Belt message still saving lives

Belt message still saving lives

MORE than 60,000 deaths and 670,000 serious injuries have been prevented in the 25 years since belting up become compulsory, according to the Transport Research Laboratory.

The safety message was memorably rammed home by Government advertising slogans such as “Clunk Click With Every Trip”. But the Department for Transport says motorists still need reminding of the benefits.

In a crash at 30mph, if unrestrained, you will be thrown forward with a force up to 60 times your own bodyweight. Yet research shows that only seven in 10 adults wear aseatbelt when sitting in the back.

French pair hit by recall blow

SAFETY faults affecting the brakes of two French family models have forced almost 100,000 cars to be recalled.

The Citroen C4 and the Peugeot 307 could both suffer loss of the ABS and ESP functions, due to defective seals that may let water into the cars’ electronics. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency recall affects 60,000 Peugeot 307s built before 2005. A further 38,284 C4s produced between June 2005 and September 2006 have also been called back.

’Coaster thrills at Nürburgring

HOLD on tight! A stunning new rollercoaster at the Nürburgring in Germany will accelerate faster than a Formula One car. Due to open in 2009, the ride (above) will rocket you from 0-135mph in only 2.5 seconds.

Two four-person cars are powered by compressed air and cover a total distance of 1.2km. The indoor ’coaster will run next to the Ring’s start/finish straight. Other new attractions include a karting track, indoor arena and 5,000-seater grandstand.