Wednesday, May 24

India

No ‘child lock’ feature for cabs, taxis from next year
Automobile News, India, Tech Zone

No ‘child lock’ feature for cabs, taxis from next year

The demand for doing away with child lock in cabs has gained momentum after recent incidents of women being harassed, including in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. Once a child lock is on, doors can be opened only from the outside.  Child locks in cabs and taxis, which have been misused by drivers to confine women passengers and misbehave with them, will be a thing of the past from July next year. The automobile industry will develop a new latch without the child lock function and it will be made available in the next one year. These latches can be installed at the dealers’ end since car manufacturers could not predict which vehicle would be used for commercial purpose. While all new vehicles will get them, there will be a provision for replacing the existing child lock in already regist...
Potholes killed 10 daily in 2017. Blame game continues
India, TnW Driving Sense

Potholes killed 10 daily in 2017. Blame game continues

Potholes took a deadly toll in 2017, claiming almost 10 lives daily with annual fatalities in the country adding up to 3,597 a more than 50% rise over the toll for 2016.  Maharashtra recorded a doubling of deaths year on year — disheartening evidence road safety remains a casualty in India. Transport and traffic experts, however, blame it on faulty road designs and poor maintenance of roads. Lack of road discipline and many two-wheeler riders are the add-ons for increase in death toll. Experts say that the roads in India are still being constructed as per decades old guidelines. Most of the damaged roads do not have cautionary signages that lead to frequent road accidents. Ill-conceived drainage system in cities are also responsible for potholes. The solution it needs is not just rep...