A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF FUELS AND MOTOR-CARS, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON ROAD SAFETY

The present fuel crisis has given the world timely warning that its fossil fuel reserves are limited. Over the long term alternative sources of energy must be developed. Any alternative must, however, cope with the many decades of refinement of today's motor-car, psychological factors involved in car ownership, and massive investment in both the public and private sectors. At present public attention is focussed largely on technological developments for decreasing dependence on oil based fuels. These include electrically driven cars, and alternative portable fuels such as hydrogen. Another development avenue is increasing the availability of petrol for motor-cars by exploitation of new oil sources producing oil from coal and using other energy sources, particularly nuclear energy, for generating electricity, and so release more oil for transportation. The really spectacular developments in electronics and computers could have a major impact on control systems and communications. An interlocking system of public transport could provide much of the versatility and usefulness of the private motor-car which could appreciably diminish in number. Implications for road safety are - technological changes will be influenced by conditions in overseas countries rather than in south Africa; - petrol could become plentiful again over the medium term and speed restrictions will need another justification if it is to be continued; - electronic innovations could reduce accidents significantly; - replacement of private motor-cars with public transport will depend on a complex system of interrelationships. (A) this paper was presented at the 1974 symposium on "the Impact of Fuel Saving Laws on Road Safety", held in pretoria, south Africa. The covering abstract for the symposium is IRRD abstract no. 213021. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00357391
• Corporate Authors:

  National Road Safety Council

  Private Bag, X147
  Pretoria 0001,   South Africa 
• Authors:
  • Morkel, A T
• Publication Date: 1974-6-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 98-101
• Serial:
  • ROBOT
  • Issue Number: 74
  • Publisher: SNELCO-PRO PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANTS
  • ISSN: 0035-7391

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile ownership; Automobiles; Electric vehicles; Energy; Energy resources; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Highway safety; Petroleum industry; Public transit; Safety; Technology; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis; Petroleum trade
• Geographic Terms: Africa; South Africa
• Old TRIS Terms: Substitutes; Transportation technology
• ITRD Terms: 8001: Africa; 1243: Car; 3850: Fuel; 232: Fuel consumption; 744: Public transport; 1665: Safety; 8103: South Africa
• Subject Areas: Energy; Geotechnology; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00125029
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 18 1981 12:00AM