CURRENT AUTO NEWS
December 2007

TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT DROWSY DRIVING NHTSA says driver inattention is a factor in 25%-30% of all vehicle crashes. Drowsy driving is a contributing factor in 22%-24% of all crashes or near-crashes, according to the NHTSA-VA Tech Transportation Institute study conducted in April 2006. A woman driving on Interstate 25 near Denver, Colo., nodded off behind the wheel of her friend's SUV on the morning of Oct. 17. By the time she was stopped by police, the woman had covered 30 miles in her sleepy stupor. Along the way, she had endangered other motorists by drifting into their lanes and had even swerved in front of an 18-wheeler. The woman said she had slept only two hours the night before, according to an ABC News affiliate that broadcast video footage of the near-tragedy. She was also fighting the flu and was on her way to the doctor when the incident occurred. To help avert such dangerous mishaps, some automakers are planning to introduce safety systems that would warn drivers about their drowsiness. Drivers won’t even have to realize they are sleepy — their cars will tell them. Called the Driver Attention Warning System., it uses two miniature infrared cameras — one on the driver's door and one in the center console — to record and analyze eye movement. If the cameras detect that a driver's eyes have been closed for longer than the length of a normal blink, a chime sounds and the question "Tired?" appears on the instrument panel. If the driver's dozing continues, a second verbal warning announces, "You are tired." A third infraction yields a more severe scolding: "You are dangerously tired! Stop as soon as it is safe to do so!" And anytime the cameras recognize head movement indicating that the driver is focused on something besides what Saab calls the "primary attention zone," the driver’s seat vibrates. Automakers are concerned that warning systems might seem too intrusive and might annoy to the point that drivers bypass them. TEN WAYS TO LOWER YOUR CAR INSURANCE by Steve Tuckey, Forbes Forget the talking ducks and geckos. Improving your credit rating and avoiding cars with a high theft rate are among the best ways to help lower auto-insurance costs. Those catchy commercials featuring cavemen with identity issues and talking geckos have an impact on what consumers buy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the companies who dreamt them up truly save you money. “What we can say is the gecko works, for reasons we don’t understand,” says William Wilt, a Morgan Stanley insurance analyst. Television advertising is what insurance companies spend the most on to lure customers, as opposed to funds spent on product development, consumer education, or agent incentives, Wilt says. The $500 million Geico spent on television advertising last year outstripped even Coca-Cola. Rather than base your decision on the most memorable commercial, shop around. Insurance companies charge different rates for the same coverage: In National Underwriter’s annual online quest for the best six-month auto-insurance premium, rates varied by as much as $450 for the same coverage on the same vehicle, up $150 from last year’s spread. If you’re in the market not only for insurance, but also for a new car, you can significantly sway insurance premiums up or down depending on what type of vehicle you buy and what kind of equipment it has. Mike Barry, vice president for the Insurance Information Institute, says that buying vehicles with anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights, and anti-theft devices can help reduce insurance premiums. “Some states require insurers to give discounts for cars equipped with airbags or anti-lock brakes,” he says.                                 With regard to the amount of liability coverage to carry, opinions are divided. Jack Hungelmann, author of "Insurance for Dummies," estimates that raising liability coverage from $300,000 to $500,000 would only cost about $60 per year for two cars, or the same amount for one car driven by a young person. Given that critical care for serious injuries can easily run up to six figures, Hungelmann considers this a worthwhile investment. “Nobody should carry less than $500,000 per person,” he says. But before you pay for this coverage, consider that medical payment coverage through an auto-insurance carrier might duplicate health or disability benefits you buy individually or receive through your job. Even how you buy consumer goods and pay your bills can have an impact on what you shell out for car insurance. About 10 years ago, insurance carriers started using credit history and insurance scores, which are essentially credit scores with other factors thrown in, to determine premium rates. The practice has survived many court challenges and complaints from consumer advocates who do not believe credit history is any indication of insurance loss. Many states have adopted enabling legislation that allows for discounts when a credit score suffers because of a job loss or unusual medical expenses. But in general, the practice is here to stay. So finding out your credit score and taking measures to improve it may help lower your auto-insurance premium. FUN CAR FACTS · -Names In Car History: Durant, William A businessman, finance man, and salesman who was a self-made millionaire before ever joining the auto business. He was called on by the owners of the failing Buick Motor Company to help. He soon bought Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Cadillac and formed General Motors. He almost bought Ford, but didn't come up with enough cash to suit Henry. Durant always kept himself stretched thin with his money in stocks and other businesses. He lost everything in the Depression. · -Car Movies: Ferris Bueller's Day Off Matthew Broderick borrows a Ferrari · -The First Indian To Qwn A Car was Jamshedji Tata of Mumbai in 1901

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