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SHOCK HORROR IT’S BACKACHE BRITAIN
OVER 2.5 million motorists have suffered from backache behind
the wheel during the past 12 months, a Kwik-Fit report finds. And
while most drivers might think that their car seat is to blame, the
report indicates that worn shock absorbers could be a major
contributory factor.
Indeed, 57% of motorists suffering backache behind the wheel
approached a professional to check over their car, and 1-in-3 of
them found that the root cause of their in-car discomfort lay in a
worn out suspension system. Worn out suspension might be
causing more than just backache. In total 3.8 million British
motorists complained that the ride comfort of their car had
plummeted in the past year. And while backache was the most common
complaint (accounting for 64% of all complaints) - headaches (22%),
neck aches 17% and bouts of sickness (7%) were also reported. 2
David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit commented:-
“It seems that driving a car on poor shocks can give you backache
and numerous other health problems. More importantly it can also put
yours and other road users’ lives at risk. Gradual wear of suspension components do
make it difficult to spot problems. So drivers witnessing any
decline in ride comfort or handling should get the car checked by a
professional - rather than suffer in silence. Failure to do so will
not only exacerbate any health problems, but also put yours and
other road users’ lives at risk.”
Detecting shock absorber problems:-
1. Your car, when parked, continues to bounce if pushed down
suddenly at each corner
2. Your car tends to
pitch forward or ‘wallow’ when you are driving eg. stopping at a
zebra crossing
3. Difficult to
control when cornering
4. Uneven tyre wear
5. Backseat
passengers complain of feeling sick
6. Your car has done
more than 50,000 miles since your shock absorbers were last replaced
More details about
International Noise Awareness Week can be found at
www.lhh.org and details of your local
Hearing
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Next stage in multi-million cross border rail link
MERSEYTRAVEL
is continuing to drive forward plans for the multi-million
electrification of a key cross border rail line into North Wales.
The Borderlands scheme, valued at more than £60million, involves the
electrification of some or all of the rail route between Wrexham to
Bidston.
A key “GRIP 3” (Guide to Rail Investment Projects) study, jointly by
Merseytravel and the Welsh Assembly, is looking into the project and
will be completed within weeks. All aspects of the project,
including costs, benefits and funding, will be scrutinised in more
detail. A further study looking into the design of the scheme
will follow later this year.
The project, a key part of Merseytravel’s ambitious rail improvement
programme, would mean hundreds of thousands more passenger journeys
on the cross-border rail line every year, greatly improved
connections between Wrexham and Liverpool City Centre and access to
the 8,000 plus at Deeside Industrial Park.
It could also serve the areas of high unemployment, including
Beechwood, Woodchurch and inner Birkenhead.
The move is currently being scrutinised in conjunction with the
TAITH consortium (a joint board of the six local authorities in
North Wales), The Welsh Assembly and the Mersey Dee Alliance.
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel,
said:- “This is a key route, which has fantastic potential.
Our plans mean we could see new stations at Deeside and Woodchurch.
The Borderlands scheme would open up direct commuter links between
Liverpool and areas of North Wales including Wrexham, Deeside and
Flintshire, providing a huge boost to the regional economy.”
The line currently suffers from a number of problems, including
under investment, track speed restrictions, extremely tight
turnaround times and a need to change at Bidston for cross border
journeys.
Members of Merseytravel’s Passenger Transport Authority and
Executive recently met Welsh Assembly Transport and Environment
Ministers to discuss the plans and to garner more support for the
scheme. |
