Perodua delivered a total of 23,203 vehicles last month, which was the best sales month in 2020 for the Malaysian carmaker, beating the June volume by 9.2%. This brings the cumulative volume for the first 7 months to 97,373 units. For the same period in 2019, it was over 141,000 units, which shows the impact that the Movement Control Order (MCO) had on new vehicle sales this year.
Three bestsellers of 2020
The carmaker estimates its July and year-to-date market shares to stand at 40% and 42%, respectively. The models contributing to this were the Myvi, Axia and Bezza which, according to Perodua, are Malaysia’s top three best-selling vehicles in the first seven months of 2020.
Cumulative sales of the Myvi were 29,313 units, while the Axia reached 28,107 units, and the Bezza ended July at 25,416 units.
“The Perodua Myvi, Malaysia’s best-selling vehicle every year since 2006, has recently been upgraded with the latest Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 suite of driver assistance safety systems. It remains one of the most affordable cars with advanced safety features in the country,” said Perodua’s President & CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
Higher sales will help automotive eco-system
“Since our operations restarted after the 2-month Movement Control Order (MCO) closure, sales volumes have rebounded swiftly, aided by the government’s sales tax exemption which will run until the end of the year. Should this encouraging trend continue, the healthy volume will enable us to further bolster Malaysia’s automotive eco-system of suppliers and dealers in this time of need,” he said.
According to Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) estimates, a Total Industry Volume of at least 500,000 units is needed this year to ensure the continued survival of the automotive eco-system. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has offered a forecast of 470,000 units of new vehicle sales after obtaining input from its members.
“Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, we understand that we must work to our fullest capacity to help shore up the Malaysian economy and ensure jobs are protected. As the market leader, Perodua’s utmost priority is to continue providing the best products and services to ensure maximum customer satisfaction. We are committed to continue offering better value propositions to all Malaysians in the forms of affordability, quality, technology and the latest advanced features,” said Dato’ Zainal.
All of Perodua’s current models have over 90% local content and with its economies of scale, service parts are affordable and readily available, giving its valued customers total peace of mind. Dato’ Zainal added that Perodua embodies the concept of ‘Simple, Slim and Compact’ in all its operations, including interactions with all its stakeholders, while never forgetting its People First focus.
With the volume of traffic having grown substantially over the years, toll plazas are a bottleneck along the highways. To eliminate this issue, PLUS and other highway concessionaires are working towards implementing a Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system. With this system, toll booths won’t be needed any longer as all payments will be totally electronic.
Our highway Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) process started off with a tollcard manually swiped on a reader, progressing to a SmartTAG which uses an infrared beam to transmit the card information to a receiver over the lane. In both cases, the vehicle has to slow down considerably which caused traffic to build up at toll plazas.
The future is RFID – Radio Frequency IDdentification – using a tiny tag stuck on the headlight or windscreen which send a radio signal to a receiver to execute ETC. This allows quicker communication that will speed up the flow of traffic through the toll plaza.
RFID has been available for almost two years now and with PLUS – the largest highway concessionaire – having also adopted the system for its toll plazas this year, its acceptance and usage by motorists has been steadily increasing.
Positive response to pilot run
On July 22, PLUS began a pilot run of accepting ETC by RFID on a closed-toll highway system (this system charges by distance travelled) in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. All 9 toll plazas from Hutan Kampung all the way to Sungai Dua in the states of Penang and Kedah have lanes dedicated for RFID. It’s clear that the benefits of RFID have appealed to motorists as the penetration has increased from 2.3% two weeks ago to 10% today.
“It is encouraging to see the positive take up of the RFID with a short period of 14 days. I am confident that this will increase as more will see the multiple benefits of this payment solution. The most compelling reason for RFID is that the technology itself propagates physical distancing as compared to the existing card. Once it is linked to your e-wallet, it reduces the probability of being stuck in the toll lane because of insufficient balance and need to physically reload and risk transmission of the coronavirus,” said Datuk Azman Ismail, Managing Director of PLUS.
“We are grateful for the Malaysia Highway Authority’s endorsement of this public pilot. The support by our highway regulator enabling PLUS to proceed with the first 9 designated closed toll plazas namely Hutan Kampung, Alor Setar Utara, Alor Setar Selatan, Pendang, Gurun, Sungai Petani Utara, Sungai Petani Selatan, Bertam and Sungai Dua, is a testament of the promise that the other remaining closed toll highways will be primed for RFID very soon,” Datuk Azman added.
The tiny RFID tag can be installed on the windscreen or the headlight.Besides going to the Fitment Centres, motorists can also purchase the RFID tag online and attach it to the headlight or windscreen themselves. The price is the same as at the Fitment Centre but you probably have to pay a delivery charge.
Mindset shift necessary
PLUS, however, recognises that to embrace the RFID technology will require a level of mindset shift. For one thing, motorists will have to make use of the Touch’NGo eWallet which means they must have a smartphone or tablet (which can connect to the internet). Data from the RFID tag is linked to the Touch‘NGo eWallet and reloading can therefore be done online. This is more convenient than having to look for a reload kiosk or outlet to top-up the balance.
Eligible motorists can apply for the PENJANA economic package offered by the government where RM50 reloads will be transferred into successful applicants’ eWallets. However, this benefit does not apply to SmartTAG and Touch‘NGo card.
ETC is still accepted by Touch‘NGo cards and SmartTAGs at all PLUS toll plazas. However, at smaller toll plazas with limited lanes, SmartTag lanes were replaced with dedicated RFID lanes, but the card can still be used at the Touch‘NGo lanes. This will also apply with nationwide roll-out of RFID soon.
Gordon Murray’s much-anticipated supercar has been revealed in full for the first time and as expected, it has ground-breaking technical specifications. Designated T.50, it has been engineered to be the purest, lightest, most driver-centric supercar ever. His design for T.50 is the 50th in a prestigious line of racing and road cars he’s penned over his illustrious 50-year career – hence the number ‘50’.
Professor Gordon Murray was involved in Formula 1 racing car design for 22 years, from 1969 to 1991, with Brabham and then McLaren. He also led the team which developed the McLaren F1 and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren before starting his own consultancy in 2007.
Even better than the McLaren F1
Improving on his acclaimed McLaren F1 ‘in every conceivable way’, Professor Gordon Murray is leading the team that will begin building customer versions of the 986-kg supercar in January 2022. Justifying its £2.36 million (almost RM13 million) pricetag, the T.50 promises to deliver an unsurpassed driving experience. It is powered by a 100% bespoke 3.9-litre, 663 ps V12 engine that will spin up to a record-breaking 12,100 rpm. Helping it slip through the air will be the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car – aided by a 400 mm rear-mounted fan.
The global premiere is the first time the clean lines of the exterior and the driver-focused interior have been seen. From his first ballpoint sketches to every engineering and design detail, Murray has led the Gordon Murray Automotive team and briefed and overseen suppliers to drive the project forward at an unrelenting pace.
The most dominant characteristics of the exterior design are purity and balance, free from the wings, skirts and vents that adorn most modern-day supercars. The clean surfaces are enabled by the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car, resulting in deliberately simple, beautiful lines and a timeless appearance.
The purity of the silhouette is broken dramatically when the pair of dihedral doors rise up and forwards, coming to rest high above the passenger cabin. Inside, the driver-centric approach is plain to see – from the central, jet fighter-like driving position, to the aerospace-grade primary and secondary controls arranged in an ‘ergonomic bubble’ around the driver.
A true British sportscar
Quality of materials, the utmost precision, and simplicity of visuals define the whole car, but nowhere is this more evident than inside the cockpit. British suppliers are responsible for every major component throughout the interior, as well as every facet of the car’s exquisitely-engineered underpinnings – an attribute insisted upon by Murray who was determined the T.50 would be a true British sportscar.
Superlative quality
From the exclusive V12 engine, plus what is said to be the best lightweight transmission, to the world-first aerodynamic package and the feather-light titanium throttle pedal, every element is 100% bespoke and crafted by a British company. Murray pushed each supplier to their limits to deliver ingenuity, the highest quality and of course new levels of lightness.
With a vision that the car, and every element of its componentry, would be considered ‘engineering art’, Murray set out to create a vehicle that surpassed all others, fostering new levels of pride and connection among owners. Every T.50 customer has the opportunity to meet Murray to discuss their car and personalise it inside and out.
Part of this process includes a seat, steering wheel and pedals ‘fitting’ session – personalised to every owner – that will ensure the T.50 is ergonomically perfect and individualised for each discerning customer. Of course, when you are paying that much money, personal attention would only be expected.
The T.50 will have the most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car – aided by a 400 mm rear-mounted fan. The fan concept is something which Murray used in the 1978 Brabham BT46 F1 car to increase downforce, but the FIA decided to ban it after the season ended.
Accomplishing objectives and more
Commenting on the journey so far, Murray said: “For the past 18 months, the T.50 team has lived and breathed the ethos of the car, accomplishing everything we set out to achieve and more. I couldn’t be happier with the car and the team – they’re by far the best I’ve ever worked with.”
“Just 100 customers will share my vision, a car created to improve on the F1 formula in every conceivable way. With 30 years of technological and systems advancement, the time is now right to design the greatest analogue driver’s car. I believe no other company could deliver what we will bring to market in 2022, producing this British supercar will be my proudest moment,” declared Murray.
As with Formula 1, the 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) also saw disruption in the second and third quarters of the season as the COVID-19 pandemic spread widely and most countries started to have lockdowns. However, with the situation having improved – although some countries see signs of a new wave of infections – and organisers understanding what measures need to be taken if they are to run events, motorsports activities are resuming.
The sad thing is that spectators are not allowed, and participant numbers must be kept to a minimum. While F1, being held mostly at racing circuits, can adhere to the no-spectators condition, rallies are a different matter as they are held in the countryside. It would be impractical to try to enforce such a condition in wide open spaces.
Resuming on September 4
Anyway, three rounds of the 2020 WRC (Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico) were completed before being suspended and it will resume on September 4 with the Rally Estonia. Another four rounds are confirmed in Turkey, Germany, Italy and Japan, while the events in Finland, New Zealand and Britain will not be run this year.
8 rounds instead of usual 13
The organisers are hopeful that they can add a few more events to the calendar before the year ends. In past years, there have been 13 rounds on average although the inclusion of Rally Turkey last year made it 14 rounds in 2019.
Two events which the organisers are hoping to run could be in Belgium and Croatia in the month of October. Both countries have never hosted a WRC event before although Belgium’s Ypres Rally is among the more significant ones in the European Rally Championship.
The championship so far
There was a different winner in the first three rounds – Thierry Neuville/ (Hyundai), Elfyn Evans (Toyota) and Sebastien Ogier (Toyota). Two podium finishes and a fourth in Sweden put Ogier in the lead with 62 points while team mate Evans is 8 points behind. Neuville is third, 12 points behind Evans.
With five podium finishes in three rallies, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, using a Yaris WRC, has a commanding lead of 110 points. In second position is the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team (89 points) which has the i20 Coupe WRC (pictured above). Third, with 65 points, is the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team using a Fiesta WRC (below).
2020 will be remembered as a very bad year for the auto industry in Malaysia and other countries. The COVID-19 pandemic stopped sales (and production) leading to unprecedented contraction of markets by nearly 100%. When business was allowed to resume, consumers remained still worried about uncertainties of the future, leading to more cautious spending/
This of course doesn’t help the economy to recover so the government has had to allocate billions for aid to various sectors to provide incentives to consumers and encourage them to start buying. For the auto industry, the assistance is in the form of exemption of sales tax, which will be given till the end of the year.
The incentive seems to work as most companies have reported high sales numbers, although the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) expects that when the year ends, the Total Industry Volume (TIV) will be around 470,000 units – 22.2% or 134,287 units lower than the TIV in 2019.
Among the companies experiencing healthy sales numbers is Proton which reports that its total sales volume in July was its highest since June 2012. Compared to June 2020, the increase was 37.2% while compared to July 2019, it was 45.7%. And with 13,216 units delivered, the carmaker estimates that it should have a market share of 63.2% of the TIV for the month.
Four models are said to have topped their respective segments. The Saga, with 5,421 units (including all 1,100 units of the 35th anniversary edition) sold led in the A-segment. The popular X70 recorded its best month since being launched as 3,087 units of the SUV were delivered to new owners nationwide.
The other two Proton segment leaders were the Persona and Exora, with 3,043 units and 792 units, respectively, sold in July.
“Proton’s performance in July 2020 was our best in over 8 years. We are especially happy with how our models are faring within their segments. We also note that there has been a positive effect on other areas of the business as a result of the encouraging sales. For instance, Proton Commerce, our in-house vehicle financing provider, saw an increase of 100% in the number of loans it disbursed compared to the previous month. Therefore, we are thankful for the support shown by all Malaysians and as for now, we remain cautiously optimistic for 2020,” said Roslan Abdullah, CEO of Proton Edar.
“For August, Proton aims to continue to excite the market and stimulate sales in preparation for more model introductions later in the year. Our production, quality, sales and aftersales divisions are all working hard to ensure we are able to meet consumer demand as well as deliver a level of customer service befitting the brand promise that we have set out,” he added.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) reports that the company’s volume seller, the Mitsubishi Triton, recorded a 22.2% market share from January to July 2020, accounting for the bulk of the 4,008 units of Mitsubishi vehicles sold during the period. For the same period in 2019, the Triton’s market share was 16.9%.
The Triton is now in top position in the double-cab pick-up truck segment in three states – Melaka, Penang and Kedah.
Market share improvement
In overall performance, MMM saw its market share growing to 1.7% of the Total Industry Volume between January and July in spite of difficult market conditions, especially the long period of businesses being closed in compliance with the Movement Control Order.
“MMM is pleased to see positive sales take off after being under pressure by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This is driven largely by the 100% sales tax exemption from the government which applies to both our locally-assembled SUVs the ASX Compact SUV and Outlander seven-seater SUV. The good sales also reveal brand and customer’s loyalty in these very tough times,” said Tomoyuki Shinnishi, Chief Executive Officer of MMM.
Coming to Malaysia soon…
New model launch soon
Mr. Shinnishi said that MMM is very excited for a thrilling year ahead with the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER. “The 7-seater crossover will provide us with a solid base to maintain strong sales momentum until the end of the year. The demand and success of the new Mitsubishi XPANDER in our neighbouring ASEAN countries reflects on how well-suited this car is to meet the needs of customers and we’re confident that this impressive XPANDER will capture the heart of Malaysians,” he added.
In preparation of the introduction of the Mitsubishi XPANDER, selected number of Mitsubishi showrooms will be upgraded to Mitsubishi Motor’s latest Visual Identity (VI) this year to maintain the company’s leading position in providing excellent aftersales customer service.
For more information on the new XPANDER or other Mitsubishi models sold in Malaysia, visit www.mitsubishi-motors.com.my.
The first member of the new Collections portfolio introduced by Bentley Mulliner – the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, will make its global debut at St. Tropez, the jetset town in the south of France. With this new variant of the Continental GT family, Bentley aims to raise the bar further where luxury convertibles are concerned.
The new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible has been created to appeal to those customers wanting an even greater focus on beautiful details. Taking pride of position between the cut-crystal inspired, precision-made headlamps, Bentley Mulliner introduces a bold new Double Diamond front grille, which is further complemented by bespoke Mulliner-branded side vents that continue the unique silver-on-black diamond theme.
Diamond-in-Diamond interior
The new Double Diamond design was inspired by Bentley’s exclusive Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting design concept, which adorns all four seats, the door casings, rear quarters and now for the first time furnishes the tonneau cover.
The Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting was tailored to include contrast stitching in two complementary colours to accentuate the thread against the quilting. It takes almost 400,000 stitches to deliver this quilting across the cabin of the car, with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches. Each one is precisely aligned to point to the centre of the diamond it creates. Developing the embroidery process to deliver this process alone took 18 months.
Grand Black walnut veneer is standard, while a new extensive range of 88 different piano-finished wood veneers is available. Customers can therefore specify a contemporary, colourised veneer finish that can be matched to the interior or exterior of the car.
Burr walnut veneer is hand-sanded and polished to produce a perfectly smooth finish before painting to match the colour of the customer’s choice. Once dry, the veneer is polished to achieve a mirror-like finish. For the new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, eye-catching chrome details are overlaid into the piano veneer, including a Convertible silhouette in the passenger fascia and a B-motif in the door waistrails.
Handcrafted interior
The handcrafted Continental GT Convertible interior offers 8 custom-made 3-colour combinations. A new Mulliner-designed colour split defines the 8 colour ways, including a third accent colour to the interior in the form of a distinctive design line. The hand-stitched hides are embellished with unique Mulliner-branded embroidery.
An exquisitely tactile Diamond Milled Technical finish has been applied to the centre console, through Bentley’s first use of a multi-machined panel process, extending the longest-standing partnership between a watch brand and an automotive manufacturer. The centre console houses a new and exclusive Breitling for Mulliner clock with a new brushed metallic face and bejewelled hour marks.
The clock bezel and air vent surrounds are finished in chrome to complete the stunning interior jewellery. The ornate and luxurious design of the Breitling for Mulliner clock face is also applied to the Driver Display Kombi, with the precision-rendered gauges of the LED-display driver’s instrument panel using the same brushed finished and Mulliner branding, linking the analogue and digital harmoniously.
Mood lighting consisting of 7 different themes are uplifted by illuminated Mulliner tread plates and LED welcome lamps that project the famous Bentley wings to the ground from the door mirrors.
For entertainment, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is available with the top of the range Naim for Bentley audio system. The setup features 18 speakers and 2 Active Bass transducers driven by a 2,200‑watt, 20-channel amplifier and 8 DSP sound modes with Active Bass.
V8 or W12, sir?
The powerplants available are Bentley’s V8 and W12 powertrains. When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, acceleration from 0 – 100 km/h is claimed to be within 3.8 seconds, with a hairstyle-reshaping top speed capability of 333 km/h. The new-generation 4.0-litre, twin‑turbocharged V8 unit can also reach over 300 km/h (318 km/h is claimed) and go from standstill to 100 km/h within 4.1 seconds.
An improved 2020 Toyota Hilux will soon be launched in Malaysia and bookings are now being accepted by authorised Toyota outlets for the new model which is assembled in Malaysia.
Customers have a choice of 5 variants with the Double Cab 2.4 E A/T being a new addition. The new Double Cab 2.8 Rogue A/T replaces the current Double Cab 2.8 Black Edition, while the new Double Cab 2.4 V A/T is an upgrade from the current Double Cab 2.4 L-Edition. For those who prefer a manual transmission, the Double Cab 2.4 G and Single Cab 2.4 will still be available.
Seven colour choices are available – Bronze Mica Metallic (new colour), Crimson Spark Red Metallic, Attitude Black Mica, Phantom Brown Metallic, Medium Silver Metallic, Silver Metallic and Super White II. The Hilux Single Cab is available only in a Solid White colour.
The estimated prices start from RM98,000, with Hilux 2.8 Rogue estimated to cost RM148,880. UMW Toyota Motor is offering a RM4,000 rebate for those who are ‘early birds’ om buying the Hilux Double Cab 2.8 Rogue AT 4×4 (for sales in 2020).
New design
Various styling elements of the new Hilux have been redesigned, such as the front bumper, grille, and foglamp bezel. For the flagship Hilux Double Cab 2.8 Rogue, there’s a new bonnet moulding and skidplate while the base variants get new designs for the 17-inch and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Inside, the notable change for the flagship variant is a new interior trim design, new meter design, addition of illuminated door trim garnish and a new key cover design. The base variants get a new meter design with additional information on the Multi Information Display (MID).
Current Toyota Hilux assembled in Malaysia
Improved performance
The 1G-FTV 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine has received improvements which raise power output to 204 ps at 3,400 rpm (27 ps increase), while maximum torque is 500 Nm between 1,600 and 2,800 rpm (50 Nm increase).
Although the engine is more powerful, fuel consumption has not gone up, it is claimed. In fact, fuel efficiency has improved due to the use of a 2-stage oil pump that can optimally switch the oil pressure. Additionally, a water-cooled double-pipe type pre-EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) cooler has also been installed to optimize the EGR gas temperature.
Toyota 1G-FTV 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine
The power-assisted rack and pinion steering system for the new Hilux (except for the Single Cab variant) now has a Variable Flow Control system which has reduced demand on the power steering pump, benefitting fuel economy. At the same time, the driver will find enhanced steering feel with more natural handling in different speed ranges. The feel is said to be lighter at low speeds to make parking manoeuvres easier but becomes heavier at higher speeds to provide a more confident feel.
The new Hilux comes with an Auto Limited Slip Differential (LSD) which aids traction by using the traction control system (TRC) to control braking and engine output when one of the rear wheels start to spin. The Auto LSD system is available only when in the High range and in 2WD at speeds up to 50 km/h.
How the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) works in the Toyota Hilux
Toyota Safety Sense
Many Toyota models are now getting the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) system, a suite of integrated active systems that are intended to assist the driver avoid accidents. The TSS system for the Hilux consists of three systems: Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), with Yaw Assist. These are normally found in passenger vehicles and now Toyota is also offering them in its pick-up.
To locate a Toyota showroom, visit toyota.com.my or call the Toyota FREEPHONE 1- 800-88-TOYOTA (869682).
The statistics show that that drunk driving is the cause in only a small percentage of the total accidents and deaths. However, in recent years, there seem to have been an increasing number of accidents caused by drunk drivers which have been very serious, causing deaths of other innocent people.
Perhaps there are more such incidents but it is only the ones that cause injuries and deaths that get publicised. In America, one study found that a driver could be drunk over 80 times before getting arrested for such an offence.
There are already laws in Malaysia – and more severe penalties have been proposed by the Transport Ministry – but enforcement is still necessary. Strict enforcement is obviously a way to reduce drunk driving but the police can’t be stopping people all the time to check. Motorists would usually be stopped only if they show signs of being drunk but sadly, it is often too late and they kill someone before they are stopped.
What the manufacturers are doing
The car manufacturers have, over the years, come up with various ideas to address drunk driving. Some have developed devices that can detect if a driver has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above permissible levels and prevent the car from being started. But legal issues have probably prevented such devices from being introduced, not to mention the possibility that people may just not want to buy the car.
So the best they can do is to install systems that can detect possible drunk driving by the way the car’s movements. Weaving or departing from the lane could indicate that the driver has lost concentration due to fatigue or due to being drunk and cannot maintain proper control of the steering.
The early systems, like the ATTENTION ASSIST introduced by Mercedes-Benz ten years ago, shows a coffee cup on the instrument panel when low attention is detected. The indicator is to suggest to the driver that a break is advisable, and some systems may also suggest nearby places to stop at if a route navigation system with Points of Interest is present.
Mercedes-Benz ATTENTION ASSIST shows a coffee cup to alert the driver when the driving seems ‘unusual’.
The system continuously monitors over 70 parameters – after first determining your unique driving style. It would work as advertised for most people but could be fooled by a driver who starts off weaving crazily and the system thinks that is the ‘normal’ driving style!
Besides passive systems, there are now active systems which use cameras monitor the vehicle’s position within a lane. In the Ford Ranger, example, there is a Lane Keeping Alert which warns the driver by vibration of the steering wheel when the vehicle appears to be moving out of the lane unintentionally. Some systems may also exert a slight force on the steering wheel to move the vehicle back into the lane properly.
Such intelligent systems can help to reduce the dangers of drunk driving but not all vehicles have them. Local car companies are adding more active safety systems (like Perodua’s A.S.A. system which has automatic emergency braking) as they become cheap enough not to impact the price.
So it is still up to the driver to be responsible enough not to drive if he or she is aware of being drunk. They should understand that an accident, especially one which causes a death has major consequences. Apart from the penalties (fine and possibly jail) and injuries, there can be a serious impact on the lives of those whose loved one was killed or seriously injured. If the court decides to take the driving licence away for a certain period – or forever – that can also affect the employment situation.
Signs of being drunk
The obvious signs would be the physical ones, of course, such as walking unsteadily or being unable to unlock the car door. But people who are drunk often do not realise it or if they do, they will argue that they are ‘okay’ and can drive home.
If they manage to start the car and drive, then there are many signs that will warn of their dangerous condition. Because their judgement is impaired, they might bump into kerbs – or even hit things. In many case, they may drive slowly but brake erratically and might turn suddenly.
The most dangerous conditions are when they don’t pay attention to traffic lights, weave into other lanes and even drive on the wrong side of the road. There have been reported cases where innocent motorists have died as a result of head-on collisions by drunk drivers on the wrong side of the road. Even worse are those who are drunk and speed or ever race with others and have a very high risk of crashing.
What you can do
As mentioned earlier, a drunk driver may not always be aware so it is hard to avoid in the first place. Avoiding alcohol when out at parties or socialising would be one way. But there are often times when others ‘pressure’ you into drinking ‘just one’ – which can lead to another… and another. And then there is that ‘one for the road’ which should be avoided.
The ’hardcore’ drinkers may have a high tolerance and also be more resistant to suggestions of being drunk. But for those who realise they have had too much to drink and are responsible enough not to drive, the thing to do would be to call a taxi or be sent home by someone else. If someone is available to drive your car, then that would be helpful. Ideally, one person in the group who is a non-drinking person can be a designated driver. It is important not to accompany someone driving the car who is obviously drunk as your life will be at risk.
Accidents due to drunk driving will continue even with stricter laws and more severe penalties. So motorists need to be more responsible and those who are with them also need to help prevent friends who are drunk from driving.
♦ Nico Hulkenberg, replacing Sergio Perez who tested positive for COVID-19 and had to self-isolate, had a bad day. Just before the race was due to start, the pink BWT Racing Point car could not start and the Power Unit could not be fixed in time, he dropped out. He had performed well in qualifying and other drivers were impressed, looking forward to a challenge from him during the race.
♦ Scuderia Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kvyat was dropped 5 places on the grid as his team decided to change the gearbox. He was relocating to the back alongside George Russell who also had a 5-place penalty for ignoring yellow flags during qualifying.
♦ The Safety Car got to work very early – even before the first lap was completed – when Alexander Albon’s car came into contact with Kevin Magnussen and the Haas F1 driver went off into the gravel. The Safety Car was out for 5 laps to manage the racers while Magnussen’s car was removed. Albon would later be given a 5-second penalty for the incident.
♦ Lap 12 saw the Safety Car coming out again after Daniil Kvyat went off the track when his car had suspension failure and hit the barrier heavily.
♦ At the halfway point in the 52-lap race, Lewis Hamilton was 2.3 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas who would be a buffer with Max Verstapen as he tried to close the 5-second gap further. After the Red Bull Racing driver, there was a 10-second gap to Charles Leclerc.
♦ In the closing laps, the drivers struggled with heavily worn tyres and Bottas fell to 11th after a puncture, while Kimi Raikkonen spun off – probably due to the tyres too.
♦ A puncture at the end didn’t stop Lewis Hamilton from winning the race ahead of a determined Verstappen who clocked the fastest lap of the day. With the victory at Silverstone – his seventh at the British GP – he has won more races at his home circuit that any other driver.
As in Austria and Hungary, there were no spectators watching from the stands due to strict conditions set by the organisers and authorities.Bad luck for BWT Racing Point’s Nico Hulkenberg who had engine problems just as the race was about to start so he had to drop out. But at least the team ended the day with another 2 points from Lance Stroll’s 9th placing.It wasn’t Daniil Kvyat’s day – not only did he have to start from the back due to a gearbox-change penalty but he crashed on the 12th lap due to suspension failure.Charles Leclerc continued to collect points for Ferrari with another podium finish.After his collision with Kevin Magnussen, Alexander Albon was given a 5-second penalty.
