driver safety

DOT Updates Driverless Car Guidelines

January 31, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

More self-driving cars and trucks will be taking to American highways throughout 2020 and beyond–and it looks like the U.S. Department of Transportation is working to ensure this momentum continues.

Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation announced the guidelines of U.S. DOT’s newly released AV 4.0, an updated policy regarding autonomous vehicle technology, on January 8th at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.

The guidelines are titled “Ensuring American Leadership in Automated Vehicle Technologies,” and Chao explained that AV tech can include everything from automated brakes to lane-departure warning systems to adaptive cruise control.

The department’s goal is to continue development of these innovations while still focusing on safety. AV 4.0 has three underlying principles–prioritizing safety, promoting innovation, and ensuring consistent regulation.

“Safety is always Number One at the U.S. Department of Transportation,” Chao said. However, a Department of Transportation commitment is “remaining technology-neutral” as well as “protecting American innovation and creativity.”

AV 4.0 will consist of a set of regulations and principles throughout 38 different federal departments, agencies, and offices around the country. It will aim to specify particular steps which state and local government agencies and technology experts can take to further the development and implementation of driverless vehicles.

“The federal government is all in for safer, better, and more inclusive transportation aided by automated driving systems,” according to Chao.

This is one of the first big pushes for country-wide guidelines, as annual guidelines since 2016 have been called for regulation along the lines of “voluntary guidance.” Although the federal government does set the safety standards for AVs, states control their own licensing. For example, the Department of Motor Vehicles in California has its had its own regulations regarding insurance as well as how safety officials should be informed of driverless vehicles deployed in the area.

Now, Automated Vehicles 4.0 will be the first system of federal oversight.

Its guidelines also align with the Trump administration’s support of AV tech and possibilities for collaboration–like research resources and federal AV sector investments.

“We quickly realized that the autonomous vehicle question is not one that is housed solely at the Department of Transportation,” said Michael Kratsios, U.S. Chief Technology Officer. “You have a federal government which has come together and said, ‘We want the U.S. to lead in this domain.’”

Although AV technology has been progressing more slowly than expected, the innovation is still moving forward. Google’s driverless car offshoot, Waymo, currently operates in Phoenix as a commercial robotaxi service and also offers driverless rides on Silicon Valley public roads (to employees and guests only).

Additionally, Florida tech companies Beep and Voyage are testing driverless shuttles in retirement communities, and Ford is currently experimenting with a robotaxi service in Miami. In Arizona and Florida, Waymo, TuSimple, and Starsky Robotics are operating automated driving trucks on public highways.

Chao believes AV 4.0 is an inevitable step in traffic safety’s future. She explained that driverless vehicles will be able to improve overall road safety while also reducing traffic congestion and giving more options of mobility for those currently facing transportation setbacks.

“Transportation today is synonymous with innovation,” she said, “and transportation is going to be as instrumental in America’s future as it has been since our nation’s founding. We are preparing for the transportation of the nation’s future.”

However, there are reasons for AV development delays–multiple driverless vehicle-related accidents, such as the incident involving a pedestrian on a highway who was hit and killed by an automated Uber car in 2018. Still, AV manufacturers say they are working to be as responsible and efficient as possible.

These guidelines will focus solely on the development of driverless cars, not on vehicles with some automated capabilities that still require a human driver’s presence and attention, such as ‘Level 2’ automation which includes driver-assist options, like Tesla’s Autopilot and Cadillac’s SuperCruise.

PAVE, a driverless vehicle industry and consumer coalition, was formed in 2019 in order to educate both policymakers and the public on this technology as well as to address any safety concerns.

“Realizing the vast potential of AVs will require collaboration and information sharing, among all institutions involved, said Chao.

Holidays and Winter Weather Remind Drivers to be Cautious on the Roads

December 8, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

This year, while Americans around the country were preparing for Thanksgiving and the festivities that accompany lengthy travel times, dreaded late-night drives, and full stomachs, we were all reminded just how busy our lives can get and the chaos that ensues when we are all trying to do the same thing and get to the same place. According to AAA, the expectation this year was that 55 million vehicles were set to hit the road, traveling more than 50 miles for the holiday. That is quite the number and goes to show how reliant our culture is on the ability to travel to visit our family, friends, and loved ones.

Besides stating the obvious that 55 million drivers on the roads present serious traffic concerns and safety violations, we wanted to bring attention to the fact that throughout the United States, especially in the Midwest, weather concerns present a serious issue that unfortunately cannot go unnoticed. It is true, Chicago and the rest of the Midwest get freezing cold. We experience brutal snowstorms, yet we somehow find ways to hit the roads and make certain that we get to where we are going. However, what we often don’t think about is the fact that these severe changes in weather present far more serious issues underneath the pavement that should make us worried about more than just the road being “clear.” We have written countless times about how potholes form due to cold weather and snow atop the roads, leaving many drivers unaware that even driving over one could potentially result in a blown out tire or the inability to properly turn. These are the types of issues we want to ensure all Americans are aware of because they truly come out of nowhere.

Chicago has recently announced that it is doing what it can to address issues involving potholes, going as far as conducting Blitz Days that serve as days dedicated for only refilling potholes throughout the city. While that may seem excessive, the reality is that Chicago has issues with road infrastructure throughout the entire city. You may be asking, so what, these issues are common and happen throughout the whole country. While it is true that potholes are common, other parts of the United States do not experience the snowstorms and inclement weather that we do. Sure, hitting a pothole is tough and may result in as little as a damaged tire; however, what occurs when you throw a snowstorm or the common “snow day” on top of that incident. You very well could be left waiting on the side of the road, or worse placing others in danger by continuing to drive with a damaged tire. That’s what this serves as. A simple reminder that while the pothole you attempt to avoid is an issue the city needs to address; you are responsible for how you drive after passing over such obstacles on the road.

With us now being in the thick of Holiday season, remember that the traffic and road chaos will only increase. Sure, the more traffic there is, the slower we are driving, but it has been shown time and again that more traffic results in far more dangerous roads. Again, this may be common sense, but it’s true that these road dangers go unnoticed. Remember, we are responsible for how we drive on the roads, even after a slight “hiccup” such as running over a pothole occurs. Do your neighbor a favor and be extra cautious. When you have 55 million drivers on the road, it’s the best you can do.

Chicago Announces New Plan to Reduce Downtown Congestion

November 1, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

On October 18^th, City officials announced two new initiatives to reduce downtown congestion and increase the use of Chicago’s bus system. Through the new initiatives, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that ride-share apps will see an increase in fees, specifically downtown and in the surrounding areas. Additionally, Lightfoot announced the city would be adding additional bus-only lanes throughout the city to incentivize public transportation.

Both of the announcements follow what has been a long-awaited response by Chicago’s administration to curb the significant increase in ridesharing occurring throughout the city, which has clearly had a negative effect on the use of public transportation for downtown commuters. After the announcement, Curbed Chicago provided a breakdown of how Uber and Lyft users would be affected by the new initiative. For starters, “the new proposal would decrease the amount for shared trips to 65 cents and increase single rides to $1.25.” In doing this, the city is hoping to clearly incentivize riders to think about carpooling. However, this isn’t nearly as aggressive as Chicago’s special downtown zone fee, which will see the single trip fee increase $2.28 to $3.00. Curbed Chicago goes on to explain that “the downtown zone fees would apply between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and the proposed downtown area includes the Loop, River North and a portion of the West Loop. The boundary streets include: Lake Shore Drive, Roosevelt Road, Desplaines Street, Van Buren Street, Ashland Avenue, Grand Street, North Branch Canal, North Avenue.”

Overall, these are drastic announcements by the city. No matter the public policy at hand, commuters are likely to not take too lightly to a two dollar increase in taxes and fees for every ride they try and catch in the downtown area. For many, especially those living in nearby neighborhoods, there is going to be dissatisfaction. With that being said, we can only hope that such a decision will bring positive results not only for traffic congestion, but for rider and pedestrian safety as well. As we have written countless times, traffic congestion brings unwarranted dangers to those in the city. For example, it was announced in the 2019 Urban Mobility Report that Chicago commuters lost a total of $1,307 annually due to traffic congestion, which was the result of vehicle damage, wasted gasoline, and many other factors associated with increases in traffic. More shocking, according to TRIP, the National Transportation Research Nonprofit, traffic congestion studied as recently as 2016 showed that the trucking industry lost a total of $74.5 billion due to the operational costs associated with traffic. All of this establishes that while it may appear absurd and a downright overreach to drastically increase taxes and fees associated with ridesharing in Chicago, there is far more at play then giving the city money for failing to take public transportation. We should hope that driver safety and vehicle costs are one of those primary factors.

Chicago’s New Bus Initiative

Along with the new fees for ridesharing comes an initiative to revamp and give an incentive to the public in taking the bus system. “The Bus Priority Zone Program will bring bus-only lanes, queue jump signals, and better traffic light timing to some of Chicago’s highest ridership routes,” writes Curbed Chicago. As a result of the $20 million dollar plan, the goal is to remove “slow zones, bottlenecks, delays, and bunched up buses that come one right after the other.”

Curbed Chicago also had the opportunity to speak with the Executive Director of Active Transportation Alliance, an organization that advocates for providing safe walking, bicycling, and public transit options in communities. Executive Director Melody Geraci stated that “transportation is the great but invisible connector between people and opportunity. We don’t think about it as much as we think about affordable housing, or access to grocery stores and jobs but all of those things are only connected if we have a great transportation system.” Geraci went on to state that since 2008, Chicago had also seen its bus ridership decrease by 28 percent. Ultimately, this goes hand in hand with the issues that traffic congestion brings as well. Commuters do not want to sit in traffic on a bus filled with other people they don’t know. They would much rather be in their own vehicle or be driven, if they have the means to do so. With that being said, the city’s approach to enhance the bus experience throughout the city will certainly bring positive results if done correctly. For starters, we will all be better off with fewer cars on the road. It will not only help with increasing the air quality in downtown, but it was increase traffic safety. For us, that is the most critical aspect of this new plan. If the city initiates these proposals and traffic does decrease as a result, we should see that as a huge win for Chicago. The better chance of keeping vehicles and drivers off the road, the better position drivers are to get to their destination safely.

Big Improvements with Volvo Driver Assist System

October 19, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

VIRGINIA – Volvo Trucks North America is implementing a new, improved driver assistance system with recognition of lane switches to avoid other vehicles, as well as an update that allows brakes to stop at a much higher speed without driver action.

Volvo Active Driver Assist 2.0 is a new collision mitigation system which utilizes both camera and radar technology to sense traffic conditions around the vehicle, maintain safe following distance, and give visual and audio alerts for the driver to take immediate action in the case of a hazard. If there is no input from the driver, active emergency braking is able to stop the truck on its own.

The safety system is now able to stop a truck–completely–at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, and will be the new standard on Volvo’s VNL and VNR series as well as an optional system on its VNX lines.

The primary version of this system, implemented in 2017, was only able to bring a truck to a stop from up to 35 miles per hour. Now, even if the truck is traveling faster than 50 miles per hour and must be brought to an emergency stop, the updated system can reduce the truck’s speed by 50 miles per hour overall, and reduce the potential damage of impact in a collision.

“If the truck is going 65 mph, it can shave 50 mph off that speed, so it is a 15 mpf crash,” said Allison Athey, VTNA’s product marketing manager for the VNL truck line.

She also said the improved driver assistance system includes an updated version of multi-lane braking with an even better ability to detect when a truck leaves its lane in order to avoid a nearby vehicle. “It always detected vehicles in both lanes, but when the truck would change lanes, it would have to take a second to recalculate and then begin to automatically emergency brake again if it was required,” Athey explained.

Now, there is no longer a need for any recalculation.

Additionally, the system now includes adjustable volume overrides for its lane-change warning capabilities, along with a new feature which allows the driver to, in particular situations, turn the system off for up to 10 minutes.

A new Highway Departure Warning and Braking function will also slow down the truck to a pre-selected speed if there is no corrective action by the driver after a lane-departure safety warning has been given, and if the system senses that the vehicle may be moving away from the drivable highway.

The system also takes advantage of new safety technology for driver awareness support, with a driver-facing camera with easy data capture, and adaptive cruise control that now includes an “auto resume” feature, also known as “slow and go.”

In other new developments, Volvo has also introduced a new steering system of its Class 8 trucks, which aims to reduce steering force up to 85% in order to help reduce driver fatigue and its dangerous effects.

This system is called Volvo Dynamic Steering, and includes an electric motor set above the truck’s steering gear. Trucks will have sensors that can measure input of over 2,000 times per second to determine steering wheel response, while also monitoring driver behavior, road conditions and environmental obstacles in order to make necessary safety adjustments.

VTNA says VDS is designed to help drivers in their ability to work around obstacles in road conditions, on everything from rugged terrain to difficult, tight maneuvers in urban areas. VDS will also include a return-to-center function, which will allow the steering wheel to return to center and help drivers better handle maneuvering in narrow spots or while in reverse. It will also have a new “lead/pull compensation” capability, which will provide a torque offset in its steering system to help navigate crowned roads, crosswinds, and other tricky conditions that can temporarily negatively impact driving.

These new features went into production in mid-September, and, according to Athey, will continue undergoing improvements until the end of next year. VDS will be available in early 2020 and Active Driver Assist 2.0 will become standard on 2021 VNL and VNR models.

Volvo plans to work toward a goal of having zero Volvo truck-related collisions, but is counting on customer cooperation, according to Ash Makki, VTNA’s product marketing manager for technology. “This is something we have been working on diligently for years, but it is a goal that we can reach by ourselves,” he explained. “We can build the best active safety features, but if my customers don’t buy into it–see the value–is that going to work? So we have been pushing hard to our customers right now.”

Makki also says all of Volvo’s safety features are standard, but not mandated. “So the customer has an option,” he assured. “But, we have been telling our customers, ‘Why would you even think about doing that?’”

“Providing state-of-the-art features that improve drivers’ physical working conditions and comfort is an important aspect of driver satisfaction,” added Chris Stadler, VTNA product marketing manager, “as well as increasing overall productivity and road safety.”

Insurers Just Starting to “Eye” Safety Technologies

October 17, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

New safety technologies–like collision mitigation systems, onboard cameras, and telematics, to name a few–are capturing the attention of the insurance industry as motor carrier companies work to handle increasing insurance premiums.

These technologies can help reduce or completely eliminate costly losses for fleets and keep all drivers on the road much safer, and have been used by trucking companies in Europe for years.

Both primary and excess liability underwriters are saying safety tech will play a huge role in reducing catastrophic losses, but Todd Reiser, vice president of the transportation practice at Lockton Cos., says underwriters are still “under a ton of pressure” to remain profitable.

So, does this play a part in why safety technologies haven’t yet been widely utilized across the U.S.?

Reiser says many large motor carriers who use collision mitigation systems can point to their own safety data in order to show “a significant drop” in rear-end collisions.

Additionally, with driver-facing cameras, driver behavior can easily be monitored.

“When drivers know a camera is in the cab, they know whatever they do could potentially be reviewed.” These cameras could also possibly excuse a fleet from liability, Reiser explains.

Craig Dancer, transportation industry practice leader at insurance broker Marsh USA Inc. says key issues are reducing costs while at the same time keeping drivers safe, and that this comes down to having a safer operation.

“If you don’t have claims, your insurance costs come down and you avoid driver injuries,” he says.

Practice leader at insurance broker TrueNorth Cos., Bill Zenk, says safety technologies are allowing motor carriers to collect data straight from their cabs, “to coach better driver behavior as well as point-of-contact data to mitigate the cost of an accident.”

Peggy Killeen, director at Napa River Insurance services, weighs in on the benefits as well. “We have seen a high correlation between implementing safety technology and reducing the number and severity of accidents,” she says. “Specifically, vehicles equipped with crash avoidance systems have shown to be a valuable resource as it relates to lane change and merging accidents.”

With all of these positive aspects, why would it be taking so long to get this tech regularly implemented in our fleets?

“’Nuclear’ verdicts, defined as jury awards in excess of $10 million, are becoming more prevalent, especially in the trucking world where higher liability limits are often purchased,” explains director of underwriting for transportation at Sentry Insurance, Randy Ramczyk. “Plaintiff attorneys are now engaging in litigation financing where an unrelated third party provides financing to the plaintiff in litigation in return for a portion of any financial recovery from the lawsuit.”

American Trucking Associations second vice chairman, Garner Brumbaugh, agreed with this explanation, claiming that trucking companies are beginning to go out of business “because of very aggressive trial lawyers.”

However, the reason trial lawyers are winning cases against companies in the trucking industry is because the industry’s safety standards are nowhere near where they should be, and juries are agreeing.

Because of this, it appears there should be zero hesitation in utilizing these new safety technologies to their full capacities in as many vehicles as necessary.

“Common sense would dictate that technology can and will help minimize the number of commercial trucking accidents,” says Sentry’s Ramczyk. “Rear-end collisions along with lane-change accidents are the most frequent and severe causes of loss in the trucking industry. This technology can help eliminate, reduce or alleviate these types of losses that can result in significant bodily injury or death.”

Luckily, Ramczyk says in-cab camera systems and advanced collision mitigation systems are becoming standard on many new trucks. However, many insurers are subsidizing the hardware to install in vehicles rather than providing discounts to those using a specific technology.

“The insurer is betting that their investment in safety technology will be paid back over time based on their insured’s improved loss experience,” explains Dancer of Marsh USA Inc.

Additionally, Ramczyk says, premiums are increasing across the industry “and will continue to do so until loss costs stabilize,” so it appears trucking companies will not begin to widely implement safety tech until insurance costs decrease, but costs won’t decrease until safety tech is much more common and largely effective.

For now, we’re at a slow-moving catch-22.

Tips for Driving in Stormy and Inclement Weather

September 17, 2019 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

As Hurricane Dorian begins to make its way into the southeast coast–after causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the Bahamas last Tuesday–The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued an emergency declaration for the states laying in the rest of the hurricane’s path.

The FMCSA is offering regulatory waivers to motor carriers participating in relief efforts in states and territories such as Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Dorian has reached a maximum sustained windspeed of 110 miles per hour, hitting the North Carolina coast Friday morning along with heavy rain.

Although the hurricane’s effects are not forecast to hit us here in Illinois, it may be possible we’ll get heavier wind and rain than is usual for this time of year. Not to mention, we all know we see our fair share of inclement and stormy weather, especially as we head into the fall and winter seasons.

Because of this, Online Drivers Ed has some helpful tips on how to stay safely driving on the roads should weather such as this occur–because “any type of severe weather can significantly increase a driver’s risk of an accident.” As you try to avoid a storm, so do all other drivers on the road, so extra caution is vital in all regards.

Strong winds can push vehicles off the road while blowing debris, trees, or even power lines in their way. Heavy rains can also make roads excessively slippery and reduce visibility.

So, how do you stay on the road safely if you do have to drive?

Driving in stormy weather:

Thunderstorms and severe weather can make for a very turbulent ride. If you must be on the road, follow these guidelines.

-Get rid of distractions–Don’t talk on the phone, text, or play music. You need to give driving conditions your full attention; however, it may be helpful to listen to storm updates via radio.

-Stay home–Try and wait for as much of the bad weather to clear as possible before leaving the house.

-Pull over–Consider pulling over if you can’t see more than a few yards ahead of you, if there is hail, or if you feel unsafe.

Driving in heavy winds:

Although you may not realize you should take precautions in windy weather, winds can cause injuries and accidents, especially in wide open spaces–like stretches of highway, on overpasses, and in tunnels.

-Anticipate wind gusts–Be cautious when driving somewhere prone to stronger winds, or when strong winds are forecast.

-Look out for larger vehicles–Tractor-trailers and recreational vehicles are particularly susceptible to heavy winds, so stay aware of those having trouble keeping in their lanes.

-Keep wheel firmly in your grasp–Wind can cause your vehicle to veer right or left, but you can maintain better control by keeping both hands on the wheel to steer. Be extra cautious if you’re driving a truck or large vehicle.

Driving in heavy rain:

Heavy rain reduces visibility for drivers, and gives cars and trucks an increased risk for hydroplaning–which can cause fatal accidents. Steering and braking can be especially difficult in these conditions, and cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

-Take your time–Slowing down may help you prevent hydroplaning.

-Avoid driving at beginning of rainfall–Oils from cars and trucks cause slick conditions right when rain starts.

-Turn headlights on–This will help other vehicles see you, and is even the law in many states during any kind of rainfall.

-Give other cars more space–Add a few extra seconds of following time to give yourself more time to react if needed.

Additionally, The National Safety Council suggests you perform routine maintenance ahead of time, before bad weather shows up:

-Tires expand in summer heat and then deflate when air cools. Make sure all tires are inflated properly, regularly rotated and have enough tread to work safely in suboptimal road conditions.

-Make sure windshield wiper fluid reservoirs are filled.

-Check air, fuel, cabin, and PCV filters more often when conditions are dusty or air quality is low.

-Have battery life checked by a professional.

-Ensure lights are clean and bulbs are replaced once burnt out.

-Examine exhaust system for leaks and floorboards for small holes.

It’s important to take time to understand how bad weather affects driving skills. Check forecasts before you hit the road, make sure your car is maintained and can operate properly, stay cautious and alert in any kind of inclement weather, and keep off the road in these conditions when possible.