A Nigerian man recently amazed many when he posted a photo on the microblogging platform X showcasing the luxurious car he acquired three years after successfully quitting smoking.
In his post, he disclosed that the funds for this extravagant purchase were accumulated during the period he refrained from smoking.
Sharing images of his new vehicle, a Ford F-150, the young man expressed gratitude for his decision to quit smoking, asserting that without this lifestyle change, he wouldn’t have had the financial means to buy his impressive new car.
The new starting prices for the Ford F-150 Lightning will range from $54,995 for an entry-level Pro model to $92,995 for a Platinum Black trim.
He also pledged to share a detailed update on his journey to quitting smoking, potentially inspiring others to make positive changes in their lives.
Encouraged by his revelation, Twitter users flooded his comment section with congratulations, expressing admiration for his accomplishment.
Meanwhile, some users inquired humorously about the “secret” substance he might have been saving money on to afford such a high-end car within just three years.
Rishi Sunak is going to make a speech this week to explain a big decision he has made for the future. There are reports that he might change his mind about some of the government’s goals for the environment.
The BBC reports that the ban on selling new petrol and diesel vehicles may be delayed by five years until 2035.
Many people think that the prime minister will push back the plans to get rid of gas boilers by 2035.
Many people are unhappy about the plan to weaken several green policies. Members of the Tory party, senior Labour officials, environmental groups, and even car manufacturers are disappointed.
Talking about the prohibition of petrol cars, Lisa Brankin, the chairwoman of Ford UK, said that our company requires three things from the UK government: a strong desire, dedication, and reliability.
‘If the rules are relaxed in 2030, it would weaken or harm all three things. ‘ Ford said it decided how much money to spend on cars by looking at the goal for the year 2030.
Mr Sunak said yesterday that he is still dedicated to reaching the goal of having no net emissions by 2050, but he plans to achieve it in a more effective and fair manner.
He said that politicians from all parties have not been truthful about how much things cost and the compromises that need to be made. He also said that previous Conservative governments chose the easier option by saying we can have everything without any issues.
Mr Sunak indicated that he would prioritize the future wellbeing of our country over immediate political concerns. He aimed to present himself as someone who would bring significant and meaningful improvements.
The prime minister said that despite suggestions he will break some Conservative promises to reach the net zero goal, the government is not giving up on its ambitions or commitments.
Important members of the Conservative party have expressed their disapproval of a possible defector on environmental policies. Former Cop26 president, Sir Alok Sharma, has stated that it is not beneficial for any party to give up on the climate action agenda, as it would have negative effects on both the economy and their chances of getting elected.
The former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke, who is part of the Conservative Party, shared on Twitter that it is important for us to take responsibility for this matter instead of rejecting it, as it affects the environment, economy, morality, and our political interests.
Some Tory politicians are thinking about writing letters to show they do not have confidence in Mr Sunak if he continues with the changes.
The party did well in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last summer by campaigning against the expansion of the ultra low emission zone (Ulez). Now, other MPs are asking Mr. Sunak to weaken or give up on the commitment to reach net zero emissions.
There are reports that the prime minister might cancel plans for new energy-saving goals for homes that are rented privately.
The Conservative politician, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, showed her support for Mr. Sunak She said to ITV News: ‘We have gone through a tough time with Covid and the war in Ukraine, both in our country and around the world. ‘
We can’t expect people to change the heating system and cars on top of everything else.
And I don’t want the lower-income people to be the ones who have to pay for the middle-income people to have electric cars.
But Chris Skidmore, a former energy minister from the Conservative party, who has been speaking up more about the goal of achieving net zero emissions, said: “If this is true, choosing not to commit to industries of the future will result in the UK losing jobs, inward investment, and potential economic growth. ”
This could lead to loss of thousands of jobs and investments moving away. The people who will suffer from this will be ordinary homeowners who will have to pay more for their energy bills because we still rely on expensive and unreliable fossil fuels from other countries. Zac Goldsmith, a member of the Tory party, resigned as environment minister in June. He strongly criticized Mr. Sunak for not caring enough about the environment. Goldsmith accused the Prime Minister of damaging the UK’s reputation on climate issues.
Labour’s shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband said that the actions of the Conservative government are ridiculous and show that they have no clue about what they are doing on a daily basis.
For thirteen years, our energy policy has not been successful. This has led to a crisis with our energy bills, made our energy security weaker, caused us to lose jobs, and failed to address the climate crisis.
Green Party parliament member Caroline Lucas said: ‘This choice would be financially unwise, factually wrong and environmentally foolish.
This unfair rollback will result in higher costs for energy, colder houses, fewer job opportunities, more air pollution, and increased climate issues.
Mike Childs, who is in charge of making decisions at Friends of the Earth, said that it would be very wrong to go back on important promises to fight climate change, especially when the world is experiencing severe flooding and wildfires.
Following the UK’s approval of Ford’s BlueCruise technology, drivers will be allowed to lawfully take their hands off the wheel while driving.
The use of the “hands-off, eyes-on” technology on several roadways has been allowed by ministers.
While a camera will keep a watch on the driver’s eyes to ensure they remain aware, it can regulate steering, acceleration, and braking.
The technology will initially only be offered for Ford’s electric Mustang Mach-E SUV versions from 2023.
In traffic congestion, it also implies that the model may maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and even bring them to a complete stop.
Thatcham Research, an automotive research firm, said it was important to note that this is not a self-driving car but is “the next development in assisted driving technology”.
“What makes it different, is that for the first time ever drivers will be permitted to take their hands off the wheel. However, their eyes must remain on the road ahead, ” said Tom Leggett, vehicle technology specialist at Thatcham.
He added: “Crucially, the driver is not permitted to use their mobile, fall asleep or conduct any activity that takes attention away from the road.”
Ford’s car costs £50,830 and while the hands-off technology will be free for the first 90 days, drivers will then have to sign up for a monthly subscription.
Deliveries of the new model started last month. It has a maximum speed of 80mph and uses both cameras and sensors to detect lane markings and speed signs, as well as the position and speed of other cars on the road.
Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: “The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
Lisa Brankin, managing director of Ford in Britain and Ireland, also told the BBC’s Today programme on Friday that the car will only take over when “the system feels it’s safe” in certain “blue zones” that have been deemed as safe across 2,300 miles of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.
“If your eyes are closed, the car will prompt you to put hands onto the steering wheel and take control… It will keep prompting the driver and if they don’t respond, the car will steadily slow down to a stop,” she said.
She adds that in the case of accidents, the driver will still be fully responsible in insurance claims, as the technology is “not autonomous driving” and the driver is in control.
Ford’s BlueCruise technology represents what’s known as a “Level 2” driver assistance system, which still requires a human driver to take control should something go wrong.
There are six levels of autonomous driving, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers:
Level 0: Very little automation, with features providing some warnings or assistance like automatic braking
Level 1: Driver assistance, where the technology controls one aspect such as cruise control
Level 2: Partial automation, where two or more aspects of driving are controlled by technology, such as speed regulation and parking done by the car itself
Level 3: Conditional automation, where the technology makes nearly all decisions on the road, although the driver still needs to be present to override any potential mistakes. At this stage, drivers could take their eyes off the road for certain periods of time
Level 4: High automation, where technology does not require any human interaction in most circumstances. This is currently limited to certain areas where speed limits are low and roads are easy to read. This type of automation is currently restricted by regulation
Level 5: Full automation, where no assistance is needed from a human driver at all
In the US and Canada, Ford’s technology has been available since 2021. It said that in the last couple of years, more than 190,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles have covered more than 60 million miles using the technology without any accidents reported.
