather replace the tyre. The tyre pressures should always be spot-on for the load and speed to be travelled.

To reduce the risk of sliding across the road, check tyre tread and replace tyres well before they reach the regulatory minimum depth of 1.00 mm. Tread wear indicators in the grooves of the tyres are a quick way of checking the tread depth. Maintain the correct tyre pressure and be sure not to overload your car according to your tyre and vehicle load limits.

Unchecked tyres can lead to flat tyres, tread detachment and tyre blowouts. Drivers lose control of their vehicle when their tyres fail and this can cause fatal road accidents costing thousands of Rands of damage.

“Nobody wants to delay their holiday or find themselves stuck on the roadside with problems. It makes sense to check your tyre quality before beginning your trip – it is one of the best and easiest ways to prevent an accident,” said Human. The benefit of proper and regular tyre maintenance could also improve vehicle handling, fuel economy and extend the life of your tyres.

While regularly checking your tyres is recommended, the quality of the tyre is also important. “It is estimated that the majority of all tyre blow-outs can be attributed to defective second-hand tyres or improperly repaired tyres. You get what you pay for and oftentimes low cost and second-hand tyres do not constitute safety or quality,” warned Human.

Human provided motorists with another useful tyre preservation tip: “Speeding is one of the quickest ways to destroy your tyres. The tyres heat up and this means they are likely to wear down quickly or damage easily if you drive over a sharp object. SATMC advises against this kind of reckless behaviour and asks motorists to respect other road users and pedestrians by driving under the specified speed limit.”

For more information about the SATMC, visit www.satmc.co.za or email info@satmc.co..za.

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Tyre Safety and Road Safety

Check your tyres before long journeys this festive season

What you need to have to know just before buying a automobile for your kid

Are you searching to get a auto for your son or daughter?

As a parent, maintaining costs low and making sure the car is safe are the 2 crucial issues. But there doesn’t have to be a trade-off amongst the 2.

I asked Crispin Moger (pictured), CEO at Marmalade, provider of cars and insurance coverage for young drivers, what he thinks parents must look for when acquiring their kid’s very first car…

“When they’re beginning out, young drivers and their parents frequently start looking for a used vehicle, rather than a new model, because they believe that’s the only cost-effective selection.

“But this is not constantly the case. The older the automobile, the larger the expenses of upkeep, tax and insurance. What’s much more, some young driver insurance coverage policies won’t actually cover older cars, which makes life hard if they’ve already bought the vehicle.”

Security concerns

Crispin continues: “Aside from these added charges, there is also the critical issue of security. The simple truth is that newer vehicles have a tendency to be much more robust, much better made and equipped with more and greater safety features.

“Research shows that young drivers are most at danger of becoming in an accident when they are inexperienced and haven’t accrued the road hours that aid them to judge and react in a protected manner.

“That’s why a new automobile need to be the preferred choice. An adult may well have the encounter and capability to drive an older car without having undue concern, but that almost certainly will not be the case for his or her youngster.”

What to look for in a new auto

Crispin provided a handful of pointers on how to preserve a lid on costs when buying a vehicle that nonetheless ticks the boxes safety-sensible:

• Engine size The more potent the engine, the more threat of the young driver speeding and driving dangerously. That’s why we recommend a relatively modest maximum size of 1.4 for young drivers, and we will not insure anything bigger


• Optional extras You may locate a very good deal for car that has alloys, tinted windows and all the trimmings, but beware as these are all features that drive up the price of insurance for young drivers


• Age of the automobile Not only are older automobiles significantly less robust in crashes, but the newer the car, the a lot more safety characteristics it is probably to have. Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) have been a regular feature of all new automobiles given that 2004 and help the driver to preserve handle of the vehicle in an emergency. Extra characteristics such as electric windows and steering wheel audio control adapters help to lessen distractions for drivers and enable them to stay focused on the road. The most recent models also advantage from automatic emergency braking


• MoT It is also worth remembering that, if a car is new, it will not need an MoT for 3 years.


• Telematics Appear for a vehicle that will function with a telematics-based insurance policy as this may nicely support to maintain you child secure on the roads.

How can telematics aid?

One of the major improvements to the security of young drivers in current years has been telematics.

Installing a black box in your child’s auto to monitor driving functionality and qualities has several benefits, not least that it makes them feel about their driving when behind the wheel.

Some policies also operate ‘curfews’, which hold young drivers off the road at times when there is a greater frequency of accidents.

And the important point is that very good, sensible and secure driving is ultimately rewarded with reduced premiums, while bad, reckless and harmful driving is deterred by the threat of greater premiums.

Data protection

Crispin added: “As properly as encouraging your youngster to drive safely, telematics can also assist if there is an accident.

“If it wasn’t your child’s fault, the information in the black box may possibly assist to prove their case. And if the vehicle is stolen, you will be able to hold track of the car so that it can be recovered.”

What you need to have to know just before buying a automobile for your kid

Be cautious just before you refinance

Christmas is a busy time of year, spending-sensible and the indications are that retailers could be in for some festive cheer, with the Australian Retailers Association estimating that Australians will commit $ 45 billion between 15 November and 24 December. This represents a 4.3% obtain on sales throughout the identical period in 2013.

Personal loan providers are possibly gearing up for this seasonal frenzy, with CANSTAR noting some especially low loan rates in the marketplace – possibly to combat the rise in numbers of credit card balance transfer bargains.

Just due to the fact interest rates are low, though, doesn’t mean you must take out a loan – or even consolidate debt that you have. We caught up with Glen Calder, senior enterprise financial planner, Westpac Economic Arranging, for a fast Q&A on individual loans and debt consolidation.

Q: So is it a good notion to consolidate your private debt?

A: There are 2 logical and rational reasons to consolidate your debts.  Firstly it is a lot easier to be paying off one particular loan and secondly it may possibly be attainable to get the interest price on the consolidated loan considerably decrease.  The very best scenario is to take credit card debt that may be costing 15-20% interest and place it on your home loan that is closer to 5%.

While this makes very good financial sense there are a couple of factors why it could be best not to consolidate.  Credit card debt is designed to be short term, it is also simple credit and effortless to run up huge debts.  If you pay off this debt by consolidating in onto your home loan, you now convert quick term debt to lengthy term debt.  This indicates that the television paid for on the credit card may possibly nevertheless be becoming paid off 20 years later.  Worse, if you then run up much more credit card debt due to the fact it is cleared you are now in a larger debt position than before.

Q: Does debt consolidation influence your credit rating?

A: Negative credit ratings arise because of default, not consolidation, even so the action to consolidate debts may seem on your credit report, noting for your application for a loan.  You can request a totally free copy of your credit rating by way of many providers.

Q: How can you keep away from receiving into debt problems once more?

Be honest with yourself.  Everybody has items they are very good at and things they are not.  If managing debt is not a strength then get credit card with low limits or only use a debit card.  Have a plan on how you pay off every debt.

If you want some aid kickstarting your savings, probably try a income detox and see how you go.

Be cautious just before you refinance

What you want to know before acquiring a auto for your youngster

Are you hunting to acquire a vehicle for your son or daughter?

As a parent, maintaining expenses low and ensuring the vehicle is safe are the 2 crucial issues. But there does not have to be a trade-off amongst the 2.

I asked Crispin Moger (pictured), CEO at Marmalade, provider of vehicles and insurance for young drivers, what he thinks parents need to look for when acquiring their kid’s first car…

“When they’re starting out, young drivers and their parents usually begin looking for a used car, rather than a new model, because they believe that is the only inexpensive selection.

“But this is not often the case. The older the automobile, the higher the expenses of maintenance, tax and insurance. What’s a lot more, some young driver insurance coverage policies won’t really cover older cars, which tends to make life difficult if they’ve already bought the automobile.”

Security issues

Crispin continues: “Aside from these added charges, there is also the vital situation of safety. The straightforward truth is that newer vehicles tend to be much more robust, much better designed and equipped with a lot more and much better safety attributes.

“Research shows that young drivers are most at danger of becoming in an accident when they are inexperienced and haven’t accrued the road hours that help them to judge and react in a safe manner.

“That’s why a new car ought to be the preferred selection. An adult might have the experience and capability to drive an older auto without undue concern, but that possibly will not be the case for his or her child.”

What to look for in a new car

Crispin presented a couple of pointers on how to keep a lid on expenses when getting a auto that still ticks the boxes security-wise:

• Engine size The much more effective the engine, the a lot more risk of the young driver speeding and driving dangerously. That’s why we recommend a fairly modest maximum size of 1.4 for young drivers, and we won’t insure something bigger


• Optional extras You may possibly discover a very good deal for auto that has alloys, tinted windows and all the trimmings, but beware as these are all functions that drive up the price of insurance for young drivers


• Age of the car Not only are older vehicles less robust in crashes, but the newer the auto, the much more security characteristics it is most likely to have. Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) have been a common function of all new vehicles considering that 2004 and assist the driver to maintain manage of the car in an emergency. Extra functions such as electric windows and steering wheel audio handle adapters help to minimize distractions for drivers and enable them to stay focused on the road. The newest models also advantage from automatic emergency braking


• MoT It is also worth remembering that, if a car is new, it will not require an MoT for 3 years.


• Telematics Look for a car that will perform with a telematics-based insurance coverage policy as this might properly support to hold you child protected on the roads.

How can telematics help?

1 of the key improvements to the safety of young drivers in current years has been telematics.

Installing a black box in your child’s car to monitor driving functionality and qualities has numerous advantages, not least that it tends to make them think about their driving when behind the wheel.

Some policies also operate ‘curfews’, which keep young drivers off the road at times when there is a larger frequency of accidents.

And the key point is that very good, sensible and protected driving is ultimately rewarded with reduced premiums, even though bad, reckless and unsafe driving is deterred by the threat of larger premiums.

Data protection

Crispin added: “As nicely as encouraging your child to drive safely, telematics can also aid if there is an accident.

“If it wasn’t your child’s fault, the information in the black box may possibly help to prove their case. And if the vehicle is stolen, you will be in a position to preserve track of the car so that it can be recovered.”

What you want to know before acquiring a auto for your youngster

What you require to know just before getting a auto for your youngster

Are you looking to buy a car for your son or daughter?

As a parent, keeping costs low and ensuring the vehicle is safe are the 2 key concerns. But there doesn’t have to be a trade-off between the 2.

I asked Crispin Moger (pictured), CEO at Marmalade, provider of cars and insurance for young drivers, what he thinks parents should look for when buying their kid’s first car…

“When they’re starting out, young drivers and their parents often start searching for a used car, rather than a new model, because they think that’s the only affordable option.

“But this isn’t always the case. The older the car, the higher the costs of maintenance, tax and insurance. What’s more, some young driver insurance policies won’t actually cover older cars, which makes life difficult if they’ve already bought the vehicle.”

Safety concerns

Crispin continues: “Aside from these additional costs, there is also the critical issue of safety. The simple truth is that newer cars tend to be more robust, better designed and equipped with more and better safety features.

“Research shows that young drivers are most at risk of being in an accident when they are inexperienced and haven’t accrued the road hours that help them to judge and react in a safe manner.

“That’s why a new car should be the preferred option. An adult might have the experience and capability to drive an older car without undue concern, but that probably won’t be the case for his or her child.”

What to look for in a new car

Crispin offered a few pointers on how to keep a lid on costs when buying a car that still ticks the boxes safety-wise:

• Engine size The more powerful the engine, the more risk of the young driver speeding and driving dangerously. That’s why we recommend a relatively modest maximum size of 1.4 for young drivers, and we won’t insure anything larger


• Optional extras You may find a good deal for car that has alloys, tinted windows and all the trimmings, but beware as these are all features that drive up the cost of insurance for young drivers


• Age of the car Not only are older cars less robust in crashes, but the newer the car, the more safety features it is likely to have. Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) have been a standard feature of all new cars since 2004 and help the driver to keep control of the car in an emergency. Additional features such as electric windows and steering wheel audio control adapters help to reduce distractions for drivers and enable them to remain focused on the road. The latest models also benefit from automatic emergency braking


• MoT It’s also worth remembering that, if a car is new, it will not require an MoT for 3 years.


• Telematics Look for a car that will work with a telematics-based insurance policy as this may well help to keep you child safe on the roads.

How can telematics help?

One of the major improvements to the safety of young drivers in recent years has been telematics.

Installing a black box in your child’s car to monitor driving performance and characteristics has many benefits, not least that it makes them think about their driving when behind the wheel.

Some policies also operate ‘curfews’, which keep young drivers off the road at times when there is a higher frequency of accidents.

And the key point is that good, sensible and safe driving is ultimately rewarded with lower premiums, while bad, reckless and dangerous driving is deterred by the threat of higher premiums.

Data protection

Crispin added: “As well as encouraging your child to drive safely, telematics can also help if there is an accident.

“If it wasn’t your child’s fault, the data in the black box may help to prove their case. And if the car is stolen, you will be able to keep track of the vehicle so that it can be recovered.”

What you require to know just before getting a auto for your youngster

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Question:

What is the distanced allowed between the car and the speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Answer:

If the camera is a laser the speed needs to be locked within 500 metres .

Alta Swanepoel & Associates

What is the distanced allowed between the car and speed camera before the speed is recorded?

Warmest day hope just before huge storm

16/07/14

By Helen Smyth

A powerful summer time storm is threatening to bring flooding to parts of the UK this weekend.

The Met Workplace has issued serious climate alerts for rain covering most of England and Wales on Saturday.

Torrential downpours, lightning and strong gusts could sweep in a day following temperatures are forecast to attain the 30C mark, with Friday tipped to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Yellow alerts for rain have been put in location for north England, Yorkshire and Humber, the Midlands, East of England, south-west England, London and the South East and components of Wales.

The Met Office mentioned: “Places of heavy, thundery showers might develop more than England and Wales from early on Saturday prior to moving northwards during the day.

“The development of these is uncertain but where they do form some torrential downpours are feasible with frequent lightning, hail and locally powerful gusts.

“Important flooding is feasible where these do occur from surface water as effectively as small, quickly responding watercourses.

“The frequent lightning, hail and robust gusts could also be an further hazard. The public should be aware of the risk of disruption from any of these elements.”

The stormy situations will dampen the mood in the course of what is likely to be the warmest spell of the year so far.

Temperatures will peak on Friday when the 30C barrier could be reached for the 1st time this year, with the most likely place to the north-west of London.

Forecasts suggest Britain will be slightly warmer than European holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Ibiza and Good.

The hottest day so far this year was July 4, when 28.7C (83.7F) was detected in Norfolk and Essex.

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Warmest day hope just before huge storm

Tesla, Panasonic Sign Deal for Epic Gigafactory Battery Plant Slated to Open Before 2017

Panasonic has agreed to partner with Tesla on its Gigafactory battery-manufacturing facility, which will at some point assemble all battery packs for both the automaker’s lineup and its foray into electrical storage for residences and firms.

The Japanese electronics giant, which currently supplies the lithium-ion cells in the Model S, won’t commit to hauling its own gear to the U.S. just however, even so. Just as it does now at its factory in Fremont, California, Tesla will import Panasonic cells from Japan and assemble them into battery packs. This must take up half of the planned 10-million-square-foot Gigafactory facility, according to Tesla, with some further unnamed “key suppliers” taking up the other space. Tesla has currently committed about $ 2.3 billion to the estimated $ 5 billion price for the factory since the firm announced plans to construct it in March. So even though Panasonic is throwing down some yen, the Gigafactory likely demands a lot more funding just before Elon Musk’s organization starts construction.

In its second-quarter SEC filing, Tesla said it plans to pick a building web site inside “the subsequent handful of months” from amongst 5 possible locations—Reno, Nevada, being a top selection, along with web sites in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas—and plans to have the factory completed prior to the Model 3 debuts in 2016 as a 2017 model. That higher-volume automobile, which will arrive after the Model X crossover’s 2015 rollout, is amongst the principal causes that the Gigafactory will exist. Tesla wants to reduce battery fees if it hopes to be able to sell the Model 3 for its target starting cost of $ 35,000, and the Palo Alto company also hopes to grow to be a major supplier to other automakers or even to consumer-electronics firms such as Apple.

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We’re slightly bearish on the Gigafactory upending the entire battery enterprise so swiftly, particularly provided Tesla’s consistent economic losses (it lost $ 62 million in the second quarter). Nonetheless, in spite of earning a “junk” credit rating in Could, Tesla is upgrading its Fremont assembly line, is opening new retailers in China, is adding but much more totally free Supercharger stations, and says it is “on track” to provide the gullwinged Model X early next year. If everything goes to strategy, 6500 individuals will discover steady employment at the Gigafactory and Tesla will churn out 500,000 cars per year by 2020—and Tesla’s most zealous owners just may possibly form a religion.

Tesla, Panasonic Sign Deal for Epic Gigafactory Battery Plant Slated to Open Before 2017