XENONOZ NEWSLETTER #3

AEAC NEWS - JUNE/JULY 2006 ISSUE

Recently a vehicle checking service in Victoria was commenced across 800 cars over a two month period. Of all problems reported, faulty lighting was the second most common issue behind faulty tyres, and on par with faulty steering.

Previous studies both here and overseas have shown faulty vehicles were a major contributor to car accidents involving death or serious injury.

As the days start to become longer, (but winter isn't over just yet), now is a good time to ensure your entire electrical system is ok. Batteries are usually the first to go. With deep draw starting current required after a cold night, batteries tend to require replacement more often in Winter/Spring than any other time.

In many locations around the country Spring is also the time for mist, fog and rain.

TYRES

How are your tyres? Recent reviews in a well known and highly respected magazine show how important good rubber on the road can be. A comparison between four premium tyres and cheaper brands found that the safety tradeoffs could be immense, especially in the critical areas of braking and cornering. We keep saying this, but it's really simple. You get what you pay for.

WIPERS

When was the last time you replaced your wiper blades? And don't buy those cheap and nasty $10.00 a pair type, unless they match the retreads you're driving on. Furthermore, don't think you can get away with just refilling the blades. You should replace the mechanical holders as well if they are a bit worn and rickety. Over the life of the wiper, it will do upwards of a million cycles in an effort to keep your screen clear. Some things wear out!

LIGHTING

Our favourite subject. Remember - if you can't see it, you can't avoid it. Is everything working? If not, replace the blown globes and double check your brake lights. Wouldn't it be a good idea to be able to see (and be seen) better than you are today? If you really would like to see things, rather than just hit them, then please contact us about our products for your vehicle.

Nearly one in three cars on our roads has faulty lighting. Have a good look round at night. According to the German Automotive Industry (ZDK), lighting is the second most frequent technical cause of accidents.

Dirty light can reduce light output by 50-80%! So next time you refuel, give them a scrub with the windscreen brush and also, do your fellow motorist a favour and run over the rear lights as well so the following cars can see you.

Have a good trip - both by day and night!

Do you need additional spotlights? Well if you do undertake long distance night driving, an additional set of lights may be just the thing to make it easier and safer for you. We remind you that we can also offer an HID upgrade path to most spotlights on the market today. Check our spotlights page for more details.

XENONOZ MOTORSPORT ACTIVITY

1. Success for Team Mirage at Merdeka Millennium 12 hr. Check out the press release.

2. Australian Rally Championship. Great results from the TRD team - Keep up with the local championship at www.rally.com.au.

3. Team Mirage at Nürburgring 24 hrs - It had to happen. After many years of success 2006 just wasn't our year. Race reports to come later, after we repair all the damage.

DRIVING TIPS

I always grimace when I hear of these rear enders stories from the field, and it reminds me of a simple trick Frank Gardner told me 15 years ago during my first advanced driving course with him and Alan Jones.

When you stop in traffic, at lights or a stop sign, etc. always make sure that from your normal seated position you can see the bottom of the tyres on the vehicle in front of you. Why?

Any action that's going to happen will usually come from behind you.

When you stop, look in your rear view mirror until at least three cars are stopped behind you.

If you hear that horrific screech, and see it coming at you from behind, the gap you left in front of you will now serve to allow you to either steer to the side and run up onto the median strip, or at least move forward approx 1-2 metres.

I can tell you that having a car just tap you from behind is a lot less harmful than having a car 2 metres into your boot! That's a BIG impact. And hopefully they won't hit you at all.

Just try this when you drive home tonight, and we can all thank Frank Gardner for this.

COMPETITION

Lastly, we have decided to run a competition for the name of our newsletter - yes the one you're reading now. So please suggest a name through our contact page, and the chosen winner will receive a FREE set of XenonOz Extreme lights! Entries close 30 September 2006. Good luck!