Survey reveals roadways increasingly filled with unsafe drivers distracted by their cell phones
72% of Survey Respondents Say Current and Upcoming Texting While Driving Bans by States Will Not Alter Their Use of a Cell Phone While Driving According to Cellcontrol
cellcontrol announced a new study that shows a majority of drivers still use cell phones while on the road even though its proven to be more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. The study was conducted by odbEdge, the creator of cellcontrol, during the week of December 14, 2009, to learn about views on driving while distracted. From a pool of 100 respondents, 88 percent of drivers admitted to using their cell phone to text, email, surf the Web or have a conversation in the past 12-months. However, nearly 75 percent of the same group agreed that driving while intoxicated and texting are equally dangerous. While this shows an increased awareness of distracted driving as a problem, drivers still fail to realize that Distracted Driving is 23 times more dangerous than Driving While Intoxicated.
While great progress has been made with laws in place and awareness campaigns, the study shows that 72 percent of drivers still continue to drive and be distracted by their cell phones and other mobile devices regardless of state cell phone usage while driving bans. Solutions like cellcontrol, which works by plugging into a car’s on-board computer and uses a downloadable application and Bluetooth technology to pair to your phone, is an option to help keep drivers safe on the road and curb the habit of driving while using a cell phone.
“Cell phone use and driving is still a safety problem on our roadways and that’s why at cellcontrol our main objective is to help parents, friends, employers, etc., protect those they care about with technology that is easy and simple to use,” said Leigh Gilly, Director of Business Development of cellcontrol. “We are aimed at preventing driving while distracted to help reduce the over 500,000 injury-resulting accidents each year caused by mobile phones and other technologies used while driving.”
While cell phone use when driving spans across all age groups, teenagers draw the most attention to this national problem. If given the choice, the study shows 65 percent of parents would put their worries to rest with technology to prevent their children from driving while using their cell phones. More than 60 percent of parents would purchase a particular cell phone if they had the ability to control distracted driving as a feature option. In addition, more than 75 percent would use technology to restrict use of mobile devices while driving if they received a discount on their automobile insurance premium.
Survey questions/results included:
In the last 12 months, have you engaged in distracted driving caused by any of the following cell phone activities: texting, emailing, surfing the Web or talking on your phone?
Yes – 88.4%
No – 11.6%
If given the technology to block the use of cellular phones while operating a vehicle, on which of the following would you use the technology:
Yourself – 26.8%
Spouse or significant other – 23.2%
Children – 65.2%
Employees – 27.7%
None of the above – 17.0%
What do you consider to be more dangerous?
Driving while intoxicated – 17.0%
Driving while texting – 9.8%
They are equally dangerous – 73.2%
Has the passing of new laws prohibiting distracted driving changed the way you use your cellular phone while operating a vehicle?
Yes – 27.7%
No – 72.3%
Are you aware of any accidents in the last 12 months involving yourself, family or friends that was caused by distracted driving?
Yes – 27.7%
No – 72.3%
In purchasing cellular phones for your children or employees, would you consider the ability to control distracted driving on a specific phone type as an important feature in the buying decision?
Yes – 60.7%
No – 8%
Maybe – 31.3%
Besides cellular phones, which of the following mobile devices do you currently have or use in your personal or work vehicle?
Laptop – 28.8%
Handheld ordering device – 2.7%
MP3 player – 27.9%
GPS system – 45.9%
DVD player – 32.4%
None of the above – 27.9%
In regards to automobile insurance: Would you use technology to restrict your use of a mobile device while operating a vehicle if you received a discount on your premium for doing so?
Yes – 75.9%
No – 24.1%
In regard to automobile insurance: Would you be willing to change insurance carriers if a different carrier offered a discount that ultimately saved you money for the use of technology to stop distracted driving?
Yes — 53.6%
No – 46.4%
Source: cellcontrol
Economy and public health will benefit if clean car standards are well-designed, Group testifies
EPA Urged to Revise Proposed Zero Emission Rate for Electric Plug-In Vehicles
California’s and the nation’s economy and environment will reap significant benefits – and avoid costly impacts – if proposed federal standards to establish national vehicle greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for new cars and trucks sold in the United States “are rigorous and well-designed.” That was the testimony by a policy specialist from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) at the third and final hearing on the proposed rulemaking for the standards held by EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
“The fundamental promise of the presidential accord – and the bedrock responsibility for the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation in finalizing the proposed standards – is to achieve profound and lasting progress in national security, climate stability and economic opportunity,” testified Erica Fick, clean energy fellow for Environmental Defense Fund. “Consumers should save an estimated $3,000 over the life of each of these cleaner vehicles. We respectfully request that federal policy-makers finalize rigorous and protective standards to ensure the promise of the president’s compact is realized.”
To establish one well-designed policy, EDF challenged the EPA to reconsider how it approaches accounting for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from generating electricity to power plug-in vehicles.
“The EPA’s proposal to assign a zero greenhouse gas emission rate for the electric portion of plug-in electric vehicles seriously misses the mark,” added Fick. “EPA must ensure that the pollution associated with the upstream electricity generation that powers plug-in vehicles is fully accounted for in the emissions assigned to these vehicles.”
The proposed federal standards – based on California’s clean car law – would apply to new model year 2012 to 2016 vehicles and reduce global warming pollution from transportation nationally by an estimated 21 percent by 2030. Transportation is a major sector of emissions that accounts for about 20 percent of all greenhouse gases nationwide.
The standards would apply to vehicles that are responsible for about 40 percent of all U.S. oil consumption and, if approved, would reduce consumption of oil by 1.8 billion barrels while achieving a five percent annual improvement in fuel efficiency for the nation’s passenger vehicle fleet.
Fick noted that California has more than 30 million registered vehicles that are a major contributor to global warming pollution in the state. California’s coastline spans more than 1,000 miles, and 70 percent of California’s population lives within 60 miles of the coast. Recent analysis predicts a 1.4 meter rise in sea level by 2100 putting 480,000 people at risk. Global warming is likely to make water management more difficult, contentious and expensive by disrupting snowmelt patterns that provide drinking water for over 20 million Californians and irrigation water for California’s $30 billion agricultural industry. Heat waves are projected to become longer, hotter, and more frequent, leading to more heat-related deaths. Hotter and drier weather also will lead to harmful wildfires that threaten lives and property.
When finalized and carried out, the standards will have important societal benefits, Fick testified. They include breaking our nation’s addiction to foreign oil, encouraging domestic clean energy technologies that will lead the way in the 21st century global marketplace, and significantly reducing the global warming pollution that imperils our planet and will harm our economy. Fick said the proposal represents an important step forward in addressing the grim impacts of a changing climate, but she cautioned that to secure these critical benefits, the final standards must be rigorous and well designed by:
– Accounting for Societal Benefits of Protective Action: To maximize benefits, it is essential to fully account for extraordinary and far-reaching protections that result from reducing emissions. The full range of environmental, social, and economic impacts of emissions should be factored in when calculating carbon’s societal costs and co-benefits of the proposed standards – such as health benefits from reductions in smog-forming air pollutants – must be incorporated in economic analysis, which must also account for catastrophic impacts. The final rule must reflect this through appropriate economic assumptions and use of ethical considerations beyond the scope of economic analysis alone.
– Ensuring Fleet Mix Assumptions. Reductions to be realized by these standards are dependent on assumptions about fleet composition in
model years 2012-2016. EDF urges federal policymakers to find ways to ensure fleet mix assumptions reflect real-world fleet composition.
– Preparing for model year 2017 and beyond. The standards apply to model years 2012 through 2016. EDF urges the EPA to begin work as soon as possible to prepare standards for model year 2017 and beyond.
Information about the clean car standards rulemaking can be found at: www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm.
Source: Environmental Defense Fund
New national study of crash-involved children reaffirms recommendations for booster seat through age 8
Boosters especially effective in side impact crashes
A study released in Pediatrics by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers updated evidence that children ages 4 to 8 who are restrained in the rear seat of a car in a belt-positioning booster seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash compared with children using a seat belt alone. Furthermore, the study showed there was no difference in the level of protection offered by backless versus high back booster seats. Of those riding in booster seats, children involved in side-impact crashes saw the greatest reduction in injury risk.
Researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention studied more than 7,000 children ages 4 to 8 involved in real-world crashes between 1998 and 2007.
“We wanted to take a fresh look at booster seats’ effectiveness to reduce injury among this age group, because when we first evaluated the protective benefits of booster seats in 2002, most children using them were 4 and 5 years old,” explains lead researcher Kristy Arbogast, Ph.D., Director of Engineering at CHOP’s Center for Injury Research and Prevention. “Since then, usage rates among older kids ages 6- to 8 have tripled, and we wanted to be sure these older kids were as well-protected by booster seats as the younger ones, now that we had more data. We found that injury reduction offered by booster seats remains significant even when a greater proportion of older children are included in the study.”
Researchers attribute the sharp increase in booster seat use among older children, in part, to many states passing upgrades to their child restraint laws that require booster seats for children older than age 4. The upper age limit of these booster laws varies by state and ranges from 6 through 8 years. Passage of these laws is associated with a nearly 40% increase in child restraint use among children up to age 8. While 47 states have booster seat laws, only 25 states and the District of Columbia require booster seats for children up to at least age 8. Florida, Arizona, and South Dakota have no booster seat law. The CHOP researchers recommend policymakers work to close these gaps in the laws to cover children to at least age 8 so that parents have the best information to protect their children.
“Based this new analysis of a decade’s worth of data on children involved in crashes, policymakers, pediatricians and health educators should continue to recommend as best practice the use of belt-positioning booster seats once a child outgrows a harnessed based child restraint until he/she is at least 8 years of age,” says Dennis Durbin, M.D., M.S.C.E., Co-Scientific Director of The Center for Injury Research and Prevention and study co-author. “Additionally, these results can give confidence to parents and health educators that choosing between a high back versus a backless booster seat for their child does not represent a compromise in safety.”
More information about this study, along with videos and fact sheets for parents about how to choose and install the right child restraint for your child and you vehicle are available at www.chop.edu/carseat. Additionally, an up-to-date chart of state booster seat laws and information is available at http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx.
Study finds differing long-term effects of hand-held cellphone laws
Phoning while driving and texting behind the wheel are in the news. This is the highway safety issue of the moment, the subject of cartoons and, on a more serious side, the focus of legislation. A key question is whether such laws succeed in changing patterns of driver cellphone use.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers recently conducted a new round of observations of driver use of hand-held phones in 3 jurisdictions where the practice is banned. The findings, along with results of previous studies, reveal differing effects. In the District of Columbia, the proportion of drivers using hand-held phones dropped by about half immediately after a ban took effect in 2004. Nearly 5 years later use has edged up a little, but the decline is largely holding relative to nearby Virginia and Maryland.
The story is different in New York, the first US state to prohibit drivers from using hand-held phones in 2001. Connecticut enacted a ban in 2005. Comparing trends in these states over time, researchers found immediate effects of both laws. Cellphone use declined an estimated 76 percent in Connecticut and 47 percent in New York. But then use began going back up.
Effects of the laws over time: To quantify the long-term effects, researchers observed phone use multiple times during 2001-09 in both the study states and nearby communities without phone bans. The purpose was to estimate the proportion of drivers expected to be using hand-held phones if the laws hadn’t been enacted. By this measure, hand-held phone use was an estimated 65 percent lower in Connecticut, 24 percent lower in New York, and 43 lower in the District of Columbia than would have been expected without the laws.
In Connecticut and New York, phone use was higher in spring 2009 among women of all ages compared with men and higher among drivers younger than 25 versus 25-59 year-olds. Only 1 percent of drivers 60 and older were observed using phones.
“What’s clear from the surveys, despite some variability in their findings, is that bans on hand-held phoning while driving can have big and long-term effects, but the safety implications still aren’t clear,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “Many drivers still use their hand-held phones, even where it’s banned, and other drivers simply switch to hands-free phones, which doesn’t help because crash risk is about the same, regardless of phone type.”
Phone use, texting, and crash risk: The question of the risk associated with using various electronic devices while driving was the focus of debate at a recent summit convened by Ray LaHood, US Secretary of Transportation. Participants cited a number of studies.
For example, 2006 research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute involved instrumenting cars with video and sensors to estimate the risk associated with phoning. The main finding is an almost 3-fold increase in the odds of crashing or nearly crashing when dialing a hand-held phone. The increase is 1.3 for talking. However, this study included only 100 cars and not many crashes occurred during the study period, so the results are inconclusive.
Researchers at the same organization say the risk associated with text messaging may be much higher, based on a new study of truck drivers. The main finding is a 23-fold increase in the odds of crashing, nearly crashing, or drifting from a travel lane among truckers who texted while they drove. A limitation is that most of the incidents involved lane drift or other driver error, not crashes, and it’s unknown how such incidents relate to actual crashes.
Two studies that rely on the cellphone records of crash-involved drivers show big increases in crash risk when drivers talk on phones, whether hands-free or hand-held. The risk of a crash involving injury or property damage is 4 times as high.
Other studies have been conducted on simulators. Virtually all of these confirm that phoning impairs driving performance, and the impairment is similar for hand-held and hands-free phones.
“Whether the risk associated with phoning or texting while driving is 4-fold or 23-fold or somewhere in between, the fact of the risk is clear,” Lund points out. “Manual dialing and texting seem especially risky, but talking also involves crash risk, and drivers spend more time talking on phones than dialing.”
Besides the precise risk associated with hand-held phone use, there’s more researchers don’t know. Banning hand-held phones does reduce their use while driving, for example, but it isn’t known whether such bans also reduce crashes. Nor is it known how drivers respond when hand-held phones are banned. This has important implications concerning the laws state legislators are considering.
Laws may be difficult to enforce: The crash risk is about the same, whether drivers use hand-held or hands-free phones, so if motorists respond to hand-held bans by switching the type of phone they use, they may not be reducing crash risk. What they’re doing, though, is engaging in a practice that’s harder to curb because laws against it are harder to enforce.
“Police officers can see whether a driver is holding a phone to the ear, but it’s going to be much harder to determine if a driver is sending a text message or talking on a hands-free phone,” Lund points out.
No US state currently bans all drivers from using hands-free phones. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia prohibit beginning drivers from using any type of phone, including hands-free, but these laws are hard to enforce. This was the finding in North Carolina, where teenage drivers didn’t curtail phone use in response to such a ban, in part because they didn’t think the law was being enforced.
Technology could make a difference: The best approach would be to use technology to control how and when motorists use their cellphones. Devices are in the works that would block phone use in moving vehicles, but a problem is that such devices would block phoning by passengers as well as drivers. To get around this, some systems include a passenger mode, but it’s unclear whether drivers can be prevented from activating it to circumvent the whole purpose of the devices.
The main use of such technology may be among fleet managers to control phone use by employees or among parents who want to monitor their teenage drivers. However, phone blockers of any sort aren’t yet in widespread use, and their effects aren’t known.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Warning to motorists: Fall is peak season for deer-vehicle collisions
The I.I.I. Offers Tips to Avoid Deer-Related Accidents
Cars and deer can be a lethal combination. Deer migration and mating season generally runs from October through December, and causes a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population. As a result, more deer-vehicle collisions occur in this period than at any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially cautious, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).
The I.I.I. estimates that there are more than 1.6 million deer-vehicle collisions each year, resulting in 150 occupant deaths, tens of thousands of injuries and over $3.6 billion in vehicle damage. An additional billion dollars is spent on medical payments for injuries to people in the car and out-of-pocket expenses paid by vehicle owners, bringing the total cost to approximately $4.6 billion. The average claim for deer-vehicle collisions is $3,000, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of the damage.
Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show that three out of four vehicle-animal collisions involve deer, and that November is the peak month for these accidents. These collisions also account for tens of thousands of injuries each year, according to the National Safety Council.
“As our wildlife habitat continues to shrink, accidents with deer and other animals are likely to increase. Drivers should stay alert and pay particular attention to the sides of the road, especially during the hours just before dusk and just before daylight. “said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I.
Not only is urban sprawl displacing deer from their natural habitat, but the deer population is also growing. As a result, many of them find their way onto highways and into suburban neighborhoods, especially during deer season.
Some states experience more deer related collisions than others. According to a study of annual claims statistics, the states with the highest claim frequency are West Virginia, Michigan, Arkansas, South Dakota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Virginia.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to decrease the likelihood of being involved in a deer-vehicle collision.
Drivers should be aware of the following:
– Deer are not just found on rural roads near wooded areas; many deer crashes occur on busy highways near cities.
– Deer are unpredictable, especially when faced with glaring headlights, blowing horns and fast-moving vehicles. They often dart into traffic.
– Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely to be more in the vicinity.
Drivers should take the following precautions:
– Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland.
– Always wear your seatbelt. The IIHS reports that in a study of fatal animal crashes, 60 percent of people killed were not wearing a seatbelt. sixty-five percent of people killed in animal related crashes while riding motorcycles were not wearing a helmet.
– When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high beams will better illuminate the eyes of any deer on or near the roadway.
– Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before or after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions
– Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
– Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not proven effective.
In the event your vehicle strikes a deer, try to avoid going near or touching the animal. A frightened and wounded deer can hurt you or further injure itself. If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should call the police immediately.
Contact your insurance agent or company representative as quickly as possible to report any damage to your car. Collision with a deer or other animals is covered under the optional comprehensive portion of your automobile policy.
Source: Insurance Information Institute
Nissan LEAF Electric Car reservations to begin in the U.S. in Spring 2010
Nissan North America Targets 20,000 Reservations by Launch Near End of 2010; Will Expand Production to U.S. in 2012
In response to strong initial demand for the Nissan LEAF zero-emission electric car, Nissan North America, Inc. announced it will begin taking reservations for LEAF in spring 2010. Nearly 22,000 people in North America have contacted Nissan since the company unveiled the car in August.
“The groundswell of interest, especially from people in our initial launch markets, demonstrates to us the importance of a reservation system,” said Carlos Tavares, head of Nissan’s operations in North, Central and South America. “Our goal is to confirm at least 20,000 reservations for Nissan LEAF by the time we deliver the world’s first mass-market zero-emission car in late 2010.”
Nissan will invite people to “opt-in” and receive updates and information about LEAF through a reservation system that will tell them when the electric car is available – either for test drives or to take home. Participants will receive the latest news about the company’s zero-emission activities as well as information about Nissan LEAF and how to become “plug-in ready.”
“We’ll continue to reach out to this enthusiastic and rapidly growing group as we approach launch,” said Tavares.
About 70 percent of the people in North America who have contacted Nissan about LEAF reside in markets where the all-electric zero-emission car first will be brought to market.
Of those who have contacted Nissan, about half report that they want to obtain LEAF as soon as it’s available, and another 45 percent indicate interest in owning an electric vehicle within the next two to three years. Metro areas with the strongest consumer responses are San Diego, Calif.; Tucson, Ariz.; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; and Los Angeles – all of which are among the first markets where LEAF will be available globally.
More than 90 percent of the people who have contacted Nissan indicate that they drive less than 100 miles daily, which is the range of LEAF when fully charged. Meanwhile, 75 percent indicate that they are members of two-car households – prime candidates for an efficient commuter car like the all-electric, zero-emission LEAF.
People interested in zero-emission mobility will have the opportunity to see Nissan LEAF starting in November, on the heels of its appearance at the Tokyo Motor Show, when it will be on tour throughout the major launch markets in the United States. The tour will kick off in Los Angeles at a dedicated event.
Nissan is the only automaker committed to making all-electric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. Beginning in late 2012, Nissan will manufacture LEAF and its advanced lithium-ion battery pack for the U.S. market at the company’s plant in Smyrna, Tenn. Initially, LEAF will be manufactured in Japan.
Nissan LEAF will be available for private and fleet customers. People who wish to participate in the reservation program can visit www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car. Details about the program and pricing are being finalized.
In the United States, Nissan – in conjunction with the Renault-Nissan Alliance – is exploring ways to promote zero-emission mobility and the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure through partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County and San Diego in California, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Washington D.C., Seattle, and Raleigh, N.C. Additional partnerships will be announced in the near future.
Source: Nissan North America
Survey: U.S. drivers say texting while driving should be banned; Voice technoogy seen as safer
A national survey released today showed 86 percent of licensed U.S. drivers described handheld texting while driving as “very dangerous,” with 93 percent supporting a nationwide ban on texting – Despite strong support for a nationwide handheld texting ban, only 42 percent of respondents believe drivers would stop texting if banned. More than 75 percent believe there would be more compliance if hands-free or voice-activated technologies were widely available – Sixty-seven percent of drivers said they believed voice-activated technology is a safe alternative to handheld texting – The most recent and most complete research shows that distractions that take drivers’ eyes away from the road for an extended period of time are a factor in nearly 80 percent of accidents
The vast majority of U.S. drivers believes handheld texting while driving is very dangerous and should be banned nationwide, according to a new national survey released today.
The survey showed that 86 percent of U.S. drivers believe handheld texting while driving is “very dangerous” and 93 percent support a nationwide ban on texting. At the same time, only 42 percent of respondents believe drivers would stop texting behind the wheel if the practice was banned. However, more than 75 percent believe there would be more compliance if hands-free or voice-activated technologies were widely available.
The online survey was conducted September 18-21 by Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates on behalf of the Ford Motor Company. Ford commissioned the survey as part of its efforts to understand driver perceptions related to distracted driving. Ford last week endorsed a proposed nationwide ban on handheld texting introduced by Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).
“Research shows that activity that draws drivers’ eyes away from the road for an extended period while driving, such as text messaging, substantially increases the risk of accidents,” said Jim Vondale, director of Ford’s Automotive Safety Office. “That is why we support a nationwide ban on handheld texting while driving and why Ford has developed hands-free and voice-activated technologies to allow drivers to remain connected, but to do so while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.”
The survey shows that 67 percent of drivers said they believed voice-activated technology is a safe alternative to texting, and 76 percent said such a feature would be an appealing feature in a car.
The survey results come as the U.S. Department of Transportation is scheduled to host a summit on driver distraction in Washington, D.C., next week.
According to the survey, there is confusion among drivers over existing state laws prohibiting handheld cell phone use and/or texting while driving. Currently 18 states have enacted such bans but nearly 40 percent of drivers in these states indicated they were unaware of the ban in their own state.
Research on driving solutions
According to a NHTSA-sponsored 100-car study conducted by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, driver inattention that may involve looking away from the road for more than a few seconds is a factor in nearly 80 percent of accidents.
“A growing number of drivers are using handheld wireless communications and music-playing devices while driving,” said Dr. Louis Tijerina, Ford senior technical specialist. “Research clearly shows that manual operation of those devices that takes the driver’s eyes from the road for an extended period of time creates the kind of distraction that causes accidents.”
Ford developed the Virtual Test Track Experiment (VIRTTEX), a state-of-the-art simulator that monitors and analyzes a variety of driving behaviors. Since VIRTTEX opened in 2001, Ford has completed a number of driver distraction studies that have contributed to the development of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life teen driving education program, the MyKey(TM) programmable teen-safety feature and SYNC hands-free communication technology.
“Our studies show that teens are much more willing to take risks while driving, such as manually dialing on a mobile phone in situations that demand greater attention,” said Jeff Greenberg, senior technical leader, Ford Research & Advanced Engineering.
Survey Methodology
Penn, Schoen & Berland fielded an online poll on behalf of Ford Motor Company from September 18-21, 2009, interviewing a nationwide sample of 1,000 licensed U.S. adults drivers aged 18 years and older.
Source: Ford Motor Company
Ford researchers look to Mother Nature for clues on how to create greener, lighter plastics
Auto researchers and engineers are examining the use of lighter-weight materials and components in their quest to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ford’s distinctive approach to alternative materials is not just about the need to be lighter, however, but also about the need to be greener. The company’s use of more bio-based, recycled and reclaimed materials in production vehicles today, for example, already is resonating with the growing number of customers consciously purchasing products that are healthier for people and the planet.
Ford researchers now are looking even harder at plastics, rubber, foam, film and fabric to develop more alternative bio-based materials that are functional, durable and cost-effective, and that decrease our dependence on foreign oil.
Ford researchers are taking a hard look at traditional, petrol-based plastics, turning to Mother Nature to help create composites that are durable, lightweight and better for the environment.
While petroleum and glass fibers are typical ingredients associated with today’s automotive plastics, Ford’s research team is developing all-new composite recipes that include more natural ingredients such as soy flour, hemp, cellulose, and the sugars in corn, sugarbeets and sugarcane.
Nature made
Plastics currently make up approximately 10 percent of a vehicle, ranging from sight-unseen parts such as impact shields and engine covers to components drivers see and interact with everyday, including doors and instrument panels. Some of these plastics have fillers such as heavy glass fibers for added strength. Ford is examining the possibility of replacing those glass fibers with natural fiber reinforcements made from cellulose, soy protein, hemp fiber, flax fiber and other bio-based materials.
So far, lab test results have been promising, with the natural fiber-reinforced plastics showing up to a 30 percent weight reduction depending on the part.
Taking the idea of a greener automotive composite a step further, Ford is also working with a biodegradable plastic called polylactic acid (PLA). Derived completely from the sugars in corn, sugarbeets, sugarcane, switch grass and other plants, a plastic part made from PLA can biodegrade after its life cycle in 90 to 120 days versus up to 1,000 years in a landfill for a traditional, petroleum-based plastic.
Potential automotive applications for PLA are wide ranging, from textile applications for vehicle carpeting, floor mats and upholstery to interior trim pieces that are injection molded. More immediate possibilities include using PLA for nondurable auto applications such as protective wrappings used during vehicle manufacturing and transit.
Composite challenges
The presence of more bio-based materials in automotive plastics does pose mechanical performance, durability and process challenges that Debbie Mielewski, technical leader of Plastics Research at Ford, and her four-person biomaterials group are hot to solve.
To speed up development, the Ford team is working with several organizations and universities, including the Ontario BioCar Initiative – a multi-university effort between the University of Guelph, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and University of Windsor.
The BioCar Initiative is an Ontario government-funded project designed to advance the use of more plant-based materials in the auto and agricultural industries. Ford holds a spot on BioCar’s advisory board and directs some of the project’s automotive research with biomaterials.
Issues on the working block include:
– Moisture absorption: Natural fiber-reinforced plastics are more likely to absorb moisture over time, causing functional and durability concerns.
– Odor: Injection molding at high temperatures with a natural fiber-reinforced plastic emits an undesirable odor.
– Decomposition: PLA is designed to decompose quickly, but researchers want to make sure it will last the lifetime of a vehicle before that decomposition process starts.
Experimentation with nano filler materials in plastic composites is still on Ford’s research screen, too. Nano fillers have the potential to reduce weight while increasing strength. Early testing shows, in fact, that a plastic reinforced with 5 percent nano filler instead of the typical 30 percent glass filler has strength and lightweight properties that are better than glass. The big roadblock all nano researchers are facing today, however, is how to uniformly exfoliate or disperse the nano material within the composite so that weak spots do not occur.
Here today
Although increased usage of bio-based materials in plastics is still in the advanced research phase, Ford has already made great inroads with other bio-based, reclaimed and recycled materials that are in Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles today. They include:
– Soy-based polyurethane foams on the seat cushions and seatbacks, now in production on the Ford Mustang, Expedition, F-150, Focus, Escape,
Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner and Lincoln Navigator and Lincoln MKS. More than 1.5 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles on the road
today have soy-foam seats, which equates to a reduction in petroleum oil usage of approximately 1.5 million pounds. This year, Ford has expanded its soy-foam portfolio to include the industry’s first application of a soy-foam headliner on the 2010 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner for a 25 percent weight savings over a traditional glass-mat headliner.
– Underbody systems, such as aerodynamic shields, splash shields and radiator air deflector shields, made from post-consumer recycled resins such as detergent bottles, tires and battery casings, diverting between 25 and 30 million pounds of plastic from landfills.
– 100 percent postindustrial recycled yarns in seat fabrics on vehicles such as the Ford Escape. The 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrids feature 85 percent postindustrial yarns and 15 percent solution-dyed yarns. The 100 percent usage represents a 64 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 60 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
In addition, Ford also has led the way for other industries to capitalize on its greener material technologies, licensing its soy-based foam to companies such as Deere & Company for agricultural applications. Ford researchers also continue to welcome biomaterial discussions with other non-auto-related manufacturers of items ranging from child car seats to furniture.
The team
Ford’s Biomaterials and Plastics Research group has nearly 50 years of combined experience at Ford Motor Company in paints, plastics and other materials development.
Led by 23-year veteran Mielewski, the team includes Dr. Cynthia Flanigan, Dr. Ellen Lee, and research engineers Angela Harris and Laura Beyer. All hold varying combinations of bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D.s in the areas of environmental engineering, chemical engineering and materials science. All also hold the important title of mom, with 10 children between them.
Mielewski organized Ford’s biomaterials program in 2001, leading her team in the development of Ford’s soy-based foam seating, which was first introduced on the Ford Model U concept vehicle in 2003 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In 2007, this soy-based foam first hit the production line in the seats of the 2008 Ford Mustang, and has since won multiple awards and industry recognition.
Source: Ford Motor Company
Americans buying smaller engines; see turbocharging as fuel efficient solution
‘Cash for Clunkers’ Reveals Preference for Smaller Gas Engines; New Study Shows Awareness of Turbo Benefits Creates Dramatic Shift in Americans’ Buying Behavior
As American consumers shift their buying behavior towards more fuel efficient vehicles, turbocharging — already in use by roughly half of new vehicles in Europe — has emerged as the engine technology U.S. consumers “didn’t know they wanted.”
In a study of U.S. consumers released today by Honeywell, more than half of those who plan to purchase a vehicle in the next two years believe fuel efficiency is more important than it was during their last vehicle purchase. The study also found that more than 80% of American consumers were more likely to consider purchasing a turbocharged vehicle after learning that the readily available turbocharger helps to increase the fuel efficiency of a gas engine by up to 20% without sacrificing performance or reliability.
While Americans’ prioritization of fuel efficiency is new, their actual purchase preferences are not. According to the Department of Transportation, nine out of the ten most popular vehicles purchased in the recent ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program were equipped with smaller and more fuel-efficient versions of conventional technology engines.
“The success of the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program shows that a consumer appetite exists for fuel efficient options on traditional engine platforms that don’t sacrifice the power, reliability and price that Americans demand,” said David Paja, Vice President, Marketing for Honeywell Turbo Technologies. “For that reason, almost every major automaker has announced plans to broadly introduce turbocharged engines to the U.S. market in the coming years. We anticipate demand for gas and diesel turbocharged engines in the U.S. market may increase from 5% today to 25% by 2014 and could top 85% by 2020.”
The Honeywell study showed that while 90% of Americans had heard of turbochargers, just over half were familiar with the technology and only 36% of those people said they would consider purchasing a turbocharged vehicle. But that number jumped to over 80% when information was shared about the benefits of turbocharging. Specifically:
– Fuel efficiency, reliability and overall cost (compared to hybrid engines) were the top reasons U.S. consumers would consider buying a turbocharged vehicle.
– While 96% of Americans are familiar with hybrid technology, 84% of those same consumers said they would consider buying a turbo vehicle based on cost savings versus hybrids.
– Nine in ten U.S. consumers said they are more likely to consider buying a turbocharged vehicle after learning it increases fuel efficiency of a gas engine by up to 20% without sacrificing performance.
– 84% of Americans said they were more likely to consider a turbocharged engine when told the engines have a proven reliability track record and are now tested to last 150,000 miles or ten years.
Survey Methodology:
The survey was conducted during a one week period in August 2009. Approximately 1,000 random telephone interviews took place across the United States. Demographic weights were applied to ensure the sample accurately reflected the total population of the of U.S. adults. The survey is available by request for review.
Source: Honeywell Transportation Systems
New survey reveals effects of current economic condition on Americans relationships
Expert Shares Advice for Putting the ‘Spark’ Back into Your Relationships
No doubt about it, the economic downturn has definitely put a strain on most Americans’ pocketbooks, but according to a new survey(i), it is also having an effect on Americans’ personal relationships, changing how they keep them fresh and healthy.
While Americans seemingly value their partnerships with others, most aren’t going the extra mile to help keep the spark alive. In fact, 78 percent of adults surveyed said they now spend about the same or less time and effort maintaining their relationship with their significant other compared to before the economy turned. In a society where the divorce rate hovers near 50 percent(ii), even in more fruitful economic times, it pays to invest a little extra time and effort towards life’s significant relationships.
Beyond the unions that Americans have with their significant others, consumers spend a large portion of their lives in relationships with valued objects – like the ones they have with their cars. In fact, on average, Americans spend more than 900 hours a year in their cars(iii). Although the economic strain affects each of these relationships differently, the survey revealed that the strain Americans experience with their significant others is similarly reflected in their relationships with their vehicles.
Nearly four out of five survey respondents said that they still love driving their vehicles, and an equal number said they may keep their cars longer than originally expected given the current economic conditions. However, only one out of 10 said they now spend more time maintaining their cars compared to before the economy turned. Similarly, a mere two out of 10 said they are spending more time on their personal relationships now than before the economy turned.
Relationship expert and psychotherapist, Dr. Robi Ludwig says that during tough financial times, consumers are prone to revisit their existing partnerships and assets and may discover that they have taken things for granted over time.
“In the beginning of any relationship, people and objects are often looked at through rose-colored glasses,” says Dr. Ludwig. “There is an illusion that the things we rely on and care about will always be there and work for us.”
According to Dr. Ludwig, our lives are made up of a series of relationships that are just as dependant on us as we are on them and they all require unconditional love, time and attention.
“Over the course of time, it’s important that we embrace the realities and flaws of our existing relationships, focus on their strengths and embrace the fact that the little things we do go a long way,” says Dr. Ludwig.
To help Americans put “the spark” back into their valued relationships- whether it’s with their significant others, vehicles, or both, Dr. Ludwig offers some simple tips to help keep them running younger for longer – without combusting your time or your wallet.
Renew your vow to love your partner unconditionally. According to the BP ‘Renew Your Vows and Valves Survey,’ less than 10 percent of the married adults surveyed have taken the time to renew their vows. Dr. Ludwig insists that you don’t have to walk down the aisle again to recite your vows – a simple “I love you” says it all. Or rewrite your vows on a piece of paper and recite them to each other over dinner.
Be thoughtful and supportive. If you know your significant other is running late for work, start their car for them in the morning. This is especially nice during the colder months. Compliments and daily greetings are also appreciated.
Ditch the mobile devices every now and then. Set aside some time to spend together, whether it’s over coffee in the morning, or taking a leisurely drive in the evening to wind down – and leave your cell phones, laptops and other mobile devices out of the equation to allow for decent conversation.
Record important relationship-related dates in your calendar. Be mindful of your anniversary date or your partner’s birthday and extend a thoughtful gesture, without breaking the bank. According to the survey, 55 percent of adults will spend less money this year on birthday or anniversary gifts as a result of the economic crisis. Instead of a big ‘to-do,’ cook dinner or write a home-made love note.
Seventy-three percent of those surveyed said they felt excited, proud or accomplished when they first purchased their car. Dr. Ludwig points out that Americans are reliant on a car for the pragmatics and enjoyments of life, but that same car is not going to continue working for them in the long run without proper care in the short-term.
“While your significant other relies on you to love them unconditionally, a car relies on you for regular check-ups and maintenance too,” says Dr. Ludwig. “That means that just as you renew your ‘vows’ or commitment to your significant other, it also pays to renew your ‘vows,’ or in this case, ‘valves’ with your vehicle.”
Nearly 80 percent of survey respondents said that given the current state of the economy, they may keep their cars longer than originally expected; and overall, a relationship with a car is a long-term investment for most of those surveyed (68 percent plan on keeping their vehicle for more than five years). But despite the desire for longevity, 90 percent of adults surveyed said they spend the same or less time maintaining their cars compared to before the economy turned.
However, by following a few simple tips from BP, Americans can pledge their love to their cars and vow to help them run younger for longer.
Run your car through a neighborhood car wash once a week. Dust, debris, salt and sludge can accumulate on the outside of your vehicle throughout the year. Taking your car through a car wash will protect the paint and keep it looking shiny and clean.
Check the air pressure in your tires each season. Remember to inspect tread depth and sidewalls for hairline cracks or any signs of deterioration. Be sure to replace your tires when the tread wears down to 1/16 of an inch.
Fill up with a quality fuel. At the pump, be sure to fill up with a quality fuel like BP gasoline with Invigorate to help your car run younger for longer .
Replenish fluids. To ensure a smoother ride, check the level of all your car’s fluids weekly and replenish when needed.
(i) The survey interviewed 1,001 adults ages 30 – 59 living in the United States, who own or lease a car and are married, partnered or living with a significant other. The survey was conducted during a four-day period starting July 30, 2009 by Richard Day Research. The margin of error for a random sample of this size is +/- 3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level
(ii) Divorcerate.org. “It is frequently reported that the divorce rate in America is 50%. This data is not accurately correct, however, it is reasonably close to actual. The Americans for Divorce Reform estimates that ‘Probably, 40 or possibly even 50 percent of marriages will end in divorce if current trends continue.’ which is actually a projection.”
(iii) 2003 Arbitron In-Car Survey conducted by Edison Media Research
Source: BP