WITH OVER 57,000 students preparing to receive their Leaving Cert results today, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has urged parents and young drivers to reach an agreement about car use during the post-exam celebrations.
It is reminding parents that only drivers with a full licence should drive unaccompanied, and those on a learner permit must be accompanied by a qualified driver who has held a full licence for at least two years.
Noel Brett, chief executive of the RSA said: “Such agreements can be verbal or written. If your son or daughter is going out celebrating their achievements check how they are travelling.
“Are you satisfied that the driver is competent and capable of keeping them safe? If not, seek a safer public transport alternative or agree to do the driving yourself.”
General Motors brings bargain-hunters online
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) and eBay are launching a test programme in California that will allow consumers to negotiate with dealers and buy vehicles online, the companies said this week.
The car shopping website for US customers – gm.ebay.com – marks a departure from the way new vehicles have traditionally been sold and is aimed at helping GM recapture lost market share a month after it emerged from bankruptcy.
More than 225 GM dealers in California are participating in the programme. GM said it intends to expand it nationwide if the pilot helps it reach new customers and gain market share.
The website allows consumers to compare pricing across models and participating dealerships, negotiate prices, and arrange financing and payment. Consumers can agree to pay the advertised price or indicate the price they are willing to pay and can negotiate online with the dealer for the vehicle.
More than 20,000 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Pontiac vehicles will be listed initially on the site.
California, which has been dominated by import brands over the past several years, is the single largest market for new vehicles. Car sales have been hit harder in California than in other states over the past three months because of the severity of the housing market slump there.
– Reuters