Cell phones take attention away from driving, to the point that some states won’t let you use anything but a hands-free device in your car. But are cell phones the only problem? Not according to some of the latest research. Your attention can be pulled from the road by:
- Cell phones
- GPS devices
- Radios
- Paper maps
- Eating
- Talking to Passengers
- Sleepy or Overly Tired Drivers
- Intoxicated or “Buzzed” Drivers
- Angry Drivers
- Any Attention Shift Away from Driving Itself
Federal agencies would like to outlaw using cell phones at all in a vehicle, even if you have hands-free devices. Even people who tend to obey non-texting laws while moving can be seen texting or playing a game on their phone as soon as they reach a red light.
It may be too late to try to pull drivers totally away from their cell phones, including the use of hands-free devices. Virtually every driver has a phone, and your attention is naturally pulled to answer it when it rings or vibrates. The state laws in effect now that prohibit texting and all but hands-free talking are not strictly enforced in many states.
It’s Not Just Cell Phones
Over 3000 fatalities on US roads in 2010 were related to drivers who were distracted in some way. So, should GPS units be banned, too? Many people attempt to program these units while they are driving. And, given that the current laws are not enforced well enough, would more laws help? And even if they did, paper maps or written directions are more dangerous to use, arguably, than GPS units.
Factory-installed radios can pull a driver’s attention away from the road, and it only takes a second or two to possibly cause a catastrophic accident. Changing stations or CD’s can take your attention away for that long, easily. When you do this, you also divert your focus from far-off to close-up, and it takes time to get your focus back, when you look up again.
Driving while dining has been a problem for a long time. Even those people who do it all the time will be especially distracted if something falls off the sandwich, wrap or other item they are eating. Business people will be worried that their clothes will get stained, but even if that’s not a concern, it’s a natural reaction to try to grab whatever has fallen off.
Likewise, when you are talking with a passenger in your vehicle, especially if it’s a heated discussion, your attention can be drawn from the road to the inside of your car. Talking to someone in the back seat and trying to pull your attention to a point behind you is even more dangerous.
How Else Are Drivers Distracted?
If you are very tired, you should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle, but with commutes getting longer, not shorter, that makes it hard to get home from work by following that rule. Many people work much longer hours than the old nine-to-five, and they often are communicating with Bluetooth devices on the road, as well.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has long been a problem on the road. It was a severe problem even when it was mainly alcohol as the cause, but now it’s worse, with the addition of many different kinds of drugs, both legal and illegal, that can cause you to become drowsy or even hyper-alert.
What if you see another driver on the cell phone, even when you’re not? That and many other instances, like lane changing and offensive driving, can cause road rage, which is another prominent cause of critical accidents. Keep your mind on your own driving and your hands on the wheel, and drive defensively, so that you can avoid all the people who are not doing so.
Citations
www.kanetix.ca
www.time.com
www.drivers.com
www.automotive-fleet.com
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The world of hybrids is no longer a car and truck field since the debut of big hybrid trucks from manufacturing giants such as Peterbilt, International and Mack. With the introduction of these new vehicles, emissions and diesel consumption has drastically been reduced.
Peterbilt was one of the first companies to offer big hybrid trucks and when they first announced the new technology they offered it in Class 6 and Class 7 models. Class 6 models such as the 320 and 330 have a gross vehicle weight rating of 19,501 to 26,000 lbs and are primarily used for short-haul work. Class 7 vehicles such as the 337 and 348 require a Class B license to operate, have a GVWR of 26,001 to 33,000 lbs and operate in many roles including utility trucks and tow trucks.
As of 2011 Peterbilt expanded the hybrid models to include Class 8 vehicles which require a Class A license to operate. The Class 8 vehicles are better known as Tractor Trailers or Semi trucks and have a GVWR of 33,000 pounds and above. The Peterbilt 386 model is helping owners and operators improve fuel efficiency through aerodynamics and hybrid technology.
Mack trucks are also joining the hybrid revolution and have designed the new TerraPro low end refuse truck. The TerraPro is being operated by New York sanitation drivers who are collecting valuable data which is being used to improve the trucks. Mack and the U.S. Air Force have come together to create a new technology to power hybrid aircraft refueling vehicles. The technology captures braking energy and converts it into electric power which is then stored for later use.
The new technology is expanding beyond the original refuel trucks and is being incorporated into a line of Mack dump trucks. Along with their parent company Volvo, Mack is working to encourage governments to provide tax incentives for privately owned companies. By promoting the new electric drive technology, Mack is helping clean up the environment one truck at a time.
When it comes to a universal design, International has the edge hands down with their DuraStar 4300 hybrid truck. The 4300 is adaptable to any situation, meaning it can take on any role including an ambulance, Utility Boom Arm truck, refuse truck, tow truck and many more. International has cornered the market for medium sized big trucks with the DuraStar 4300 with its endless application possibilities.
Thanks to the innovative hybrid technology used in the International DuraStar 4300, owners are receiving up to 60% savings on annual fuel bills. In roles such as utility vehicles, the DuraStar is reducing fuel costs by up to 40% compared to their diesel powered rivals.
Manufacturers of big hybrid trucks are on the right track and continue to improve on previous designs to help make the world a better place. In addition, owners and operators are reaping the rewards in the form of lower fuel costs and improved emissions which help their pocketbooks along with helping the environment. Time to trade in those old used trucks!
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Small business owners have specific needs when it comes to car insurance. Whether you are unfamiliar with the details of automobile insurance or think you know all there is to know about your policy, following a few tips can save you a possible runaround with your insurance company when you need them most.
1. Make sure you are covered for your business driving.
Believe it or not, running to the bank to withdraw funds for your business cash drawer can be considered business use. If business use is something you do on a rare occasion, chances are your policy will cover you if anything happens while you are driving your car for work. If you drive your truck or car on a regular basis for work, contact your insurance agent and ask if you are covered for your use on a personal auto policy or if you need a business policy.
2. Let your insurance company know about any modifications to your vehicle.
Modifications on your vehicle can make your car insurance more expensive, leading many people to believe they should avoid mentioning customizations to their insurance company. On the other hand, if you have an accident your built-in tool box might not be covered, and anything that alters your vehicle’s performance might void your policy all together. Be on the safe side and mention these changes to your company to make sure you are covered if anything happens.
3. Keep clients out of your car.
Whether your clients are daycare children or marketing partners, it is better to let them drive their own vehicle and keep them out of yours. Driving business clients increases your liability, and your client can sue you if you have an accident while he is riding with you. If your business includes driving clients on a regular basis, make sure you have adequate insurance coverage on both your automobile insurance and your business insurance.
4. Cover expensive business tools somewhere else.
Automobile insurance is designed to protect your car and those items that are permanently attached to it. If you carry any business tools such as a work laptop or construction tools, you should be sure they are covered on another policy. Homeowners policies and business policies are your best bet, since automobile policies usually only cover a couple hundred dollars worth of personal items.
5. Tell your company how your car title is listed.
If you list your vehicle’s title in your business name, or even if there is simply a co-owner listed, be sure to let your auto insurance company know. If you have an accident and the insurance company needs to write off your vehicle as a total loss, you will be grateful you did. Having business partnerships listed on the car’s title can cause a delay in receiving your money from the insurance company if they have to track down your partner for a signature. Having everything prepared beforehand will save everyone from future headaches.
When it comes to automobile insurance, honesty is usually the best policy. Be up front with your insurance agent about how your vehicle is used for your business to make sure you are covered the way you should be as a small business owner.
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Every person who drives in Canada must carry auto insurance. Every province in Canada requires a driver to be covered for his or her own medical expenses and loss of income when it relates to an auto accident injury. The main purpose of auto insurance is to be protected against vehicle damage and bodily injury.
Government Insurers
Auto insurance can be purchased from private insurance companies in all ten of the provinces; however in Saskatchewan, BC, and Manitoba the minimum required auto insurance is sold by the government, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. Additional coverage can be purchased through a private insurer.
Liability Insurance
Third party liability coverage worth $200,000 ($50,000 in Quebec) is also required in Canada. This covers any other person and their property, should there be an accident. Your driving history, age, marital status, and the vehicle you drive determines what type of car insurance premiums you will have to pay for liability insurance.
Collision and Comprehensive Insurance
Collision and comprehensive coverage is mandatory only if financing a motor vehicle. Collision covers damage to the insured’s vehicle. Comprehensive coverage is for vandalism, theft, falling objects damaging the vehicle, and other unavoidable events such as fire. If you are worried about damage to your vehicle, it is wise to purchase collision insurance, even though it isn’t mandatory.
The amount of collision coverage to purchase is contingent on the value of your vehicle. What if you paid hardly any money for your car. For example, a Jaguar costs more than a Volkswagen. Evidently, the premium will be higher and the amount of coverage more extensive for a person who owns a new Jaguar, than for a person who owns an old Volkswagen. After all, if you spent little money for your car, why insure it for tens of thousands of dollars. Remember, your insurance company is only obligated to pay up to its cash value.
If you cause an accident, and the other driver has no liability insurance, collision insurance will take care of the expenses for your damages. If you and the driver are at odds as to who is at fault, and a court battle ensues, collision insurance will pay for your repairs and take over the claim against the other driver while the court case develops. In addition, if your insurance company is ethical they will return the deductible to you if you win. Collision insurance will also pay for damages if you hit a tree, pole, or other inanimate object.
No-Fault Insurance
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, if you are injured and/or your car is damaged in an auto accident, no fault insurance will pay for the injuries and damages immediately. You do not have to go after the other driver, even if he is at fault. Conversely, instead of waiting for the insurance companies to figure out who is at fault, you get your medical and repair needs met right away. It does not matter who is at fault. What matters is that you purchased no-fault insurance, and that is what is saving the day for you.
How to decide how much insurance to purchase can be arduous if you don’t do the research. The way to do research is to shop around. We hope that these tips will also aid with your decisions while shopping for the right car insurance for you.
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Throughout Canada, auto insurance companies such a State Farm, one of the largest suppliers of auto insurance, have relied on AutoPlus for nearly the past two decades to report on vehicle repair history in effort to properly underwrite policies for their customers. While this has proven somewhat effective over the years, there are still a number of policy owners who may not report minor repairs, or even omit some repair history in effort to subvert the auto insurance company’s policies and obtain lower premium rates on their individual car insurance.
Recently, technological giant CGI has rolled out what it is calling Enhanced AutoPlus. The
Enhanced AutoPlus system is designed to capture a much more accurate picture of a vehicle’s accident and repair history in effort to have better data in which with they can underwrite premiums for their new and existing customers. Bringing to light much of the fraud which currently plagues the industry, as well as working to act as a deterrent to those individuals considering potential fraud, Enhanced AutoPlus is being highly welcomed by the bulk of Canadian auto insurance companies.
One of the primary benefits that CGI is touting with the implementation of Enhanced AutoPlus is that although rates may be going up for drivers with a less than stellar driving record, over time, those increased premiums partnered with good driving records on the part of other drivers may mean lower premiums for drivers with better driving records. Although this decrease in premiums for good drivers may not be immediate, CGI is confident these decreased premiums will be realized sooner rather than later.
With the current AutoPlus system in place today, although it has served its purpose, the industry is claiming to lose millions of dollars annually due to what it refers to as “premium leakage”, or premiums they cannot collect on because they do not currently have an accurate picture of what a vehicle’s repair history might be. That being said, CGI has gone on record as stating for every dollar the insurance industry invests into the Enhance AutoPlus system, it can expect to make $85 in additional ROI. With a potential annual return of over $300 million, there is not much preventing the auto insurance industry to jump at this opportunity.
Not everyone is thrilled with these latest technological innovations though, as many Canadian citizens see this as nothing more than an opportunity for Big Business to continue increasing their individual revenues at the expenses of the country’s working class. Some officials, most of whom support a government-run auto insurance system, are touting this to the masses as another “cash grab” on the part of private business.
As a brief rundown, here a some of the pros and cons of implementing this new system:
Pros
• Continued focus on accuracy when it comes to underwriting premiums
• Increased accuracy will lead to uncovering or deterring fraud against the industry
• Less fraud may result in lower premiums for customers
• Lower premiums for better drivers may promote safer driving
Cons
• Increased perception of Big Business taking care of themselves and the citizens expense
• Cost-savings realized by auto insurance industry may not be passed on to consumer as anticipated
• System is not full proof, so some fraud will continue to occur
In closing, the Enhanced AutoPlus system provides some internal oversight for companies looking to protect themselves from fraud and promote safer driving from their customers. Additionally, there are increased revenues this system will initially bring in. How companies opt to distribute said revenues will dictate the overall success of the system itself.
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