A new test program by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the performance of front crash prevention systems to help consumers decide which features to consider and encourage automakers to speed adoption of the technology. The rating system is based on research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) indicating that forward collision warning and automatic braking systems are helping drivers avoid front-to-rear crashes.
Drivers of vehicles with good small overlap front ratings from the Insurance Institute from Highway Safety can expect to be protected well in a frontal crash involving the left corner of the vehicle. But how would the passengers sitting next to them fare in a right-side small overlap crash? A new study shows that good protection doesn’t always extend across the front seat.
The Institute conducted 40 mph passenger-side small overlap tests on seven small SUVs with good driver-side small overlap ratings. Only one of the vehicles, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, performed at a level corresponding to a good rating, and the others ran the gamut from poor to acceptable.
The results have prompted IIHS to consider instituting a passenger-side rating as part of its TOP SAFETY PICK criteria.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7856251-ad-council-embrace-refugees/
The list of winners of the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award is longer than ever this year, with vehicles in nearly every size category the Institute evaluates earning accolades. From minicars to sedans to pickups, consumers have a record number of choices among 2012 models.
In all, 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans, and 3 pickups earn TOP SAFETY PICK. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes based on ratings in Institute evaluations. The ratings, which cover all 4 of the most common kinds of crashes, help shoppers pick vehicles that offer the highest levels of crash protection. Because the federal government now requires all 2012 and later passenger vehicles to have electronic stability control to help drivers avoid loss-of-control crashes, ESC no longer is a requirement to win as it was in prior years.
The winners’ circle includes 18 new recipients for 2012, while 97 models that previously qualified for the 2011 award carry over to 2012.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is warning drivers to take their keys and lock their vehicles, or risk becoming a statistic. Some 45,000 drivers last year admitted that they had left their keys in the car when it was stolen.
“This may sound like a broken record,” said NICB President and CEO Joe Wehrle. “But the simple fact is, too many people make it easy for car thieves. We repeatedly warn motorists to lock it up and take the keys, but our research shows that in too many cases, that’s not happening. Today’s vehicles have excellent anti-theft systems, but they don’t work if you don’t use them.”
The new PSA, “If Only Cars Could Talk,” uses animated cars to drive home the point that a thoughtless driver may regret the decision to leave the car unlocked with the keys inside because they are only making a quick stop.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7523154-nicb-psa-warns-of-car-and-cargo-theft/
Do you know the three most important tips when it comes to caring for your tyres? For more detail you can check it to our website www.tyrepower.com.au/. Learning and implementing general tyre maintenance will help extend the life of tyres. Driving style is a key component. A conservative driving style will ensure even tread wear and prolong tyre life. Tread wear is an issue that not all drivers are aware of. Follow these simple tips so you can check the tread wear on your tyres and replace them before they become dangerous to drive on. Once a tyre has less than 1.6 mm of tread wear it is no longer roadworthy and must be replaced. This video shows you how to measure tread wear and what signs to look out for. Parking is also a key element of tyre care. High impact contact with kerbs and other barriers or structures may damage your tyres. If in doubt about any aspects of tyre care, tread wear or when to replace tyres, contact your nearest Tyrepower store for expert and friendly advice.
Hybrids have a safety edge over their conventional twins when it comes to shielding their occupants from injuries in crashes, new research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shows. On average, the odds of being injured in a crash are 25 percent lower for people in hybrids than people traveling in nonhybrid models.
The new finding is more good news for green-minded drivers who don’t want to trade safety for fuel economy. Not so long ago, car buyers had to choose between the two because fuel-efficient cars tended to be smaller and lighter. Now, consumers have more options than ever when it comes to picking an environmentally friendly — and crashworthy — vehicle.
For more information, go to: www.iihs.org
National Tire Safety Week is an industry-wide initiative that educates drivers about the importance of proper tire care. Summer is the season for road trips, so now is a good time to brush up on your tire maintenance knowledge. Remember though, tire safety is critical all year round.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7127551-michelin-tire-rack-street-survival-announces-national-program-schedule
The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ) announces the company’s new protocol for rental car maintenance and cleanliness, Hertz Certified Clean & Safe, which is being rolled out to all Hertz airport and suburban locations in the U.S. For the first time, the company is sharing with customers each step taken, which includes a 35 point checklist, to prepare every car and verify the vehicle is certified clean and safe before it’s rented. Once the vehicle is certified, a card signed by the representative preparing it for rental is placed on the vehicle’s steering column to reassure the customer it has been certified clean and safe.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7257855-hertz-launches-certified-clean-and-safe-rental-vehicle-program/
Just over half of 2018 model vehicles evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are available with headlights that do an adequate job of lighting the road at night and limiting glare for oncoming drivers, but most good-rated headlights are optional or bundled with other features that can raise the price of the vehicle.
Since IIHS released its first headlight ratings for passenger vehicles in 2016, most manufacturers have focused on improving this key safety component. That year, only 2 of 95 headlight systems on 2016-model vehicles evaluated earned a good rating.
For the 2018 model year, the best-available headlights on 32 of 165 models evaluated earn the highest rating of good, and the best-available headlights on 58 models earn the second-highest rating of acceptable. Thirty-two models have only marginal-rated headlights, while poor-rated headlights are the only ones available for 43 models.
Re-fueling at the pump is a constant source of horror for most drivers, with prices of 1.50 euros per liter of Super now the norm. So it only makes sense that our scientists should be searching for a way to cure us of our petroleum addiction. And the solution could come from advanced, high-efficiency electric motors. This is the domain of electric mobility, which has its own dedicated tradeshow at HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading industrial technology fair. The latest electric mobility technology promises to save not just money, but the environment as well.
