David Brown ends the week with a quirky news story about rental cars in Japan.
Car-rental operators in Japan have observed a very strange trend of patrons renting cars but not travelling any distance in them
Car renter NTT Docomo found one in every eight users rented a car for purposes other than transport.
The biggest reason was to sleep or rest in but some used them as quiet, comfortable places to talk on the phone with friends, family or business partners.
Some reported renting cars to have lunch in, watch TV, or put on Halloween costumes.
One person rented a car to store bags and belongings in because the nearby lockers were all taken.
David’s boyhood passion for motor cars did not immediately lead to a professional role in the motor industry. A qualified Civil Engineer he specialised in traffic engineering and transport planning.
What followed were various positions including being seconded to a government think-tank for the planning of transport firstly in Sydney and then for the whole of NSW. After working with the NRMA and as a consultant he moved to being an independent writer and commentator on the broader areas of transport and the more specific areas of the cars we drive.
His half hour motoring program “Overdrive” has been described as an “informed, humorous and irreverent look at motoring and transport from Australia and overseas”. It is heard on 22 stations across Australia. He does weekly interviews with several ABC radio stations and is also heard on commercial radio in Sydney.
David has written for metropolitan and regional newspapers and has presented regular segments on metropolitan and regional television stations. David is also a contributor for AnyAuto
Car-rental operators in Japan have observed a very strange trend of patrons renting cars but not travelling any distance in them