Destined to be a contender for the highly coveted Irish Van of the Year Award, the new rear-wheel drive has benefitted from a comprehensive revamp that has seen improvements introduced in all departments, the most notable of which are measures designed to reduce running costs.

Thanks to the introduction of new engines and a new drive system – matched to the availability of new BlueEFFICIENCY technology that has revolutionised emissions output in the Mercedes-Benz passenger car range – owners can anticipate an enhanced level of performance matched to lower fuel consumption and emissions levels that are up to 15 per cent lower than before, depending on the engine variant.

Other important changes include a new chassis that delivers better ride comfort, increased payload, upgraded appointments in the driver and passenger compartment and a striking new facia that includes design elements influenced by features from the passenger car range – all matched to a robustness one expects from a commercial vehicle.

Exterior features include new reflector headlamps and daytime driving lights and a new upgraded front bumper design with honeycomb look that is optionally available in a painted and smoothed finish in the vehicle’s exterior colour.

Five units make up the new Vito range – four diesel and one petrol – beginning with the 95bhp four-cylinder Vito 110 CDI. Others include the 136bhp 113 CDI, a more powerful 116 CDI and a top-of-the-range V6 224bhp 122 CDI version. A V6 258bhp petrol version is also available.

All new models comply with the Euro 5 emissions standard and all diesels are equipped with an oxidation catalytic converter, a particulate filter and cooled exhaust gas recirculation. A new six-speed ECO Gear manual transmission on all four-cylinder models offers a broad gear ratio spread for optimum performance with low fuel consumption and emission levels.

Describing it as a ’van for all reasons’, Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles sales manager Fergus Conheady said that the new Vito’s lower emissions, reduced running costs, attractive good looks, latest technology and all-round workability will combine to make it one of the most competitive vans on the Irish market.

The website reports that some truck drivers engaged in a peaceful protest from early morning on Tuesday at Two-Mile Ditch over a private commercial dispute.

The haulage operators blocked the entrance to a premises on the Tuam Road, Glaway resulting in other vehicles piling up on the hard shoulder.

Galway Gardaí organised for a tow truck to remove the offending trucks, but the hauliers left of their own accord.

The show dates are 16th, 17th and 18th November at Earls Court in London. The Eco2 Transport show is a business event focusing on sustainable products within the business transport sector and operates as a market place for transport solutions to reduce emissions. Trakm8 are keen to demonstrate to fleet managers how their fleet management packages can reduce their carbon footprint in addition to cutting fleet costs.

This exhibition is particularly relevant to Trakm8 as they can directly monitor a fleet’s carbon emissions by using their intelligent technology. This technology utilises a link to the vehicle CANBus to show exact fuel usage (MPG) and ‘true’ carbon emissions, in addition to standard tracking and reporting facilities.

Trakm8’s vehicle connectivity technology also allows fleet managers to measure driver behaviour, another major element that can affect carbon emissions and cost. Gear usage, harsh acceleration, vehicle idling and braking can all be monitored and improved by driver education with the overall objective of reducing fuel consumption.

Effective route planning is a more obvious way of reducing CO2 emissions and costs. The Trakm8 fleet management system can view exactly where vehicles are using detailed aerial photography to enable businesses to plan effective routes.

Trakm8 will be demonstrating its full range of technology on stand and explaining to customers the various packages available and how they can be tailored to meet every fleet management, reporting and carbon measurement requirement.

“All areas have had some rain in the last 24 hours with some extremely heavy localised showers,” says Director of Policy Conor Faughnan. “This has meant some very testing driving conditions and drivers must take extra care.

The most important message is for drivers to slow down. Braking distances increase dramatically in wet conditions. It is especially important for drivers not to tailgate. Leave a long distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. This is particularly important on motorways.

“Motorways are generally very safe, but heavy rain makes them dangerous. Road spray thrown up from the wheels reduces visibility, and we have had a lot of motorists report very difficult conditions on the Motorways today. According to the Road Safety Authority, it can take you more than 170 metres to bring a car to a complete stop when you are travelling at 120kph, as we do on Motorways.”

Heavy showers can cause localised flooding very quickly and also reduce visibility. Take particular care to look out for cyclists and motorcyclists. Not only are conditions more difficult for these vulnerable road users, water beading on the glass of a car makes it more difficult for the driver to see out.

“It is all too easy not to see a bike when the car glass is wet and misted, “ says Faughnan. “Check your blind spot with extra care when changing lanes, and remember that there are school children on the roads once more now that September is here.”

Duncan has more than 24 years experience in the tyre industry in a variety of sales and management roles, including most recently working with Bridgestone on its pan European regional and national fleet accounts.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” said Platt, “I’m really looking forward to the challenge of working across all the tyre brands but especially to working with customers to enhance their fuel savings with the benefits of Continental’s fantastic product range and services.”

As part of his new role, Duncan will be responsible for overseeing sales of the Continental, ContiRe, Semperit, Uniroyal and Barum brands in both the UK and Ireland as well as liaising with key account customers in both markets.

Arthur Gregg, Sales and Marketing Director – Commercial, welcomed Duncan on board and commented: “The General Sales Manager role is an extremely important one within the Commercial Vehicle Business Unit. Duncan’s previous experience and knowledge of the industry will be of great help to customers but also when coordinating with our Network Partners”.

Duncan is married with two children and currently lives in St Helens where he was born and raised. He is a keen sportsman and was previously a semi professional rugby player with Widnes and Oldham.

Figures released by Continental suggest that the truck tyre replacement market in Europe is up almost 30 per cent year on year, while the UK market is showing an improvement of almost six per cent.

On a negative note, the company says that the cost of raw materials is increasing, and that price rises in the short term are inevitable.

Mick Bleach spent 13 days biking from Land’s End to John O’Groats but travelled home in just 23 hours on board four different trucks

The 52-year-old is managing director of Bleach of Lavant – a member of Palletforce, the UK’s leading palletised distribution network – and returned to his Sussex depot via the Palletforce hub in Burton-upon-Trent.

Michael Conroy, Chief Executive of Palletforce, said: “We were more than happy tomsponsor Mick’s challenge and we were even happier to help him arrive home in comfort after almost two weeks in the saddle.”

Mick raised more than £5,000 – including £100 donated from Palletforce – for the British Heart Foundation, St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Chichester and Leukaemia Research.

He picked the BHF as his father, also called Mick, was given a new lease of life after a triple bypass 10 years ago but his friend, Bob Morris, sadly died from a heart condition.

Mick chose the hospice as it helped a friend of his, Jennie Hill, the wife of one of his drivers Bob Hill, since doctors gave her just four months to live a year ago.

“She has had operation after operation and proved all the doctors wrong,” said Mick.

“Recently I went to her 60th birthday party, a party no one thought she would be having.

“During her illness the hospice has been very helpful to her and her family.”

Mick, who was joined by his office manager Neil Sedgwick for the first three days of the journey, will be handing over the cash to the charities over the next few weeks.

“Surpassing the sponsorship target is great and makes it all worthwhile,” said Mick.

“It was puncture-free and I cycled the whole way – I didn’t get off and push at all.

“It’s something anyone is able to do but it’s very easy not to do it or give in on route.

“But you’ve just got to put your mind to it, when the weather’s bad and you’re sore you just have to keep going.”

The company sstarted the first phase of the ad campaign in July and the second phase will begin in mid September on national and regional radio and print advertising.

The €100,000 advertising spend is designed to promote TPN (The Pallet Network) among trade, industry and consumers as the market leaders in pallet delivery in Ireland.” The advertising strapline for the campaign is “TPN That Pallet.”

Owen Cooke, Chairman of TPN said: “As a wholly owned Irish company with 23 regional member depots, our reach is truly nationwide and far exceeds the capability of our nearest competitors. The objective of this campaign is to further build our brand and reputation as the Irish company to work with when it comes to overnight nationwide deliveries. Last year was one of the toughest years for the transport industry but TPN, by virtue of its unique competitive advantages, had a successful year of trading in 2009 and 2010 is going even better for us. So we are very optimistic and want to convey our company’s success and to consolidate our position as the leading distributor of palletised goods in Ireland.”

TPN, as part of Independent Express Group, recently announced a combined turnover of €14.6 million for 2009, and reported a 25% increase in new business in the first quarter of 2010. The group currently employs 50 at its €20 million hub and logistics centres at Blanchardstown and has 23 regional network members in Ireland, employing over 400 people. TPN works with a variety of industry sectors such as manufacturing, retail, engineering, construction and the food and drinks industry.

TPN provides domestic overnight delivery to the 32 counties and 48 hour delivery to the UK, as well as international express deliveries. TPN is the only multi depot transport system in Ireland and the UK that can boast ISO9001 accreditation at all 23 depots

In the FTA’s written submission to WAC Inquiry, the leading trade body has highlighted the damage that unchecked and successive price increases have made on businesses and urged Government to freeze toll levels in 2011.

Ian Gallagher, FTA’s Policy Manager for Wales and the South West, said: “It is absolutely ludicrous that businesses still trying to recover from the worst recession in recent history are being held to ransom by gratuitous and cynical price hikes across what is an essential trade corridor connecting England with south Wales. Some of our members spend many thousands of pounds on these tolls every month – it is simply unsustainable.”

FTA has also recommended that the crossing operator considers the deployment of more flexible payment methods, in line with other tolling systems in operation across the UK.

Gallagher continued:“A reduced rate for off-peak travel for commercial vehicles, for example – would engender greater benefits in terms of congestion, emissions and cost, and should certainly be considered in 2017 when the bridge is expected to be back in public ownership. At the very least, users should be given the option of credit and debit card payments, a service which Severn River Crossing Plc are legally able to introduce today.”

Taken as a comparison alongside other UK tolled infrastructure it becomes increasingly clear that users of the Severn Bridge are paying considerably more than elsewhere in the country.

Gallagher concluded: “Companies doing business between England and south Wales are effectively being taxed for the privilege. This simply has to stop or else we risk the recovery of the Welsh economy as a whole.

“A UK-wide infrastructure tolling policy would remove the massive disparity that currently exists, and could safeguard users against future unmonitored concessionary price rises.”

In 2009, almost 40 per cent of the total weight of goods carried was transporte on journeys of 25 kms or less.

Some 40 per cent of total vehicle kilometres were travelled on these short journeys, but they accounted for only 7 per cent of total tonne-kilometres.

Journeys of 151 kms or over accounted for 59 per cent of activity in terms of tonne-kilometres and 37 per cent of vehicle kilometres travelled, but only 16 per cent of the total weight of goods carried.

Breaches were identified in numerous sectors including grocery, hardware, licensed premises and motor. Of the total of 57 breaches, the majority (54) relate to misleading pricing or failing to display prices. These breaches occurred across a wide variety of businesses, from national retailers to local independent traders.

The Agency secured a Prohibition Order in the Limerick Circuit Court prohibiting a trader in Limerick from selling, or offering for sale, clocked cars . The Agency also secured undertakings from a Dublin-based car dealer, in respect of discrepancies in the odometer reading of a car, and from a jewellery company, in respect of infringements of hallmarking requirements relating to a jewellery item. If the Agency has reason to believe that a trader is involved in a prohibited act or practice, the Agency may seek and obtain a formal written undertaking that the trader will comply with the requirements of the Act.

Ann Fitzgerald, CEO of the NCA said: “This is the second Consumer Protection List published this year. The list is a consumer protection measure, which will inform and alert consumers as to the prohibited practices that the Agency has encountered during the reporting period. It should also serve as a reminder to businesses of the importance of adhering to consumer protection legislation and that failure to do so carries the risk of enforcement action by the Agency. Consumers are entitled to be treated fairly and in good faith by businesses and must be provided with accurate information regarding products and services. If businesses fail to live up to their obligations then the NCA will not hesitate to take robust enforcement action.”

Friday afternoon / evening and Monday morning are expected to see the worst traffic particularly at Money Cross and Bloomfield Round About.

The campsite will open at 9am on Friday 3rd and close at 1 pm on Monday 6th September. Queuing on Thursday night is prohibited by event organisers and GardaÍ.

“With the new M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway opening in April, getting to Electric Picnic will be easier than ever this year, whether you are coming from Munster or Leinster,” says Nicola Hudson, AA Roadwatch Controller.

“The bulk of traffic will be on Friday evening and Monday morning, so give yourself lots of time. Don’t forget to designate a driver in advance as you

Established by the Freight Transport Association as a response to industry’s need to improve the profile of logistics practices in the Republic of Ireland, FTA Ireland will give the Irish logistics industry a new opportunity to present their combined views on transport policy.

McKeon, FTA Ireland’s newly-appointed Head of Policy, said: “FTA Ireland represents an exciting and very real opportunity to better the industry’s image and improve the way in which the logistics sector operates by sharing best practice and ideas. By vocalising these ideas at the very highest level we can create a safer, more environmentally friendly and more efficient supply chain.”

Declan is a dangerous goods specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the logistics sector. Before taking the mantle at FTA Ireland, Declan oversaw warehouse logistics for Coca-Cola Concentrate in Drogheda, Louth

McKeon concluded: “During my career I have come across companies that take their commitments to road safety very seriously. These same companies have a strong compulsion to differentiate themselves from those who take their adherence to transport regulations less seriously. My new role will enable me to help those companies achieve this aim.

“I am relishing the challenge of presenting the views of members to the Irish Government and other policy agencies, and I look forward to helping establish FTA Ireland as the undisputed voice for Irish logistics.”

In 2008 more than 240 million tonnes was moved by road, representing a 10-year high, but that figure slumped to 148 million tonnes last year, on the back of the deepening recession.

In 2009, Irish registered goods vehicles transported a total of 148 million tonnes of goods by road. This represents a decrease of 40 per cent on the previous year and a decrease of 9 per cent on the 1999 figure.

Activity in terms of tonne-kilometres decreased by 30 per cent from 17,289 million in 2008 to 12,069 million in 2009.

There was an increase of 18 per cent in the figure for tonne kilometres over the ten-year period from 1999 to 2009.

CSO show that vehicles used mainly for hire or reward in the transport of goods were responsible for 60 per cent of the total weight of goods carried in 2009.

These vehicles also performed 71 per cent of the total activity in terms of tonne-kilometres and travelled 53 per cent of total vehicle kilometres.

These vehicles accounted for only 20 pef cent of the fleet size, confirming that they are worked more intensely that own account vehicles.

The first phase of the modernisation project has been completed and today an additional nine actions have been announced.

The modernisation of driver training and licensing is a key foundation stone of the Governments current Road Safety Strategy. Driver testing was first introduced in Ireland in 1964 and the RSA has been working since its establishment in September 2006 to modernise the training, testing and licensing system.

Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority said: “The modern driving environment is particularly demanding with increased volumes of traffic, more complex road networks and faster vehicles. It is essential that drivers are formally trained to drive safely for life rather than training just to pass a test. I want to acknowledge the maturity and responsibility which the vast majority of young and inexperienced drivers demonstrate. However driver inexperience is a major risk factor in death and injury collisions on our roads. The facts are that young and inexperienced drivers are more likely to kill or be killed on Irish roads. “

In designing a graduated driving licensing system for Ireland the RSA has studied the effectiveness of these measures internationally, carried out a detailed public consultation process and sought to introduce measures that maximise the safety of inexperienced drivers and those with whom they share the road whilst seeking to avoid penalising responsible, compliant novice drivers.

The nine new measures are:

• All new first time learner permit holders with effect from 6th December 2010 for motorcycles and 4th April 2011 for cars will be required to undertake mandatory initial basic training (IBT) with an approved driving instructor (ADI). The course will be 16 hours for motorcycle and 12 hours for car licences.

• The role of the supervising driver accompanying learner drivers will be strengthened and we will introduce a requirement for learner drivers to keep a learner log to be signed by their approved driving instructor and their accompanying driver.

• The drink driving limits for drivers with learner permits and those in their first two years on a full driving licence will be reduced to 20mg/100ml. This legislation has been passed by the Oireachtas and will come into effect in September 2011.

• The penalty points for specified offences will be increased for learner and novice drivers so that accumulation of penalty points during the learning phase and in the first two years on a full licence will pose a real threat of disqualification and will impact positively on risk taking and driver behaviour.

• A standard Hazard Perception Test will be developed and carried out during the novice driver phase. The hazard perception test will specifically address risk taking and perception of risk among novice drivers.

• The current driving test will be modernised to more effectively reflect driver competencies and to influence the learning undertaken by learners. We will introduce a new externally accredited driving test format in the last quarter of 2011.

• Novice drivers will be required to display an R (restricted) plate during the first two years of their full driving licence to support the restrictions that are placed on their licence for that duration.

• The current Driver Theory Test question bank and supporting learning materials will be reconfigured to make it more effective as a learning tool.

• The RSA will engage with the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Gardai and the Courts Service to develop the range and combination of sentencing options available to the courts for driving offences for learner and novice drivers.

The upgraded M50 has resulted in shorter, more reliable and safer journeys that improve commuters’ quality of life, increase efficiency for businesses and help Dublin to be more competitive in order to attract more foreign inward investment

The €1 billion project was carried out over four and a half years, in the midst of 100,000 moving vehicles per day and was completed four months ahead of schedule.

The final section of the upgraded M50 Motorway, the new and improved M3 Interchange, will open to traffic today for the first time at 5.30pm this evening, Wednesday 1st September.

“This upgrade scheme will future proof the M50 by helping to reduce traffic congestion and providing very significant time savings for hard pressed motorists,” Minister Dempsey said.

“I particularly thank the regular M50 motorists for their patience during the construction phase of this project. It was not easy for anyone as this huge engineering project got underway and I think you will agree that the upgrade has made a real difference and was worth the wait. This investment and the billions more that we are spending on the provision of world-class transport infrastructure is helping to boost our national competitiveness. This Government will continue to invest in transport because we are committed to having the proper infrastructure in place to make the most of our economic recovery.”

In 2009, road users contributed nearly £50 billion to Treasury coffers”, said RHA Head of Communications, Kate Gibbs. “£32 billion of that came from fuel duty and VAT on fuel”.

“If tolling were to be introduced on strategic routes then the estimated reductions in congestion would of course be welcome. In addition, their implementation would go some way to levelling the playing field in as much as foreign operators would, at last, have to pay for the privilege of using the UK road network.

But the Treasury cannot expect to have it both ways and UK road hauliers, as an industry, cannot be expected to pay even more for keeping the UK economy moving.

“This is a case of swings and roundabouts. There must be a compromise in the form of reduced fuel duty for essential users of fuel”. If this is not achieved, tolling to lessen congestion will be nothing more than a short-term solution to a long term problem

“If hauliers are to be expected to pay the ever escalating levels of fuel duty as well as road tolls, congestion will indeed decrease as more and more transport operations are forced off the toll roads on to other untolled, and in some cases, minor roads. The knock-on effect of increased journey times and disrupted to delivery schedules will place the providers of transport and businesses which rely on an efficient transport system in an untenable situation”.

The topics of environmental responsibility and economy have also been taken up by the Verband der Automobilindustrie e.V. (VDA, German Automobile Industry Association): this year, the slogan for the event is “Commercial Vehicles: Efficient, Flexible, Future-Proof.”

The 250 square metres of exhibition stand lead the visitor through the three elements of Bridgestone Total Fleet Management: new tyres, retreads and services.  Stars on the booth will be the new eco-friendly Ecopia tyres and retreads for trucks – holding their official premiere on the European market in Hanover.   Their appearance is supported and complemented by the service range of 2,300 Truck Point dealers and over 140 Bandag partners in Europe.

Prototypes of the new Bandag retreads BDM1 and BRM1 for road and offroad use – an important branch of the industry for Bandag – will also be introduced at the IAA.  Environmentally friendly and cost efficient With the slogan “A better grip on ecology and your costs,” the new Ecopia package offers fleet customers comprehensive solutions for increased environmental responsibility and efficiency: fuel-efficient, long-life Ecopia tyres and retreads, and cost-optimisation services. With the help of these components, Bridgestone is able to offer fleet operators the lowest cost over an entire tyre life – and help them to act more responsibly towards the environment in terms of CO2 emissions reduction and the efficient use of raw materials. Ecopia truck tyres show a 12 per cent improvement in rolling resistance compared to previous Bridgestone profiles.

It is no longer possible to register a vehicle at a Revenue Vehicle Registration Office (VRO). Applus+ will carry out a range tests to verify the specification of the vehicle being presented matches the original manufacturer’s specification and that on the V5, to ensure that the correct VRT is being applied.

This test will help prevent fraud by identifying the correct specifications and trim levels and thus ensuring the correct VRT is applied. It should also help prevent cloning by verifying all of the paperwork.

Once a vehicle has entered the state, the owner has seven days to book it in for an appointment and there are 30 days in total to complete the registration process.

The vehicle can be taken to any one of the 22 specialised NCT centres for the test. Once the check has been carried out, payment will be taken by Applus+ on behalf of the Revenue commissioners and a vehicle registration number will be issued.

“Two main factors are in play,” says AA Roadwatch Controller Nicola Hudson. “Firstly, there is the downturn. Car traffic on our roads has reduced by 4 per cent since 2008, and more notably the volume of trucks is down by almost 13 per cent according to NRA data. Secondly, there have been very significant infrastructure improvements which have come on line in recent months.”

Ireland now has 738 kilometres of motorway, and 188 kilometres of that opened in 2010. More important than the length of motorway is the elimination of key bottlenecks and the completion of inter-urban connections.

These include the connections between Dublin and Cork, Galway, Waterford and (by the end of the year) Limerick. Major pinch points that used to cause so much frustration, such as Abbeyleix, will disappear off the map in terms of traffic jams.

One of the most significant changes will be the completion of the M50 upgrade, due on Wednesday of this week with the opening of the last parts of the M50 / N3 Blanchardstown interchange.

“This means that the busiest interchanges on the M50, the N4, N7 (Red Cow) and N3 Blanchardstown junctions, will all now be free flowing” says Hudson. “The motorway now also has three lanes in its busiest locations. The M50 traffic volumes are actually rising, but the road is better able to cope.”

“The M50’s Westlink toll bridge used to be the worst traffic bottleneck in Ireland” Says Hudson. “Motorists are still paying tolls but the barriers, and the traffic jams, have gone.”

The completion of the Dublin to Cork Motorway linking those two major cities is very significant. The new Limerick Tunnel opened in July, bringing major relief to areas of the city like the Dock Road. Likewise the new bridge in Waterford will bring significant local relief.

“We are not saying that Ireland will be free of traffic jams, but the pattern will be different,” Hudson added. “Established ‘stars’ of AA Roadwatch bulletins, like the Red Cow Roundabout or the Dock Road, will seldom be heard any longer. However we remain very vulnerable to traffic incidents and to bad weather.”

Motorways have their downside in that when an incident does occur it affects many more vehicles. Particularly when the weather worsens, the major routes into Dublin and other cities will be vulnerable. Incidents like a truck jack-knifing or a minor collision will delay several thousand vehicles in the space of minutes.

“These are the types of incidents that occur regularly in other countries” says Hudson. “Now that we have a motorway network of our own we can expect to see the same thing here in Ireland.”

Some 55 per cent of respondents in a poll of over 7,000 motorists said they fully approved of the proposal, while 31 per cent said the “somewhat approved” of the plan. A little over 10 per cent expressed their disapproval.

The new system introduces a series of strict measures surrounding the governance of Ireland’s learner permit holders.

“Road safety has improved significantly in the last decade.” says AA’s Director of Policy, Conor Faughnan,

“But appalling events like those in Killarney and Donegal remind us that we cannot let road safety slip down the list of priorities. The new system proposed by the Minister for Transport will provide our young drivers with a better standard of training. Even though proper training has a cost attached to it, it must become an integral part of learning how to drive.”

For over two decades, the friendly voices of AA Roadwatch have been talking Ireland through the traffic jams with over 11,500 live traffic bulletins per year on RTE 2FM, Today FM and Lyric FM. The AA Roadwatch traffic reports are also read out on Newstalk, 4FM, iRadio, all Dublin radio stations as well as regional stations around Ireland.

AA Roadwatch has proven a springboard for many young Irish broadcasters who have gone on to become famous in other fields. TV personality Lorraine Keane, Weather broadcaster and celebrity bainisteor Nuala Carey, RTE’s Trevor Keegan, 2FM’s Louise Heraghty and Ruth Scott all cut their teeth as broadcasters in the pressurised environment of AA Roadwatch. Ireland’s foremost adventurer and world record-holding mountaineer Ian McKeever also broadcast with AA Roadwatch

The website AARoadwatch.ie was launched in 2000, and since then, both the site and the AA Route Planner have become essential aids to Irish drivers.

The site was consulted more than 400,000 times last January alone by commuters looking for up to the minute traffic reports, bus, rail, flight information, fuel prices and info on events.

The survey was conducted by observing the behaviour of 500 motorists at several sites in the Dublin area. Men aged between 40 and 50 were the most likely to give other drivers a helping hand, whereas women below 30 tended to be the most courteous towards other motorists.

Interestingly, drivers of luxury cars were significantly less likely to let someone in than the general motoring population.

A more positive finding was that the vast majority of drivers (77%) signal their appreciation when a fellow motorist has done them a good turn. Previous surveys have shown that failing to acknowledge a good deed with a wave or a flash of lights is one of the biggest pet hates among drivers.

The roadside survey was carried out by Semperit as part of its “Pass it on!” courtesy campaign. The campaign was launched earlier this year with a guide for drivers highlighting 10 simple ways in which they can show more courtesy and understanding towards other road users. The objective of the campaign is to encourage drivers to be more thoughtful and to ‘pass on’ the kind gestures of other drivers.

“It is disappointing that only one in five drivers were shown to be courteous in our survey. However, courtesy on the road creates a virtuous circle, drivers who receive it are much more likely to pass it on,” said Paddy Murphy of Semperit Ireland. “Above all, courtesy ultimately contributes to safety on the road and that is the serious side to our ‘Pass it on!’ campaign”.

The platforms will underpin the billion-dollar Nikaitchuq Development Project in Alaska. Transporting them from Berard Transportation’s base in New Iberia, Louisiana to their shipping dock was no small feat in trailer technology to accomplish – which is why the American company called on Goldhofer for help.

The Memmingen-based experts came up with two vast self-propelling super-structures (Goldhofer modules THP/SL-E and THP/ES-E), which are designed specially for the transportation of extremely heavy equipment. Between the two structures, no fewer than 144 axles and 1,152 wheels were needed to bear the weight of the platforms.

Ivan Collins, Sales Director of Andover Trailers, the sole UK distributor of Goldhofer heavy haulage equipment in the UK and Ireland, expressed his admiration at the partnership’s solution.

“Goldhofer has always thought outside the box and risen to the challenge, however difficult,” says Collins. “That said, I’m still impressed at the sheer size and complexity of these structures.”

Like its German project-partner, Berard Transportation also has a history of devising strong solutions for awkward, heavyweight machinery – but CEO Johnny Berard admits that the prospect of transporting these oil platforms was a daunting one nonetheless.

“So many factors had to be taken into consideration for this project that it really was quite a mammoth task to take on,” says Berard. “We managed it though, thanks to the technical expertise of the designers involved.”

The Nikaitchuq Development Project is a joint venture between oil production corporations Kerr-McGee and Armstrong Oil & Gas, founded in 2004. It is located in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska’s North Slope.

Goldhofer is a global specialist in heavy haulage and special transportation. It provides transport solutions for everything from super-yachts to submarines, as well as plant and materials for the mining, construction, chemical and power industries.