Tips for Coping with the Stress of Commuting
Road rage is a learned behavior and can be unlearned, according to author, psychologist and self-described former road-rager Leon James.
Being on the road can put drivers in power struggles causing over-the-top reactions with other drivers.
Here are a few tips and techniques to quell the frustration and irritation of commuting:
Breathing exercise: One relaxing technique is to exhale completely, then breathe in for a count of four, hold the breath for a count of seven and then exhale forcefully for a count of eight. This is simple enough to do behind the wheel and does have a calming effect.
Read the article at The Detroit News.
New Surcharge for Ride-Hailing Services and Taxis Driving into Manhattan.
Services like Uber and Lyft face a surcharge of $2.75 per ride, taxis face a $2.50 surcharge, and services like Via and UberPool operating shared vehicles will be charged a $0.75 fee per customer.
Other U.S. cities have enacted surcharges for ride-hailing services, but the fees tend to be lower than in New York. Seattle began charging 24 cents per trip in 2014; Portland, Oregon added a 50 cent fee per rider in 2016; and Chicago added a surcharge in 2014 that will reach 65 cents this year.
"It's a phase-in on congestion pricing." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in an interview with NY1 regarding the new surcharges. "The experts will say, to handle the congestion you really need to charge tolls for cars that are coming from the outside."
Read the article at The Drive.
Electric Vehicles May Impact the Beverage Industry
With the arrival of electric vehicles, people won't be stopping at gas stations to fill their tanks and convenience stores could take a hit on impulse purchases.
Fuel accounts for only 40 percent of profit for gas stations, meaning most money is made inside the store and beverages make up a bulk of those sales.
“Beverages drive sales, and beverages drive profits at convenience stores, so any competition that could reduce those sales and those profits is a concern,” said Jeff Lenard of the National Association of Convenience Stores. “However, I think that stores will do what they always do: They’ll find a better way to compete.”
Read the article at The Washington Post.
Springing Forward!
AFLA’s Spring Forum is taking place this Thursday, April 12th, in two locations: Eden Prairie, MN and Mt. Laurel, NJ. Not going to be in either of those places? Happily, you can participate by live-streaming the event through your web browser – either session-specific or the full-day. There is still time to register.
Now, if you’re going to be in England in May, you will not want to miss the Fleet World Fleet Show on May 9th at Silverstone, home of British motor racing. In addition to engaging exhibits and seminars, you may test drive the latest fleet cars and vans on one of the famed race tracks. It's a terrific one-day event offering lots of time for networking.
FMW is busy with last-minute planning for NAFA I&E in Anaheim -- April 24-27, with pre-conference events on April 23rd. We are excited and hope to see you there!
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Battles Ahead as Trump Administration Revokes Vehicle Emissions Standards
A major political and legal battle lies ahead in the wake of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s decision to roll back emissions standards requiring cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. average more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025.
Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board said, “This decision takes the U.S. auto industry backward, and we will vigorously defend the existing clean vehicle standards and fight to preserve one national clean vehicle program,” adding that the EPA’s decision “changes nothing in California and the 12 other states with clean-car rules that reduce emissions and improve gas mileage — those rules remain in place.”
California and the 12 other states demanding stricter standards represent more than a third of the U.S. auto market.
Read the article in The Washington Post
