MyVehicle.co.uk – Experts In Gadgets For Driving Safely

11Jan/120

Are Police Speed Guns Unreliable?

With the news in October that a police officer claimed his own force’s speed guns are unreliable it doesn't do much for drivers’ confidence in the system. PC Blair Pettigrew (a member of the elite Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland) was accused of dangerous driving for allegedly travelling at a Falcon-recorded speed of 63mph in a 30mph zone. His case was heard on 4th December and has been adjourned. His defence is that the speed gun was not calibrated (checked for accuracy) on the day of the offence.

A police insider told the press that:

“More people are choosing to contest speeding charges by challenging the use of speed guns. In theory, they are supposed to be calibrated each day but this does not always happen. However it is unusual for an officer to challenge his own force over this issue.”

The Police admitted their speed guns give faulty readings. Sergeant William Graham revealed that the Falcon device can record speeds from other nearby cars which may be going faster.

Sgt Graham, who used to teach officers how to catch speeders, told the court:

“You couldn’t be 100 per cent sure which vehicle you’re picking up.”

A speed gun is the most likely device used when a Police oficer steps out in front of you or jumps up at the side of the road. There are known problems where more than one vehicle is in range at the same time, as it may read the wrong vehicle or obtain a reflected reading. In addition they are not supposed to be used in rain, snow or high dust environments. In September Central Scotland Police officers were photographed allegedly hiding in bushes to trap speeding motorists. Guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers state police using speed guns 'must be clearly visible to the public and the target vehicle throughout the check'. Questions have been asked as to whether catching motorists is more about raising revenue than policing road safety.

With the government’s latest proposed £38m cuts in the road safety budget, local councils are considering whether to switch off fixed cameras in favour of mobile speed camera units. These mobile units use laser equipment to target vehicles, which provide quick and accurate speed readings. They are also harder to spot as they have a range of up to 2 miles, and it takes just a third of a second to get the speed reading, so you have little chance of checking or adjusting your speed in case you do happen to slip over the speed limit!

Speed traps are often set up where the speed limit is decreased, i.e. from 60 - 40mph or from a 50 - 30mph zone. Driving in today's congested traffic conditions makes it easy to drive into a restricted zone without noticing the change in speed limits. Advanced warning through speed camera detectors or laser jammers could prevent you from driving dangerously . . . which is in everybody's interests.

Laser jammers are designed to deflect the laser signals from a mobile speed camera, giving you the chance to check and adjust your speed if you need to. The Antilaser G9 includes parts fabricated to military standards and emits an alarm to warn the driver when it encounters a foreign laser signal. The G9 also functions as a parking sensor and can be used as a driveway light activator and/or garage door opener. Speeding is illegal and Laser Jammers should NOT be used as a licence to speed.

It is 100% legal to use a speed camera detector in the UK to warn of all speed camera locations - fixed and mobile. The effect of being made aware of Speed Cameras and Accident Blackspots in advance, serves to support the intended use of Safety Camera's in reducing speed in inappropriate areas and raising driver awareness.

We'll keep you posted on the developments of PC Blair Pettigrew's case – if the court accepts his evidence on the unreliability of speed guns this could mean drivers appealing speeding convictions in their droves if caught in the past by a Falcon gun!

If you would like to learn more about speed camera detector installation and its benefits please contact Auto Tec on 01527 546582.

Owner of AutoTec

http://www.myvehicle.co.uk

Filed under: Laser Jammers, Parking Sensors & Cameras, Speed Camera Detectors No Comments

8Dec/110

Telematics for Cheaper Insurance – The Benefits of the Black Box

Young drivers between the ages of 17 – 25 are being priced off the road due to eye wateringly high insurance premiums that are leaving them in an impossible position. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) the huge cost of premiums is being blamed on the growing number of personal injury claims (on average 1 person claims whiplash every minute) and rising young driver casualties.

Being able to drive is often one of the first steps into work and with the cost of insurance often being anything up to £17,000 (17-year old James Hayes was quoted £17,000 to insure his £2,000 Vauxhall Corsa) young people are being forced to give up on the idea of driving. Industries that employ drivers are also faced with higher premiums if they take on a younger person and this has the knock on effect of jeopardising young people's employment opportunities.

So how can we help our young drivers? Installing GPS telematics (Blackbox /Smartbox) for Pay How You Drive Insurance could be the answer. AutoTec install a lot of these devices for younger people and companies wishing to employ qualified young drivers. Auto Tec are fully trained in the installation of the latest GPS and GSM technology.

Research estimates that more than two thirds of young drivers should see their annual premiums fall by as much as 22% after driving with GPS telematics installed for more than a year.

What is it?

A device for young drivers which relies on GPS telematics to collect data, often called a Blackbox or Smartbox.

How Does It Work?

It collects data on the vehicle whilst it is being driven such as times and distances, mileage, average speed, top speed, journey type, how you brake, how fast you take corners, acceleration and deceleration and even the vehicle's G-force. This information is sent to the insurer who calculates the premium based on driving abilities and risk.

There’s a sliding scale depending on the time of day and the type of road with drivers paying more to drive long distances in heavy traffic conditions when the risks of an accident are highest. Most accidents involving young drivers happen between 11pm and 6pm and driving during these hours attracts “peak rate” premiums. Drivers are usually assessed every 90 days and are rewarded for driving safely by getting part of their initial premium back.

Cobra UK are leading providers of insurance telematics and work with Co-operative Young Driver Insurance. Andrew Smith, Managing Director of Cobra UK believes that telematics could transform future insurance policy underwriting, with the driver being insured rather than the vehicle. Cobra's telematics technology currently powers 3 driver based insurance packages:

Pay How You Drive – the better your driving the lower your premiums
Pay As You Drive – based on time distance and location of your drivers journeys
Pay For Use – premiums are based on a driver’s mileage

Cobra also highlights the benefits for fleets: “Pay How You Drive” insurance should automatically deliver lower fleet premiums to reward those company drivers who drive sensibly and “Pay As You Drive” means fleets only pay for the journeys their drivers undertake which could be relevant for lower-mileage users.”

If you would like to learn more about insurance telematics installation and its benefits please contact Auto Tec on 01527 546582.

Owner of AutoTec

http://www.myvehicle.co.uk

Filed under: Installation Services No Comments

22Nov/110

Intelligent Thinking – Stolen Vehicle Trackers

Earlier this year the UK police unit dedicated to vehicle crime (AVCIS) released some figures that may surprise you. Almost 9000 vehicles were stolen in just 36 days at the beginning of 2011. The problem goes far beyond the high end cars that you might expect to top a thief's shopping list. The Ford Transit is the number one vehicle in the Top Ten stolen vehicles for the first quarter of the year.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hooper said that:

“Vehicles appearing in the list may surprise motorists. Although high-end cars are stolen to order by criminals, those driving more affordable vehicles should not be complacent. Whatever vehicle you drive, security should always be a priority.”

The reasons behind the Ford Transit’s popularity with criminals are down to the fact that it's valuable in terms of spare parts, scrap metal and potential tools stored within.

The Top Ten vehicles stolen earlier this year are: Ford Transit, Vauxhall Astra, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Corsa, BMW 3 Series, Ford Focus, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Mondeo and Honda Civic.

So what can you do about it? One of the best solutions is to use a vehicle tracking system. A vehicle tracker assists in the location and recovery of your stolen vehicle. It tracks the route taken by a vehicle after it has been stolen, and pin points its last stopped position.

The benefits of a vehicle tracking system have several advantages beyond preventing the theft of your vehicle:

1) Insurance companies are offering discounts to companies using fleet tracking system and offering Pay As You Drive (PAYD) insurance on personal policies if you have a vehicle tracker – which can save you hundreds of pounds each year.

2) Fleet tracking systems are known to encourage drivers to drive more sensibly so Insurance companies reward you with lower premiums for safe and careful driving. Businesses benefit as careful driving saves fuel and travel time.

3) Insurance companies can track how fast your driver is travelling; the position of their vehicle on the road and this type of evidence is indisputable in the event of a claim.

Basic tracking devices rely on you being aware that your vehicle has been stolen which means that the tracker is activated after the event. This can give the thieves time to gain some distance or disable the tracker. More sophisticated units automatically start the tracker as soon as they sense when the vehicle is being tampered with. Some stolen vehicle trackers include 'remote engine kill'. These are known as category 5 (CAT 5) insurance approved systems and CAT 5 offers the maximum security for your high risk vehicle. Auto Tec is one of only a few companies trained in the installation of CAT 5 systems.

CAT 5 (Category 5) vehicle tracking systems use the latest GPS and GSM technology and as CAT 5 Thatcham approved installers, Auto Tec stock two leading CAT 5 trackers - CobraTrak 5 and SmarTrack Cat 5. SmarTrack use their own software and hardware developed in the UK and use GPS to track and locate stolen vehicles, liaising directly with the police to quickly reunite vehicles with their rightful owners. Cobra have been providing vehicle manufacturers with tried and tested products since the 1970s and have a Europe-wide stolen vehicle recovery system. Both models carry a whole host of excellent features which include:

• driver recognition systems – knows when your vehicle is stolen and alerts the stolen vehicle operation centre automatically

• remote engine immobilisation - enables the police to authorise the manufacturer to send an alert to the vehicle to

prevent the engine being restarted once it comes to a standstill

• the highest level of insurance accreditation available in the UK - Thatcham CAT 5

• 24/7 monitoring by a secure operating centre

Auto Tec also offer custom installations for fleet tracking and tracking for plant, agricultural vehicles, quads and even boats. We also offer Driver ID Systems, and Operation Control Systems. Operation Control Systems can show you information such as when a load is taken off or put on a trailer or even when a sprayer is engaged on a tractor. For the best advice on the tracking system to suit your vehicle and requirements please contact Auto Tec on 01527 546582.

Owner of AutoTec

http://www.myvehicle.co.uk

Filed under: Car Security, Vehicle Tracking Equipment No Comments

10Nov/112

How To Upgrade your Porsche PCM 2 to Bluetooth and/or iPod

If you own a Porsche 911, Cayman, Cayenne or Boxster from 2003 - 2008 then you may have a Porsche PCM system with a SIM card slot built into the radio with/or without the Porsche telephone system fitted at the factory. If you have the Porsche telephone system and use it you will realise just how awkward it is - you have to remove your SIM card from your phone each time you wish to use it. Those of you with iPhones will know this is nearly impossible even when you have the special little tool that came with it . . . let alone when you are zooming down the motorway late for work!

Luckily mObridge have developed a product called the Porsche iBlue which adapts the PCM system with/or without the factory telephone module and converts it to Bluetooth. The most outstanding advantage of the Porsche iBlue is its simple and seamless connection to your factory system.

In fact mObridge were the world's first company to produce this device for Porsche and they have continued to raise the bar with their cutting edge technology. The Porsche iBlue is a much more user friendly hands free system and will also synchronise the contacts from your iPhone to the PCM display. It allows the buttons on the PCM to operate so you can dial a number from the screen or select a contact from your phone book. mObridge uses a Parrot chipset so you can be assured of excellent call quality.

The Porsche iBlue incorporates an iPod connection that interfaces with the PCM system so that albums, artists, songs and playlists are displayed on the screen and you can select the track or music of your choice.

The kit comprises a hideaway box, external double microphone, fibre optic and power connections. It comes complete with the correct connections so there is no need to cut cables and if you ever require the system removed the vehicle can be put back to standard.

We can supply and install the mObridge Porsche iBlue for £849 or the mObridge Audio (Bluetooth system without music) for £589. We also have mObridge products for Audi, BMW, Saab, Landrover, Citroen, Peugeot, Mercedes, Mini and VW.

If you have any queries please get in touch – we are here to help!

Owner of AutoTec

http://www.myvehicle.co.uk

Filed under: Car Specific Products, Hands Free Car Kits, iPod / iPhone In Your Car 2 Comments

24Oct/112

Great Gadgets For Your Driving Safety

At AutoTec I am always alert to the latest “must have” gadgets being released within the industry that we can test for quality and reliability. Once I am satisfied that we have a great new product on our hands we will then recommend them to our customers. In this blog I will be looking at some of the best In-Car Entertainment and covering the best gadget for the use of iPod/iPhone in your car.

Earlier in the year Parrot launched the new Parrot Asteroid which soon made headlines as the winner of the Consumer Electronics Show 2011 Best Car Tech Award. The Parrot Asteroid is a car stereo receiver that works on the Android platform with web service apps, voice recognition and hands free calling. Parrot was founded in 1994 and today the company is now a global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones. They revolutionised hands-free car kits with the introduction of their Bluetooth car kits . . . the introduction of the Parrot Asteroid look set to do the same.

I like the Parrot Asteroid for several reasons:

. You can access all your music by voice which is a plus concerning road safety. It plays music from any source: iPod, iPhone, USB, SD card and also Bluetooth stereo (A2DP), analog player, FM and web radio. You can search for artists and albums using voice recognition as well.

. Internet access means you can listen to live traffic information and road works alerts, speed camera alerts, view maps, find parking or fuel stations via 3G and GPS. Subscriptions may apply depending on your network provider.

. It is compatible with all the brands of Bluetooth mobile phones and has advanced hands-free and voice recognition technology. Soon you will be able to connect 2 phones at the same time and the colour screen is a decent 3.2”.

Another product that has my tick of approval is the rear seat entertainment system Rosen Headrest Replacement System. Not only does it stop the constant “Are we nearly there yet?” from the children in the back seats but it is the latest in Rosen's ground breaking technology.

Rosen started out in 1980 making products for the aviation industry. A decade later Rosen became a leader in LCD flat panel displays for private aviation and launched products specifically designed for the automobile market. They were immediately recognized as an industry leader thanks to their cutting edge technology. Rosen are pioneers in their field and have a cluster of “Firsts” in the industry. They produced the first overhead flat-panel display entertainment system and were the first to produce complete vehicle specific kits. They currently have over 50 patents either issued or pending. Now that is innovation for you!

The Rosen Headrest Replacement System really does what it says on the box:

. It plays DVDs, CDs, your home-made MP3 music discs, and the family photo album in JPEG format.

. It has DVD formatted 16:9 Wide-Screen, flat-panel LCD displays and the screen is a good size at 10.2".

. The Rosen Headrest Replacement System also has 25 built-in 16-bit video games with a wireless game controller and an auxiliary mini-jack w/ RCA adaptor to connect a game console, video camera or MP3 player.

I'll keep you posted on new developments in the industry here on the blog so remember to add it to your favourites.

Owner of AutoTec

http://www.myvehicle.co.uk

Filed under: Hands Free Car Kits, In-Car Entertainment, iPod / iPhone In Your Car 2 Comments

30Sep/110

Welcome to AutoTec’s New Blog

Welcome to AutoTec's Blog where you will find the best advice on the latest technology for your vehicle and safety. We have a wealth of experience you can tap and will be running a series of “How To” Guides packed full of practical help, tips and tricks. We will also be keeping you updated on the latest developments in Car Gadgets, In-Car Entertainment news, expert reviews and sneak previews of new products.

At AutoTec we specialise in products ranging from Hands Free Car Kits, Speed and Laser Detectors, Satellite Navigation Systems to award winning Vehicle Tracking and Fleet Management Systems.

I started in the industry in 1996 and we have been trading online since 2003. You'll find that AutoTec provides the best services and prices across the range of In-Car technology available today. We professionally test all the products we list on our website to ensure quality and reliability.

Our properly trained technicians are highly skilled professionals and we work to the highest quality standards. We are Recognised Thatcham Installers, accredited to the highest level CAT 5. Thatcham's Automotive Technician Accreditation scheme is backed by the Institute for Motor Industry and Thatcham has become one of the first training organisations in the automotive sector to receive the ‘Training Excellence’ stamp. We are Parrot and Nokia trained and accredited and we regularly attend product launches.

Our network of installation engineers means we can offer nationwide installation and our vans are fully kitted mobile workshops. We can manage small, medium and large fleets of vehicles and cater for private individuals, commercial and agricultural vehicles, caravans and motorhomes.

We pride ourselves on our customer service and can often provide last minute/same day appointments if you have an urgent problem. We are a UK based company with head quarters located in Redditch, Worcestershire where you will find our purpose built workshop.