AAA Tests Reveal Automatic Emergency Braking Systems Vary Significantly

ORLANDO, Fla (August 24, 2016) – New test results from AAA reveal that automatic emergency braking systems — the safety technology that will soon be standard equipment on 99 percent of vehicles — vary widely in design and performance. All the systems tested by AAA are designed to apply the brakes when a driver fails to engage, however, those that are designed to prevent crashes reduced vehicle speeds by nearly twice that of those designed to lessen crash severity. While any reduction in speed offers a significant safety benefit to drivers, AAA warns that automatic braking systems are not all designed to prevent collisions and urges consumers to fully understand system limitations before getting behind the wheel.

“AAA found that two-thirds of Americans familiar with the technology believe that automatic emergency braking systems are designed to avoid crashes without driver intervention,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “The reality is that today’s systems vary greatly in performance, and many are not designed to stop a moving car.”

If trend continues, U.S. may see its deadliest driving year since 2007 and deadliest Labor Day since 2008

ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 23, 2016 -- Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths were 9 percent higher through the first six months of 2016 than in 2015, and 18 percent higher than two years ago at the six month mark. An estimated 19,100 people have been killed on U.S. roads since January – enough to fill 382 school busesi – and 2.2 million were seriously injuredii. The total estimated cost of these deaths and injuries is $205 billion.

The upward trend began in late 2014 and shows no signs of decreasing. Last winter, the National Safety Council issued its largest year-over-year percentage increase in 50 years, when it estimated fatalities had jumped 8 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. The continued rise in fatalities is prompting the Council to predict the deadliest Labor Day holiday period since 2008. NSC estimates 438 people will be killed during the three-day holiday weekend.iii

Requirement could save lives and more than $1 billion in fuel each year

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today that the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) propose equipping heavy-duty vehicles with devices that limit their speeds on U.S. roadways, and requiring those devices be set to a maximum speed, a safety measure that could save lives and more than $1 billion in fuel costs each year.

“There are significant safety benefits to this proposed rulemaking,” Foxx said. “In addition to saving lives, the projected fuel and emissions savings make this proposal a win for safety, energy conservation, and our environment.”

Autotrader celebrates National Dog Day August 26 with "pawsome" insights and vehicle recommendations for dog lovers.

ATLANTA, Aug. 26, 2016 -- Autotrader is honoring National Dog Day—celebrated August 26—for the third consecutive year with "pawsome" insights on dogs and cars, as well as expert recommendations for Fido-friendly auto accessories and vehicles. Autotrader recently conducted a survey to understand the relationship between pooches and cars and found that 77 percent of dog owners say their dogs enjoy car rides. That's a good thing, as over half take their canine companions on car trips at least once a week.

Both brands enjoy immediate gains in shopper consideration on Edmunds as a result of their marketing efforts

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 25, 2016  -- The significant investments BMW and Chevrolet made to advertise during the 2016 Summer Olympic games seem to have paid off, according to new data from Edmunds.com. Consumer interest in BMW vehicles on Edmunds was up 12 percent during the first week of the Summer Games, and rose seven percent the second week. Chevrolet saw a six percent lift in interest on the site during the first week of the Olympics, and a two percent increase the second week. To calculate consumer interest, Edmunds' team of experts first established a baseline by analyzing four weeks of pre-Olympics traffic data to find the average number of unique visitors to each brand's make and model pages. They then looked for lifts in traffic to those pages on a weekly basis during the Games and compared them against that baseline.