FIA punishes Renault for staged crash

Paris – The Renault Formula One team were on Monday handed a two year suspended ban by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) for ordering Nelson Piquet junior to crash in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

The verdict was handed down by the sport’s governing body the International Automobile Federation (FIA) after a one-and-a half-hour hearing at their Paris headquarters on Monday.

Renault were in the dock for conspiring with Piquet junior to cause a deliberate crash to help the Brazilian’s team-mate, Fernando Alonso, win the race.

The French outfit could have faced permanent exclusion from the sport over ‘crashgate’ as the affair became known but escaped that ultimate sanction after the departure of Piquet, team boss Flavio Briatore and chief engineer Pat Symonds.

As well as Renault’s suspended ban, Briatore himself was handed an “unlimited” ban from the sport while Symonds was suspended for five years.

Piquet junior and Alonso were among those who appeared before the FIA hearing after which the 26 members of the World Motor Sports Council met to decide what action to take.

Alonso was cleared of any involvement in the conspiracy.

[Info from AFP]

Boy, 6, crushed by truck in Durban

A six-year-old boy was killed after his mother’s scooter was hit by a truck in Durban, Netcare 911 said on Sunday.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the accident happened on Bayhead Road near South Coast Road on Sunday afternoon.

“It is believed that the child was on the back of the mother’s scooter when they were hit by the truck.

“The child was crushed by the truck and died on the scene.”

The mother was not injured, but had to be sedated.

The road was closed while officials were on the scene.

Botha said parents needed to be careful when allowing children to ride on scooters or motorbikes.

“Children do not have bike sense. It is far safer for them not to be on motorbikes, as the injuries they sustain in accidents are horrific,” he said.

- SAPA

eNaTIS media release: Further slump in new vehicle registrations

A comparison of new vehicle registration transactions on the National Traffic Information System (eNaTIS) for the periods July 2007 to June 2008 and July 2008 to June 2009 shows a significant decrease of 29.11%. A more detailed summary is available at http://www.enatis.com/Latest/Slump-in-new-vehicle-registrations-continues.html.

 The latest statistics regarding South Africa’s live vehicle population and new & used vehicle registrations are also available on the eNaTIS public information site (www.enatis.com), as are a wide range of downloadable forms, service centre contact information and how-to guides.

Ask the Expert about road legislation

 The Arrive Alive website is asssisting the public in answering questions on road legislation. Earlier today the website received the following question:

• Legal minimum age of a front seat passenger By:Joanne

18-Jun-2009

Question:

Please could you advise me on the legal minimum age of a front seat passenger?

Answer:

There is no age restriction for front seat passengers. If any reference is made to children the NRTA under Regulation 213 – Seatbelts states that children even under the age of 3 yrs must either use a child restraint ( not compulsory )if this is not available then the seatbelt must be used.

Visit the Arrive Alive website for info about road safety in South Africa.

Also view:

• Ask the Experts

Do bikers care for the safety of runners?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Arrive Alive website received an email from a concerned runner/ jogger complaining about the attitude of some bikers. The email was worded as follows:

“I was always under the impression that the guys from THINK BIKE are law obeying citizen. And in conjunction with arrive alive making the roads a safer place.

But I was told by a friend who is a runner (same as me) to go onto the THINK BIKE forum. Only to read the SHOCKING replies from the THINK BIKE MEMBERS.

Replies like

1. “Roads are made for Bikes and Cars not morons on tekkies!”
2. “Runners/Joggers are classified as pedestrians. Pedestrians have NO place on our roads. Roads are meant for vehicles.”

This is really a concern if this is the attitude these guys have towards other road users.

How can they say they are a campaign that geared towards road safety?”

Well aware of the great work done by the guys at Think Bike, I decided to share this message with them and give them the opportunity to respond. I believe that it is very important to share the response:

“Dear Johan

Thank you for bringing Mr. H…’s concern to our attention.

Having read through the thread Mr. H… quoted from, we have found that a variety of opinions, both in favour of and against runners, have been expressed. Mr. H… chose to quote only two of the 52 responses to the initial post, and to ignore the fact that there are several responses in defense of pedestrians and joggers/runners being on the road. In doing so he created a skewed impression of the prevailing attitude, not only in that thread, but on the Think Bike Forum in general. For reasons best known only to him, Mr. H… appears to have concluded that Think Bike is intolerant towards other road users, and selectively quoted only those responses that support his point.

By way of illustration, herewith some of the responses (from the same thread) in defense of pedestrians and joggers/runners on the road:

“…you are missing something – it is called freedom of choice.”

“Have you ever tried to jog on sand, grass or gravel? You’ll think twice about even suggesting it…”

“Roads are for PUBLIC use – taxis, buses, cars, bikes, scooters, bicycles AND pedestrians. “

“…everyone is entitled to use the roads.”

“If you are travelling the speed limit you shouldn’t have any problem with us runners. “

“In SA a pedestrian may use the road (keeping to the edge) if there is no pavement.”
Think Bike espouses the principle of freedom of expression on its forum, and as a result opinions are sometimes expressed which some people may not agree with. However, it is the campaign’s stated policy that the opinions expressed on the forum do not necessarily reflect Think Bike’s formal policies, goals and objectives. It is regrettable that Mr. H…, for whatever reasons, feels the need to malign an institution that encourages tolerance towards all road users by misrepresenting the sentiment of the relevant thread.

We would welcome a discussion of the subject with Mr. H… (and any of your other readers), which would allow us the opportunity to clarify what misconceptions may exist.”

Visit the Arrive Alive website and Think Bike for more information about motorbike safety and running/ jogging safely.

Family injured on Umlaas road in KZN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This afternoon Netcare 911 in Pietermaritzburg rushed to the scene of an horrific accident on the N3 near Umlaas Rd. A family on the way back to Gauteng lost control of their vehicle and rolled down an embankment. The mother, father and a 6 month little girl had sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital in Pietermaritzburg for treatment. A 3 year old boy had sustained critical injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Durban for further treatment.

Chris Botha
Durban Media
Netcare Limited

Second possible electrical fire at Sandton Convention Centre in two weeks

 

 

 

 

 

At approximately 17h00 on Saturday afternoon 02 May 2009, Netcare 911 paramedics responded to reports of a fire on the roof of the well known Convention Centre in the heart of Sandton, in Johannesburgs northern suburbs. Our dispatch centre also alerted the Johannesburg Emergency Services of the incident.

A Netcare 911 ambulance was first to arrive at the scene and one of the crew members, an experienced ex-fire fighter, was taken to the roof by the security guards. The security guard alleged that he had seen a fire which he had extinguished with a portable fire extinguisher. Paramedics did not see any active fire and were told that the incident occurred at the DB board in the lift room for the service elevator. Fire fighters from the Sandton fire department arrived shortly afterwards and checked for fire extension. The electricity supply to the lift room was shut off as a precaution and an electrician was called to the scene.

This was a minor incident and nobody was injured and although the Convention Centre was in use for a show at the time of the incident there was no need for an evacuation. This incident was attended to by Netcare 911 and the local fire department.

Previously, on Saturday 19th April 2009, emergency services responded to reports of a fire following an evening function and although all the guests had departed all the staff who were still working had evacuated and had gathered outside the building. They described a strong burning plastic smell and suspected a possible electrical fire. The fire department arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and assessed the building and checked the roof in the vicinity of the suspected origin. As a safety precaution the electricity supply to that part of the building was disconnected and centre management was advised to call in an electrician to assess and repair the damage.

Between 20 and 30 staff members evacuated the building and only the supervisor complained of a mild cough as a result of the smoke. He was in a very stable condition and refused the hospital transportation that was offered to him by the medical team. Fire fighters and paramedics remained on the scene while the incident was investigated.

Nick Dollman

mobilemedia

Netcare 911

Increase physical fitness and increase road safety!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few photos of beautiful people at the local gym convinced me to work on a new section on the Arrive Alive road safety website. We focus on fatigue, eyesight, sobriety and specific medical conditions when we discuss driver fitness – but seldom discuss the importance of physical fitness of the driver.

It is important to note that many aspects of driver alertness can be improved by focusing on fitness.

By exercising regularly, we improve the quality of sleep and the cycles and phases of our sleep will become smoother and more regular. Regular physical activity may also improve overall health and emotional well-being and help us to deal with the stress and worries of your life. This might even help to remain calm when confronted with road rage.

Fully equipped gyms with fitness trainers are assisting people to increase levels of physical activity. Cardio training is one of most crucial elements of physical training – cardio training will strengthen the muscles that are involved in respiration thus greatly improving your ability to get oxygen into the needed muscles, heart and lungs. This combined with the fact that cardio training increases your ability to expel waste (CO2) and you’ve got a training method that will greatly improve your endurance.

Even the driver without time or financial means to exercise in a gym on a regular basis can add moments of activity into his schedule. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator or cycling to work might enhance your physical fitness. Even something as simple as parking your vehicle in a spot further away from your destination might benefit your physical well-being.

Visit the Arrive Alive website for more information on Physical Fitness and Driver Safety

Brilliant Speed Control in Canada

The Arrive Alive website received an email from a South African road user titled :”How’s this for speed control?”

I don’t know about you, but this would slow me down! People slow down and try to “straddle” the hole, then breathe a sign of relief they completely cleared it!

This is actually a marketing stunt designed for manufacturers of vehicle suspensions. Scroll down and look at all three pictures.

Pretty clever, huh??? Especially if moved around each day. Isn’t art wonderful?

The Concern in South Africa would be that the road users might not slow down and drive into the VERY REAL threat of actual pot holes!

Australians die in fatal accident on N4

 

 

 

 

 

Netcare 911 and provincial emergency services responded to a motor vehicle collision yesterday evening on the N4 about 40 km outside of Sun City direction Pretoria, in which 2 people died. The family involved are believed to be out from Australia, one child and one adult were killed. Another child was air lifted from the scene by Netcare 911 to Netcare Unitas hospital, this child was in a critical condition and is now in Paediatric ICU at Unitas. A third child and one adult were transported to a nearby hospital by road, in a stable condition, they have since been transferred to Unitas so as to keep the family together. The people in the other car were not seriously injured but did require treatment and were transported to hospital.

There was a second collision at the same spot shortly afterwards in which another two people were killed. It is not certain whether they crashed into the first accident scene or if that had already been cleared up. It is believed that up to 5 cars were involved in this second collision.

More information has since become available. Also view “Australian Survivor star killed in crash near Sun City”