Automakers Emphasize Driver Focus for Safety and Environment

Strategic Insights -

Automakers at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America's (ITS) annual exposition highlighted the importance of keeping drivers' "eyes-on-the-road" for both auto safety and the environment. The industry has centered its work around two key initiatives: the Driver Focus Guidelines and the EcoDrivingUSA program. These initiatives aim to help drivers focus on the road by providing guidelines for in-vehicle technologies and tips for boosting fuel efficiency. "Automakers have continued to provide consumers with more fuel-efficient and ever safer automobiles," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has developed the Driver Focus Guidelines to ensure that vehicle features can be operated with quick, interruptible glances, allowing drivers to focus on driving.
  • The guidelines were created in consultation with ITS America and implemented by 2003, with the goal of ensuring that vehicle features do not distract drivers.
  • The EcoDrivingUSA program provides drivers with tips to boost fuel efficiency, including avoiding rapid starts and stops, maintaining optimal vehicle speed, and reducing aerodynamic drag.
  • A typical EcoDriver can increase fuel efficiency by an average of 15 percent.
  • The program aims to affect the nation's entire fleet of 245 million automobiles, potentially reducing energy and climate issues.
  • Automakers emphasize the need for integrated hands-free systems that help drivers focus on the road, preserving the wireless connection in cars to enable vehicle safety technologies.

Statistics:

  • The odds of a crash or near-miss more than doubled when a driver's eyes were off the road ahead for more than two seconds, according to The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute's '100-Car' study.
  • The nation's entire fleet of 245 million automobiles could potentially benefit from the EcoDrivingUSA program, reducing energy and climate issues.
  • A typical EcoDriver can increase fuel efficiency by an average of 15 percent.
  • By 2003, the Alliance's member companies had voluntarily developed and implemented the Driver Focus Guidelines.

Sources:

  • Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
  • Intelligent Transportation Society of America
  • Virginia Tech Transportation Institute
  • Dave McCurdy, President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
  • BMW Group
  • Chrysler Group LLC
  • Ford Motor Company
  • General Motors
  • Jaguar Land Rover
  • Mazda
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Mitsubishi Motors
  • Porsche
  • Toyota
  • Volkswagen