By Steve Bender

Conventional wisdom.

It’s been an important part of the human condition since people first appeared on earth. And while it differs from culture to culture, conventional wisdom is usually about one generation or group passing along universally accepted knowledge to the next.

And while many of the “tried and true” practices we all seem to adhere to have value, the tumultuous nature of the last few years suggests that rather than follow in lockstep, it might make sense to slow down. Take a deep breath. And then carefully consider what makes the most sense rather than what satisfies tradition.

After all, not only has the pandemic turned accepted norms on their collective heads, but so many of the things fleets have taken for granted are not what they once seemed. From an inability to purchase new vehicles, to the shuttering of auto plants due to chip shortages. To the challenge of employing a “business as usual” mentality when the supply chain is in tatters, people have left or been cut from their jobs, and so much has changed about our industry.

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Over 6 million motor vehicle accidents occur every year in the United States. Of those, 94% are caused by human error. The average cost to employers differs based on harm and damages incurred.

• With property damage: $8,900
• With a non-fatal injury: $79,000
• With a fatality: $1.4M

 
For industries that are operating on the road, there will always be a risk of accidents or safety incidents. The roads are a dangerous place to operate, with motor vehicle crashes being one of the leading causes of death in the country.

The Driver Coach program by SuperVision reduces accidents fleet-wide by focusing on safe driving behavior.

To find out more, please click here to see our eBook.

By Carol Fowler

As a fleet professional for more than two decades, one of the things that has always impressed me about the space is the universal recognition that nothing is more important than traffic safety.

It speaks to the nature of the people in our industry and has always been a true reminder to me that our profession is about a much higher calling than vehicles or transportation, something that was more than evident to me at the 2022 American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) conference in Tampa last week.

Themed a “Reunion for Roadway Safety,” this year’s conference was a surprisingly well-attended event with a robust crowd and conference floor that seemed to snap back to near pre-pandemic numbers.

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February 18, 2022 – When the rest of the world was enjoying the latest features and lighting roadways up with adaptive beams that could do things like selectively dim individual bulbs to avoid dazzling pedestrians or oncoming drivers, we were stuck with stone age non-adaptive headlights.

In 2013, Toyota sent a petition for the use of its adaptive headlight system, which had been in use a few years before that in Japan, Canada, and Europe. It detailed how the system could save nine out of every 2,334 pedestrians and yet not blind other motorists.

The petition was granted and has now paved the way for other makes to apply their own adaptive headlights on their vehicles. The final rule is set to be approved in 2023 per the Infrastructure Bill that passed in 2021.

via MotorTrend

A new study published by the National Academy of Sciences could deliver a death blow to E85 ethanol fuels.

Automakers like General Motors and Ford, along with numerous farm states and agricultural lobbyists have long promoted ethanol as an environmental friendly alternative to gasoline.

But the newly published study suggests the opposite is true, estimating corn-based ethanol actually is at least 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline. The report could influence future use of biofuels, a subject now under review by the Biden administration.

Via Detroit Bureau

February 20, 2022 – Government crash-test results have shown that the effect of a sunroof is insignificant to the overall strength of the roof. The car’s steel frame is what is helping to keep you safe.

The better roofs use laminated glass so the glass holds together when shattered. Do your research before buying a car to make sure the model has good safety rating, from crash tests through to stopping distances, and ideally identify that the panoramic roof is made from laminated glass.

During a crash, passenger ejection is more likely the greater danger. The most important thing you can do to prevent being ejected from a vehicle is ensure that you and all passengers are wearing a seat belt at all times while the car is moving.

via Consumer Reports

February 20, 2022 – It takes nothing more than a glance at a busy parking lot or a quick scroll through a handful of online car configurators to see which colors are the most popular for new cars. For those who relish the full spectrum of the rainbow, it’s dire. 

White is still the most popular paint finish chosen by new-car buyers – more than blue, green, gold, beige and red tones combined. Grey, silver and black all slot in above any real colors, all but guaranteeing a dreary spread at just about any car dealer worldwide.

North Americans were more likely to opt for colorful finishes than shoppers in South America, Asia or Europe, where white has an even larger share of the market. While the popularity of black appears to have plateaued, gray and white continue to tick upward.

via Autoblog

February 17, 2022 – Each year our brand rankings reflect the changes that inevitably come as automakers introduce new cars and fix problems in vehicles already on the market. Brands that rise to the top tend to have the most consistent performance across their model lineups.

We compile the report card each year by averaging the Overall Scores for each brand’s models, factoring in road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety.

For 2022, we saw a change at the very top, with Subaru moving ahead of Mazda to claim the title of best brand overall. Among the leaders, Audi saw the biggest leap up, climbing five places in the rankings.

via Consumer Reports

By Ken Robinson, Market Research Manager at Motus

Companies have plenty of incentive to reduce carbon emissions and boost sustainability initiatives.

Beyond embracing the evolving trend toward energy-efficient technologies and supporting the White House’s goal of halving the economy’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, sustainability has proven to be a significant indicator of a company’s financial performance and business success. It’s as essential to today’s business climate as it is beneficial to the environment.

Transportation currently produces 29% of all greenhouses gasses in the United States, which is more than any other sector. Reducing vehicle emissions can have the greatest impact on sustainability initiatives, since business and personal driving account for 57% of transportation sector emissions.

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Driving Dynamics has recently announced a number of senior position promotions, with key leadership changes including the appointment of Tony Vinciguerra as President & CEO and Debbie Balestra transitioning to Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Vinciguerra is stepping up from the COO role, following the recent retirement of managing owner Art Liggio, who will now serve as Chairman of the Board and remain active in the organization.

The shifts in leadership represent Driving Dynamics’ focus on driving growth and innovation in fleet safety management amid the ever-increasing safety challenges drivers and fleets face.

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