Volvo unveils 'Roam Delivery' technology

It's an unfortunate side effect of Internet shopping these days. Goods are sometimes delivered when you're not at home.

 

But fear not – Volvo has found a solution that involves using your car as a mobile drop-off zone for your postie.

The clever Swedes have made their Volvo On Call telematics smartphone app even smarter by now allowing drivers to give delivery drivers access to their cars to drop off parcels.

Drivers will select their cars as a delivery option when ordering goods online. And via a smartphone or tablet, the owner will be informed when a delivery requires dropping off or picking up from the car.

Once the driver has accepted the delivery option, a "digital key" will be activated which tracks when the car is opened and then locked again. And when the drop-off has been completed, the key ceases to exist – and it's all done via clever telematics.

Is this a case of technology getting a little too clever? We'd say we've never wished that our car could be used as a postbox. But it seems there are many people who think the opposite.

The Swedish car maker says that last year, 60 per cent of people shopping online had problems with the delivery of their purchases, and more than half of people are not at home to receive online deliveries.

Volvo's digital keys pilot programme revealed 92 per cent of people found it more convenient to receive deliveries to their car than at home.

"By turning the car into a pickup and drop-off zone through using digital keys, it's now possible to deliver the goods to persons and not just places," explained Klas Bendrik, Group CIO at Volvo Car Group. "The test-customers also indicated that the service clearly saved time. And the same thing is valid for delivery companies a well!

"Because failed first-time deliveries cost the industry an estimated €1bn in re-delivering costs, we are now further investigating the technology of digital keys and new consumer benefits linked to it."

What do you think to this new technology?

Dorset Council claims 'wonky' road lines were painted on purpose

Motorists have been left scratching their heads over a set of 'wonky' centre lines that have been painted on a busy road in Wimborne, Dorset.

 

The wobbly lines that travel arrow-straight, in the typical fashion, through the East Borough area of the town, suddenly veer off into the opposite side of the road but the local councils insists it is deliberate.

Jennifer Carpenter, a community carer, was left completely bemused when she drove past the askew lines on her way to work.

She said: "It just struck me as really funny when I saw the lines.,"   "It's ludicrous. The road is a bit of a rat run anyway, particularly in the mornings, and there is always people driving along it, so I think there's going to be quite a lot of confusion.

"I can't logically explain how this has happened. It just makes the road narrower on the other side. It's crazy."

But Adrian Norcombe, construction manager for Dorset County Council's highways, said that the lines were meant to be there a device to slow drivers down.

"This road has recently been resurfaced as part of the defects programme,"

"The white lines that have been put down are replicating what was on the road before we resurfaced.

"We take detailed measurements of the existing markings to ensure that parking bays et cetera are reinstated in the correct legal positions.

"These markings were installed as part of a traffic engineering scheme which was carried out in 2007 when the road was restricted to 20mph.

"Our team have had a number of residents thank them for reinstating the curve as it helps to slow down traffic in a road that was previously considered a rat run."

But some resident aren't convinced. Driver Andy White, 28 said "I thought the person who painted them must have been drunk.

"If you stand at one end of the road and look down it the straight line in the middle goes off all over the place.

"If it is part of a traffic calming scheme then it has left me baffled."

Despite what the council claims, one reader posted on their site: "And as if by magic the lines this morning (Friday) have been repainted and we now have a straight line in the middle of the road... Simple wasn't it?"

Mercedes technician crashes customer's powerful SL65 AMG

A routine appointment with a local Mercedes-Benz garage turned into a nightmare situation for one SL65 AMG owner when the technician charged with transporting his vehicle "totally wrecked" it on a busy dual carriageway.

John Guest, a semi-retired IT consultant from Poole, booked his powerful sports car into Sandown Mercedes to fix a problem with the on-board computer but just hours after dropping it off, he received the fateful phone call.

The distraught owner said: "When I took the car in I told them there was also a problem with the traction control system but I was assured nothing was wrong.

"Later that day I got the phone call from the garage to say my car had been involved in a crash.

"My first concern was for the safety of the driver who thankfully wasn't hurt.

"The dealership tried to take it directly to a bodyshop but I demanded to see it.

"I thought the car might have been involved in a minor crash but I couldn't believe it when I saw it - it was totally written off and will have to be scrapped."

The dealership maintained that the car was being driven 'legally' and 'sensibly' at the time of the accident and that it had 'co-operated fully' with authorities on the matter.

The vehicle in question is one of the most potent in the Mercedes-Benz range, boasting a 630bhp V12 engine that is capable of catapulting the machine from 0-60mph in under four seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph.

Customers would have paid almost £170,000 when the car was new but Mr Guest bought the car in 2010 for a reduced price and has since spent £30,000 maintaining the sought after model.

"There was a tear in my eye because I have so many fond memories of the car. It was a car for life and it's irreplaceable," he said

"The thing that angers me most is the suggestion the car was being sensibly driven.

"Thousands of cars drove down that road that day, only three crashed and mine was the only one to be totally wrecked.

"It's negligence on the dealership's part.

"It is very galling given that I haven't done anything wrong. My only mistake was leaving my car with the dealership in the first place."

Mr Guest has since been given a Mercedes-Benz E350 as a courtesy car but is considering taking legal action against the dealership.

Gavin McAllister, managing director of the Sandown Group of Mercedes dealerships, said: "I was distressed to learn of the incident with Mr Guest's car, and I'm relieved that no one else was involved in this unfortunate accident.

"As soon as it happened, we co-operated fully with the authorities, and the police have confirmed that the car was being driven legally and sensibly in the road conditions.

"This is cold comfort for Mr Guest of course, who is a loyal and valued customer, and I along with everyone in my team at Sandown are committed to doing the right thing by him.

"We're working closely with the insurance team and are keeping Mr Guest fully informed throughout.

"Of course, we've provided a new courtesy car to keep him mobile in the meantime.

"Thankfully, incidents like this are very rare, and our technician is making a good recovery

Lightbulb moment goes horribly wrong for car owner

It should have been a swift, run-of-the-mill task for the garage - changing a £40 lightbulb on a Vauxhall Insignia.

Instead, Ben Langley's pride and joy ended up mangled when a mechanic at the dealership drove it while the bonnet was up – and straight into a Vauxhall Zafira that was on a ramp.

The raised bonnet ended up folding back, snapping off and denting the Insignia's roof, as well as smashing its windscreen.

"It was like something you see in a demolition derby." Mr Langley, of Wawne, near Hull, said in a report about the accident at Evans Halshaw in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

 

The firm said it would repair the damage or give the project manager £4,000 for the vehicle, but the 38-year-old isn't satisfied.

"It's incompetence. I want a new car," he said.

The father-of-two, who had been outside the workshop, heard a massive bang and rushed to see what had happened.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I could see my car and there was a car on top of it. The mechanic had driven it across the workshop with the bonnet up."

The fire and rescue service extricated the Zafira.

A dealership spokesman said: "I can confirm Mr Langley's vehicle was involved in a minor collision during a routine repair in the workshop. Nobody was injured. We have apologised to Mr Langley and accepted our responsibility.

"We have given him the use of an Astra while we agree a proper remedy to this situation. We are sympathetic to Mr Langley and continue to engage with him with a view to finding a mutually agreeable and reasonable solution."

Novice driver caught speeding during lesson with AA

A learner driver has been fined after being caught speeding while out on a driving lesson.

Seventeen-year-old Stacie Ralphes was caught driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone in the Weymouth area, while receiving tuition from the AA driving school.

The student, who only has 12 hours driving experience under her belt, was initially angered to find that she was liable for the offence.

"I was shocked to find that the notification was in my name. I thought the driving instructor would have made sure that speeding didn't happen as that's what they are there for," she said  "I was angry and frustrated. I understand that I was partially responsible but I felt as a learner driver who has just started, I've been learning to deal with everything else involved in driving."

As an alternative to the three penalty points normally received for such speeding offences, Stacie was offered the chance to attend a driver awareness course, which she accepted.

She added: "I've lost my confidence when driving through this. It has been a big setback."

Her mother, Beverley is now calling on the AA to ensure learner drivers are fully aware that they are liable for traffic offences that occur during lessons.

"I find it incredible that after 12 hours of driving my daughter could be solely responsible for this," she said.

Stacie has since resumed her driving lessons with another driving school.

The AA driving school offered to pay Stacie's £110 driver awareness course fee as a gesture of goodwill.

However, it reiterated the law relating to driving offences, which states that drivers are liable for penalties arising from traffic offences, even if they are a learner, and that it is illegal for anyone other than the driver to accept a penalty

Good IAM advice when travelling with kids

Are we there yet?

Forget changing the channel on the radio or eyeing up the talent on the pavement, kids in the car make it all too easy to take your eyes off the road.

If you've got a getaway planned for Easter, plan ahead so you keep the littlun's quiet and contented - especially on long journeys.  The trick is to keep them occupied as much as possible and to keep your attention on the road.

A second adult to look after the children makes a huge difference, leaving the driver to drive. This also may allow you the opportunity to share the driving if you're heading somewhere far away from home.

However tempting, don't turn round to deal with fighting kids.  Find somewhere to stop first. If anyone needs to pick up a child, make sure you stop and don't let any adults travel with a child on their lap.

Portable games consoles or in-car DVD players will keep kids occupied for hours. But add some headphones – the soundtrack on the monitors can be just as distracting as the kids.  You might like the Spongebob Squarepants tune now, but after a few plays in the car it'll really get on your nerves.

If you are planning a long journey, make sure you're organised, remembering to pack plenty of food and drink. Have a plastic bag (without any holes) at hand for travel sickness.

Play games that promote and reward quiet behaviour without needing the driver's direct involvement.

Always leave a gap of at least two seconds between you and the car in front. Following too close cuts the time you'll have to react should something happen. You'll be more able to spot hazards and keep your kids safe.

Allow extra stops. Find somewhere for them to let off steam such as a playground.

Don't forget that child seats or restraint must be used. Check the rules but, depending on their age, some sort of seat or restraint should be used until a child reaches the age of 12 or 1.35 metres in height.  Never put a rearward-facing baby seat in the front if there is a passenger airbag.

School bus driver caught over the drink-drive limit

A bus driver, whose vehicle was laden with primary school children, has been found guilty of being in charge of a vehicle while over the drink-drive limit.

 

He was a professional driver with over 30 years of experience, but failed a breath test after being stopped in Kington Langley, Wiltshire, while dropping children off at a local primary school.

The experienced driver claimed he had been at a football match the night before and had not eaten anything for breakfast.  District judge Simon Cooper said: "You are a man with a long and unblemished driving career. This was drinking the night before. It remains in your system. It has an effect.

"Driving through a narrow village with cars parked on each side at that time of the morning, and these buses are not small, they're large.

"There is potential to cause serious damage."

The court also heard that he had been driving HGVs since 1982 and had a clean licence but he immediately resigned from his job following his arrest.

He was handed a 16-month driving disqualification, which will be reduced to 14-months should he complete a drink-driver course. He was also fined £120