ETA newsletter - 14/8/2009

Child-shaped bollards to slow traffic

They may look like a new foe for Doctor Who, but child-shaped
bollards that give the impression children are about to cross the
road are the latest attempt to slow drivers as they pass local
schools. Read more

Why we must not rely on climate change technofixes

Carbon offset, carbon trading, carbon sequestration; nuclear
power; spraying ocean water into the air to form clouds and the
use of iron filings or giant parasols in the sky are among the
ideas being put forward as a way of dealing with climate change.
They are not the answer and might never be the answer, but they
are worth a shot in the short to medium term as long as our main
priority is for us to lower the global production of climate
change gases. Read more

Government says “no” to scrappage scheme for bicycles

A proposal to replace the car scrappage scheme with an
environmentally-friendly version for cyclists has been rejected
by the government. Read more

Driving in mainland Europe

Much of the best advice is common sense – ensure that your trip
is well-planned, that your vehicle is in good working order and
that you take your time. However, rules and regulations vary from
country to country – our checklist here covers what we think are the most
important points.

Heathrow’s driverless pods may overtake the car

Visitors to the Science Museum in London this week got the chance
to see one of the driverless electric shuttle pods that will next
year take thousands of passengers to and from Terminal Five at
Heathrow Airport – a technology that could eventually do away
with the need for cars. Read more

Electric sportscar in profit

Electric supercar-builder, Tesla Motors, sold a record 109
vehicles earning it $1 million in profits. Read more

Greener business travel

The ETA has long supported car sharing schemes. WhizzGo
[http://www.whizzgo.co.uk] allows you to rent a car by the hour
and now offers pool cars for businesses. Corporate customers who
sign up this month recieve £100-worth of free drive time. Email
peter.pratt@whizzgo.co.uk for details