Women and gay men 'worst at navigating'
17 January 2008
Women and gay men have a poorer sense of direction and find navigation more difficult than heterosexual men, according to a study by Queen Mary College, University of London. The study claims that not only are they more likely to get lost whilst driving, they have poorer spatial awareness, which can affect manoeuvres such as parking.
The study - of just 140 volunteers - involved computer simulations developed by Yale University, including a 'water maze' game in which they had to remember landmark cues and a 'radial arm maze' test in which they explored eight 'arms' from a circular central junction.
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Britain's scariest junction named
17 January 2008
The Hanger Lane gyratory system in west London has been voted the most frightening road junction in the country.
The super-roundabout, which stretches to a width of up to eight lanes, links the North Circular and the A40 Western Avenue near Ealing, and even incorporates a Tube station.
The 500 drivers polled in a survey for an insurance company nominated Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, as the second scariest intersection, with Marble Arch, central London in third place and Elephant and Castle fourth.
Other terrifying junctions named were South Mimms (A1/M25) in Hertfordshire, the M4/M5 interchange in Bristol, the 'Magic Roundabout' in Swindon, Mancunian Way in Manchester and the Sheriffhall Roundabout in Edinburgh.
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Ferrari Approves of its used cars
17 January 2008
Ferrari is launching a new Ferrari Approved scheme to support buyers of secondhand vehicles. The company sells fewer than 900 used Ferraris through its 15 British franchised dealers each year, but is aiming to offer the buyer of each one full reassurance and back-up.
Ferrari Approved cars can be up to nine years old, but each will have a minimum 12-month factory-issued warranty, 12 months roadside assistance, a 190-point comprehensive technical inspection, a full service history check, checks of identity, mileage and ownership history, checks for outstanding finance, and all replaced parts will be Ferrari Genuine items. None will have covered more than 56,000 miles, and none will have received non-approved aftermarket modifications.
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British roads 'not fit for purpose'
17 January 2008
Britain has the most crowded and congested roads and some of the 'worst public transport' of all leading industrialized nations, according to a report by the Policy Exchange think-tank, which cites a lack of investment as a cause of this 'endemic' congestion.
A spokesman said: 'Britain's transport infrastructure is, quite simply, not fit for purpose and unable to meet the demands of a modern country. Transport infrastructure investment has become detached from consumer demand.'
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Fiat gives 500 the chop
17 January 2008
Fiat insiders have confirmed the Italian carmaker is readying a convertible version of the new 500 that could be revealed as early as this summer.
Details of the 500 drop-top are limited at the moment, but engineers are said to have had difficulty working out how best to remove the roof without compromising strength and risking the 500's class-leading five-star Euro NCAP occupancy rating. We therefore expect the 500 to be more targa than full-blown convertible, in order to maintain maximum crash protection.
Meanwhile, Fiat is readying a new range of powerplants, including a super-efficient, 900cc two-cylinder petrol engine that could be here as early as early 2009.
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