Motoring
BMW unveils smartwach app at CES
SAN FRANCISCO – The German carmaker is showcasing connectivity with Samsung’s Galaxy Gear watch and also using the world’s largest consumer electronics show to demonstrate a host of new autonomous driving features.
Proving that the line between computers and cars is blurring more and more with each year that passes, BMW, a stalwart of motor shows the world over, chose the International CES in Las Vegas rather than the upcoming Detroit auto show — to reveal its latest connected and automated car innovations.
Monitoring a car’s systems on your wrist
The most eye-catching of which is an app that links the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch with BMW’s equally new i3 all-electric vehicle. In what BMW claims is an industry first, wearers of the smartwatch will be able to simply glance at their wrist to know how much charge is left on the car’s battery, and receive alerts regarding appointments and departure times based on their schedule. Moreover, the app allows the driver to push route details to the car’s navigation system, to check if the doors and windows are closed and to adjust the climate control before getting into the car.
BMW is by no means the only car company present at this year’s CES; direct rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz are also in attendance, as are Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota to name but a few.
And like BMW, Mercedes has also chosen to extend its connected car features beyond the smartphone and onto the driver’s wrist. However, rather than Samsung, Mercedes has chosen to develop an app for the Pebble smartwatch. The app will let drivers check fuel level status, whether or not doors are locked and windows closed and where the car is parked. Once on the move, potential hazard alerts are pushed to the watch, which vibrates to warn the driver with minimum distraction.
As well as smart device connectivity, BMW also revealed the latest fruits of its automated vehicle labors. The company has been at the forefront of developing self-driving car technology and has clocked up countless miles of testing over recent years. At CES it showed that its systems are capable of autonomously guiding and controlling a vehicle when pushed to its dynamic limit on the track — something that is only possible when steering, acceleration and braking are working in perfect harmony, rather than independently responding to changing conditions.
Off the track and on normal roads, BMW has also been developing better self-parking technology. The latest iteration of the feature cannot only identify wide enough spaces parallel to the road for safe parking, it can now also simultaneously control the steering, braking, forward and backward movement required to maneuvered the car into the space.
All the driver has to do is press and hold down the button until the car is parked. Releasing the button gives the driver full control of the car again.
Motoring
FCTA Pulls Plugs On Taxi Rank, Terminal Services Contracts
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ended contracts with taxi rank and terminal operators due to their failure to meet engagement terms and conditions.
Mr. Ubokutom Nyah, the Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, made this announcement during a meeting with managers of these terminals and taxi ranks in Abuja.
Nyah clarified that due to the operators’ failure to fulfill their engagement terms, the FCTA had to terminate their contracts.
He instructed them to transfer control of the ranks to the Administration within three months, starting from Nov. 21.
He lamented the presence of unauthorized motor parks in the city and assured the readiness of the Administration to establish proper taxi ranks and terminals in the capital.
He revealed that personally visiting the city’s taxi ranks, terminals, and unauthorized motor parks gave him direct insight into the poor condition of these facilities.
He emphasized that as the federal capital city, Abuja deserves better, highlighting that the poor condition of these facilities attracts various criminal elements.
He said “We must rid Abuja of all these. I have gone round the taxi ranks, and of all the places I visited, not one is worthy to be called even a village motor park.”
The Mandate Secretary stressed that the intention wasn’t punitive; rather, it aimed to revamp the sector, introduce new engagement terms, and modernize taxi ranks and terminals in the federal capital.
He also highlighted the plan to increase the number of terminals and ranks where necessary, which would positively impact the administration’s revenue.
He emphasized that this measure was part of a broader effort to eliminate illegal motor parks in Abuja and curb the associated criminal activities.
In response, Mr. Adebisi Lawal, the Operator of Jahi Taxi Rank, praised the administration’s initiative to modernize the taxi ranks and terminals.
Lawal urged the administration to prioritize current operators’ involvement in the selection of new developers for the modernization of the taxi ranks and terminals.
Motoring
Power Show Sees Soldiers Batter LASTMA Officer
It was a show of power at the Ojota area of Lagos on Monday as soldiers pummeled an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA).
Eyewitness accounts claim that the ugly scene played out around 8am, and saw about eight soldiers pounce on the yet to identified LASTMA official, while his colleagues took to their heels.
The video of the melodrama has gone viral, where the LASTMA official was appealing to the soldiers, who appeared bent on ‘teaching him a lesson’.
This onslaught comes on the back of a reported assault of a soldier at the same location by LASTMA officials last week.
It would appear that what played out today was the army asserting its authority and defending their khaki as the armed soldiers carried out what looked like a revenge mission.
Eyewitnesses further averred that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, after the soldiers left the scene.
It was gathered that the authorities at LASTMA has reported the incident to the military authorities who are said to be looking into the matter.
Meanwhile many members of the public are rejoicing that the soldiers have taught the crude LASTMA official that power is stronger than power, for all their atrocities against motorists on Lagos roads.
Motoring
Intra-City Fares Skyrocket By 98% Month-On-Month – NBS
The impact of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has seen the pump prices of the product skyrocket with a corresponding increase in the cost commercial transportation in Nigeria.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), intra-city bus transportation fares across Nigerian cities, measured between May and June 2023, increased from N649.59 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.
This translates to 98 percent growth or N635.82 within the month in view.
The NBS made the data available in its Transport Fare Watch report for June 2023.
In the report, the NBS also shared the breakdown of bus journeys within the cities per drop for constant routes; bus journey intercity (state route); charges per person, amongst others.
On a year-on-year basis, the report has it that bus fares rose by 120.63 percent from N582.61 paid by commuters in June 2022.
The average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023 compared to N4,002.16 in May 2023 indicating an increase of 42.09 percent, month-on-month.
The report read, “The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 97.88 per cent from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.
On a year-on-year basis, it rose by 120.63 per cent from N582.61 in June 2022.
“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023, indicating an increase of 42.09 on a month-on-month basis compared to N4,002.16 in May 2023.
“On a year-on-year basis, the fare rose by 55.25 per cent from N3,662.87 in June 2022.”
Biztellers reported that the twin forces of forex pressure and increasing price of Brent in the global market would likely see the pump prices of petrol, increased again in no distant time in Nigeria.