Good IIHS Headlight Ratings Linked to Lower Crash Rates
The headlight ratings program developed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is reducing dangerous nighttime crashes in the real world, a recent study shows.
Nighttime crash rates per mile are nearly 20 percent lower for vehicles with headlights that earn a good rating in the IIHS evaluation, compared with those with poor-rated headlights, the study found. For vehicles with acceptable or marginal headlights, crash rates are 15 percent and 10 percent lower than for those with poor ratings.
“Driving at night is 3 times as risky as driving during the day,” says IIHS Senior Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow, who conducted the study. “This is the first study to document how much headlights that provide better illumination can help.”
Read the article at IIHS.
Agile Fleet Webinar: Vehicle Fleet Technology for Social Services Fleets
Wednesday, October 27, 2021 | 2 p.m. Eastern
The many departments of Social Services across North America promote and safeguard the well being of their communities by strengthening, empowering, and preserving the dignity of individuals and families, providing quality services and supporting clients in achieving self-sufficiency, and more.
If the pandemic has changed your fleet usage, now may be the time to rightsize, launch a shared vehicle fleet, or automate the one you have.
Live Event! Sign up now, space is running out. REGISTER TODAY!
Used Car Prices Hit Record High in September
Three-year-old vehicles - typically the cars and trucks that are most in-demand -- increased in value by 4.6%. Throughout the entire month, buyers paid more than the Manheim Market Report (MMR) values. Despite there being higher prices, 65% of shoppers ended up buying a vehicle, compared to 52% in 2019.
Every type of vehicle saw price increases in September, but some increased more than others. The price of a van rose nearly 41% from September 2020. Pickup trucks, already among the most expensive used vehicles, rose by another 17.8%. Overall, prices were up 27.1%.
Dealers may have gotten top dollar for their inventory in September, but they sold fewer vehicles. Cox Automotive, the parent company of Manheim, reports that total used vehicle sales were down 13% year-over-year on a seasonally adjusted basis (SAAR). Consumers who are able to find a new vehicle to their liking, there may have never been a better time to trade in a used car or truck.
Read the article at Consumer Affairs.
NICB Releases Annual ‘Hot Wheels’ Report: America’s Top Ten Most Stolen Vehicles
For the second year in a row, the Ford full size pick-up was the model most targeted by thieves, followed by the Chevrolet full size pick-up, which supplanted the formerly second-place Honda Civic.
“Auto thefts saw a dramatic increase in 2020 versus 2019 in part due to the pandemic, an economic downturn, law enforcement realignment, depleted social and schooling programs, and, in still too many cases, owner complacency,” said David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. “For many people, a car is the second largest investment they will ever make behind a home. No matter what kind of vehicle you have, take steps to protect your investment – lock your car and take your keys.”
Thefts for all models in the top 10 were up in 2020 compared to 2019, but only Ford, Chevrolet, and GMC full size pick-ups and the Honda CR-V saw double digit theft increase percentages. In this year’s list, six of the top 10 most stolen vehicles were Japanese models.
Read the article at NICB.
How Do You Service an Electric Car?
As for when you should have your electric vehicle serviced, well that comes down to each manufacturer. Some EV drivers have gone tens of thousands of miles without a service and with no known defects.
Many EVs are heavier than their combustion counterparts so can suffer a little more tire wear. Instead of friction brakes clamping down and expelling heat, that energy is used to slow the car and recharge the battery. It means that many EV owners go years without having to change a brake pad or disc!
The battery in an EV is one of the things that gets the most attention when it comes to talking about maintaining EVs. The battery will degrade over time, but it isn’t something that needs to be serviced in a manner that we’re accustomed to.
Read the article at InsideEVs.
