Latest news with #seatbelts
Edmunds
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Edmunds
Volvo's New Seat Belts Will Adapt to Your Body
As a country, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says we're doing a pretty good job at wearing our seat belts — the national use rate was 91.2% in 2024. And it probably helps that the NHTSA has widely publicized its Click It or Ticket campaign encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up. However, seat belts are not always ideal for every body size and shape, and they aren't always a great fit. The lap belt and shoulder belt are supposed to be taut against the pelvis and diagonally across the rib cage to protect internal organs; a good fit is highly dependent on height, weight and seat position. Volvo now has an answer to that issue with a new multi-adaptive safety belt that not only adjusts to each passenger's body type but to traffic variations as well. Volvo — the company that perfected the modern three-point safety belt way back in 1959 — will include these new seat belts on the upcoming all-electric EX60. The Superset technological building blocks that underpin the EX60 are what allow this safety belt tech to work.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Reuters
Autoliv sees no production stops despite China rare earth curbs
COPENHAGEN, June 4 (Reuters) - The CEO of Swedish Autoliv (ALV.N), opens new tab, , the world's biggest maker of airbags and seatbelts, said on Wednesday that the company did not currently have any production halts due to Chinese restrictions on rare earth magnets.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Three major driving test changes to be trialled across UK that could speed up exams for thousands of learners
THREE major driving test changes to be trialled across the UK are set to speed up exams for thousands of learners. The DVSA is rolling out the updated tests in an initial 20 centres across the country in a bid to improve exam efficiency and road safety. 1 This comes as data recorded between 2019 and 2023 revealed that 48 per cent of casualties in collisions involving young car drivers occur on rural roads. During this time period, 16 per cent of younger car drivers involved in accidents did not wear seat belts, which was the highest proportion of all age groups. The changes to driving tests will focus on replicating real-life conditions so as to better prepare young people when they pass. They will also speed up exams for thousands of learners. Here is a full list of the changes. Independent driving Currently, tests include a period of independent driving using a sat nav. Learners will now need to navigate themselves for the whole test. Emergency stops The number of emergency stops will be reduced from one in three tests to one in seven. This will help speed up tests. Number of stops At present, learners must complete four stops but under the new trial they will only need to do three. These changes come as the driving authority also changed the rules around cancelling tests. Learner drivers now need to give the DVSA 10 days notice if they want to change or cancel their test. The new rules only apply to car driving tests, as motorcycle, lorry and bus learners only need to provide three days notice to make changes to their exam time. This also applies to theory tests, which also only require three days notice. How to book your driving test You can book your driving test online by visiting You'll be put in a queue when you start booking your driving test - you'll be told how long you'll need to wait once you begin. This is faster than booking by phone because the phone lines are very busy at the moment. You can book a test up to 24 weeks in the future. There is no waiting list or cancellation list. This service is available from 6am to 11:40pm. You need your: UK driving licence number credit or debit card driving instructor's personal reference number if you want to check they're available Budding motorists should be aware that the notice period applies to working days, which means Monday to Saturday count but Sunday and public holidays do not. Why have the rules changed? The government website has stated that the primary reason for changing the rules is because of an increasing number of tests going unused. As learner drivers approach their test day, many decide they are not ready to sit it and leave it to the last minute to change or cancel the exam. As it's so close to the test date, it can be hard for others to make the appropriate arrangements to use the appointment meaning many tests go to waste. In 2024, about 60,000 appointments were wasted because of no-shows, according to the government site. This has made booking tests harder with longer wait times. As a result, DVSA is thinking of further ways to discourage people from cancelling their tests last minute. Learner drivers currently have to wait 10 working days before being able to book another test but this could be set to increase in the future. DVSA is also considering charging a penalty fee in order to cease the number of last minute cancellations and changes. For anyone needing to change or cancel their test because of special circumstances such as an illness, injury, or if they have suffered a bereavement then they can request a refund. This is also applicable to anyone needing to take an exam or who has had their driving license stolen. Roads minister Lilian Greenwood previously said: "Passing your driving test is a life changing opportunity for millions. "But sky-high waiting times for tests in recent years have denied that opportunity to too many people. "No one should have to wait six months when they're ready to pass, travel to the other side of the country to take a driving test. "Nor should they be ripped off by unscrupulous websites just because they can't afford to wait. "The scale of the backlog we have inherited is huge, but today's measures are a crucial step to tackle the long driving test wait times. DVSA is an agency which focuses on driving tests, vehicle standards, and road safety enforcement. This differs to the DVLA which handles vehicle licensing.
