Bad Headlights Have Been a Problem for Years, but They’re Getting Better, IIHS Says
Dim, poorly designed, excessively bright or badly aimed headlights have been repeatedly cited as a significant safety concern of modern vehicles.
But automakers have made significant improvements on the headlights of dozens of vehicles over the past several years, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. So far for the 2021 model year, compared with the previous year, engineers improved the headlights on 17 IIHS-tested vehicles, including models from Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and Volvo.
IIHS testers have said that automakers were often guilty of installing headlights that were aimed at oncoming drivers or not aimed at the right place on the road, while others created too much glare or didn't light up the road enough. In some cases, designers compromised on headlight performance for the sake of a slick look, IIHS has said.
Read the article at USA Today.
Auto Industry Wants More Government Support for Electric Vehicles
The leading lobbying group for the U.S. auto industry is calling on policymakers to help support the adoption of electric vehicles through incentives, infrastructure investment and other regulatory means.
Without suggesting a cost for such EV stimulus programs, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said now is the time for "substantial, long-term investments in electrification, as well as advanced safety technologies," according to a new report released Tuesday. It describes the industry as being "on the cusp of a transformative moment" regarding electric and autonomous vehicles.
The report comes a day after the Electoral College voted to cement Joe Biden's victory over incumbent President Donald Trump. Biden has voiced far more support for EVs as well as infrastructure to support the vehicles than Trump.
Read the article at MSNBC.
Postal Service Delays Mail Truck Replacement Contract Again
Already years behind schedule, the U.S. Postal Service announced another delay in its efforts to award a more than $6 billion contract to replace its fleet of aging mail trucks.
The post office now uses about 140,000 Grumman Long Life Vehicles for its main delivery service. Manufactured from 1987 through 1994, they need to be replaced. A 2014 audit from the office of the USPS inspector general found that the current fleet was expected to only meet the delivery needs of the agency through the 2017 fiscal year.
The vehicles are prone to fires and they have become increasingly expensive to repair.
Read the article at Trucks.
Fleet and COVID-19: Planning for the Holiday Season
By Donald Dunphy, Contributing Editor
The United States is currently facing a dramatic COVID-19 spike.
The intensity of the resurgence prompted the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to issue guidelines that included a request for Americans not to travel or have large gatherings for Thanksgiving celebrations. However, multiple reports indicated travelers largely ignored the guidelines, filling airports and roadways alike.
This presents concerns for employers, both with and without fleets. While it is too late to change outcomes from the Thanksgiving holiday, now is the time to consider how to plan for the equally busy Christmas/Hanukkah travel period.
Art Liggio, President/CEO at Driving Dynamics, Inc., has seen fleet operators responding to increased needs. “During the second half of 2020, (our company) has done more driver safety training during this period than we ever have in previous years.”
Put Your Idle or Underutilized Vehicle Assets to Work and Change Lives!
The pandemic has presented numerous challenges to organizations all over the world from loss of revenue, reductions in force, real estate, and assets to name a few.
The fleet industry has seen its share of changes as well, including the challenge of managing underutilized or completely idle leased and owned vehicle assets.
One way to offset the impact to your organization and change lives today is to donate vehicles from your fleet to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). Charities have been hit hard during this pandemic and need our help now more than ever. As a RMHC board member, Erin Gilchrist Rugg (TSOA) has seen first-hand how fleet vehicles can change the lives of families with sick children.
The reality of having a child in the hospital is a challenge that no parent wants to face.
