In the Driver’s Seat
Data is a Powerful Tool
CEI has released two exciting new driver self-monitoring and self-managing mobile apps: DriverCare Connect and DriverCare CoPilot. How effective are they? “We’ve seen a 30% reduction in distraction events after just 30 days using the DriverCare CoPilot solution,” says Brian Kinniry, CEI’s Director of Safety and Collision products. Impressive!
Department of Forecasting
What’s going to happen in the used vehicle market for the balance of 2022? In his midyear report, FLD remarketing expert Bill Bishop examines the myriad factors influencing the market. FLD's latest expansive White Paper is also available.
Driving Change
Don't miss NETS Podcast: A Global Epidemic of Road Crash Fatalities and Disabilities. Also, note that registration is open for NETS annual conference STRENGTH IN NUMBERS® -- October 5 & 6 in Ann Arbor, MI. We can't wait!
Drive Safety,
Janice Sutton
Editor in Chief
Ford Is Testing Robot EV Chargers to Help Disabled Drivers
photo credit - Ford
July 20, 2022 - The inconvenience of charging an electric car is magnified for disabled or elderly drivers, many of whom are unable to plug in an EV at all. To help remedy this, Ford is starting trials on a new robot charging station that can be operated from inside your car.
The driver pulls up to the specially designated station and initiates the charging process using the FordPass smartphone app. The car's charge door pops open, and a robot arm emerges from the station and precisely plugs itself into the car using a small camera to position itself.
This new robot tech could provide easier charging of large company fleets, and it could also charge cars more powerfully and in less time than traditional chargers. In the future, Ford envisions the process could be fully automated, with drivers sending the car to the charging station by itself.
Make Sure Your Fleet Policy Covers Distracted Driving
The roads keep getting more dangerous, and it’s more important than ever that your fleet policy covers distracted driving.
Australian Vehicle Crash Tests to Include Underwater Performance
July 18, 2022 - Vehicle safety testing has to evolve to keep up with the times. Australian testing authority ANCAP is making a surprising change to its crash test criteria: Starting in January 2023, it will test new vehicles on how well they perform underwater.
ANCAP’s testing requires that vehicle occupants be able to open the doors and roll down electric windows for up to 10 minutes after the car is submerged. Automakers with vehicles that don’t meet the new standards must provide a way for occupants to break or manually open the side windows.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar standard come to the United States. Vehicle safety testing criteria are updated somewhat regularly to include new tech and vehicle features, so it’s likely only a matter of time before we see similar testing.
IIHS Urges Quick Adoption of Speed Limiter Requirement for Trucks
The FMCSA requested comments on a proposal to require devices that limit the top speed on commercial vehicles with a GVW rating over 26,000 pounds.
Excessive speed was a factor in nearly a third of all U.S. crash deaths in 2020. But limiting speed is especially important for large trucks, Eric Teoh, IIHS director of statistical services, wrote in the comment.
Because of their greater mass, trucks have more momentum and thus require longer stopping distances than smaller vehicles. They also do more damage in the event of a crash.
