New Orleans Ignores ‘Clean Fleet’ Law During $50M Vehicle-Buying Spree
The city of New Orleans, flush with federal pandemic aid dollars, is in the midst of a spending spree to replace its aging vehicle fleet.
So far this year, the city has spent $50 million in federal pandemic relief aid to buy 791 vehicles. But it appears that almost all of those purchases violate a city law that mandates low emissions for city-owned vehicles.
The “clean fleet” ordinance, which the City Council approved last year, requires the city to stop buying gas-powered vehicles altogether in 2025. But the law also stipulates that starting in 2023, newly purchased city vehicles have to at least follow the same low-emissions standards required for the federal government as part of the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.
The Five Cascading Benefits to Creating a Culture of Safety
By Adam Danielson, Director, Business Development & Sales, SuperVision
Now more than ever, safety has become a top priority for many fleets.
In addition to protecting drivers and the public, companies are realizing that a focus on safety also maximizes company assets and cuts unnecessary operational costs.
As a result, driver training programs are becoming more comprehensive and effective, helping to improve driver risk profiles and curtail liability costs from accidents.
But these benefits are only part of the safety story.
Federal Agencies Could Save $6B by Electrifying Their Fleets, Report Finds
The federal government could save $6 billion over the next 15 years by converting its fleet to electric vehicles, according to a new report, which found the long-term savings far outweigh the upfront costs.
The government will have to put up $4.6 billion in added costs to buy the new vehicles over the more standard variety, the ICF Climate Center found, but would break even by 2028 and realize billions of dollars in savings thereafter.
The federal fleet consists of more than 650,000 vehicles and less than 1% of that total are currently electric. The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would result in added social benefits valued at an additional $1.2 billion.
These Demographics More Likely to Get into Accidents in the US
A new study reveals that White males between the ages of 21 and 25 are more likely to get into a car accident. The study, conducted by personal injury lawyers Neufeld Lawfirm, analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
On a national scale, white males between 21 and 25 seem statistically more likely to get into a car crash with 3,036 car accidents in 2021, followed by 26- to 30-year-olds with 2,958 accidents and 31- to 35-year-olds in third place with 2,821.
A spokesperson for Neufeld Lawfirm commented on the findings: “The data shows how all over the U.S., the demographic which is more likely to get into a car accident are people between 21 and 25 years old, which is the second youngest category of drivers..."
How Panasonic is Working on Connected-Vehicle Technology in Three States
Connected vehicle and smart sensor technologies are advancing at the same time 5G wireless networks are growing, making it possible for Panasonic, and 14 other companies to develop applications to enhance transit and traffic safety and efficiency.
Panasonic has equipped transit buses, ambulances, fire trucks — and, in Utah, snow plows — to communicate with roadside transmitters, said Chris Armstrong, vice president of products at Panasonic Smart Mobility. “We’re also trying to help DOTs prepare for a more connected future both on their infrastructure side and on the vehicle side,” he said.
Colorado and Utah are testing roadside sensors that communicate with state DOT vehicles and personnel while Georgia is testing broader “vehicle-to-everything” technology monitoring road conditions.
