A group of moderately priced midsize cars outperformed most of their luxury counterparts in a challenging new frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on 2013 models. Of the 18 midsize family cars evaluated in the small overlap test, two earn the top rating of good, 11 earn acceptable, three earn marginal, and two are poor.
In contrast, just 3 of 11 midsize luxury and near-luxury cars evaluated in the inaugural round of small overlap tests earned good or acceptable ratings. Midsize moderately priced cars are the second group to be tested. The best performers in this group are the Honda Accord 4-door and Suzuki Kizashi. Both earn a good rating.
Only 3 of 11 midsize luxury and near-luxury cars evaluated earn good or acceptable ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new small overlap frontal crash test, the latest addition to a suite of tests designed to help consumers pick the safest vehicles.
An early crop of advanced crash avoidance technologies includes some clear success stories when it comes to preventing crashes, insurance claim analyses by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) show.
Forward collision avoidance systems, particularly those that can brake autonomously, along with adaptive headlights, which shift direction as the driver steers, show the biggest crash reductions. Lane departure warning appears to hurt, rather than help, though it’s not clear why, and other systems, such as blind spot detection and park assist, aren’t showing clear effects on crash patterns yet.
HLDI analysts looked at how each feature affected claim frequency under a variety of insurance coverages for damage and injuries. Clear patterns were seen in claims under property damage liability (PDL) insurance, which covers damage caused by the insured vehicle to another vehicle, and collision insurance, which covers damage to the insured vehicle. Frequency is measured as the number of claims relative to the number of insured vehicle years. An insured vehicle year is one vehicle insured for one year, two vehicles for six months, etc. The model years of the vehicles included ranged from 2000 to 2011, depending on when an automaker introduced a feature. Insurance data through August 2011 were used.
According to the United Nations, worldwide nearly 1.3 million lives are lost in traffic accidents each year and this number could rise to nearly 1.9 million in the next 10 years. Furthermore, estimates show that nearly 90 percent of all crashes are caused by driver error, making advanced safety systems an important focus for automakers and governing agencies. Bosch offers active and passive safety technologies, as well as driver assistance functions that can help reduce the number of accidents and save lives.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/48705-bosch-helps-drivers-avoid-crashes-reduce-injuries
Vehicles are doing a better job of protecting people in crashes, but a new crop of advanced technology aims to prevent many crashes from happening altogether. A new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) finds that one kind of advanced forward collision avoidance system is working to prevent about a quarter of the common low-speed crashes that happen in everyday commuter traffic.
The study of insurance claims found that Volvo XC60 midsize SUVs outfitted with a standard collision avoidance feature called City Safety are far less likely to be involved in low-speed crashes than comparable vehicles without the system. City Safety is designed to help a driver avoid rear-ending another vehicle in slow-moving, heavy traffic. Claims under property damage liability coverage — the insurance that pays for damage to vehicles that an at-fault driver hits — were filed 27 percent less often for the XC60 than other midsize luxury SUVs.
For more information: www.iihs.org
This design of a unique non contact chuck, was a part of a much larger scale design and engineering project of a wet processing machine for the semiconductor industry.
The client requested Vertex to design, engineer and produce a scalable new chuck that can hold the wafer from the bottom end and at the same time process the same side which the wafer is held from. We had strict instructions not to have any contact with the top side of the wafer, due to sensitive semiconductor design on that side, therefore the name “Non Contact Chuck”.
This unique design had to overcome and avoid collision of the wafer’s holding fingers with the process module while scanning the wafer above it. This resulted in holding fingers behaving like Millipede legs.
Challenges in this design were enormous.
The chuck had to spin 360 degrees, travel on the Z axis, pressurize the top side of the wafer with air to prevent any liquid from getting to the top side, as well as, pneumatically control and actuate each finger at the right time.
Great project to work on, great challenge and great results.
Grace Solero’s music possesses certain raw energy that few artists can convincingly convey. Picture a bubbling cauldron of sweat filled, ragged indie rock, throw in Alanis Morissette’s angst driven vocals, mix with Skunk Anansie’s attitude and add a pinch of PJ Harvey and you’ll start to get the idea of her sound.
A glorious sonic collision of musical influences, her album New Moon (out 26th October) is bathed in depth and versatility and swoops from the delicate to the extreme. Already championed by The Fly and Classic Rock, it is a mesmerising musical repertoire with heartfelt songs, all delivered in Grace’s gutsy, vibrant yet elegant and sexy style.
Back once again in the UK, Grace Solero will also make an almighty wave on English shores when she shakes stages and blows minds up and down the country.
Water Rats, Kings Cross - 22nd September onstage 9:30pm
Dublin Castle, Camden, London – 22nd October onstage 9pm
The Bullingdon Arms, Oxford – 30th October onstage 9pm
The Fly, London – Date TBC
MORE DATES TO BE ADDED SOON!
www.myspace.com/gracesolero
For all media enquiries please contact Tom Green on tomgreen81@googlemail.com or call 07855 939 486.
