SMMT News

Motor Show news update – 30 May

30 May 2004 #SMMT News

NEWS UPDATE FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES MOTOR SHOW LIVE

Barney makes new friends at motor show live

Careers Day sure to be an eye opener

Road show brings safety issues in to sharp focus

BARNEY MAKES NEW FRIENDS AT MOTOR SHOW LIVE

Children’s favourite Barney proved a big hit with visitors to The Sunday Times Motor Show Live when he made a surprise appearance over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The loveable purple dinosaur stopped in on his way to a performance of Barney’s Colourful World Live! at The NIA Academy in Birmingham. He made some new friends in the children’s play area on the Fiat stand before touring the show.

CAREERS DAY SURE TO BE AN EYE OPENER

Students seeking a career in the motor industry will have their eyes opened on Careers Day at The Sunday Times Motor Show Live, on Tuesday 1 June.

Already, leading careers advisers from the West Midlands have been given a fresh insight into the opportunities available in the modern motor industry as part of the planning process for the day.

Advisers from schools and colleges across the West Midlands toured the production plants of manufacturers MG Rover, Peugeot and Land Rover and then finished with a tour of the sights at the show. They heard from experts across the components, production and retail sectors of the industry.

Chris Jefferson, education and business adviser from Birmingham and Solihull Connexions said: “To influence young people we need to have an up to date idea of the career opportunities that are available in the motor industry. It’s our job to challenge some of the misconceptions that it’s only an option for school dropouts. A very vibrant industry exists in the UK today that will embrace some of our country’s best talent.”

Representatives from the colleges were shown real examples of how the industry is adapting through technological innovation, including concept cars and show debuts.

Chris Wallis from the City of Wolverhampton School of Motor Vehicle said: “It’s evident from walking around the show today that the motor industry is on the up. We need to attract high calibre students to make sure we are the best in the world. It’s our duty to tell students from school level that these are positions of prestige and that it’s now less about getting your hands dirty and more about using a laptop.”

ROAD SHOW BRINGS SAFETY ISSUES IN TO SHARP FOCUS

As many as one driver in four attending this year’s show is failing a vision screening test and could be unsafe to drive home.

That’s a dramatic increase in the one in seven figure recorded at the 2002 show by Specsavers Opticians, which has brought its Drive Safe roadshow back to the event to educate drivers about the dangers of driving with impaired vision.

But the increase is not due to show visitors suffering a collective deterioration in eyesight, it’s more about greater understanding of the issues.

Jon Clarke, Specsavers’ PR manager, says: “Since we started vision screening in 2002 people are more willing to come forward and discuss the issues. They’re perhaps less worried about failing the test and more concerned with taking appropriate action to get their vision improved.

“The numbers failing our vision screening test correlate with the national trend. If one in four drivers visiting the NEC cannot see properly, there’s no doubt that this is putting the lives of road users and pedestrians at risk. That’s why we’re encouraging visitors to the show to come to Hall 10 to take our four minute test, and also why we’re asking the government to tackle this issue head on.”

The Drive Safe roadshow is supported by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the road safety organisation Brake.

Recent research conducted by Specsavers shows that 87 per cent of motorists are in favour of compulsory eye examinations for drivers every five years, particularly for the over 40s.

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