British scientists have...
British scientists have come up with a tough new plastic that can be used instead of metal and help make cars more environmentally friendly. The RECYCLE consortium of engineers and scientists, based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, achieved the breakthrough after two years of research. Self-reinforced polypropylene is lightweight, six times stronger than normal plastic and 100 per cent recyclable.
Learning to improve...
Learning to improve your driving skills is vital if you’re to enjoy your car safely. This DVD is aimed at those who want to enhance their abilities behind the wheel using tried and tested techniques.
BlatSafe is quick to point out that the road is no place to explore the limits of your car. Instead, it aims to arm viewers with life-saving planning and anticipation skills to make driving more fun.
The DVD is split into chapters which cover everything from preparing for a drive, observation, planning, anticipation and how to make smooth progress. It’s based on the Roadcraft techniques the police use to teach high-speed pursuit officers and advanced drivers. The trouble is, the quality of the footage is really poor, while an awful thrash metal soundtrack makes viewing unpleasant.
The voiceover offers superb advice, and there’s no doubt the messages are spot-on. But it’s all delivered in a boring tone that’s difficult to stay focused on.
So although the thinking behind this DVD is good, as the maker points out, it’s no substitute for a real-life lesson. It doesn’t help that it’s let down by disappointing production values which make the ÷£18 price tag look excessive.