Drivers Of Expensive Cars Less Likely To Yield For Pedestrians
Flashing crosswalk lights are no match for flashy cars, according to a new UNLV study which found that drivers of expensive cars are least likely to stop for crossing pedestrians.
Of 461 cars that researchers examined, only 28 percent of drivers yielded for pedestrians at crosswalks. The cost of the car was a significant predictor of driver yielding, with the odds that they'll stop decreasing by 3 percent per $1,000 increase in the car's value.
The study also found that motorists overall yielded less frequently for men and people of color waiting at mid-block crosswalks than for women and whites. It is also consistent with findings from similar studies on the topics of driver yielding behaviors associated with social class, race, and gender.
Read the article at ScienceDaily.
We May Never See Fully Self-Driving Cars
While it’s a “near-certainty” that vehicles will be capable of high levels of semi-autonomy within the next 10 years, there’s doubt among experts that they’ll ever be able to drive themselves at all times. The reason? Computers may never be capable of human-like judgment and intuition.
“’There are basically two camps," says robotics engineer and former Navy fighter pilot Missy Cummings, director of Duke University’s Humans and Autonomy Lab. "First are those who understand that full autonomy is not really achievable on any large scale, but are pretending they are still in the game to keep investors happy. Second are those who are in denial and really believe it is going to happen. When you also consider that not everyone is a techie and loves the bells and whistles of advanced systems, I think the automotive industry is in for some tough times ahead."
"Questions remain about whether [autonomous] systems will function in all possible conditions...such as snow-covered road markings, flooded roads during rainstorms or emergency crews gesturing to drivers with hand signals. Going further, will the cars be able to develop a sixth sense about vehicle or pedestrian intentions, or draw conclusions from seeming disparate details – a wind storm and a precariously leaning tree, for example – that astute drivers would instinctively avoid?”
Read the article at Robb Report.
Changed Priorities Ahead
Some years ago, I was driving in Northern Ireland and was quite taken by a traffic sign, new to me: Changed Priorities Ahead. I have often thought of that sign and how it’s an intriguing metaphor for life.
Today, in fact, I had planned to attend the 7th Annual International Fleet Meeting at the Geneva International Motor Show Both events were cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but I must acknowledge Balz Eggenberger at fleetCompetence and Jasmin Eichner at aboutFLEET for their work in organizing what promised to be 'an outstanding conference.
Pim de Weerd, Global Commodity Manager Mobility of the Dutch conglomerate Philips, was scheduled to deliver the meeting's keynote address. While we are disappointed that we could not enjoy his live presentation, we are pleased to publish his slides: From Fleet to Mobility Management.
Congratulations to all of the FLEXY Award finalists! It is such an honor to be nominated for these prestigious awards.
Keep well and drive safety!
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief.
New Initiatives from NAFA
During a time of transition, NAFA is busy rolling out a variety of new initiatives and improvements.
Geneva Motor Show Cancelled As Coronavirus Raises Questions About New York Auto Show, Detroit Auto Show
The Geneva Motor Show, which was poised to start next week, has been canceled. The Beijing auto show has been "postponed."
And now the coronavirus, whose spread led to those two decisions, is also forcing leaders of April's New York International Auto Show and June's Detroit auto show to answer questions about their respective plans.
For now, organizers of both the New York and Detroit auto shows say they are planning to hold their shows while taking necessary precautions to protect attendees.
"With just under six weeks to go before the 2020 New York International Auto Show’s press preview days, we are moving forward with plans to open the show as scheduled," show organizers said Friday in a statement. "We are in communication with state and local officials and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and, at this point, there are no plans to cancel any shows at the facility."
Read the article at USA Today.
