IIHS Crashworthiness Tests Save Nearly 50,000 Lives Since Program’s Launch
Vehicle improvements spurred by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s testing program have saved nearly 50,000 lives since its launch in 1995, a new IIHS study shows.
That translates to an estimated cost savings of more than $500 billion for society. A recent head-to-head crash test held to mark the 30th anniversary of the IIHS crash testing program illustrates how dramatic the safety improvements have been.
“These results highlight the role of IIHS ratings in driving many of the key vehicle safety improvements of the past 30 years,” said Joe Nolan, IIHS chief operating officer. “Our ratings program, in turn, has only been possible because of the unwavering support of our member companies in funding our work.”
Hyundai Unveils New ‘Plasma Care UVC’ Cabin Sanitizer
South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) unveiled its newly developed ‘Plasma Care UVC’ system, which the company claims is the world’s first in-vehicle sanitization technology that uses a plasma lamp to sanitize vehicle interiors and reduce odors, even when occupants are onboard.
The company said that it has carried out comprehensive testing to verify that the system effectively targets bacteria and microorganisms, as well as removing odor-causing substances, creating a more pleasant cabin environment.
HMG said it worked to ensure the system’s reliability under high vibrations, temperature fluctuations, and demanding driving conditions, and applied a specialized optical filter to provide an additional layer of protection.
Right-To-Repair Is Already Rewriting What American Owners Are Allowed To Fix
New cars have never been less DIY-friendly, thanks in large part to telematics-gated diagnostics. This is what right-to-repair legislation aims to correct.
Telematics-gated diagnostics means that, instead of using OBDII scanners to diagnose mechanical problems, diagnostics are now hidden away in an over-the-air system, which can be locked down by the automaker. This means that if, for instance, Toyota decides it doesn't want you, or your preferred independent mechanic, tinkering around with your new Land Cruiser, the automaker can simply block you out.
The first right-to-repair law was passed in 2012 in Massachusetts, requiring manufacturers to sell owners and repair shops the same diagnostic and repair information made available to dealers.
New Guide from Utilimarc: Are You Replacing Vehicles at the Right Time?
As assets stay in service longer and equipment costs keep climbing, replacement timing has real money attached to it. Replace too early and you waste capital. Replace too late and maintenance costs quietly erode the savings.
Getting it right takes more than a usage percentage — it takes integrated data on how vehicles actually perform and how their costs evolve over time.
Beyond Utilization Rates: How Data-Driven Fleets Are Rethinking Vehicle Replacement shows how leading organizations combine integrated data and benchmarking to make replacement and fleet-sizing decisions they can stand behind.
IMPROVLearning: How Comedy, Behavioral Science and AI Improve Fleet Safety
By Ted Roberts, Publisher, Fleet Management Weekly
IMPROVLearning has spent the past 25 years developing an approach that combines humor, behavioral science, and AI to create safety programs.
To learn more about IMPROVLearning and its distinctive approach to driver training, we spoke with Gary Alexander, the company’s CEO.
Alexander believes most drivers already know the rules of safe driving: “Everyone knows they should wear a seat belt and avoid using their phones. The challenge is changing behavior.”
