Apr
08

STUDY: SUV and van owners value a child’s life more than truck and car owners

By | Industry

ChildrenThe National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is a study administered by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) that looks at motorcycle helmet use, child restraint use and driver electronic device use. The data for the study is gathered in two (self-explanatory) ways: the Moving Traffic (MT) Survey and the Controlled Intersection (CI) Survey.

While the most recent report is filled with interesting (and alarming) bits of data, the graph below stuck out to me. [Read more...]

Jan
28

A 55 year old educational driving video series

By | Industry

“Chances of being killed in a motor vehicle accident at 25mph, 1 in 1,000. Chances of being killed in a motor vehicle accident at 75mph, 1 in 2.”

That is just one of the interesting bits of information in the video series below.

While this educational video may be 55 years old, many of the safety tips still apply today.  Many of the tips are your standard vehicle safety lessons; don’t tailgate, don’t drink and drive, etc. But there are a few odd ones scattered throughout the video as well.

For example, in one scene the narrator explains how to properly straddle a set of streetcar tracks in a vehicle. I don’t know about you, but driving over streetcar tracks wasn’t a part of my Driver’s Ed curriculum. He goes even further and explains how to counter-steer should your car “go into a skid” from “hitting slick streetcar tracks.”

I’m sure you’ll find humor in the narration and nostalgia in the video, but make no [Read more...]

Nov
27

The Seat Belt Sign is ALWAYS On

By | Industry

Where are the exit rows? How do I inflate my life-saving vest? Is my safety belt fastened right?

Every time an airplane takes off a flight attendant walks passengers through each of those questions. While your safety is a priority for the airline, much of what you see and hear is a result of FAA mandates. The government helps (tells) airlines how best to keep you safe.

You know where the exit rows are,  your seat belt is properly fastened and you know how to wear an oxygen mask. You are ready for whatever aviation emergency comes your way. Chances are one won’t.

Airplane fatalities happen less often in America than vehicle fatalities per million miles traveled (risk: 0.8 vs 6.8) . This isn’t due to copious safety restrictions placed on passengers, it’s because planes just don’t crash as often. Pilots, mechanics and flight controllers are professionals who have one job: keep planes from crashing while they go from A-to-B.

Drivers are not pilots.

I’m picking up a rental car when I land. The last time I received a vehicle [Read more...]

May
10

The Role of Retail in Recalls

By | Industry

An open letter and call to action to the automotive retail industry:

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Dear Automotive Retailers,

I’m writing this with the hope that you do your part to improve the speed and accuracy with which vehicle owners will receive safety recall notifications. Protecting people is my only motivation behind this effort.

Recently Carfax stated that 2.7 million used cars had open safety recalls. This week Senator Barbara Boxer wrote in a letter to four vehicle rental companies asking them to make the following pledge, “Effective immediately, our company is making a permanent commitment to not rent out or sell any vehicles under safety recall until the defect has been remedied.”

Vehicle recalls are a serious matter. If one notification fails to reach its intended recipient it puts lives at risk. Many buyers are unaware that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) operates a website (www.safercar.gov) that allows owners to signup via email to receive model-specific vehicle safety recalls. This modern delivery system ensures that safety notifications are delivered the moment a safety recall is announced.

To improve the overall recall process I ask that your retail outlets implement a new practice of offering buyers an opportunity to sign up for safety recalls via the safercar.gov website during the buying process. Point of sale is the picture-perfect place to connect new and used vehicle owners to the electronic delivery of recall notifications provided by NHTSA.

Retails stores and their corporate management have a social and human responsibility to make this happen. The process is easy, requires no additional funding and is paramount to customer safety.

Will you act?

Happy Motoring,

Juan Barnett

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Below is a screenshot of the vehicle recall subscription page: [Read more...]

Jan
30

MyKey Technology: Simple, Smart & Safe.

By | Industry

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During the Washington Auto Show I had the chance to talk with Susan (Sue) Cischke, Ford’s Group Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. We briefly touched on Ford’s sustainability goals for 2012, but quickly transitioned to safety, specifically distracted driving and technology.

Sue highlighted recent announcements regarding Ford’s MyKey technology, which acts as a technological nanny for your car and is specifically targeted at young or new drivers. It works by [Read more...]