The AA has joined The Dog & Lemon Guide, St John, Plunket Society and Consumer New Zealand in calling for the wider use of reversing cameras as a means of reducing driveway deaths.
Reversing cameras show the driver what’s behind the vehicle using a small video screen on the car’s dashboard. They are an expensive option […]
St John has joined the growing body of safety groups calling for the wider use of reversing cameras as a means of reducing driveway deaths.
Jaimes Wood, chief executive of St John, says:
“All-too-often we are called to tragedies involving children hit by reversing cars. We support any moves that will result in a reduction of needless […]
The Dog & Lemon Guide, Plunket Society and Consumer New Zealand are calling for the wider use of reversing cameras as a means of reducing driveway deaths.
Reversing cameras, which show the driver what’s behind the vehicle using a small video screen on the car’s dashboard, are an expensive option on many new vehicles but are […]
The government ignored major overseas studies showing that motorists tend to ignore cellphone bans. Recent studies have confirmed that the cellphone ban is now also being widely ignored in New Zealand.
The government also ignored various major studies showing that fines don’t deter the highest risk groups on the road.
Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson […]
Adults who knowingly supply alcohol to underage drinkers should be heavily penalised if those underage drinkers cause serious harm while drunk, according to a leading road safety campaigner.
Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide, was commenting after the government announced that it is considering making it unlawful for adults to give […]
Despite their ‘green’ image, electric cars are often less efficient and more polluting than the petrol cars they replace, according to a major report released today.The 168-page report, titled The Emperor’s New Car, is described as a ‘long-overdue reality check’ by its author, car expert Clive Matthew-Wilson. The report was prepared in consultation with several […]
All major roads in New Zealand should have regular ‘keep left’ signs in multiple languages, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Tourists regularly have serious accidents because they get confused over which side of the road to drive on. The obvious thing to do is to remind them regularly in […]
Claims by the police that new rules have lowered the road toll are probably wishful thinking, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Aside from the ban on using cellphones while driving, which is widely ignored, the police aren’t really doing anything they weren’t doing before.”
“ A more plausible explanation is that […]
Motorists should stay off the road around New Year’s Day, says the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“The Christmas period, including New Year’s Day, is always a high accident period. This year New Year’s Day falls on a full moon. Assuming that the studies linking antisocial behaviour and the full moon […]
All vehicles on the road should have their lights on over Christmas, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“A car with its headlights on is easier to spot than a car with its headlights off. It’s that simple.”
Matthew-Wilson pointed to World Health Organisation statistics showing that vehicles using daytime running lights […]
The government needs to empower Maori communities to educate and train their own people to safely operate cars, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Maori are a small percentage of the population but a large percentage of the road toll. The current driver’s licence system was designed by and for average […]
Claims by BMW that its cars are the most reliable in the UK are misleading and untrue, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says BMW’s claim is based on the number of breakdowns reported by a leasing company, not on the everyday experience of most BMW owners.
“Despite what BMW claims, BMWs […]
Tradesmen are treated as second-class citizens as far as road safety is concerned, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson was commenting after Chinese-made Great Wall utes were shown to be very unsafe in Australian crashtests.
“These Great Wall utes meet Australian Design Rules, which means it’s legal to sell them throughout Australia […]
The global car industry is likely to begin a second round of bankruptcies as the current economic upturn falters, says the carbuyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Those who optimistically see the green shoots of global economic recovery should take a look at the motor industry for a reality check. While it’s nice to be […]
A proposal to fine motorists who run out of fuel on Auckland’s motorways is both inappropriate and cruel, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“People generally run out of gas because they have no money. Only a politician or a policeman could come up with a bizarre scheme that fines […]
The government’s ‘Safer Journeys’ discussion document, which seeks public consultation on road safety issues, is mainly a repeat of the failed policies of the past, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says the document focuses mainly on changing driver behaviour, while missing out on proven road safety strategies.
“Most scientific studies show […]
Fines and disqualification often have little effect on driver behaviour, and may make a bad situation worse, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Matthew-Wilson was commenting after unpaid fines reached $800 million for the first time.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says fines work as a deterrent for middle-class people with reasonable incomes. However, they are […]
The government’s cellphone ban won’t work unless it actually changes driver behavior, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson – whose road safety research was awarded by the Australian Police Journal – points to overseas research showing that teenagers, who are the most vulnerable road users – tend to ignore cellphone bans.
A […]
Small diesel cars are not the bargain they appear to be, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Small diesels often attract buyers who are looking for the most economical car to run. However, the simple fact is, the average buyer would be far better off with a petrol car.”
“Diesel vehicles […]
Small diesel cars are not the bargain they appear to be, says the car buyers’ Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Diesels often seem cheaper because the buyer is hypnotised by the apparently low cost of fuel instead of looking at the entire cost of ownership. Once you add road taxes, increased servicing costs and […]
