Latest news with #RSA
The Herald
7 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Herald
Refreshed Honda HR-V lands in Mzansi: pricing and specs
Cabin highlights include eco-friendly leather seats, a redesigned centre console with two USB ports (Type A/Type C), a 15W wireless charging pad and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment screen compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available solely in Elegance specification (Comfort and Executive variants fall away), other standard features include automatic highbeam headlamps, a six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, six airbags and Honda Sensing. The latter avails driver aids such as lane-keeping assist, emergency braking and road departure mitigation. The new Honda HR-V retails for R539,000, including a five-year/200,000km warranty and four-year/60,000km service plan.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Times
Driving test confusion: ‘Multiple candidates' miss appointments due to mix-up over two centres
Confusion over the location of two west Dublin driving test centres has resulted in learner drivers missing appointments and the centres having higher than average 'no show' rates. The centres in Mulhuddart are at Maple House in Rosemount Business Park, and at Carlton Hotel on the old Navan Road. Thomas Hand, a 17-year-old learner driver from Portrane, Co Dublin, got a cancellation appointment on June 26th for his test and arrived at Maple House centre. 'Despite being on time, I was informed I had missed my appointment,' he said. He arrived at the wrong test centre because his GPS defaulted to the main centre 'with no listing for the Carlton Hotel location'. READ MORE He was deemed a 'no show' and told he would have to apply again for his test. 'Staff told me this is a recurring issue and that multiple candidates miss tests because of this confusion,' he said. His 'no show' appointment was his third test. He had previously secured cancellations for his first test in Finglas on May 16th and his second in Tallaght on June 5th. The teenager said he needed to pass his test by August when his insurance was due for renewal as he would not be able to afford the learner driver premium next time. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said the test appointment confirmation 'clearly states the address and eircode of the chosen location' and applicants should 'read the communication that issues to them'. The RSA 'has not received a significant level of complaints on this issue. Nevertheless, to avoid possible confusion, we will include 'Mulhuddart' in the Maple House Google Maps entry'. Dublin West Fine Gael TD Emer Currie said one of the centres 'could easily be renamed to avoid confusion, but since 2023 the RSA hasn't done so'. She said 'this is one of a number of simple things the RSA could do to make the testing system more efficient and reduce no-shows', which in 2023 and 2024 totalled 15,103. In a parliamentary reply, Ms Currie received figures showing tens of thousands of learners are 'pausing' their applications rather than pushing for a test date. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 166,975 driving-test applications were 'paused' including 51,538 last year alone. She said the figures needed to be investigated because they represented about 18 per cent of applications and they indicated that learners were using the driving-test confirmation to renew their learner permit and pause their application instead. Susan Gray, of road safety campaign group Parc, said it shows 'how easy and how many can game the system'. She said 8,600 failed to show last year for their test, but 'people don't even have to select a date. They just apply to go on a waiting list and then use that letter to renew their permit'. The RSA and Department of Transport have agreed legislative changes to reduce the number of long-term learner permit holders on Irish roads, although no date has been given for implementation. The RSA said: 'Third or subsequent permits will only be issued if the applicant has taken a driving test within the previous two years – booking a test will no longer be sufficient. 'No more than four consecutive learner permits will be allowed. After the fourth, the individual must restart the entire process' including the theory test and lessons.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Busy Dublin road used by thousands of drivers set to close for one week with diversions in place
A BUSY road used by thousands of Irish drivers is set to be closed for one week - with diversions in place. Dublin City Council has alerted 1 Dublin's Oriel Street Upper road will close on Wednesday Credit: Google Maps Oriel Street Upper in Dublin 1 is set to temporarily close this week for carriageway improvement works. The closure is taking place daily from 8am to 6pm between Wednesday this week on July 16 and Wednesday, July 23. Motorists are being warned that it affects the stretch of Oriel Street Upper between Sheriff Street Lower and Seville Place. READ MORE IN MOTORS 'Date – Wednesday 16th July 2025 to Wednesday 23rd July 2025.' Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the closure and local access will be facilitated where possible from each closure point. Traffic marshals will be stationed on-site to assist with diversions and ensure access where needed. For vehicles arriving from Sheriff Street Lower, diversions will send traffic toward Commons Street, North Wall Quay and Guild Street. Most read in Motors Those approaching from Guild Street will instead be redirected via North Wall Quay and Commons Street. Clear signage will be in place to guide motorists and drivers are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. Major warning for Irish drivers over little-known task as thousands set to renew licence Dublin City Council added: 'Pedestrian access will be facilitated at all times. 'Traffic marshals will manage closure points during works.' MOTOR BRAND RECALL Meanwhile, Irish car owners of a popular motor brand have been warned to Citroen C3 and DS 3 The Road Safety Authority shared the warning on The recall affects certain Citroen C3, C-Zero and DS 3 models as their Takata airbags could burst with excessive force if they deploy in a crash. 'DO NOT DRIVE' The RSA said: 'Important notice for owners of a Citroen C3 and DS 3. 'Citroen/DS Ireland have asked vehicle owners of certain Citroen C3 and DS 3 models to stop driving their vehicle until the airbags have been replaced by a dealership.' This deterioration could make the inflator explode more violently than intended, leading to pieces of metal striking the driver or passengers. The RSA said this fault can cause serious or even They said: 'Takata airbags may deteriorate over time, particularly in warm, humid climates. 'This could cause the airbag to burst with too much force in the event of an accident, which could lead to serious or even fatal injuries in the worst-case scenario.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Government's €13M drive to cut road carnage
The Government is investing €13million to help fix up dangerous local roads identified as accident blackspots. It comes after another week of carnage on the roads, with five people losing their lives in accidents across the country. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has also warned that the longer summer days can be the most dangerous. Junior Transport Minister Sean Canney says the Government is working with Local Authorities around the country to identify areas more prone to accidents. He said: 'Safety analysis is conducted annually on the regional and local road network, using collision data, collected originally by members of An Garda Síochána. 'This process identifies high-risk road safety areas, referred to as Locations of Interest (LOIs). Local authorities are engaged to review and implement appropriate remedial measures at these sites.' The Minister said each year, authorities are invited to apply for funding from his Department to support engineering improvements at these LOI sites, supplementing their own resources. 'This investment is targeted by utilising collision statistics and the Network Safety Analysis. 'In addition to these LOI sites, local authorities also submit for safety schemes based on local knowledge and engineering expertise,' Minister Canney said. 'Approximately €13m will be invested in Low-Cost Safety Improvement Works in 2025. 'Additional road safety schemes are also funded through specific improvement and strategic regional and local road grant programmes.' He added there are two risk analysis mechanisms used for collision monitoring. Reactive collision analysis carries out analysis of the entire national road network to identify locations that have above average concentrations of collisions. Meanwhile, proactive safety inspections is a safety assessment of the national road network that requires road safety auditors to visually inspect the network every three to four years. Minister Canney was responding to a query from Kildare TD, Naoise Ó Cearúil, who had asked how his Department was using ongoing data analysis and local knowledge to identify accident-prone areas.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Building's status angers candidate
Mel Tavendale. PHOTO: ODT FILES Ten years is too long to have waited for a resolution to the ongoing saga of the unused former RSA building, Waitaki mayoral candidate Mel Tavendale says. "It is past time RSA land status was sorted out. "This iconic building has been stuck in limbo and is steadily deteriorating. I strongly believe the council needs to sort it out once and for all. "The building has become a liability to ratepayers and appears no closer to being usable than it was 10 years ago." In 2015 the North Otago RSA went into liquidation and the Oamaru stone building in Itchen St was vested in the Waitaki District Council. The building had asbestos removed and was being prepared for renovation when the council became aware that it was covered by the Oamaru Town Hall and Gasworks Sites and Recreation Reserve Act 1875, prohibiting the lease of the land that the building sits on. "Until this Act is overturned, the building cannot be leased or sold, and is being used as an expensive storage shed," Mrs Tavendale said. "I have pushed for too many years for this to be prioritised by the council's property department, but it was always left on the back burner." The RSA building is identified in the WDC property strategy as "not supporting council's operational, strategic or commercial objectives" and the strategy recommended "council officers undertake further investigation and analysis ... to determine the feasibility of retaining [it] or the benefits of disposal". She believes the building does not meet the council's objectives for allocation of staff time or funds, yet the feasibility of it still needs to be determined by staff. "The result? No change to the situation; the stalemate the building has been in for the past decade remains. Council has sunk a huge amount of time and money on this building, but without a project or plan for its future that money will be wasted. "I don't want to see such an iconic building un-maintained, unable to be used, and put in the 'too hard' basket," she said. "The gasworks Act can be overturned with a reserves and other lands disposal Bill to Parliament. I believe the council needs to communicate with the community what the hold-up is, and what is happening. "The council does not have to fund any project, but they do need to get the land status sorted so it can have a future." Last week, the WDC approved its long-term plan which includes $200,000 funding over two years to sponsor a proposed local Bill, which would require the support of Waitaki MP Miles Anderson in Parliament to resolve the issues around past Acts that prohibit the use of council land. "The huge cost of addressing this is another example of bureaucracy gone mad. Central government criticises councils over excessive red tape, yet their own processes have made a simple change of land status an incredibly expensive process."
