Her Magazine is New Zealand’s only women’s business lifestyle magazine! Her Magazine highlights the achievements of successful and rising New Zealand businesswomen. Her Magazine encourages a healthy work/life balance.
Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/108312
:i have a dream DREAM DREAM I HAVE A In this issue Toni Marshall suggests that our current national fleet of cars is far from the gems they need to be Diamonds may be a girl's best friend but boy they don't come cheap. There is no doubt they are beautiful but their value has always irked me just a wee bit given that their rarity is founded on cartel management of huge stockpiles of them. Released onto the market under strict controls, the diamond cartels ensure the value of diamonds never fall. I don't feel as aggrieved about oil prices although I should, as oil too is controlled by cartels that manage the flow of oil - quite literally - onto the market. Without slipping too far into conspiracy theory territory, I have also long suspected that the major car manufacturers have acted as technology cartels, managing the evolution of cars to ensure the continued extraordinary income streams of the automobile industry. My suspicions are continually reinforced by the resoundingly slow introduction of much needed technologies into the manufacturing processes of consumer vehicles. If we benchmark technology with the spectacular achievements man has accomplished - landing on the moon July 20, 1969, the development of the microchip in the early 1970's, successfully transplanting a human heart in 1968, and we all can list so many more, why have so many elementary technological advancements not been installed through compulsory regulations in 68 | www.h e rma gaz i n e . c o. n z our daily drive decades ago? Of course the answer is a cartel like manipulation of the marketplace to ensure consumers continue to empty their wallets to 'upgrade' their cars. But of greater concern surely, is the impact this 'marketing strategy' has on the motoring public's personal safety! Strong claim I know, but just reflect on the simple examples of available technology that could be present on ALL new cars and question why these functions are not industry standard when they have been in existence for many years! We might also question the Government's possible collusion by asking why such life saving technology has not been prescribed by law? • The most complete configuration of airbags possible. • Reversing cameras and total surround vision cameras. • A breath test mechanism that is integrated into the ignition system so all vehicles become immobilized when a 'drunk' driver is in the driver's seat. • Automated self parking systems. • Distance control systems that maintain a safe distance between all vehicles. • Remote speed limiting control systems on dangerous sections of our road that automatically reduce the speed of all vehicles. • Run flat tyres. • Automatic high beam dipping switches. • All technologies that provide greater fuel efficiencies. Just think for a moment of how many lives would be saved if all road vehicles had to meet such standards. Right now I believe that none of the above are required to register, warrant or insure a car. Imagine the gains in productivity, the savings to the economy and the reduction in road rage if all cars could simply parallel park themselves! Am I dreaming? Of course freedom of choice would be compromised. Yes, most of our current road fleet would have to be scrapped. Owners of classic cars would be up in arms as their rides would become outlawed! What price do we place on maintaining our freedom of choice? I guess while millions of people continue to pay extreme amounts of money for a sparkling 'rare' gem because it's 'just the way it is' and all too hard to change, then the real price we pay will continue to be more bent bumpers, more flat tyres and unfortunately many more unnecessary road fatalities. Toni Marshall