P E O PLE • PLA CES • PR OD UCTS • POTENTIAL
What’s the move?
Industry snippets and quick news about people and products on the move...
Easing of marijuana laws worries road safety advocates
N
o doubt all have watched with interest
the legalisation of Marijuana in the
US and the different reactions to this
from different sectors of society. The most
recent information from the US lends better
perspective to the unintended consequences
of these changes in legislation. As the nation
eases marijuana laws, road safety advocates
worry that highway rules for driving under
the influence of pot are lagging, which could
lead to fatal crashes. Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and
Washington, D.C.; adult recreational use is legal in Washington
state and Colorado; marijuana has been decriminalised in 16 states
and Washington, D.C. The research is mixed on how cannabis
affects driving performance. Though marijuana can slow decisionmaking and decrease peripheral vision, drivers under the influence
of marijuana tend to drive more slowly and less aggressively, says
Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway
Safety Association. “But if you mix it with alcohol, it has a stimulative
effect,” he says. “It makes reckless drivers. It makes drivers take a
lot of chances. That’s the biggest concern.” A study published in
January in the American Journal of Epidemiology
found that fatal crashes involving marijuana use
tripled during the previous decade. Researchers
from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public
Health studied fatal crash statistics from six states;
they found that marijuana as a factor in fatal crashes
rose from 4% in 1999 to 12% in 2010. Drugged
driving overall rose from 16% of fatal crashes in
1999 to 28% in 2010. The study’s authors found
that combining alcohol and marijuana significantly
increases a driver’s risk of death. A driver under the influence of
alcohol is 13 times more likely to be in a fatal crash than a sober
driver; a driver under the influence of alcohol and marijuana is 24.
Road safety advocates generally agree that one of the key ways
for law enforcement to combat drug-impaired driving is with drug
recognition experts, specially trained police officers who can take
a suspected drugged driver through a series of screens at roadside
to narrow down the class of drug that is most likely impairing the
driver. With the enormity of the challenge facing drivers in South
Africa we trust that all users will take cognisance of the effects
drugs – all drugs including OTC medication – have on our driving.
Fuchs launches Titan Cargo mc 10w40
T
ITAN CARGO MC 10W-40 is a long-life, fuel-economy engine
oil for all diesel engines with and without turbocharger in
trucks, buses and industrial machinery. The SAE Class 10W40 ensures reliable all-season use, suitable for the longest
oil change intervals as well as cold starting, and
providing lower oil consumption. It was developed
for use in the latest off-highway mining equipment
to provide extended drain intervals and a safety
margin that competitive products do not offer.
Applications:
TITAN CARGO MC 10W-40 has a higher performance capacity
than the usual high-performance engine oils.
Internationally, this type of oil is designated as UHPD
(UHPD = Ultra High Performance Diesel Oil). Regardless
of the current service life, even older diesel engines can
be changed over to TITAN CARGO MC 10W-40 without
flushing, and it protects against corrosion even when high
sulphur-content diesel fuels are used.
Advantages/Benefits:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The performance of TITAN CARGO MC 10W-40 makes
extremely long oil change intervals possible based on the truck
manufacturer’s recommendations.
Reduced fuel consumption due to fuel-economy
characteristics.
High wear protection even under continuous stress at full
engine load. Protects against mirror surface formation on
cylinder races.
Fastest possible oil circulation after start, reducing cold-start
and warm-up wear.
Exhaust gas particulates.
Protection against deposits, sludge and adhesion during
extremely high thermal stress and stop-and-start driving.
Optimum compatibility with seal materials.
Environmentally friendly due to the longest oil change
intervals and low evaporation losses.
| Wheels in Action
According to the new Mercedes Benz fluids specifications MB
APPROVAL 228.5, an extended oil change interval is guaranteed
for trucks in long-distance and local use for the 900 and 500
engine series.
TITAN CARGO MC 10W-40 is miscible and compatible with
conventional branded engine oils.
However, mixing with other engine oils should be avoided in order
to fully utilise the product’s benefits. A complete oil change is
recommended when converting to TITAN CARGO MC 10W-40.
88
november 2014