Cars, Kereta

fatz2

Local invention to detect carbon monoxide build-up in vehicles
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 May 2008 1926 hrs



SINGAPORE: A local company has developed a carbon monoxide detector that checks the presence of the harmful gas, which could cause health problems.

Its creator Techpro Electronics said research showed that some 400,000 motorists in Singapore are at risk of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide usually enters the vehicle through corroded floor boards, air condition vents, and improper retrofit work.

But with the new technology, when the gas builds up to an unhealthy level of over 100 parts per million, the device

SQ154

Controlled aggression pays off for Japan's Miki



Ryuji Miki celebrated his first Formula Drift title at the inaugural Formula Drift Singapore Championship yesterday.

In the final tandem battle, the Japanese and Malaysia's Tengku Djan wowed the 11,000-strong sell-out crowd at the Changi Exhibition Centre with their drifting techniques.

With the scores tied at eight apiece after the first run, both drivers pulled out all the stops in the second.

Miki said: "I felt I needed to be more aggressive, so I went all out."

While the move paid off for the 2004 D1 Grand Prix champion, the same cannot be said for Djan.

He said: "I was trying hard - driving at 110 per cent - just to keep up. I tried a bit too hard and ended up hitting a board."

The incident happened at the final turn, and spelt the end of his chances.

He was without a point in the second run, while Miki scored nine points, thanks to his greater control.

The champion said: "It was a close match. If not for that incident, who knows what the scores would have been?"
In drifting, scoring is based on style, precision and car control, rather than speed.

The Formula Drift series includes eight points events, plus a World Championship and two international events in Mexico and Singapore.

Although no points were awarded for this event, Miki, who came out tops among 38 drivers from seven countries, pocketed $1,500 for his efforts.

Djan and third-placed Mike Whiddet of New Zealand, drove away with $1,000 and $500 respectively.

Motorsports fans can expect more of such races in the near future.

Binter, a tyre distribution company which presented this event, has a three-year contract with Formula Drift.

SQ154

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion




Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion
Engine: 1,422cc inline-3 diesel
Gearbox: 5-speed manual transmission
Max power: 80 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Max torque: 195 Nm @ 1,800rpm
0-100 kmh: 12.8 seconds
Top speed: 176 kmh
Distributor: Volkswagen Group Singapore, tel: 6474-8288


COME July 1, 2008, Singapore motorists will wake up to a more affordable diesel tax regime and the concept of BlueMotion.

Volkswagen is a leader in diesel technology and BlueMotion is the name the German car giant has given to the most efficient and economical vehicle in each model range.

The first BlueMotion model introduced was the Polo BlueMotion last year. It is the epitome of the BlueMotion philosophy. Its efficient diesel engine combines with a lower kerb weight, improved aerodynamics and longer gearing to return an average fuel consumption figure that is unmatched by any other five-seater car in production today - just 3.8 litres per 100km or an amazing 26.3km per litre. With its 45-litre diesel tank, it can almost travel 1,200km before running dry.

With its 1.4-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the Polo BlueMotion is not only one of the most fuel efficient cars but it is also one of the cleanest in terms of CO2 emissions. Its CO2 figure of 102 g/km betters even that of hybrid models like the Toyota Prius (104 g/km). The little VW's 80 hp engine has a diesel particulate filter, exhaust gas recirculation and direct injection to keep things clean.

Yet, it is not lacking in oomph. A variable geometry turbocharger helps to raise maximum torque output to 195 Nm.

Out on New Zealand's open roads where the Polo BlueMotion was recently driven, it felt nippy and agile in the lower gears. But shift up into fourth or fifth and the longer gearing will start to blunt the engine's performance. The tall fifth gear is great for cruising on the highways but not for blasting down a country road. The engine also sounds a tad noisier than other diesel power plants from Volkswagen. The diesel clatter, as well as road noise, are audible in the cabin. Some soundproofing has obviously been compromised for weight-saving purposes.

On the outside, the BlueMotion gets several aerodynamic enhancements to make it more slippery through the air, including spoilers and a radiator grille with a smaller opening. In addition, the Polo BlueMotion also runs on special lightweight alloys wrapped with 14-inch low-rolling resistance tyres.

The only stumbling blocks for the Polo BlueMotion in Singapore is its price and its manual gearbox. The BlueMotion is more expensive to make, thanks to its unique fuel-conserving features. If the price is right and you don't mind swapping your own gears, this is the car to have - it clearly shows you care about the environment.

But when VW starts introducing diesel-powered passenger cars to the local market from July, the first oil-burning models to go on sale here will be the two diesel variants of the Touareg SUV - the 3.0 V6 TDI and the performance-oriented R50. The latter is the flagship of the range and is powered by a V10 turbodiesel making 350 hp and a tree-felling 850 Nm.

This is because the new diesel passenger tax structure favours models with bigger engines.

But tree huggers fret not - the Polo Blue-Motion is slated for introduction in the near future, followed soon by the Passat BlueMotion and the Tiguan TDI compact SUV. Eco-friendly never looked so cool.

SQ154

Chevrolet Optra Magnum CNG: What a gas




CHEVROLET OPTRA MAGNUM CNG
Price: $62,688 with COE
Engine: 1,598cc 16-valve inline-4

Transmission: Four-speed automatic

Power: 109hp at 5,800rpm

Torque: 150Nm at 4,000rpm

0-100kmh: 14.3 seconds (petrol mode)

Top speed: 172kmh (petrol mode)

Fuel consumption: 9kg of CNG/100km (or about $10.60/100km)

Agents: Starsauto; Alpine Motors



WHAT do you call a car that stalls four times over a weekend? How about Chevrolet Optra Magnum CNG?

The Thai-made Chevy's engine simply goes off like a candle - once while coasting down a slope, once while climbing a carpark ramp and twice at the lights. Each time, you shift to Park, pull the handbrake and crank the engine, which, I am happy to report, fires up instantaneously.

The test car may well be a lemon (now that's a word I rarely use in a review), and it may not be representative of other Chevys. Then again, that can also be said for cars which get rave reviews.

The Chevrolet Optra had such a review when it was first launched in 2004.

And in some ways, the Optra Magnum CNG is still the same car. It is essentially an Optra sedan (or estate) that has been fitted with a conversion kit that allows it to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as petrol.

CNG cars are gradually becoming as hot as Justin Timberlake, thanks to the fact that it now costs $100 or more to tank up a compact with petrol. That and a generous green vehicle tax rebate accorded to CNG cars here.

While most CNG conversions are done here in Singapore, the Optra Magnums are converted in Chevrolet's plant in Thailand.

Because of that, the cars come with a manufacturer's three-year/100,000km warranty - just like any other Chevy. If other Optra Magnums are anything like the test car, you're going to need it.

General Motors says the test car is actually a version meant for Thailand (Thais reading this, take note). So, perhaps the Singapore cars, due here soon, will have better quality control.

Then again, General Motors South-east Asia operations president Steve Carlisle says there has not been any major technical glitches since the bi-fuel Optras were introduced in Thailand two years ago. (In Bangkok traffic, having to restart the engine could well be considered a minor inconvenience compared to, say, having to answer the call of nature.)

Sorry if I belabour the point, but I've never had a car stall on me so many times.

If you accept the irregularity as nothing more than an irregularity, let me say there are worse CNG cars to buy than the Optra Magnum.

GM has done more to the car than merely strapping on a big gas tank and the required piping. It has fine-tuned the engine and shored up the car's rear dampers (to offset the extra 70 to 80kg in the boot).

This has given the Optra rather unique ride and handling characteristics. Despite the stiffer damping and higher laden weight, the car is clearly set up for comfort. And for the record, it gets full marks on this front by going over speed humps like they don't exist and by keeping road noise to a whisper even at high speeds.

But it is wishy-washy when it comes to quick lane changing or simple cornering. You turn the steering in one direction and you feel the car's body literally shifting the opposite way.

Unlike in some CNG-converted cars here, there is no detectable power loss when the Optra is running on gas. However, it does take longer than usual to switch over from petrol mode, which is employed when starting up.

Hence, despite consciously choosing to run on gas over the entire weekend, I had used up one quarter tank of the precious fluid by Monday.

One final complaint: The air-con is weak. For a car originating from tropical Thailand, that is puzzling.

But if you are really bent on cutting your fuel bills or saving the Earth, you really shouldn't be using the air-con in the first place.

fatz

Singapura : 3 Mei 2008        
         
CAKAP PASAL KERETA

BERAPA SEBENARNYA BELANJA MEMILIKI SEBUAH KERETA?

Oleh
Mohamed Taifoor Mohamed

JIKA kita lihat tajuk di atas dan tanya beberapa pemilik kereta yang benar-benar tahu berapa banyakkah yang mereka harus bayar untuk kereta mereka, ramai yang mungkin tidak tahu.

Kita biasa mendengar orang-orang memberi anggaran sekitar $500 sebulan dan ada yang menganggarkan $600 atau $700 sebulan. Anggaran dengan ansuran bulanan yang agak murah itu sering membuat pelanggan memutuskan membeli kereta.

Setelah membeli kereta, mereka jarang mengambil tahu berapakah sebenarnya yang mereka harus belanjakan untuk kereta mereka.

Saya akan bentangkan berapakah jumlah yang harus kita belanjakan atau sediakan untuk satu kereta sebulan.

1) Ansuran bulanan - $600 (kereta 1,600cc).

2) Tempat meletak kereta - $95 (berbilang tingkat) atau $65 (terbuka).

3) Cukai jalanraya - $75.

4) Insurans - $95 (umur atas 28tahun).

5) Minyak - $300 (136 liter).

6) ERP - $50.

7) Khidmat dan penyenggaraan - $30.

Jumlah perbelanjaan sebulan - $1,245.

Jika kita lihat kiraan di atas, semua pembeli akan terkejut tetapi masih ramai yang mampu membeli kereta kerana ramai anggota masyarakat kita yang mempunyai kereta.

Mengapa saya bincangkan perkara ini?

Pada pendapat saya, jika semua anggota masyarakat kita ada satu perancangan seperti di atas, mereka akan tahu dan siap untuk perbelanjaan mereka dan kurang menghadapai masalah kewangan kerana mereka sudah tahu berapa banyak yang mereka harus keluarkan setiap bulan.

Apakah yang harus kita buat?

Kita harus membuat satu carta seperti di bawah ini:-

Perbelanjaan kereta

1) Ansuran bulanan.

2) Tempat meletak kereta (musiman dan kupon).

3) Cukai jalan raya.

4) Insurans.

5) Minyak.

6) ERP.

7) Khidmat dan penyenggaraan.

Kita harus buat perkiraan ini untuk tiga bulan, barulah kita akan dapat perkiraan yang lebih tepat.

Sudah waktunya kita membuat satu perkiraan kerana semua harga barang-barang mulai naik.

Jadilah pemilik yang bertanggungjawab dan faham berapa yang kita harus keluarkan.

Ini juga akan menjadikan kita lebih teliti tentang perbelanjaan bulanan kita termasuk rumah, perbelanjaan anak, makan dan juga perbelanjaan peribadi.

Jadilah pembeli yang bijak dan pintar dalam membuat perkiraan sendiri.

Bagi mereka yang sudah mempunyai kereta, sila buat perkiraan juga untuk kebaikan kita sendiri.

fatz

Ekstra! : 3 Mei 2008        

BMW SERIES 1 SUDAH SAMPAI

Oleh
Jaz Al-Zain

AKHIRNYA penantian dan jangkaan sekian lama berakhir. BMW Series 1 akan muncul di jalan raya di sini tidak lama lagi.

Performance Motors Ltd, pengedar rasmi kereta berprestij dari Jerman itu, dijadualkan melancarkan kereta yang amat dinanti-nantikan itu pada Jumaat ini.

Para peminat BMW sudah pasti tidak mahu ketinggalan untuk melihat sendiri dari dekat kereta yang telah banyak mendapat pujian di seluruh dunia.

Performance akan menawarkan empat model Series 1 itu, masing-masing dengan keunikannya sendiri dalam memberikan keseronokan memandu.

Keempat-empat model tersebut ialah BMW 130i hatchback tiga pintu, BMW 118i hatchback lima pintu, BMW 125i Coupe dan BMW 120i Cabriolet.

BMW 130i dilengkapi dengan pakej M-Sports BMW yang terkenal, yang antara lain mempunyai sistem gantung M sports.

Ia dibekalkan dengan enjin 3 liter enam silinder sebaris yang menghemburkan 265 kuasa kuda dan mampu memecut dari 0-100kmh secepat 6.2 saat sahaja.

125i Coupe juga mempunyai enam silinder sebaris tetapi dengan kuasa yang rendah sedikit iaitu 218bhp.

120i Cabriolet pula mempunyai kuasa 156bhp.

Ikuti ruangan ini minggu depan untuk reviu penuh Vroom mengenai Series 130i.

Sementara itu, para peminat BMW boleh ke lelaman www.bmw1series.com.sg untuk mendaftarkan minat mereka mengenai kereta ini dan menyertai majlis pelancaran yang eksklusif.

fatz2

Spotting stolen, wanted vehicles just got easier
System is among several devices unveiled at Police Workplan Seminar
By Sujin Thomas


SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE: A camera (above) that scans license plates and feeds the scans to a laptop. -- ST PHOTOS: FRANCIS ONG


THE police may soon have a gadget that can quickly detect blacklisted vehicles - like stolen cars or those used in crime getaways.

The technical trial was completed last week on the Mobile Automated Vehicle Screening System (MAVSS), which comprises a car-mounted camera and a laptop computer.

The camera, which sits on the roof of police patrol cars, can scan up to six licence plates of parked or moving vehicles every second and feed the scans into a laptop in the police car. The scans are then compared against a database of stolen or wanted vehicles for matches, which come up within seconds.

The system, customised from a similar one in use by European crime enforcement agencies, does away with manual screening.

The police said it is not certain when the system will be introduced here.

Motor vehicle thefts hit a new high last year with 1,104 cases. The figures were 900 in 2006 and 1,058 in 2005.

The MAVSS was among the new devices unveiled at the Police Workplan Seminar at The Grassroots Club in Ang Mo Kio yesterday.

It was attended by more than 800 guests, including police officers, grassroots leaders and corporate and community partners.

Another piece of hardware which debuted was an armoured personnel carrier which can transport up to 14 Special Operations Command officers into barricaded areas, including scenes of demonstrations and riots.

The 12.5-tonne Australian-made vehicle, which can shove aside barricades weighing 7.5 tonnes, will be part of the Singapore Police Force's arsenal at next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit here.

The police are also tapping into popular video-sharing website YouTube to raise public awareness of crime and terrorist threats among the IT-savvy here.

A number of episode-based documentaries have been uploaded since late last month, such as 'Be Alert Against Terrorism' and 'You Could Be My Victim', which depict possible real-life scenarios and how to deal with them.

[email protected]

SweetCandy

Fatz.. tks for sharing. I find this is a very useful resource which you have shared here.

SweetCandy

wah.. suratkhabar tdy straits times.. harga COE jatuh bnyk.
yelah bila harga elektrik naik, harga minyak pun naik.
Harga barang2 keperluan dapur pun  naik.. aiyaya.. nothing new.

sutera_abadi

sut nak tanya porumer s'pore kat sini...
normally korang isi minyak (kat s'pore) prefer stesen minyak man ehh???
and why????
sut ske isi minyak kat exxonmobil.... bleh kumpul point

chicsee

Chic tak kisah....mana2 yg dekat....ada kad kumpul point for almost all tapi kenkadang lupa pakai....

Tapi kalau my Dad, he swears by Shell.....

gadis_aries

Originally posted by sutera_abadi at 9-5-2008 09:39 AM
sut nak tanya porumer s'pore kat sini...
normally korang isi minyak (kat s'pore) prefer stesen minyak man ehh???
and why????
sut ske isi minyak kat exxonmobil.... bleh kumpul point

die hard fan shell since year 2000....earn points...dah banyak kali redeem barang like microwave, metro shopping vouchers etc  Baru last week redeem tangs voucher

fatz2

Positioning child safety seats in the centre of the back seat could cut infants' and toddlers' injury risks by nearly half, a new study suggests. -- ST FILE PHOTO
May 10, 2008         
Child car safety seats should be fixed in centre of back seat

NEW YORK - POSITIONING child safety seats in the centre of the back seat could cut infants' and toddlers' injury risks by nearly half, a new study suggests.

In a study of car crash data from 16 US states, researchers found that children younger than 3 years old were 43 percent less likely to be injured when their seat was fastened in the centre of the back seat rather than one of the side seats.

Experts already recommend that parents position car seats in the centre of the rear seat, and the current findings bolster that advice, according to Dr Michael J. Kallan and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, only 28 per cent of children in their study were sitting in that position at the time of the car accident, the researchers report in the journal Paediatrics.

There are obstacles to placing a car seat in the centre position, Dr Kallan's team acknowledges.

It is physically harder to strap a child, especially a heavier child, into a centre-positioned seat. A centred child seat can also make it difficult for other people to sit in the rear of the car.

But based on the current findings, the researchers write, this centre position is the safest place for babies and toddlers to ride.

The results are based on data from 4,790 car crashes involving children ages 3 and younger that occurred between 1998 and 2006.

At the time of the accident, 41 per cent of the children were in a car seat positioned in the right-hand back seat, while 31 per cent were in the left-hand seat. The centre position was the least popular, but the safest.

The reason, in part, was that children in a centred seat were better protected during a side-impact crash, according to Dr Kallan's team.

'Recommendations should continue to encourage families to install child-restraint systems in the centre of the rear seat,' the researchers conclude. - REUTERS

fatz2

May 12, 2008        
Rates to be displayed at all gantries



BY the latter half of this year, motorists will have an idea of how much they have to pay to pass under an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry - from 100m away.

Existing gantries will each have an extra panel installed above them to show the charges for that time period and the pricing for the various types of vehicles.

Some gantries already have an electronic board alongside the gantry serving the same purpose but, as Transport Minister Raymond Lim conceded in Parliament earlier this year, these are sometimes too small for motorists to read.

The new signboards, called the Rates Variable Message System, by being visible from 100m away, will enable motorists to make a 'considered decision' about whether to pass under the gantry.

Each panel costs $65,000 to install. The tab for the 70 gantries therefore comes to $4.55 million.

The first five gantries with these new displays will be those at the Singapore River cordon. They go live in July. The signboards will then be installed at the gantries in the city centre and, subsequently, at the other gantries. The displays will go live progressively and all will be operational by November.

MARIA ALMENOAR

SQ154

Rolling out



Infiniti




NISSAN'S luxury brand is on course for a worldwide expansion after a considerably successful outing in the United States.

While all the Infiniti- badged cars are currently left-hand-drives, the brand will have right-hand models from next April, starting with the British market.

Going by that timetable, Singapore may just get its first shipment of Infinitis by mid-2010.

As we made our rounds meeting the Nissan boffins at various cocktail receptions, we managed to gather more juicy news

Elgrand



TAN Chong Motors is expected to introduce this luxury minivan to Singapore in time for the opening of the first integrated resort next year.

The Elgrand is perhaps one of the most bling-bling people-haulers made, with business-class seating for all rear occupants. Equipped with a 3.5-litre V6, it is a hoot to drive with or without passengers.

Grand Livina



A POPULAR family MPV in the Indonesian and Malaysian markets, where the vehicle is made, the Grand Livina may find

its way to Singapore if market conditions are right.

Built on the same platform as the Sylphy, the Grand Livina is a no-frills vehicle. Do not even expect the level of luxury in a Lafesta.

That said, the car has the potential to become a budget family hauler - always a welcome recipe.

SQ154

Driven savers  



MANY motorists find it hard to achieve the fuel economy figures stated in their car's sales brochure. The truth of the matter is, how you drive and where you drive affect your car's efficiency more than you think.

Take the case of Mr Chiam Yak Seng, owner of a Toyota Corolla 1.5 manual - the last of the made-in-Japan Corollas brought in by authorised agent Borneo Motors.

He squeezes 18km out of every litre of petrol - not far from what a hybrid Toyota Prius accomplishes.

How does he do it? Firstly, he spends 80 per cent of the time on expressways, often during offpeak hours. So his car experiences little efficiency-sapping stop- start conditions.


Secondly, Mr Chiam, 48, drives with the single-mindedness of an economy rally champ.

'When I am alone in the car, I drive without the air-con, and with the windows wound down slightly, to reduce the parachute effect,' he reveals.

The stay-home parent of two teenagers also stresses the importance of driving in the correct gear - a golden tip all economy drivers share.

And when he cold-starts the car in the morning, he does not waste time idling in neutral. 'I let the idling propel the car forward, without stepping on the accelerator,' he says.

By the time the car gets out of the carpark, it is suitably warmed up.

At the lights, he actually turns off the engine (when he is alone). This is another fuel-saving tip, as idling for a merely a minute uses up as much energy as starting the car.

Some new models actually come with an automatic engine cut-off function that kicks in when the car stops for more than 30 seconds or so.

'I use the brakes very little. Instead, I shift down and use engine braking to slow down,' he adds.

Another pointer: When entering a multi-level carpark, go for the basement instead of the floors above. It is usually a shorter drive down than up.

Once a month, he pumps up his tyres 'to the recommended pressure'.

Being an economy-minded driver does not mean being slow. He takes merely 20 minutes to get from his home in Tampines to his son's school in the Thomson area.

[img]Secondly, Mr Chiam, 48, drives with the single-mindedness of an economy rally champ.

'When I am alone in the car, I drive without the air-con, and with the windows wound down slightly, to reduce the parachute effect,' he reveals.

The stay-home parent of two teenagers also stresses the importance of driving in the correct gear - a golden tip all economy drivers share.

And when he cold-starts the car in the morning, he does not waste time idling in neutral. 'I let the idling propel the car forward, without stepping on the accelerator,' he says.

By the time the car gets out of the carpark, it is suitably warmed up.

At the lights, he actually turns off the engine (when he is alone). This is another fuel-saving tip, as idling for a merely a minute uses up as much energy as starting the car.

Some new models actually come with an automatic engine cut-off function that kicks in when the car stops for more than 30 seconds or so.

'I use the brakes very little. Instead, I shift down and use engine braking to slow down,' he adds.

Another pointer: When entering a multi-level carpark, go for the basement instead of the floors above. It is usually a shorter drive down than up.

Once a month, he pumps up his tyres 'to the recommended pressure'.

Being an economy-minded driver does not mean being slow. He takes merely 20 minutes to get from his home in Tampines to his son's school in the Thomson area.



The joy of frugal motoring is not the exclusive purview of Japanese car owners. Aircraft sales engineer Ng Tzong Sheng, 30, gets between 13.5km and 14.2km per litre from his Skoda Octavia 1.6, also a manual.

The consumption figure is a mite better than what the manufacturer declares.

Mr Ng has a few simple rules he lives by on the road. 'Travel a longer route with less stop-and-goes as opposed to a shorter route with a higher probability of jams,' he says.

Like Mr Chiam, he picks the right gear ratio for the job. This, he says, 'contributes significantly to fuel consumption'.

'The owner's manual provides information on the recommended speed range for a particular gear ratio,' he notes.

Next, a practice common to all drivers who enjoy extra mileage per litre: Apply pressure as lightly as possible on the accelerator.

Mr Ng says this is more crucial than maintaining a low engine speed in an incorrect gear ratio. If, for instance, you use the fifth gear at speeds of 50 to 60kmh, 'you will have to step harder on the accelerator to get the vehicle moving''.

A heavy-footed driver can see a three-fold rise in consumption. So the key is to be light on the gas pedal, and in the right gear. He says coasting in neutral may not save fuel (it can, in fact, be unsafe). Instead, just lift your foot off the pedal and let the car glide in gear.

Medical doctor Au Kah Kay, 45, is also able to achieve more than decent economy with his Peugeot 407. 'I believe that the way you drive is the most important determinant of fuel consumption. For me, I find that the most fuel efficient way of driving on the expressway is to set the cruise control to a constant speed of 80 to 85kmh and drive in the middle lane,'' he says.

This mode improves his car's fuel consumption to about 16km per litre, from the 10km per litre that he normally gets in city driving.

fatz2

Non-injury motor accident disputes to be resolved by FIDReC
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 May 2008 2217 hrs

SINGAPORE : All non-injury motor accident (NIMA) disputes between consumers and insurance companies must now be first heard by the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC) before court proceedings can be commenced.

The new FIDReC-NIMA scheme was officially launched on Wednesday. A new office at the Subordinate Court to handle such claims has also been opened.

Under the scheme, the onus will be on the consumer to present their own case and legal representation is not allowed. All disputes must first go through mediation, and the claims will proceed for adjudication if settlement cannot be reached.

The scheme will apply to motor accident disputes which do not involve any bodily injury.

FIDReC, which was started in August 2005, said about 1,200 cases were filed in court annually prior to the introduction of the scheme. It saw an average of 124 cases a month over the last 31 months.

The resolution centre has also gained recognition outside Singapore and has hosted visits by foreign delegates from Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Over 400 financial institutions have committed to work with FIDReC in adjudicating complaints brought against them by consumers.

The General Insurance Association of Singapore hopes the new scheme will help control escalating claims costs and lead to lower motor premiums for motorists. - CNA/ms

fatz2

May 15, 2008         
Petrol, diesel pump prices up again


Caltex led the pack when it raised pump prices at 9am on Thursday. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA

PUMP prices are heading north again.

Caltex led the pack when it raised pump prices at 9am on Thursday, followed by Singapore Petrolum Company at 3pm.

The increase this time: three cents a litre for petrol and 10 cents for diesel.

The latest hike, which came on the heels of oil prices hitting above US$125 a barrel for the first time last week.This is the fourth since last month and the 10th consecutive climb since July last year.

It brings a litre for petrol to as high as $2.336 and diesel to $1.763 at Caltex, which is operated by US oil giant Chevron.

Over at SPC, petrol has gone up to as high as $2.210 a litre and diesel at $1.763 per litre.

The other oil companies - Shell and ExxonMobil - are expected to follow suit soon.

fatz

May 17, 2008         
Four road-safety ideas go on trial
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is testing four ideas to improve
road safety. Ranging from optical illusions to electronic signs that show drivers their speed, they will be put through a six-month trial. If they work, the LTA may decide to use them around the island. Some of the innovations have proven effective in countries such as Australia, Britain and the United States. Maria Almenoar looks at what these initiatives are and how they help motorists


Your speed sign

Your speed sign

What: An electronic sign which shows motorists how fast they are going. If they are above the speed limit, the sign will blink. The LTA said the signs will not be used to nab speeding motorists, but rather to encourage them to slow down.

Where: Bedok North Road exit on the Pan-Island Expressway (towards Changi), Tampines Avenue 5 entrance into the PIE (towards Tuas) and the Lentor Avenue/Yishun exit on the Seletar Expressway ( towards the Bukit Timah Expressway).

When: The sign at Bedok is up and running, while the other two will start in July.




Pedestrian crossing ahead

What: Two white triangles painted on the ground ahead of zebra crossings that are hidden by bends in the road. The LTA has found that despite zigzag lines, flashing beacons and signboards, motorists still do not give way to pedestrians at these crossings.

Where: Bedok Reservoir Road's slip road into Jalan Eunos, Clementi Road's slip road into the Ayer Rajah Expressway (towards Tuas) and the TPE (towards SLE) slip road into Pasir Ris Drive 8.

When: From last month.




Traffic 'calming' markings

What: A series of paired white triangles at the edges of the lane, giving the impression of a narrower road so that drivers will slow down. They will be drawn in areas where humps and speed-regulating strips are not suitable. According to British studies, the triangles have helped reduce average speeds by up to 11kmh.

Where: Eng Neo exit from the PIE (towards Tuas), Bukit Batok East Avenue 5 towards Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 (near Lianhua Primary School), and Dairy Farm Road towards Upper Bukit Timah Road.

When: From Thursday.




Enhanced crossing lines

What: Instead of two solid white lines at pedestrian crossings at traffic junctions, the inner line is in the form of dashes. The LTA said the broken lines contrast better with the solid ones, making them easier to spot.

Currently, about 20 per cent of vehicles stop over the line, endangering the lives of pedestrians.

Where: The junction of Jalan Eunos and Sims Avenue East.

When: From March 19.

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fatz2

36 motorists arrested for drink driving in islandwide operation
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 17 May 2008 2012 hrs



SINGAPORE : Thirty-six motorists were arrested for drink driving in a five-hour islandwide operation which ended early Saturday morning.

The latest arrests bring the total number of motorists caught for drink driving this year to 1,449.

The Traffic Police said 129 motorists were given the breathalyser test after road blocks were set up in several areas.

These areas included Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Bukit Timah Road, New Bridge Road and South Bridge Road.

36 motorists, including four women, failed the test and were arrested.

The motorists are between 21 and 61 years old.

Another 18 motorists were cited for driving whilst under disqualification and other traffic offences. - CNA/ms