South Wales Evening Post

Dangers of Drug Driving

DRIVERS taking illegal drugs like Ecstasy and cannabis are increasingly likely to be caught by police or be involved in a serious accident. These findings by an RAC report have led to the first drug- driving campaign in England and Wales, launched by Wokingham Community Safety Partnership.

Speed Needs Under Review

WHY do we need cars capable of travelling at more than 150mph when the maximum speed legally allowed on any road in the UK is 70mph? It's a good question, and one that the Institute of Advanced Motorists - has been asking. The IAM believes people who buy vehicles in this price bracket, as well as the dealers who sell them, should undergo specialised training and testing to verify their competence.

Making a Breakthrough ; Unlike Earlier Lancer Models, the Current Version Looks a Decent Car, Says Andy Enright

YOU can see what Mitsubishi is trying to do with this current generation Lancer model. It's what Subaru is attempting, namely making the rest of its line-up competitive, instead of relying on the turbocharged headbangers at the top of the range.

Aa's Continental Help

EVERY year, hundreds of UK motorists break down on continental roads -- a pretty bad experience for those involved, even if they have European cover. To make things easier, the AA have opened an emergency centre in Lyon so members of motoring organisations across Europe will be able to get breakdown assistance on the Continent.

Drive Down Memory Lane ; Bmw's 1 Series Is at Its Best When There's a Two-Litre Diesel Engine Up Front. Andy Enright Reports

YOU need to go back quite a way to find an appealing rearwheel drive, small hatchback. BMW's favoured format may offer the purest driving characteristics, but it's a layout that an entire generation of young drivers are utterly unfamiliar with. The last equivalently sized car to offer rear-wheel drive handling was possibly Toyota's Corolla GT, a car that died in 1987. For 17 years, nobody thought to offer anything in this market niche.

Think Outside the Box ; Andy Enright Discovers Nissan's Note Dci Offers Something Different

DON'T you just love management jargon? In a previous life, I used to work for a guy who was forever touching base and running things up flagpoles. Nissan would probably like us to adopt another old favourite when it comes to evaluating the Note dCi -- to think outside the box.

Don't End Up with a Lemon

THE used car market is full of jargon, and not only that about the vehicle specifications. Most people know what features a car with PAS, ABS, e/w and fsh has, but what would you have if you had a cloned, cut-and-shut lemon? Something you didn't actually want is the answer.

How to Ensure Children Safety

LOOK after your children in the car by ensuring they are properly restrained. It's the driver's responsibility to ensure that all children aged under 14 comply with seatbelt laws, although it's not compulsory for cars carrying children to have child seats.

The Turbo Powers Back ; Saab's Special Edition 9-3 Improves Value for Money. Steve Walker Reports

IN the past, people looked down their noses at turbocharged cars - - the turbo viewed as something of a blunt instrument, a cheap, cheerful and somewhat crude way of increasing performance. Saab was one manufacturer that stuck with the technology, however, and today the industry's view of forced induction has changed markedly.

Far From an Abomination ; Skoda's 4x4 Entry Is Called the Yeti. Steve Walker Takes a Look.

LEGEND has it that the high Himalayas are home to a mysterious ape-like creature. These desolate, snowbound mountains have thus far kept their secrets, but the folklore of the abominable snowman -- or Yeti -- persists among the region's indigenous peoples. Skoda must have been wishing that the market sector into which it pitches the Yeti's vehicular namesake was as deserted as a Tibetan mountainside, but rather a lot of rival manufacturers got their small crossover 4x4s out there first.

Remote Risk to Coded Locks

MILLIONS of cars with remote control car keys are at risk of being stolen by thieves using a simple wristwatch, warns car security specialist Autolok Security Products. Using the watch, designed to copy infra-red codes of TVs and videos, thieves have been copying the codes transmitted by remote control car keys.