My Hybrid is Making Me a Safer Driver
By Andrew Boada, Editor at Large
If you’ve been considering buying hybrid vehicles for your fleet, chances are you’ve been focusing on their excellent fuel economy and reliability, characteristics that make them among the lowest operating cost vehicles on the road today.
Here in the U.K. where I live, I’ve owned a hybrid for a few months now, and on the basis of my experience driving one, I suspect fleet managers will discover they reduce fleet costs in another way: by nudging drivers’ behavior toward a more defensive driving style that will reduce the frequency, severity and cost of accidents. Here’s why.
Most hybrids are engineered specifically to get good fuel economy. One thing that destroys good fuel economy is a powerful engine that delivers lots of acceleration. Hybrids don’t do that. The performance of my Toyota Auris (a.k.a. “Corolla) is typical of vehicles of its kind: from a full stop, with my foot pressing the gas pedal to the floor, it takes almost 11 seconds for it to reach 60 mph. This leisurely rate of acceleration has had an immediate impact on my driving behavior.
Audio Commands and Touchscreens in Cars Frustrating and Dangerous for Older Drivers
Older drivers are more likely to be distracted while driving when using in-vehicle technology than their younger counterparts, according to a report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah.
When performing simple tasks like programming navigation or tuning the radio, drivers between 55 to 75 took their eyes off the road an average of eight seconds longer than those age 21 to 36, the study showed.
“Voice-command functions found in new in-vehicle technology are intended to help drivers by keeping their eyes and attention on the road,” Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said. “Unfortunately, the complexity and poor design of some of these systems could cause more harm for older drivers.”
Read the article at USA Today.
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Tesla’s Use of Autopilot Being Challenged by Advocacy Groups Again
Consumer Watchdog and the Center for Auto Safety have renewed their efforts against Tesla and CEO Elon Musk of putting lives in peril by making claims that the Autopilot technology available on all three models Tesla offers is a fully functional autonomous technology.
Musk has consistently maintained that using Autopilot doesn’t mean that drivers no longer need to be engaged in driving.
“It is time for regulators to step in and put a stop to Tesla’s ongoing autopilot deception,” said Adam Scow, Senior Advocate for Consumer Watchdog. “Tesla has irresponsibly marketed its technology as safety enhancing, when instead it is killing people.”
Read the article at The Detroit Bureau.
Autonomous Vehicles Are an Evolution, Robotaxis a Revolution
Thirty years ago, the oil crisis almost killed many car companies.
Competition has only gotten more intense, and manufacturers know that to survive, they must offer self-driving features.
Automakers now have their sights set on full-autonomy and are still figuring out their place in the autonomous future.
The mood at the leading autonomous car companies has shifted from one of experimentation to one of delivering product. Investors are saying “show me the money” and passengers are saying “get us around cheaper and safer!”
Read the article at Forbes.
