CV Show a big hit for RHA 30 April 2007

The Road Haulage Association has always been justifiably proud of being one of the founding organisations behind the tremendously successful Commercial Vehicle and Automotive Trade Show and this year was no exception. "This year's Show gave us the perfect opportunity to unveil the Association's new-look," said RHA Communications Manager Kate Gibbs. "After more than sixty years the Association decided that the time had come to change its image and the reaction from members last week proved without a doubt that it most certainly was the right decision." But it's not just the new logo that members are keen on - the Association's new sticker campaign 'Without trucks you get NOTHING', has also been a real hit, and not just with members. Stand staff distributed over 5,000 truck stickers and mugs to visitors keen to display the simple yet relevant message 'WIthout trucks you get NOTHING'. "The reaction to this campaign has been overwhelming," Kate Gibbs continued. "Already we are having more stock printed to meet demand. We may never be able to make the general public love this industry, but we will certainly make them aware of the vital service we provide". Association staff were joined on the stand by RHA business partners who also worked flat out with giving information and advice on a whole range of services including communications, finance, fuel cards and insurance. Each year the RHA declares that 'this was this best Show ever', the 2007 CV show will be no exception.

Volvo trucks research shows remarkabley similar traffic-safety risks from drowsiness and drinking 30 April 2007

Everyone knows that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Alcohol impairs the body’s coordination ability, motor skills, response times, vision, attentiveness and even cognitive ability and attitude. Now a study conducted by Volvo Trucks also reveals immense similarities – as well as crucial differences – between the effects of alcohol and drowsiness on the driver. Volvo Trucks has long experience of investigating the causes of accidents and in recent years it has become increasingly interested in studying drowsiness from this perspective. Medical research indicates that the number of traffic fatalities – about 40,000 per year in Europe alone – would be able to be drastically reduced if fewer road-users were subjected to drowsiness. In order to be able to develop systems that help a driver drive safely, Volvo Trucks has taken a holistic perspective encompassing everything that contributes to increased traffic safety. This has previously resulted in systems such as ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) that helps prevent the vehicle from rolling over. Volvo has now in a series of real-life tests verified the facts regarding what actually happens when a driver gets behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. The study, which was carried out in a closed-off area at Volvo’s proving ground in Hällered in Sweden, was authorised within the framework of the permit that Volvo Trucks had previously received from the Swedish government. The series of tests involving drivers under the influence of alcohol is part of the Volvo Truck Corporation’s work on developing and improving systems that can be used to identify tired or drowsy drivers. The study uses a variety of measures, including two cameras fitted above the instrument panel that monitor the driver’s eye movements. “We wanted our suspicions confirmed in a scientific study using real drivers in an authentic driving environment and using real vehicles – all so as to know with precision how a driver reacts both when drowsy and when under the influence of alcohol,” says Peter Kronberg, researcher at Volvo Technology. “The test helps increase knowledge about how factors such as tiredness, the effects of alcohol and other negative input can affect driving ability. This is knowledge that we need for our ongoing development of methods to sound the alert in time – before accidents occur,” says Lars-Göran Löwenadler, safety manager at Volvo Trucks. “We’ve been able to confirm the similarities between drowsiness and alcohol when it comes to impaired road safety. The similarities were remarkable – the symptoms were very similar in our research,” reveals Peter Kronberg.

Volvo trucks in co-operation with the european transport safety council 30 April 2007

At a seminar in Brussels this week, Volvo Trucks has launched a co-operative venture with the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC). Over a period of three years, the partners will conduct a campaign in Europe that goes by the name of ‘Safe & Sober’. The aim of the campaign is to increase know-how about the link between alcohol and traffic accidents and it is directed primarily at politicians, opinion-builders, safety organisations and the transport industry. Every year, about 40,000 people die in road accidents throughout Europe and one-third of these accidents are directly linked to alcohol. With the ‘Safe & Sober’ campaign, both Volvo Trucks and the ETSC aim to increase knowledge of the links between alcohol and accidents in traffic. The joint operation also contributes to the European Union’s goal of halving the number of traffic fatalities by 2010. The campaign focuses primarily on politicians, opinion-builders, safety organisations and the transport industry. Over a period of three years, Volvo Trucks and the ETSC will work together to improve local, regional and national guidelines for preventing drink-driving. The parties will also identify and support good examples in the health and transport sectors and carry out training programmes and information activities. Cont/….. The ‘Safe & Sober’ campaign will also include a number of national events in selected European member countries. “Increased insight into risks and voluntary use of the alco-lock represent an important first step towards reducing traffic fatalities,” says Lennart Pilskog, manager of Public Affairs at Volvo Trucks. ETSC is an independent and non-profit-making organisation that bases its work on research and development for bringing about a reduction in the number of traffic fatalities in Europe.