Increase In Deaths, Injuries Of Pedestrians Wearing Headphones
Deaths and injuries are on the rise as pedestrians listening to headphones fail to hear warning horns from cars or trains. Serious injuries to pedestrians listening to headphones have more than tripled in six years with 70% resulting in fatalities. More than two-thirds of victims were males under the age of 30.
Study Says Women Drivers Less Likely Than Men to Cause Accidents
A new study by an online auto insurance group says women are 27 percent less likely than men to cause auto accidents. Traffic violations for male drivers are higher in almost every category from reckless driving, failure to yield, seat belt violations, or speeding. However, the gap between male and female driving habits is closing quickly.
Automakers Discourage Driver Distractions with New Media Connectivity
Qube, part of automotive data provider Just-auto, says 5.8 million smart-phone and embedded connectivity units will be added to new cars and light trucks in North America in 2012, a 29% increase from 2011. Toyota VP Jon Bucci said, "We realize that separating the driver from their mobile device is virtually impossible now." Auto manufacturers are looking at technologies such as gesture, touch pad and voice-activated systems to allow media-connection access to drivers.
Forecast: Dramatic Growth in Hybrid, Electric Truck Sales This Year
Pike Research forecasts the global market for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electrics vehicles (PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) will grow at 92% in 2012, with total sales surpassing 19,000. They expect U.S. sales of 3,250 medium- and heavy-duty HEV trucks, 790 BEV trucks, about 500 PHEV trucks. Growing popularity of alternative fueled vehicles as well as high prices of hybrid and electric vehicles may impact the sales growth.
