The Canberra Reporter CanRep8pg02 JUN2017 | Page 7

June 2017 THE CANBERRA REPORTER | 7
MOTORING
E dited by ARNALDO DE LEON
NEW CARS
‘Holden Eye’ new Astra standout
MODEL’S FRONT-FACING CAMERA ALERTS DRIVER BEFORE A COLLISION CAN OCCUR
By ARNALDO
DE LEON
HOLDEN’S soon-to-be released
Astra Sedan received a 5-Star Rating
in the latest ANCAP release following
Australia’s recent testing.
Across Holden’s newly released
range are rear park-assist as well as
rear view camera.
But what makes the Astra stand-out
is the use of “Holden Eye”, a front-
facing camera designed to alert the
driver before a collision situation.
Aside from these, taken into
consideration were its passive safety
features such as an improved steel
safety cage that fared well at side
impact testing and two ISOFIX child
seat attachment points for easier child
seat fitment.
Other features
include Lane
Keep Assist,
which alerts you
back into your
lane; Forward
Distance
Indicator, which
advises a safe
distance from the
vehicle in front.
Another key to its well-deserved
award is the Side Blind Spot Alert,
which provides a warning for when a
vehicle is approaching in the blind
spot, via an illuminated icon in the
exterior mirrors.
The newly awarded Astra Sedan
goes on sale in Australia in early June.
See your Holden dealer for a further
list of great features. n
HOLDEN ASTRA SEDAN exterior view from the side. Inset: Interior of driver’s dashboard.
PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK
A NUMBER or people, mostly elderly,
suffering from AAA (Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysm) are at risk of having their drivers’
licences revoked.
These aneurysms, which are swellings of the
arteries, may burst at any time. If remained
untreated and pose as a potential danger for
motorists.
The Australian and New Zealand Society for
Vascular Surgery said there were more than
18,000 Australians with repaired aneurysms
who could be in the same position due to
incorrect wording that stated they were unfit
to drive.
An urgent ministerial review of the national
licensing guidelines has been called and the
National Transport Commission has been
investigating the issue. n
New lighting and pedestrian
access a boon for residents
A BIG relief from years of continuous
lamenting, locals of Lyons now have an
easier and safer way out from
Launceston to Hindmarsh Drive via
newly installed traffic lights.
Aside from the new lighting system,
pedestrian and cycle access have also
been installed, linking families from
Lyons and Chifley to share amenities,
mainly playgrounds as these two
suburbs have a lot of primary school
level students.
Another set of road works from
Chifley’s Eggleston Crescent to
Hindmarsh Drive is also underway.
While in these suburbs, you might want
to check out Stand By Me, a popular
coffee shop by the Lyons Shops, or A
Bite to Eat at Chifley.
This plan was announced back in
October 2015 by the Minister of Roads
and Parking, Mick Gentleman, covering
the intersection improvements along
Hindmarsh Drive between Eggleston
Crescent and Tuggeranong Parkway.
No word yet as to when these
intersections will be open for public use,
but from the looks of it, it will be sooner
than expected. n
Mobile speed cameras into the mix
NEW mobile camera vans add to the current
roster of speed checkers, primarily located in
school zones. These vans are built to monitor
both sides of the road, strategically placed in
more than a thousand locations across Canberra.
Though the revenue cannot measure up on the
speeding charges, the vans make up for it by
improving safety on popular speeding locations,
according to the road safety administration.
While It may be too late to hit the brakes when
you see it in front of you, since it measures
speed up to more than a hundred meters away,
the best option would be to drive within the
limit altogether. n