Further to Met Eireann’s weather alert the RSA are warning motorists to be extra vigilant and have issued the following advice:

If driving in stormy conditions drivers should:

• Watch out for falling/fallen debris on the road and vehicles veering across the road
• Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds. High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds
• Allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front (i.e. don’t tailgate), especially when driving behind heavy goods vehicles
• Allow extra space between you and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists
• Use dipped headlights at all times of poor visibility
• Check tyres to ensure minimum tread depth of 1.6mm and correct tyre pressure

The RSA is asking that HGV’s, buses and any other large vehicles be particularly careful when driving in these conditions as they are more at risk in strong winds due to the height of their vehicle. Maintain a safe speed to ensure contact with the road and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to check local weather forecasts before making journeys, if necessary consider delaying your journey until the weather improves. If you must take to the roads, watch out for falling debis, and keep in off the road when meeting traffic. Always be seen by wearing bright clothing with a high vis vest, reflective armbands, a reflective belt or carry a torch.

Road users may also check local road conditions by listening to local radio stations for weather updates, or on www.met.ie

Source: RSA.ie

As a QUINN-direct customer and a learner permit holder you can get €250 back once you complete a package of 12 Lessons with the Irish School of Motoring (ISM) and meet the following criteria:

• Simply let QUINN-direct know that you have booked the lessons within 90 days and give QUINN-direct the ISM booking reference.

• €250 will be paid once the pupil has completed all 12 lessons within 180 days of the lesson package booking date and have been a named driver or policyholder for a minimum of 90 days

• The pupil must be a named driver on their parent’s policy or have their own policy with QUINN-direct at the time the €250 is payable.

Exclusive nationwide offering for QUINN-direct customers is €395.00, for a 12 driving lesson package.

*the minimum period is 90 days and will be calculated from the date the pupil/policyholder advises QUINN-direct of the booking reference or the date the pupil is added to the policy – whichever is later.

For full terms and conditions visit www.quinn-direct.com/ism. Offer available until 27 December 2011.

QUINN Insurance Limited (Under Administration) trading as QUINN-direct is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

The car door clunk

A car door is essentially a hollow shell with parts placed inside it. Without careful design the door frame amplifies the rattling of mechanisms inside. Car companies know that if buyers don’t get a satisfying thud when they close the door, it dents their confidence in the entire vehicle.

To produce the ideal clunk, car doors are designed to minimise the amount of high frequencies produced (we associate them with fragility and weakness) and emphasise low, bass-heavy frequencies that suggest solidity.

The effect is achieved in a range of different ways – car companies have piled up hundreds of patents on the subject – but usually involves some form of dampener fitted in the door cavity. Locking mechanisms are also tailored to produce the right sort of click and the way seals make contact is precisely controlled.

On average it takes 1.8 seconds to close a car door but in that time you’re witnessing a strange kind of symphony composed by engineers and designers whose goal is to reassure you that its rock solid.

The tick tock of a car indicator

In older cars, the click of the indicator was a useful side-effect of the mechanical relay that made the lights blink. That’s not the case anymore. New cars use silent electrical relays, so car makers have to actively engineer the sound the indicator makes.

While at first listen it can seem like all indicator clicks are the same, sound designers at car companies obsessively tweak the noise produced. At Ford’s Advanced Engineering Centre, they have a checklist that includes cadence, attack and decay rates, loudness and frequency.

So while the tick tock of the indicator is there to remind you that it’s working, manufacturers see the sound, just like the clunk of a car door, as a way to indicate the character of the vehicle. Ford has experimented with the sound of crickets chirping, bird song and a golf ball being struck by a club.

The vroom of electric vehicles

While the sound design behind a car door shutting is all about the impression of safety, generating artificial engine noise for electric vehicles is about actual safety concerns.

The EU is still in the process of drafting a law which will require electric vehicle makers to have a signature sound with a minimum volume to make sure other road users can hear the otherwise silent machines whizzing towards them.

Since there’s no requirement for electric cars and motorbikes to sound like their fuel-guzzling relatives, we’re already being promised the option of driving a car that sounds like a Star Wars podracer. Right now, current models are sticking to more traditional audible cues.

The Nissan Leaf has a speaker fitted under its bonnet and a synthesiser in the dash to generate engine noise. Similarly, the silent ENV hydrogen-powered motorbike is fitted with an artificial roar to give other road users a heads up that its approaching.

The “Harley sound”

The distinctive rumble of a Harley-Davidson engine – which the company itself describes as sounding like “potato-potato-potato” – originally came about thanks to its patented 45° V-twin engines. The design allowed the motorcycle maker to fit a high-torque engine into a small space but caused the cylinders to fire at uneven internals producing the “Harley Sound”.

Changes in regulations and motorcycle design over the years have put the Harley Sound at risk but the company’s noise, vibration and harshness (NVD) department helps maintain it. Its manager, Alex Bozmoski, explained the process in a paper written to celebrate Harley Davidson’s 100th anniversary: “We engineer the sound into the machine: sculpting the noise to produce the right balance of tone, pitch and beat from the intake, exhaust, engine and drivetrain.”

The sound of Harley bikes is tested in anechoic chambers at the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Centre in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and assessed by a jury of experts from across the company. However, despite Harley’s extreme efforts to engineer the perfect motorcycle noise, it failed to trademark the sound, giving up a long running legal fight back in 2000.

Source: Humans Invent

Over the next few posts we here at the Irish School of Motoring will be offering you tips and advice on passing the driving test and going through the necessary road signs.

• Regulatory Traffic Signs
• Warning Traffic Signs
• Warning Signs for Road Works
• Link Information Signs
• Link Motor Way Signs

Starting off with a look at Regulatory signs: These very important set of signs show the course a driver must follow and an action they are required to take or forbidden to take. They are generally circular and have a red border and black symbols or letters on a white background. Mandatory regulatory signs that indicate the direction traffic must take at junctions are blue and white.

Stop

Yield

Yield (Irish)

School wardens stop sign

No left turn

No Entry

No right turn

Parking prohibited

Clearway

Max speed limit 30km/h

Max speed limit 50km/h

Max speed limit 60km/h

Max speed limit 80km/h

Max speed limit 100km/h

Max speed limit 120km/h

Taxi Rank

No entry for large vehicles (by reference to weight)

No U-turn

No overtaking

Height restriction

Pedestrianised street

Parking permitted

Disc parking plate

Zonal restriction – no parking of large vehicles

End of the restriction zone

Mandatory signs at junctions (white and blue)

Turn left ahead

Turn right ahead

Turn left

Turn right

Pass either side

Straight ahead

Keep right

Keep left

Manual traffic control sign at roadworks

No entry for pedestrians to tramway

Stop

Either form of Go

or Téigh can be used

No entry to goods vehicles (by reference to number of axles)

With flow bus lane on left

With flow bus lane on right

Contra flow bus lane

Tram lane on left

Tram lane on right

Start of cycle track

End of cycle track

Electronic variable speed limit sign (tunnel only)

In a tunnel goods vehicles cannot use right-hand lane (by reference to number of axles)

Electronic periodic speed limit sign

Electronic periodic speed limit sign at school

Tram only street

Tram and access only street

Bus only street

Traffic lane control signs in a tunnel

Go (Lane open)

Stop (Lane closed)

Move into the left-hand lane

Move into the right-hand lane   Post by Patrick James

Before you go

Check your car is ready for the journey

A full service is necessary at least one full week before a long journey.
Always make last Minute Checks: Engine, oil, brake and clutch fluids, battery electrolyte, tyre pressure and the windscreen washer reservoir should be rechecked just before the journey.
Windscreen: Thoroughly clean inside and outside to reduce glare from the sun.
Windscreen Washer: Use a stronger windscreen washer solution to deal with bugs.
Windscreen Wipers: Check for wear and tear, replace if necessary.
Tyres: Check your tyre pressure weekly – correct tyre pressure reduces fuel consumption, wear & tear, and ensures optimum traction.
Spare Tyre: Check the pressure & condition of your spare tyre.
Spare Kit: Delays caused by minor faults can be reduced by taking a small spares kit comprising of a fan belt, radiator hoses, bulbs, points, a condenser, pair of spark plugs and a roll of insulting tape.
Sunglasses: Make sure you have clean sunglasses with you.
Secure luggage and avoid blocking your view.
Know/plan your route: Use an online route planner or sat nav
Check you have a first aid kit, safety triangle and flashlight.
Pack plenty of drinks, snacks, entertainment and wet wipes!
Inside The Car: Loose or heavy items in the passenger compartment can move under braking or cornering – this can distract the driver or jam against the control.
Outside The Car: Roof racks must be firmly and loaded with as low a profile as possible to minimise the wind resistance and maintain stability. Also, make sure every-thing carried on the roof rack is securely tied down.

On the road

Always use seat belts & the correct restraint/booster seat for your child.
Leave early or later to avoid the rush.
Take your time – be patient on the road.
Keep a safe distance – use the two second rule.
Keep the car cool to keep everyone comfortable.
Be prepared for road construction/delays.
Watch out for hedge cutting and farm machinery on the roads.
If you’re tired, stop & take a break – even for just 10 minutes.
Don’t drink & drive.
Don’t use a hand held mobile phone when driving.
Expect the unexpected.

When you arrive

Park safely & don’t obstruct other road users.
Park where passengers can alight safely.
Use a foil windscreen visor to keep the car cool.
Park in a shady spot if possible.
Don’t leave valuables on view in you car.

Summer driving with children

Long car trips with children can be the stuff of nightmares. Here are some ideas to help you arrive safe and still in the holiday mood.
Take turns driving & looking after the kids so that the driver can just concentrate on the driving.
Keep the car ventilated to keep everyone comfortable.
Bring along some in car entertainment. Books, Magnetic Games, Story Tapes or even a DVD, but avoid distracting the driver.
Play games – Number plate game, count the red cars, eye spy, etc,
Take breaks – everyone will benefit from some fresh air & a stretch of the legs.
Bring along snacks and water/drinks.
Don’t forget some wet wipes!

Summer driving with Pets

Make your pet travel experience enjoyable by following these simple, common sense tips.
Never leave a pet unattended in a car during the summer.
Bring plenty of water with you & something for your pet to drink from.
Pets should always be suitably restrained while the car is moving.
Restraints should ideally be attached to a dog harness.
Cats should be placed in a cat box/basket secured with a safety belt.
Don’t allow your dog to put its head out of the car while it is moving.
Keep your dog on a leash before he leaves the car.
Consider a waterproof seat protector in case of spills or sickness.

Towing

In order to legally tow a trailer behind a car you must hold a valid Category EB licence. Ensure the trailer is securely attached to the car.
Ensure the safety cable is correctly attached.
Ensure you have a functioning rear light board.
Ensure the trailer load is adequately secured.
Modify or adjust your mirrors.
Restrict your speed – max 80 km ph.
Allow longer stopping times & increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front.
If the trailer starts to sway reduce speed immediately.

Caution In The Country

Many city drivers feel free driving in the country – less restricted, however, you must remember, care and attention is still needed at all times – there may just be a herd of cows around the next corner! Farm animals must be treated with patience. Drivers meeting them should slow down well in advance and leave as much space as possible between the car and the herd. Fast driving past a horse and rider can also be dangerous – it may cause the horse and rider to shy and throw its rider. They should be overtaken very slowly, with as much space as possible between it and its rider.

by Patrick James

These figures were revealed today Monday 11th April 2011 at the launch of a new awareness campaign to highlight safety on Motorways by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, National Roads Authority and the Automobile Association, at the Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin.

Central to the campaign is a new 40 second TV advert, which has been produced by the RSA to raise awareness of the rules of the road and important safety issues on Motorways.

Of particular concern to all the agencies involved in the launch is the number of pedestrians who were killed on motorways in 2010. Tragically, four people lost their lives while walking on motorways, the highest number in the five year period from 2005 to 2010. The public was reminded at the launch never to walk on a motorway, no matter what the reason or urgency.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority said “The message is clear: never ever walk on a motorway. Pedestrians are at a massive risk on a motorway – you’re are taking your life in your hands and putting other road users in danger too. Likewise, drivers who stop on a motorway can cause collisions involving their own car and potentially many others. It’s unsafe and it’s an offence. We are working closely with our partners such as An Garda Síochána, the National Roads Authority and the Automobile Association to ensure that all road users in Ireland respect the motorway network and take responsibility for their actions, their lives and the lives of all road users.”

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Dr Leo Varadkar, said “This is an important campaign to save lives and prevent injuries on our roads. The RSA, An Garda Síochána, the National Roads Authority and Automobile Association have joined forces to educate road users of the risks associated with using motorways. It is a major concern that so many people were killed or seriously injured last year as a result of road collisions on motorways. We’re asking everyone today to please use motorways safely and respect the motorway network. Doing so could save your life and the lives of other road users.”

Source: RSA.ie

Find out about ISM’s MOTORWAY TRAINING

Seven Golden rules of Eco Driving

1. Anticipate Traffic Flow
Read the road as far ahead as possible and anticipate the flow of traffic.
Maintain a larger safety distance to other cars to increase the scope of action in traffic flow.
Make maximum use of the vehicle’s momentum (in gear or neutral) and accelerate and brake smoothly.

2. Maintain a steady speed at low RPM
Drive smoothly, using the highest possible gear at low RPM.
Avoid driving at excessive speeds.
Always keep a steady speed and avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration.

3. Shift up early
Shift to a higher gear at around 2,000 RPM.
Consider the traffic situation and vehicle specifics (like the engine’s torque curve).

4. Check tyre pressures frequently
Ensure your tyres are properly inflated as low tyre pressure is a safety risk and wastes fuel.

5. Avoid dead weight and aerodynamic drag
Remove heavy items and unused racks from the vehicle. Also closing your windows on the motorway reduces drag and helps increase fuel economy.

6. Share your car
Car pooling is a great way of eco-driving. One way to cut emissions per person and fuel bills by 50 per cent is to add another passenger

7. Use the Air-conditioning sparingly
Using air con unnecessarily adds five per cent to your CO2 emissions.

The Irish School Of Motoring’s Advanced Driving Division offers a range of highly successful courses to teach eco-driving to anyone who wants to know more about getting the best out of their own driving and car.

It promises to be a great show, The Irish School of Motoring will be there to talk to people about the introduction of new Initial Basic Training requirements.  To help you get into the spirit we are offering IBT Training courses for €450 (normally €600) – so if you are at the RDS come and say hello!

True racing legend Giacomo Agostini will open the Show on Friday March 4th at 4pm. When it comes to the GP victory league table, the Italian racer remains leader of the pack with an astonishing 122 Grand Prix victories and 15 world titles. Agostini will also be leading the pack as bikers join a “Ride In” to the RDS from Red Zone Motorcycles in Kimmage on Sat. March 5th.

There are a lot of reasons to visit the show : Here’s Ten Reasons To Go!

“More than half of women would rather not drive when abroad….

According to a poll of more than 2,000 drivers carried out by car-hire price-comparison website carhiremarket.com, 62pc are reluctant to drive abroad, compared with only 35pc of men.

Women are also much more likely to find driving on the right-hand side a challenge (49pc against 31pc men) and to struggle using a left-hand drive car (35pc vs 20pc).”

Full story: Independent.ie

Personally I question the validity of this data feeling that it leans towards old stereotypes as opposed to actual statistic data. This morning upon reading this I rang a number of my female friends and posed the question to them and each of them laughed at the notion – only one was an emphatic “No”, the rest liked the idea and adventure of driving abroad.

With this in mind I would really like to know what people think about this and welcome your comments.

Patrick James

A new multimedia infotainment system with seven loudspeakers has also been added to the equipment list. Called ‘Touch & Connect,’ the system features a 5-inch colour touch screen, full navigation coverage for 28 countries, Bluetooth, iPod and USB connections.

The Corsa facelift also sees a number of new colours added to the range. In addition to a modern charcoal hue, the interior can be dressed in lively Tabasco Orange or sophisticated Steel Blue. The new exterior colour palette includes an off-white Guacamole, a sunny melon and an eye-catching lime green.

Also new for 2011 is the optional ‘Linea’ pack, featuring two large stripes stretching across the length of the body with matching coloured 17-inch wheels and exterior mirror caps.