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NEWS 6 The Sunday Times MOTORING FEBRUARY 19, 2012 Cannabis ‘doubles risk of crash’ S moking cannabis within three hours of driving could almost double the risk of a serious crash, research suggests. A review of nine studies found that drivers were more likely to be involved in a collision with another car after smoking the class B drug. Figures show there are around a million users of cannabis in the UK aged 16 to 24 and around two mil- lion in the 16 to 59 age group. Research published in the British Medical Journal found cannabis use led to a “near doubling of risk of a driver being involved in a collision resulting in serious injury or death”. e researchers, from Dalhousie University in Canada, said, how- ever, that the impact of cannabis consumption “on the risk of minor crashes remains unclear”. Previous studies suggested cannabis impairs a person’s mental abilities and the ‘motor tasks’ needed for safe driv- ing, increasing the risk of a crash. “e results also accord with re- cent data for collisions that point to the increasing presence of drugs other than alcohol, especially cannabis and depressants of the central nervous system, in injured and fatally injured drivers.” PA JANE KIRBY T he Mercedes-Benz new B-Class was launched last Friday at the Mer- cedes-Benz showroom in Lija. Sub- stantially more agile and efficient, the new B-Class is as comfortable and spacious as ever. The vehicle’s lower height and more upright seat position provide for a first im- pression that hints at the compact sports tourer’s dynamic credentials. With a new four-cylinder petrol engine fea- turing direct injection and turbocharging, a new diesel engine, a new dual clutch trans- mission, a new manual transmission and new assistance systems, the front-wheel-drive car also rings in a new technological era for com- pact cars from Mercedes-Benz. The new B-Class is a typical Mercedes sports tourer, offering plenty of space com- bined with impressive dynamic performance as a hatchback saloon. The characteristic lines of the exterior design indicate both of these attributes: front and rear sport a width- emphasising design, with a wide, prominent grille and headlamps extending along the sides at the front while the rear end features a wide rear window, two-piece tail lights with horizontally offset meander and a large tail- gate with low loading sill. The new vehicle concept underscores the dynamic aspirations of the new B-Class. The most striking aspect is the reduced height: at 1,557 mm, the new model crouches almost 50 mm lower on the road than its predecessor. The seat height in relation to the road has also been reduced by 86 mm in order to fa- cilitate boarding, while maintaining a clear overview of the vehicle’s contours. High-quality materials and finely struc- tured surfaces, stylish details, precision work- manship and a new spaciousness – the interior of the B-Class defines a whole new benchmark in the compact segment. The B-Class features new petrol and diesel engines as well as new manual and automatic transmissions. All transmissions and engines have been developed in-house. Common features of the new drive systems are the use of state-of-the-art technologies for maximum efficiency, very smooth running, high tractive power right from low revs, sus- tainability in terms of impending emissions standards and low weight. The new four-cylinder petrol engines mark the launch of a completely new engine series. The combustion process is based on the third- generation Mercedes-Benz direct injection system which was introduced last year with the Bluedirect V6 and V8 engines. The new B-Class is initially available with a displacement of 1.6 litres, as the B 180 rated at 122 bhp and the B 200 with an output of 156 bhp. Their maximum torque of 200 and 250 Nm respectively is available from an engine speed of 1,250 rpm. The B 180 CDI generates 109 bhp of power, while the B 200 CDI has an output of 136 bhp. The new six-speed manual transmission designed along similarly compact lines as a three-shaft transmission is a close relative of the DCT. Very easy gear shifting, low shift forces, low internal friction and a low weight are among its most important characteristics. For further information visit www.media .daimler.com; www.mercedes-benz.com or www.mercedes-benz.com.mt. THE NEW BCLASS FROM MERCEDES Heralding a new era in the compact class
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THE NEW BCLASS FROM MERCEDES NEWS JANE KIRBY 6 The Sunday Times MOTORING FEBRUARY 19, 2012
Transcript of 006
NEWS
6 The Sunday Times MOTORING FEBRUARY 19, 2012
Cannabis‘doubles risk of crash’
Smoking cannabis within threehours of driving could almostdouble the risk of a serious
crash, research suggests.A review of nine studies found
that drivers were more likely to beinvolved in a collision with anothercar after smoking the class B drug.
Figures show there are around amillion users of cannabis in the UKaged 16 to 24 and around two mil-lion in the 16 to 59 age group.
Research published in the BritishMedical Journal found cannabis useled to a “near doubling of risk of adriver being involved in a collisionresulting in serious injury or death”.
The researchers, from DalhousieUniversity in Canada, said, how-ever, that the impact of cannabisconsumption “on the risk of minorcrashes remains unclear”. Previousstudies suggested cannabis impairsa person’s mental abilities and the‘motor tasks’ needed for safe driv-ing, increasing the risk of a crash.
“The results also accord with re-cent data for collisions that point tothe increasing presence of drugsother than alcohol, especiallycannabis and depressants of thecentral nervous system, in injuredand fatally injured drivers.” PA
JANE KIRBY
The Mercedes-Benz new B-Class waslaunched last Friday at the Mer-cedes-Benz showroom in Lija. Sub-
stantially more agile and efficient, the newB-Class is as comfortable and spacious asever. The vehicle’s lower height and moreupright seat position provide for a first im-pression that hints at the compact sportstourer’s dynamic credentials.
With a new four-cylinder petrol engine fea-turing direct injection and turbocharging, anew diesel engine, a new dual clutch trans-mission, a new manual transmission and newassistance systems, the front-wheel-drive caralso rings in a new technological era for com-pact cars from Mercedes-Benz.
The new B-Class is a typical Mercedessports tourer, offering plenty of space com-bined with impressive dynamic performance
as a hatchback saloon. The characteristiclines of the exterior design indicate both ofthese attributes: front and rear sport a width-emphasising design, with a wide, prominentgrille and headlamps extending along thesides at the front while the rear end featuresa wide rear window, two-piece tail lights withhorizontally offset meander and a large tail-gate with low loading sill.
The new vehicle concept underscores thedynamic aspirations of the new B-Class.The most striking aspect is the reducedheight: at 1,557 mm, the new modelcrouches almost 50 mm lower on the roadthan its predecessor.
The seat height in relation to the road hasalso been reduced by 86 mm in order to fa-cilitate boarding, while maintaining a clearoverview of the vehicle’s contours.
High-quality materials and finely struc-tured surfaces, stylish details, precision work-manship and a new spaciousness – theinterior of the B-Class defines a whole newbenchmark in the compact segment.
The B-Class features new petrol and dieselengines as well as new manual and automatictransmissions. All transmissions and engineshave been developed in-house.
Common features of the new drive systemsare the use of state-of-the-art technologies formaximum efficiency, very smooth running,high tractive power right from low revs, sus-tainability in terms of impending emissionsstandards and low weight.
The new four-cylinder petrol engines markthe launch of a completely new engine series.The combustion process is based on the third-generation Mercedes-Benz direct injection
system which was introduced last year withthe Bluedirect V6 and V8 engines.
The new B-Class is initially available with adisplacement of 1.6 litres, as the B 180 rated at122 bhp and the B 200 with an output of 156bhp. Their maximum torque of 200 and 250Nm respectively is available from an enginespeed of 1,250 rpm. The B 180 CDI generates109 bhp of power, while the B 200 CDI has anoutput of 136 bhp.
The new six-speed manual transmissiondesigned along similarly compact lines as athree-shaft transmission is a close relative ofthe DCT. Very easy gear shifting, low shiftforces, low internal friction and a low weightare among its most important characteristics.
For further information visit www.media.daimler.com; www.mercedes-benz.com orwww.mercedes-benz.com.mt.
THE NEW BCLASS FROM MERCEDES
Heralding a new era in the compact class
