SURVEY

Auto Reliability: Consumer Reports Slaps Acura, Cadillac and, Yes, the Tesla Model S

October 20, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

Lexus Pulls a Clean Sweep.

All good things must come to an end. One of those “things” is the ongoing loveliest Consumer Reports has had with Tesla Motors, especially the Model S.

The nonprofit consumer organization released the results of its 2015 Annual Auto Reliability Survey on Tuesday, noting that Lexus, Toyota, Audi, Mazda and Subaru are the most reliable brands. At the same time, CR found that Acura and Cadillac had slipped the most, while Buick’s seventh-place finish accounted for the lone domestic brand ranked in the Top 10.

Perhaps most surprising were the results for the Tesla Model S. CR received approximately 1,400 survey responses from Model S owners and that feedback outlined a pattern of problems with the sedan’s drivetrain, center console, charging equipment, power accessories, along with an assortment of squeaks, rattles and leaks.

As a result of the accumulated data, CR bestowed the Tesla Model S with a worse-than-average predicted reliability score.

The consumer feedback is in stark contrast to CR’s own rating for the Tesla electric sedan. Earlier this year CR noted that the “all-wheel drive Tesla Model S P85D sedan performed better in our tests than any other car ever has, breaking the Consumer Reports Ratings system.”

CR lauded the sedan’s instant acceleration, calling it “brutally quick,” its thrust “forceful and immediate.” The organization also said that the P85D has “better braking and handling” than the standard Model S and pointed out its efficiency, achieving a fuel mileage equivalent of 87 mpg.

CR’s 2015 Annual Auto Reliability Survey weighed information supplied by subscribers covering more than 740,000 vehicles. Both Acura and Cadillac experienced the largest year-over-year drops, with each brand falling by seven places.

Acura was faulted for its in-car electronics and transmissions found in its newest sedans, the RLX and TLX. Similar problems have plagued other manufacturers in recent years including Fiat Chrysler, Nissan, and Ford.

Lexus RC F

Pictured: Lexus RC 350F Sport

Cadillac continued to fall with CR noting complaints about its Cadillac User Experience or CUE infotainment system.

One of the more persistent problems with today’s cars are new transmissions. Complaints about rough shifting and slipping CVT belts have dragged down the scores for several brands. Some of those transmissions involve new systems with eight or nine gears. At the same time, CR praised Audi and BMW for delivering reliable dual-clutch transmissions, while recognizing Toyota and Honda with delivering hybrid models with strong CVTs.

In the CR survey, the organization tracks seven vehicle lines. All seven were led by Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand. CR noted the continued ascendancy of Audi, a brand that once had its share of demons to exorcise. Today, only Lexus and Toyota are ranked higher than the Volkswagen Group’s premium brand.

Hyundai Sonata Turbo

Pictured: Hyundai Sonata Turbo

Kia and Hyundai, Korean manufacturers joined at the hip, placed sixth and ninth respectively in the latest survey. Both brands are enjoying a steady ascendancy with Kia now ranked ahead of Honda.

Most US brands, with Buick the exception continue to perform below average. Chevrolet and GMC are in the bottom third of the rankings and Cadillac has fallen near the bottom. As for Ford, respondents seem pleased with the F-150 and Expedition, but shared complaints about the Mustang, including its body hardware, drive shaft and vehicle stability control systems.

As for Fiat Chrysler, the lone bright spots are its minivans as both the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan achieved average reliability. As for the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat brands, they bring up the rear in the annual survey once again.

2016 Fiat 500X

Pictured: Fiat 500X

The annual CR survey will receive its due inspection and dissection, and perhaps more attention than it deserves. Nevertheless, the independent nature of this consumer organization means that the results are objectively dispensed and will be given careful review by car manufacturer executives over the coming days.

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Brand APEAL: Porsche Leads for 11th Consecutive Year

July 23, 2015 by admin Leave a Comment

Porsche is globally recognized as the top automotive brand, a fact regularly affirmed by various consumer studies and surveys. Indeed, for the 11th consecutive year, Porsche finished on top of J.D. Power’s APEAL study for 2015.

Porsche Cayman.

APEAL stands for U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout study what looks at 77 vehicle attributes to determine what owners like and dislike about their new cars. Those attributes are comprised of categories including the design, content, layout, execution, and performance of the respective models.

For 2015, J.D. Power surveyed more than 84,000 new car buyers from February to May, in a bid to determine how buyers and lessees felt about their vehicles after 90 days of ownership. Power uses a 1,000-point scale and assigns a number to each model as well as an overall score for the make or brand.

This year, the average score has risen by four points to 798. Safety features contributed to the increase, including blind spot monitoring and warning systems. Both premium and mainstream brands are benefiting with the latter group closing the traditional satisfaction void with its high-end counterparts. Further, models equipped with advanced safety systems score an average of 38 points higher than those not so equipped.

Mini Cooper.

“Unlike other technologies, such as voice recognition, that can be challenging to operate, most safety features provide information in a more intuitive way, giving owners a greater sense of security,” said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. automotive quality at J.D. Power. “Not only are models increasingly offering systems that improve safety and visibility, but owners are also using them on a regular basis. This can go a long way toward generating positive feelings about their vehicle overall.”

Power also found that consumers will happily pay more for certain safety features such as blind-spot warning and detection systems. That’s one perquisite consumers say that they’d be willing to pay as much as $750 to receive. Clearly, car manufacturers will hone their attention on that revelation.

Porsche led all comers with a score of 874 followed by 855 for Jaguar, 854 for BMW, 853 for Mercedes-Benz, and 852 for Audi. Porsche also had three of the top models in the 26 segments featured. Indeed, the Porsche Cayman led the Compact Premium Sporty Car category, the Porsche Macan took the Compact Premium SUV segment, and the Porsche Cayenne led the Midsize Premium SUV group.

Ford F-150

Ford F-150.

Among mainstream brands Mini placed first, finishing with a score of 825. Chevrolet and Ford, like Porsche, each had three segment leaders. Audi, BMW, Dodge, Mazda and Mini placed two group leaders each.

Once again, J.D. Power reaffirmed a problem that has plagued new car buyers in recent years: how to work the advanced technologies found in today’s cars. Frustration with those technologies will often impact model and brand scores, something Power says can be overcome at the dealer level.

Specifically, the research firm offered advice for consumers, including discovering the benefits of safety features before opting for them. However, in many cases, these features are standard or are included with particular trim level or package offerings.

Consumers should also familiarize themselves with the entire safety package, not just the items they think they will use. Power also urged consumers to keep track of the technological features that are of most interest to consumers, including those still needing to be perfected. The last tip points to a problem inherent in many vehicles — wonky GPS-based infotainment systems that can be difficult to decipher.

Like some of the other studies offered in recent years, the APEAL study indicates manufacturers are listening to consumer concerns and are actively keeping up with the latest auto trends, especially safety and in-cabin technologies. Some brands, such as Jaguar and Mini, have made much progress in recent years, reflecting positive changes to company culture that are in prevalence today.

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Journalist Survey: Social Media Participation

February 20, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The methods journalists use to share content has changed remarkably, especially since the advent of social media. No longer can PR professionals and marketers pitch journalists without considering their current needs.

Journalism has evolved over the past two decades, largely making the transition from print to online media. That metamorphosis has not been a seamless one, however. Indeed, not a few “old school” people were pushed out of positions with some choosing to retire instead of remaking themselves.

Some of us, including yours truly, have managed to bridge the tenuous divide between old and new, finding a handful of print opportunities still available to go with our online exertions. It is important to realize that in both cases there is an overarching necessity that stems from writing today: social media and a need to actively participate or lose your audience.

That participation usually comes through a small collection of social media sites, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. There are others, but the pull of these three is usually far greater than what you would achieve on Instagram, Google+, Pinterest or any other site, for example.

Muck Rack and Edelman

Muck Rack, a website dedicated to help journalists connect with PR pros, marketers and companies, undertook an online survey in partnership with Edelman — the world’s largest PR firm — late last year. That survey was directed to journalists in a bid to gauge how they use social media to write and distribute their stories.

Specifically, the partners conducted the survey with the intent to “…gain an understanding of media attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions surrounding the ever-changing landscape of news.”

Some 251 journalists participated between late November and mid-December 2014, thus the margin of error is quite high, coming in at 6.19 percent. Nevertheless, the survey offers a solid synopsis of “shareable content” among those of us tasked with researching, interviewing, assembling, writing, editing and publishing that information from a solely professional perspective.

Special Ingredients for Journalists

The survey revealed some points about shareable content that are widely understood, but the importance may not be fully grasped. Indeed, 82 percent of content shared by journalists includes an image with another 33 percent using video to aid in dissemination. Notably, 66 percent write articles that may be correlated with a story already trending in the news, with 48 percent localizing that information to reach a target audience.

Definitely, brevity is important too with one in three professionals ensuring that their information is condensed to “bite-sized form.” Furthermore, journalists including quotes from their sources does not seem to carry the same magnitude it once did. Yet, 16 percent of the journalists do include quotes from an academic or industry expert, with only a small sample relying on third party, company spokesman and blogger quotes.

One in four respondents indicated that sharing data or numbers in their headlines was important with another 22 percent relying on information that has the potential to be framed in “listicle” form.

Social Media Preferences

As for sharing information on social media, 76 percent of journalists indicated that they “are feeling more pressure now to share on social media,” than they were in the past. And not just social media sites, but on their news organization’s platforms.

By far, Twitter has a special place for journalists, with 78 percent of journalists claiming that it is the most used in their profession to 18 percent for Facebook and just 2 percent for LinkedIn. Further, 75 percent of journalists use Twitter to build their own brand to 16 percent for Facebook and only 3 percent for LinkedIn. Notably, 86 percent of journalists check Twitter several times a day — I can personally attest to that!

Video’s Place in Social Media

Writing stories and taking pictures is still important for journalists, but video’s place should not be underestimated. Certainly, if you are a PR person and you want to get your company’s information out there, 74 percent of journalists favor original video created by your company or website.

That number compares to 14 percent who use consumer-generated videos, 13 percent who accept a courtesy video from a third party and 3 percent who welcome a corporate/branded video. Moreover, only 2 percent accept a stock video from a subscription service.

Pitch Me Your Very Best

The survey’s findings correspond with my personal approach to social media. It also underscores a few points that I have repeated over the past few years, including some that have been shared by my colleagues.

First, get to know me. I cannot tell you how many PR people reach out to me anonymously on any given day. Addressing me by my first name is important. Other journalists feel the same way and we are more likely to trash your information than to respond to blanket or poorly-pitched requests. Make an effort!

Second, keep it sector specific. Yes, many of us write for different sectors — you have to if you want to make a living these days — but usually we define ourselves by our chief discipline. Reading up on social media profiles can help you determine whether a query is on target or is clearly misplaced.

Third, help me meet my deadlines. This point may be the biggest gripe among my colleagues. For example, when I am working on a story and am up against a hard deadline, you are informed of that but you still miss it. It is important that PR people make it plain when a deadline cannot be met or might be missed. Transparency on your part helps build confidence, trust and goodwill on our parts.

See Also — Midlife Crisis or a Buying Opportunity?

Midlife Crisis or a Buying Opportunity?

February 17, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

What some men and women encounter as they approach the midpoint of their lives. For some, car buying satisfies their quest to harness a slice of their once remembered youthful past.

Some men and women, especially when they hit a certain age, make impulsive decisions, including not a few that they may regret later. One of those milestones is middle age, a time when certain individuals may feel that life is speeding by way too fast to not slow down a bit and do something different. Like to purchase a new car.

Midlife Crisis Car

Indeed, in a recently released survey of 1,005 adults, the term “midlife crisis car” has acknowledged perceptions about certain consumers of note. Specifically, one in four Americans indicated that they would consider purchasing a car associated with their personal midlife crisis. And what they would buy depends largely on quantifiable demographic factors, including their gender and where they reside.

Almost 30 percent of men indicated that would very or be somewhat likely to buy a car when experiencing a midlife crisis. Likewise, that figure corresponds to 21 percent of women. For him, a black sports car would be the top choice. In similar fashion, a red sport utility vehicle would satisfy her urge. Overall, a new sports car was the foremost preference.

“The traditional sports car is no longer the favorite midlife crisis car choice for everyone. SUVs are becoming more popular as midlife crisis cars among women and in the Midwest,” said Cliff Wood, CarMax executive vice president of stores.

Midlife Crisis Car

Vibrant Hues, Tantalizing Pigments

And with black (20 percent) being the new red, the survey revealed that silver/gray (19 percent) is the second color choice. As for red, it was tied with blue as the third coloration of choice, with 17 percent each. Surprisingly, another flashy chroma, yellow, barely registered — finishing as the color of choice for just 2 percent of the respondents.

Not all areas of the country were equally represented in how they would act in response to a midlife crisis, especially when it came to a vehicle purchase. In fact, people living in the South led the way with more than 30 percent of respondents indicating that they were very or somewhat likely to buy one.

On the other hand, Midwesterners showed the most restraint with at least 80 percent of them indicating that they were not very likely or not likely at all to make a crisis acquisition. Moreover, for those in the Midwest who concurred that a purchase would coincide with a personal crisis, an SUV was the top selection — representing the only region in the country where “sports car” was not the preeminent choice.

Body Styles to Satisfy an Urge

Collectively, 20 percent of new vehicle purchases would go to a sports car. Another 17 percent indicated that an SUV would be in the offing, followed by 15 percent opting for a sedan. Who knew that four doors could ensue such an intimate catastrophe?

So, how about you? Is there a midlife crisis just waiting to happen or have you long sailed past that milestone? To be sure, a midlife crisis is no laughing matter for those that are experiencing one, although buying a new car may assuage those feelings and enable at least some people to enjoy the ride of their dreams.

MTV Says: Millennials Love Their Cars!

January 26, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

Immediately following the Washington Auto Show — where some policy makers insist that young people are getting their licenses later and driving less than their counterparts of even 50 years ago — a study conducted on behalf of MTV strongly suggests otherwise.

Indeed, the “Millennials Have Drive” research study — released last week at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo 2015 in San Francisco— shows that young people are eager to drive. Moreover, they are placing driving ahead of such mainstays as social media and texting.

Car Ownership Study

The study, conducted last spring, was composed of 3,610 Millennials aged 18 through 34. Another 400 Generation Xers, roughly ages 35 to 50, and 403 baby boomers, ages 51 to 68, were also included. It was through focus groups, one-on-one interviews and subjective field studies, that much of the data used in the study were accumulated.

“Millennials are perhaps the most sophisticated consumers the world has ever seen – highly educated, demanding, and incredibly adept at using technology to make thoughtful purchases,” said Jeff Lucas, Head of Sales, Music and Entertainment, Viacom Media Networks. “We want to understand how Millennials’ attitudes toward car ownership are changing as they grow older, the economy improves and the auto sales landscape evolves.” Viacom owns MTV.

The MTV findings demonstrate that approximately eight in every 10 Millennials use a car more often than any other transportation mode to move them to where they are going. The researchers noted that these findings fly in the face of studies over the past few years that indicated a drop in interest in driving among younger people. They concluded that young people are “aging up into car ownership” and are in a better position to afford a new car as the economy improves.

Millennials Take to the Road

Notably, the study found that today’s young people claim to drive more miles per month than for any other generation. Those numbers show a 72 percent increase in the average number of miles driven in contrast to baby boomer drivers (934 miles vs. 544 miles) while also maintaining an 18 percent edge over Generation X drivers (934 miles vs. 790 miles).

The researchers described Millennial interest in driving as “passionate” as 70 percent of the youngest respondents articulated that they “like driving a lot” compared to 58 percent of baby boomers and 66 percent of Generation Xers. Furthermore, young people are demonstrating an even greater longing to purchase and own cars.

Some 82 percent of Millennials have shown excitement in finding, buying or leasing a new vehicle. Approximately 75 percent of young people indicated that “they couldn’t live without their current car.” They are also aspirants with 85 percent looking forward to “one day owning the car they’ve always wanted,” compared to 59 percent of baby boomers and 72 percent of Generation Xers.

A Better Buying Experience

Millennials are also embracing new cars and technologies at a greater rate than other generations. Some 73 percent of young people say they “love learning about new car models and functions” compared with 69 percent of baby boomers and 54 percent of Generation Xers.

In addition, the survey noted that there are some ways that dealers might enhance the buying experience for all consumers, especially Millennials. For instance, approximately 80 percent of respondents believe that the buying and leasing process should “take less time.” Also, most expressed dismay with current ratings and comparisons, finding them unclear. And 87 percent stated that the “buying process should be more transparent.”

And in a nod to aftermarket retailers, 87 percent of Millennials indicated that they like to customize their cars to make them unique. However, they would like to do so in more affordable ways.

Advertisers should also take note of what Millennials are thinking as 57 percent claimed that car advertisements influence their buying decisions. Yet, nearly half of young people said that such ads “do not speak to who they are.”

Subsequent Survey Set

The initial MTV survey will be augmented by a second survey, to be released later this year. However, the debate over young people’s car-buying habits may not be over. Indeed, this study flies in the face of what has been accepted in recent years and may be disputed by others with their own pool of data. Regardless, the US auto industry is in much better shape now than it was in 2009 when interest in new car buying was at the lowest we have seen in our time among all demographics.

Infotainment Systems Take a Beating in Latest Consumer Reports Survey

October 29, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

The Consumer Reports 2014 Annual Reliability Survey is out, what paints a highly critical and negative picture of in-car technologies, particularly infotainment systems. Such systems typically provide audio, information and navigation access, but often do not deliver as promised. Instead, users may find these systems confusing, unreliable or simply unworkable, leading Consumer Reports (CR) to say that they present a “growing reliability plague” for manufacturers.

Consumer Reports took exception with the Infiniti QX60.

Problem First-Year Models

CR especially pointed to flaws found in first-year models for several brands, including Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Infiniti, Fiat, Jeep and Ram, with each having numerous bugs and glitches in their infotainment systems. CR surveyed owners of more than 1.1 million new vehicles, identifying 17 problem areas. Topping the list were in-car electronics, easily outpacing consumer complaints in other areas.

As before, CR found that the Asian brands usually outperformed all others with the American brands finishing far down the pack. Most European brands were in the middle of the pack or toward the end. Audi, however, continues to excel, finishing in the fifth spot for the second consecutive year. Porsche took the ninth position.

Lexus, Toyota, Mazda and Honda nabbed the top four spots. Following Audi, Buick, Subaru, Scion, Porsche and Kia rounded out the top 10. Fiat Chrysler, however, took the last four spots of the 28 brands surveyed with Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat rounding out the group.

And if you think technologies are the sole problem, CR insists otherwise. “Infotainment system problems generally don’t exist in a vacuum,” said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports, “A close look at the results suggests that cars with a lot of in-car electronic issues usually have plenty of other troubles, too.”

Chrysler Defies the Odds With Strong Sales

Despite the apparent quality issues, Fiat Chrysler continues to thrive. Indeed, the Chrysler Group has experienced 54 consecutive months of year-over-year sales increases through Sept. 2014. Chrysler Group sales are up 15 percent for the year, nearly three times the industry average. The Chrysler Group is seeing Jeep sales up by 45 percent and Ram sales up by 25 percent for the year.

For its report, CR gathered data for 248 models, looking at 17 potential problem areas. From its survey it has been able to accurately point out future problems owners may have with their new vehicles as well as to spot trends.

One trend that isn’t boding well for Infiniti is the reliability of two of its models: the new Q50 sedans and the QX60 crossover. Both models have had their share of problems, causing Infiniti to take the largest plunge of any brand, falling from 6th place last year to the 20th position this year.

Improved Infotainment Systems

CR did find that some manufacturers are making changes that have made their infotainment systems easier to use. CR has criticized Ford and Lincoln for their technologies, but the two Ford Motor Company brands have made steady improvements ever since the organization slammed the 2011 Ford Explorer’s quality. While Ford rose three positions this year, Lincoln had the largest year-over-year increase of any brand, jumping 12 positions to the 15th spot.

Mercedes-Benz fell 11 spots on the heels of introducing its CLA-Class sedan and high-end S-Class. A few of its models, including the GLK utility vehicle and the E-Class V-6 sedan, outperformed the market.

Poor Performers by Segment

American manufacturers need to pay closer attention to certain segments where these vehicles are not performing up to par. CR found that the subcompact Chevy Sonic, the compact Chevy Cruze, the compact Ford Focus and the compact Dodge Dart turbo each performed below average. Large pickup trucks have been a problem too with the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 each performing below average.

Flummoxed by New Car Technology? You Are Not Alone.

September 2, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

J.D. Power 2014 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study reveals much.

New car owners love their technologies, but only when they work right. Today’s cars offer a varying range of audio, communication, entertainment and navigation (ACEN) systems with hand touches, finger gestures, buttons, knobs and voice commands among the ways that we communicate with our cars.

infotainment system technology

ACEN Systems: Not so Hot Technology

As ideal as the technology is, it may not always work according to promise. Those problems are something that were confirmed in the J.D. Power 2014 Multimedia Quality and Satisfaction Study released last week. The study queried vehicle owners about their experiences and opinion of ACEN systems during their first 90 days of ownership with a focus on quality, design and the features offered.

As is customary with similar J.D. Power surveys, the company assigns a score based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles tested or PP100. The lower the score, the higher the quality. Typically, those scores look at particular makes and models, but with this survey the study returned net results — no manufacturers were identified.

Chevrolet Silverado infotainment system technology

Technology Problems Per 100 Vehicles

For 2014, the problems with built-in voice recognition averaged 8.3 PP100, rising from 7.6 PP100 in 2013. Vehicle owners cited three significant problems with voice recognition communication issues:

1. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets verbal commands — identified by 63 percent of respondents;

2. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets names/words — identified by 44 percent of respondents; and

3. ACEN doesn’t recognize or misinterprets numbers — identified by 31percent of respondents.

Customers may experience one, two or all three problems.

ACEN problems have grown in recent years as such systems are adopted by car manufacturers. The problems have eclipsed other vehicle woes including wind noise, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation issues.

Fixable or Not?

Unlike many vehicle problems, voice recognition and device connectivity problems cannot be fixed at the dealer level. They represent a technological design that may or may not be repairable with a software upgrade. Instead, vehicle owners may have to make do with the shortcomings or find alternate use options such as buttons and knobs. That’s the advice of Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global automotive at J.D. Power, who confirmed, “Despite having alternative controls, this problem still negatively impacts owner satisfaction.”

VanNieuwkuyk noted that manufacturers continue to build voice recognition and connectivity systems that fall short of customer expectations. The poor results follow good manufacturer intentions, but does little to promote owner satisfaction.

Bluetooth Connectivity Issues

J.D. Power found that Bluetooth connectivity problems loom large for many buyers, although the study revealed an improvement in quality based on a score of 5.7 PP100, down from 6.3 PP100 the previous year. The two largest connectivity problems were the system’s inability to recognize or connect the mobile phone or device, a problem in 40 percent of the complaints. Another 30 percent cited problems with automatically connecting when entering the vehicle. Just over half of the owners said that they have iPhone OS smart phones; 41 percent reportedly use an Android phone.

Troubles aside, 70 percent of new-vehicle owners are interested in built-in recognition. That number falls to 44 percent if the system costs at least $500. Thus, building an affordable and working system may help manufacturers win new customers.

J.D. Power surveyed 86,114 new car owners between Feb. and May 2014, with a focus on navigation, voice recognition, rear-seat entertainment and speakers. Respondents were also supplied with sourcing information to enable owners to review data and parse information about individual products and components.

Other Studies

J.D. Power: Powertrain Problems Impact Quality

J.D. Power: Porsche is the Top Brand for Initial Quality

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.

Yawn! What Drivers Do to Fight Sleepiness.

June 26, 2014 by admin Leave a Comment

Most methods for combatting sleepiness do not work.

Mile after mile of interstate driving can takes its toll on any driver. Including at night and especially during the early hours of the morning.

A feeling of sleepiness begins to creep in and before you know it your head is moving forward and your arms are relaxing. At this point you are in danger of losing control of your car with deadly results just moments away. Fortunately, your head snaps back just as your car begins to shift lanes, enabling you to regain control of the vehicle and of your senses.

“Yawn” by Phil Campbell is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Drowsy Driving Survey

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that between 2.2 and 2.6 percent of all fatal accidents from 2005 through 2009 were the result of drowsy driving. In 2009 alone, approximately 30,000 people were injured in accidents involving drowsy driving. Another 730 people lost their lives.

The likelihood of such accidents increases over the summer as more people take to the roads. A recent survey conducted by DMEautomotive (DMEa) of 2,000 car owners found that 53 percent of respondents expect to take a road trip this summer with many planning to drive at least seven hours each day. DMEa is an automotive marketing company that serves automobile dealerships and aftermarket companies.

Methods for Combatting Sleepiness

The DMEa survey asked respondents about the methods they used to tackle drowsy driving and found that combatting those feelings with caffeinated beverages, including coffee, is the top method for battling sleepiness while driving. Indeed, some 53 percent of respondents said that they drink a caffeinated beverage to ward off sleepiness.

Tired drivers often choose multiple responses when overtaken by sleepiness. Some 42 percent open a window or a sunroof when tired with nearly just as many choosing to switch drivers. Just over one-third battle fatigue by pulling over and exercising or stretching; a similar number of people inclined to turn up the audio system to help keep them awake.

Only 23 percent pursue an effective response as in pulling off the road to take a nap. Other methods for combating fatigue include eating, singing, listening to talk radio, talking to themselves, slapping their faces, exercising or stretching while driving, smoking or splashing water on their faces.

Ineffective Responses to Sleepiness

Most of the methods, however, do not work. At least not for the long term. Each of the leading methods may provide a temporary solution, but apart from switching drivers or pulling over and taking a nap, those feelings of sleepiness may return.

Mary Sheridan, Director of Research and Analytics for DMEautomotive noted, “This survey reveals a big problem: when people get sleepy on the road, too many take measures that simply don’t work. Most of us do ineffective things like stopping for that third triple-shot cappuccino or slapping water on our face just to keep going. As drivers, we need to heed our drowsiness: and stop and sleep, or let a rested person drive.”

Pull Over and Take a Nap

The DMEa survey also looked at the driving behavior of drivers under 35 years old. They are more likely to be involved in drowsy driving crashes than older drivers and tend to combat their drowsiness with ineffective methods in greater numbers.

Those methods have been disproven through medical and authoritative evidence aggregated by DMEa. For instance, drinking caffeine does not help immediately. Indeed, it takes caffeine 30 minutes to enter the bloodstream after it has been consumed. Instead of drinking coffee, drivers would realize a beneficial energy boost simply by pulling over and napping for 30 minutes.

Opening windows or the sun roof, turning up the air conditioner, or listening to loud music provides no real benefit. Switching drivers is an effective response, but only if the new driver is rested.

Driving no more than two hours before taking a break, napping, and hitting the road with at least seven hours sleep can help combat sleepiness. Even so, driving between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. should be avoided, the time when sleepiness is most likely to overtake you.

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“Yawn” by Phil Campbell is licensed under CC BY 2.0

MRY Study Reveals That We Still Love Our Cars

May 19, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

And don’t touch our smartphones!

American consumers are not about to give up their cars despite the rise in popularity of car sharing services such as Zipcar.

MRY: Young want to buy new cars. A Jan. 2014 study conducted by MRY with Whitman Insight Strategies and released this month surveyed 1,000 people across the United States, evenly dividing the group between under-35 consumers (Millennials) and individuals ages 35 on up. Each person surveyed was required to own a smartphone while also possessing a valid driver’s license.

MRY: Millennials and Their Driving Aspirations

The surveyors wanted to find out if handheld devices were trumping the behind-the-wheel driving experience, especially as recent data has revealed that fewer 16 year olds had driver’s licenses. Some people have argued that young adults are much more interested in their digital devices than they are in acquiring a car. The survey found that this simply is not true as 94 percent of surveyed Millennials currently own or lease a vehicle. That figure compares to 99 percent of consumers who are at least 35 years old.

Lest you think that attaining a new car is a lower priority for some, the survey revealed otherwise. Indeed, 91 percent of the respondents said that “…owning a car is very important to their life.” For them, car ownership is more important than having access to high speed Internet, owning a smartphone, or email. What should encourage the car sharing companies is that this same consumer pool considers having access to a car and owning one synonymously.

Types of Car/Ride Sharing Services

A Zipcar Ford Focus.

Car sharing services can tell you a few things about the typical user: these individuals are young, tech savvy and are “early adopters.”

MRY found that 51 percent of Millennials would use a branded car sharing service if one were available where they lived. By “branded” that term describes services currently provided by BMW and Volkswagen. That figure compares to 48 percent of respondents who would use a standard car sharing service (Zipcar, Car2Go and Hertz 24/7) and 46 percent who indicated that they would use a ride sharing service with a private driver arranged through a mobile app.

The survey also asked respondents to evaluate tech companies and car manufacturers, comparing their performance in a pair of important technological metrics: innovation/disruption and personal connection. Apple, Amazon, Lyft, Uber and Zipcar performed quite well as did Ford and Toyota. However, consumer perceptions of Volkswagen and General Motors came in lower. Toyota has been at the cutting of hybrid technology while Ford has led in connectivity with its innovative SYNC infotainment system.

Both smartphones and cars provide similar advantages including making life easier for users. Cars and electronic devices enable people to experience new things, provide an escape from a hectic day, give them a sense of freedom, and help people accomplish their daily tasks. Interacting with family and friends was seen as another benefit of having both, what are considered of equal importance by most respondents.

MRY: Future Car Playing Plans

An overwhelming number of the respondents also indicated that they plan on buying or leasing a new car within the next three years with just 7 percent saying that they had no plans to do so. Half of all Millennials expect to make their purchase within the next year with about one-quarter planning to do so within the next two years. Seven percent plan to buy a new car within three years. The remaining sample indicated that they are not currently in the market for a new vehicle.

The MRY survey did reveal several important facts about young adults and how they currently get around. Some 17 percent of Millennials use a transit system (train, subway) to 10 percent of those aged 35 and up. They are also more likely to ride a bus coming in at 18 percent to just 7 percent for older Americans. Five percent use car sharing services to just 1 percent of the older Americans.

The Ford Fiesta is one such model that targets Millennials.

Even with strong interest in buying a new car, respondents still look at car/ride sharing favorably with 52 percent saying that they would consider using such services to 48 percent who indicated that they would not. The survey also discovered other behaviors including that they like brands that are innovative, but also prefer those grounded in history or heritage. Many respondents also believe that they are tech savvy and prefer brands that are too. Importantly, they believe that they are also more advanced about tech trends than their friends.

If You Were a Car

Lastly, the MRY survey asked respondents the following question: “If you were a car, what brand of car would you be?” Ford and Toyota received the top answers followed by Honda and BMW. A number of mainstream brands fared quite well too including Dodge and Chevy. Quite a few brands or models such as Jaguar, Corvette, Lincoln, Tesla and Mustang had small responses.

See Also — MTV Says: Millennials Love Their Cars!

University of Michigan: Connected Vehicle Favorability Confirmed

April 10, 2014 by admin 1 Comment

A survey of public opinion about connected vehicles was recently conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). That survey, authored by Brandon Schoettle (project manager) and Michael Sivak (research professor), revealed that the majority of people surveyed in three predominately English-speaking countries (US, UK, and Australia) had not heard about connected-vehicle technology, but most expressed a positive initial opinion of the same.

Connected-Vehicle Survey

The researchers conducted an online survey through SurveyMonkey.com in March 2014 with the results published early the following month. The team developed a questionnaire to assess participant familiarity and their general opinion about connected vehicles.

As defined by the US Department of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration, connected vehicles represent an initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable networked wireless communications among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers’ personal communications devices. When fully operational, the technology is expected to reduce accidents, improve mobility, and provide environmental benefits.

With connected vehicles you wont be
blowing past stop signs.

The researchers also addressed topics related to the expected benefits of connected vehicles, concerns about the technology, the importance of certain connected-vehicle features, and participant interest in owning and their willingness to pay for connected-vehicle technology. The same core survey was conducted in all three nations with slight variations for spelling and currency.

Some 1,596 completed applications were accepted with the United States accounting for 576 responses to 520 from the United Kingdom and 500 from Australia. The researchers claim that the populace of the respective nations were represented minus people that do not have Internet access.

First Impressions

The researchers first asked the survey participants, “Had you ever heard of connected
vehicles before participating in this survey?” Overwhelmingly that answer was no, with only 21.9 percent affirming that they had.

Once they understood what connected-vehicle technology was, 62.4 percent expressed either a very positive (23.4 percent) or somewhat positive (39 percent) opinion about connected vehicles. Approximately one-third (32.6 percent) of the participants were neutral with just 4.9 percent offering negative (3.9 percent) or very negative (1 percent) opinions.

University of Michigan Transportation Institute

Source: Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Connected Vehicle Benefits

The UMTRI moved on to ask, “How likely do you think it is that the following benefits will occur when using connected vehicles?” That third question covered a number of topics including fewer crashes and a reduction in injuries, improved emergency response time, reduced traffic congestion, shorter travel time, lower vehicle emissions, improved fuel economy, lower insurance rates, and fewer driver distractions.

Some 85.9 percent of the participants believed that fewer crashes were very likely (28 percent) or somewhat likely (57.9 percent). Nearly as many (83.7 percent) believed that crash severity would fall as well.

As far as the impact on insurance rates, approximately two-thirds (67.4 percent) believed that insurance rates would fall, but an even 25 percent thought it somewhat unlikely. And despite connected vehicles doing much of the driving, nearly 40 percent were skeptical that it would cut down on distracted driving.

University of Michigan Transportation Institute

Source: Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Safety Consequence and Other Concerns

The fourth question asked, How concerned are you about the following issues related to connected vehicles?” That question also covered a number of topics including the safety consequences of equipment failure, driver legal liability, system and vehicle security as pertains to hackers, data privacy, pedestrian and cyclist interaction, learning how to operate these vehicles, potential distractions, performance in certain weather conditions, and the drivers reliability on the technology.

Some 82.1 percent of the participants expressed some level of concern about equipment or system failure. Just over two-thirds were concerned about potential legal liability for the driver or the vehicle owner, while three-quarters of the respondents believed that drivers would rely too much on the technology.

Pay Up or Not

The researchers concluded that the answers were very uniform across the three countries surveyed with high levels of agreement in a number of areas. Most participants expressed their interest in having connected-vehicle technology in their cars, although half said that they weren’t willing to pay for it. Of those willing to do so, those amounts ranged from US$20 to US$1,500.

Founded in 1965, UMTRI is a leader in motor vehicle research related to injury biomechanics. The institute has conducted more than 1,000 short- and long-term projects in a variety of areas including accident data collection and traffic safety analysis. UMTRI is also committed to advancing safe and sustainable transportation.