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Wednesday, September 26, 2007
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LATE & BREAKING NEWS
 FMCSA ASKS COURT TO HEED ATA'S CALL FOR HOS RULES STAY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has finally issued a response to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that threw out two key provisions in the American hours-of-service rules: Keep them -- at least for a year...the agency expressly stated that it "agrees with ATA that maintaining the status quo will not harm public safety or driver health." In support of that statement, improving safety statistics were cited including a declining trend in fatigue-related accidents.
Today's Trucking, September 25, 2007
 PLAYING THE OPTIONS FOR BEST RETURNS: Homeowners have learned that some home improvements pay off handsomely, returning every dollar spent when the time comes to sell. Similarly, car buyers are finding that optional safety features - stability control systems and side curtain air bags, for instance - can do more than just keep the family safe. Along with options like CD changers and leather upholstery, the extra-cost safety equipment can help owners get a higher price when it is time to sell or trade in the car, according to companies that track resale values. "Safety equipment seems to be gaining in strength in terms of being an important feature," said Jack R. Nerad, the executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book, a publisher of car pricing guides.
The New York Times, September 23, 2007
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Bill Windsor
Associate Vice President – Safety
Nationwide Insurance
windsob@nationwide.com
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Bill Windsor is Associate Vice President of Safety for Nationwide. He has been in the insurance industry for 28 years, serving across a wide spectrum of functional roles in both the life and property/casualty industry. He has spent the last 22 years with Nationwide Insurance in both field and staff positions, including agency management, finance, marketing and underwriting.
Nationwide is one of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the world, offering a broad range of personal and commercial property/casualty products and a wide assortment of financial products. Nationwide ranks 99th on the Fortune 500 list and is the sixth largest property/casualty group and seventh largest life insurer in the United States.
1. Can you give me some of the key highlights of your study on driving while distracted (DWD)?
Over 80% of the people that we polled in the survey indicated that they multi-task in the car. Driver distractions included everything from cell phone use to text messaging to checking their e-mail to eating a meal and personal grooming or daydreaming.
Seventy-three percent of all drivers admitted to using cell phones in the survey and 19% overall admitted to text messaging while driving. Particularly disturbing in the 19-27 year old grouping was that 85% of the people we polled indicated that they use their cell phone while driving and 39% indicated that they text while driving. It was clear from the information in the survey that Americans were doing everything in their car but focusing on their driving.
2. A large percentage of them didn't think what they were doing was a distraction?
Most Americans believe that they are safe drivers so they don't recognize that what they are doing is a problem at all. Any distraction that causes a driver to lose focus on their driving for even a couple of seconds is a problem. A three-second distraction at 60-65 miles per hour is really equal to driving the full length of a football field without the driver knowing what is going on.
A University of Utah study last year found that talking on a cell phone even hands free, was equivalent to being .08 legally drunk. They put drivers through courses that tested their reactions to different events and their ability to recognize hazards. The results were the same as if they had been legally drunk. Whether it is being mentally distracted or looking away, anything that causes the driver to lose focus on what is going on in front of them is what is dangerous.
3. Could you attribute a percentage of crashes to DWD?
Of the police-reported traffic crashes, it is indicated that driver distraction from all sources contributes to about 25% of all those police-reported traffic crashes. The National Highway Transportation Administration also did a research project with Virginia Tech where they put cameras in the cars. They found that 80% of the accidents and near misses were related to some form of distractive driving by one of the drivers involved. Somewhere between 25% and 80% is probably the right number.
4. Other than education, what remedies are there?
All of us must take personal responsibility to focus on our driving and stop multi-tasking while we are on the road. That's number one. Laws have some potential to at least let people know that it is not okay to do that while you are driving. Finally, a number of companies are now working on technology solutions that will make these devices safer or make them not work while the car is moving. Technology got us into this situation, and technology may be the solution. For instance, preventing a cell phone from working while the car is moving. Other solutions might reduce the hazards of DWD.
5. Does your study address any of the issues regarding navigation systems?
This study didn't specifically include navigation systems. We may add that in the next study. Overall, I think navigation systems, if used properly, can be a huge benefit. Drivers really need to program them before they start their trip instead of trying to program it while they are driving.
6. What programs to would you suggest for fleet operators to end DWD?
Keeping their people safe has got to be the number one priority. We recommend that fleets do not allow the use of cell phones when the car is moving. At Nationwide, the rule in our fleet is that the driver has to pull over to take a phone call. Clearly, training the fleet drivers about the dangers of DWD is important.
A number of fleets put their employees through driver training programs that include having them drive a course while they are talking on a cell phone or trying to pick up something off the floor. Those types of programs help the driver better understand that when he is distracted like that, he can't get through the course as well as he can if he is not distracted.
The bottom line is that if it something that is done in the kitchen, bathroom, office, dining room or bedroom, we certainly shouldn't be doing it in the car.
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| SIGNIFICANT NEWS |
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News digested: 09/17/2007 -- 09/21/2007 |
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| Vehicle Recall Information |
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Industry Conferences Coming Up |
23rd Annual Clean Air Conference
Breckenridge, Colorado, September 24 - September 27, 2007
International Trucking Show
Los Angeles, CA, September 28 - September 30, 2007
Visit Calendar of Industry Events for More Information on These Events
http://www.automotivedigest.com/calendar.asp?mod=calendar
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Press Releases Worthy of Read |
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People Going Places |
| WHO: | Jamie Porter |  |
| WHERE: | Total Resource Auctions |
| WHAT: | Jamie Porter has been named President of Total Resource Auctions, Manheim's salvage division. Porter has 31 years of industry experience, most recently serving as Manheim's EVP of Service Businesses, since July of 2006. He has held numerous leadership positions at Manheim, including EVP of Operations (2003-2006), SVP of Sales and Operations (2002-2003), SVP of Sales and Reconditioning (2000-2002), VP of Reconditioning Operations (1999-2000), and Regional Vice President of Operations (1996-1999). |
| | READ ABOUT MORE PEOPLE! |
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What Industry Leaders are Saying |
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Transportation Secretary Peters Says Bridges are Safe, but Senators Skeptical:
- "In rural states like Vermont, we have people who make $20,000 to $25,000 a year traveling 100 miles to and from work and I will not support them paying more in tolls. I think Sen. Lautenberg is more appropriate in addressing where we might be able to get some of this enormous amount of money and I think it speaks to not giving tax breaks to billionaires and not fighting an unnecessary war." -- Sen. Bernard Sanders, (I-VT)
- "Since 1994, the percentage of the nation's bridges classified as structurally deficient has improved from almost 19 percent to 12 percent and while we can and must do more to improve the quality of our nation's infrastructure, it would be both irresponsible and inaccurate to say that the nation's transportation system is anything but safe." -- Mary Peters, US Transportation Secretary
Sourced From: Land Line Magazine, September 20, 2007
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Elite Wheels Vehicle Reviews |
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Mazda6 Upgraded Inside and Out for 2007
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| 1) Transportation Secretary Peters Says Bridges are Safe, but Senators Skeptical |
Situation
- Hearings held last week in House and Senate on America's aging bridges
- Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) talked about recent I-35W collapse in Minneapolis
- Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said bridges were generally safe
- Pointed out that percentage of structurally deficient bridges was 19% in 1994, and is 12% today
- But majority of senators appear to be skeptical
- Peters came out against idea of paying for bridge repairs w/ fuel tax
|  Mary E. Peters |
Significant Points
- I-35W bridge in Minneapolis fell into the Mississippi on Aug 1, killing 13 people and injuring over 100
- Over 70K US bridges classified as structurally deficient
- One repair cost estimate is $188B
- Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) came out against toll roads as means to pay for repairs
- Calling toll roads a form of regressive taxation
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Land Line Magazine, September 20, 2007
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| 2) The Promise of Remote Safety Monitoring |
Situation
- GreenRoad Technologies Safety Center collects, analyzes driving info from vehicles and delivers feedback to drivers
- Driving information transmitted wirelessly to central server for analysis
- Feedback delivered to drivers via dashboard lights, optional messaging
- Company says resulting behavioral changes reduce driver crashes by 54%, lower accident costs 65% on average
- Fleet managers have Web-based tools that report on driver safety, allow them to monitor specific high-risk drivers
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Significant Points
- In-vehicle sensors track 120 driver actions, including speed, acceleration, braking, lane handling, turning
- Data quickly analyzed via proprietary algorithms
- Then drivers receive red, amber, or green light as performance feedback
- T-Mobile service fleet in UK saw fleet go from 69% red and 10% green drivers to 35% and 38% green, says GreenRoad Technologies
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Fleet Owner, September 17, 2007
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| 3) GAO to Congress: FMCSA Lax on Enforcing Trucking Safety Rules |
Situation
- PA trucking company L&H Trucking employs 204 drivers who logged 14.6M miles in 2005
- Dispatchers for L&H Trucking repeatedly clocked out drivers who were over hours but kept working
- Company has tallied 92 safety violations in the past 2 years
- Drivers assigned routes they can't possibly complete w/o violating HOS rules
- Fatal crash investigation revealed driver falsified his logbook and had equipment violations
- Example of trucking problems not being corrected by current enforcement practices
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Significant Points
- Government Accountability Office recently reported that FMCSA identifies carriers that pose "high crash risks"
- FMCSA conducts compliance reviews but "does not assess maximum fines as often as required by law"
- GAO recommended to Congress that FMCSA revise its policy for assessing maximum fines
- Also that they select certain high-risk carriers for compliance reviews
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Land Line Magazine, September 17, 2007; York Daily Record via AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, September 16, 2007
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| 4) NHTSA to Address School Bus Safety, Child Safety Seats, More |
Situation
- NHTSA boss Nicole Nason says new regulations coming before year's end
- Will cover school buses, child seats
- Also government's New Car Assessment Program
|  Nicole Nason |
Significant Points
- Bush administration working on new limits for tailpipe emissions
- Proposal will be made by year's end w/ final rules in place in 2008
- NHTSA working to implement regulations sooner
- Has been criticized for studying issue, then not doing anything
- Recent action on mandating stability control shows quicker turnaround
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Detroit News, September 20, 2007
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| 5) UK Commission Wants to Limit Speed of Fleet Vehicles |
Situation
- Fleets being urged to comment about suggestion to fit speed limiters to company cars
- Idea floated by United Kingdom government-appointed Commission for Integrated Transport
- Set to discuss idea over coming months; commission wants to know what fleets think
- Commission keen to investigate effects of voluntary introduction of speed limiters
- Report to be published next year; set out benefits of speed limiters
- Transport for London would like to see all their vehicles fitted w/ devices; plans to run test
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Significant Points
- Could mean cheaper tax and insurance
- Intelligent Speed Adaptation systems could reduce deaths and injuries on UK roads
- Help reduce carbon emissions, other pollutants; reduce fuel consumption
- Devices could be effective in enforcing 20mph speed limits in residential areas
- Places where it would be too expensive to install speed cameras
- Expects cautious reception from fleet industry
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Fleetnews.co.uk; September 20, 2007
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| 6) New Collision Repair Technology Offered by CynCast, Enterprise |
Situation
- Enterprise Rent-a-Car partners w/ software company CynCast
- Developed software called ARMS Automotive Exchange
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Significant Points
- Works w/ repair shop to automatically upload repair info to Enterprise
- No more need for phone calls to check repair status
- Software doesn't retrieve any other info from shop's computers
Read Quotes
Click Here for Full Digest and Source Article:
Sourced From: Automotive Body Repair News, September 20, 2007
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