Liz Allison Teams With AutoVantage: Auto Club Offers Tips on New Technologies, Safety Benefits
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NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 22, 2007 -- In 1886 when Karl Benz received the first patent for a gas-fueled car and Gottlieb Daimler created the first 'four-wheeled automobile,' little did anyone know that these inventions would change the way we live, work and play forever.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2005 more than 241 million motor vehicles were registered in the United States (according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in 2005 was an estimated 288 million). So while some people are using public transportation, riding bikes or walking, the majority of Americans still rely on some sort of automobile as their primary mode of transportation.
"Cars are an important part of many people's everyday lives and we rely on them more and more for guidance on the road," said Mike Wain, vice president of AutoVantage. "We don't just kick the tires when we purchase a car anymore. We look for features to keep the whole family comfortable and prepared for any situation."
AutoVantage spokesperson Liz Allison continued, "When used properly, many of these new technologies enhance the driving experience, but keeping your eye on the road should always be your No. 1 priority."
Today's cars still serve the basic need of getting us where we need to go, but now our vehicles are becoming more advanced than ever. Some people rely on their cars to give them directions through built-in GPS navigation systems, remedy a key being locked in the car by satellite assistance or make a phone call on the road with their vehicle's Bluetooth technology while keeping both hands on the steering wheel. In the case of the later, some states such as New York, Washington D.C. and New Jersey have gone so far as to ban or partially ban talking on the cell phone while driving unless the driver is using Bluetooth or other hands-free technology.
And the technology keeps advancing.
In the past few years, the automotive industry has developed equipment that not only keeps those in the car safe, but the people and things around you as well. Liz Allison offers these new technologies to consider when purchasing your next vehicle.
-- Electronic Stability Control. ESC constantly monitors your car's brake
performance through sensors. The sensors help determine if a driver is
about to lose control of the vehicle and can make individual
adjustments to each wheel that could prevent a car from spinning out of
control. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, ESC
could prevent nearly one-third of all fatal crashes and reduce rollover
risk by as much as 80 percent! In 2006, ESC was standard on 40 percent
of all passenger vehicle models and optional on another 15 percent. If
you're looking into a new purchase, the IIHS claims that ESC as a
stand-alone option costs between $300 to $800 -- a small price for what
could be a life-saving investment.
-- Parking Assistance. For those of you with traces of foreign paints on
your bumper or who dread parallel parking on city streets, parking
assistance or even cars that park themselves may be for you. Lexus
offers a new Advanced Parking Guidance System that does the work for
you. Many vehicles offer parking assistance, which features ultrasonic
sensors in the front and rear bumpers of your vehicle that help judge
the distance between you and other cars or unseen objects. In some
models like the BMW, the car simply beeps and continues to beep faster
as you get closer to an object and becomes a constant tone when you are
within 12 inches of it. In others like the Mercedes Benz, there is also
a visual indicator on the dashboard and rear cabin ceiling that give a
more accurate sense of proximity to the approaching object. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns in a
recent report though that these sensor-based parking aids were poor in
detecting pedestrians and children. From their testing, they determined
a camera-based system, available with several makes and models, has the
greatest potential to detect people, though still not completely
reliable. The best way to prevent a rollover is still checking behind
your car before you move.
-- Active safety. Imagine driving down the interstate on cruise control
and your car automatically paces its self behind the upcoming car in
front of you. Or your car automatically lowers its beams at night when
an oncoming car approaches. What if your car had "night vision" and
discreetly projected a holographic image on the lower part of your
windshield showing potential obstacles on the side of the roadway
outside your headlights' reach as you passed? What if your car alerted
you when you were leaving your lane? Hopefully it's not too far off. At
its recent "Electronics University" Siemens VDO rolled out a slew of
future technologies like these that may help prevent accidents in the
future and are already available on some luxury models.
-- Eliminate human error. We've all wished our car had an "auto-pilot"
button that would take us through the rest of our journey. But this
isn't too far from reality. Surprisingly, the first driverless car was
developed in the 1980s by Mercedes Benz. Today, groups like the US
Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) attract some of the
brightest minds in advanced car technology with the DARPA Urban
Challenge (http://www.darpa.mil/grandchallenge) -- a competition that
puts autonomous ground vehicles through simulated military supply
missions. In its third year, the event is moving into an urban
environment where the vehicles will be required to merge into moving
traffic, navigate traffic circles, negotiate busy intersections and
avoid obstacles. With technology like this on the rise, it's anyone's
guess how long it will be before your morning commute includes a power
nap.
-- Entertainment and convenience. Other devices exist solely for our
enjoyment. The extremely popular Sirius and XM satellite radios allow
drivers to listen to their favorite music or radio programming
uninterrupted across the entire U.S. In some models, you can now also
directly connect your iPod or other Mp3 player into your stereo system
through an auxiliary jack. And if it's a long trip with the kids, many
cars now feature integrated DVD systems with multiple screens and
surround sound quality audio to keep even the youngest passengers
pacified.
Today's technology continues to revolutionize our daily lives. You can now buy a portable GPS system that can be used in whatever car you're driving or on a hike as well. And cell phones are starting to provide maps and driving directions right on your handheld. In time, many of these technologies may provide some solutions to making our roadways a safer place for all, but there will never be a replacement for using caution and good judgment every time you get into the driver's seat. So remember:
-- Always wear your seatbelt. As cautious as you may be, you can not
control other drivers and variables on the roadway.
-- Keep your car in good maintenance. Maintain a consistent schedule of
maintenance and prevent pricey trips to the auto repair shop and
breakdowns on the road.
-- And stay cautious. With all the new technologies available to help us
in the car, it's important to remember to keep your focus on the road,
not the gadget. Pull over if you need to adjust a route on your GPS,
take a phone call or do any other task that keeps driving from being
your number one priority.
Liz Allison, a spokesperson for AutoVantage, is a NASCAR TV personality, radio host and best-selling author. She has served as a racing analyst for TNT, CNNSI, TNN, CNN, ESPN and ESPN2. Allison has appeared on NBC's "Today Show," CNN, Fox and Friends, ESPN, MSNBC, Fox News Weekend Live and the Speed Channel. She is host of the No. 1 NASCAR radio show in Nashville, called "The Drivers Zone," on WGFX-FM. Allison is also host and track announcer for the Nashville Superspeedway. She is the best-selling author of "The Girl's Guide to NASCAR" -- and has written two sequels for Time Warner Books, the first to be released September 6, 2007. Allison has written three NASCAR Harlequin Romance novels, the first slated for November 2007 publication. She has penned articles for USA Today, NASCAR Scene, NASCAR Illustrated, NASCAR.com, MSN.com and FoxSports.com.
About AutoVantage
Members of AutoVantage (http://www.autovantage.com/ or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations, including participating AAMCO, Jiffy Lube, Meineke and American Car Care Center locations. AutoVantage also offers 24-hour nationwide emergency towing, roadside assistance, and lockout protection from its network of more than 10,000 emergency roadside assistance providers. Trip routing for maps and door-to-door driving directions across the U.S. are also included. AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.
About Affinion Group
Affinion Group, www.affiniongroup.com, is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 5,200 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 14 countries across Europe.
