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Automatic Emergency Braking to Be Standard on All New Vehicles by 2029 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 29 announced it has finalized a new rule that will make automatic emergency braking (AEB), including pedestrian AEB, standard on all passenger cars and light trucks by September 2029, in a bid to significantly reduce rear-end and pedestrian crashes. NHTSA projects the new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard will save at least 360 lives a year and prevent at least 24,000 injuries annually.
contact with a vehicle in front of them up to 62 mph, and that the systems must detect pedestrians in both daylight and darkness. In addition, the standard requires the system apply the brakes automatically up to 90 mph when a collision with a lead vehicle is imminent, and up to 45 mph when a pedestrian is detected. This final rule applies to vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less, which includes nearly all U.S. light vehicles.
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Vol. 15 / Issue 4 / June 2024 REGIONAL NEWS
Virginia Passes Bad Faith Auto Insurance Bill The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill that will require auto insurers to pay double if a court finds they arbitrarily did not pay a claim to a policyholder, set to go in effect July 1. The bill applies to any insurer that denies, refuses or fails to pay to its insured a property damage, medical expense benefit or loss of income benefit claim in bad faith, as found by a court, and also requires the insurer to pay interest, as well as the claimant’s attorney fees and expenses. Supporters of the bill call it a win for customers who otherwise had no recourse when an insurer refused to pay claims, but opponents say it could drive up auto insurance costs.
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) said a study, conducted for it by actuarial firm Milliman, Inc., projects an increase in auto insurance premiums ranging from 5.6% to 14.3%, which it said could translate to an additional annual cost of $220 million to $550 million for Virginia’s motorists. Senate Bill 256 would likely exacerbate the financial burden on Virginians, especially affecting lowincome individuals who can least afford to pay higher premiums, said Nancy Egan, APCIA s vice president of state government relations and counsel, who urged Youngkin to veto the bill.
REGIONAL NEWS
Volkswagen Workers in Tennessee Join UAW in Historic Vote AEB systems use sensors to detect when a vehicle is close to crashing into a vehicle or pedestrian in front and automatically applies the brakes if the driver has not. Pedestrian AEB technology will detect a pedestrian in both daylight and in darker conditions at night. The NHTSA said the new standard will significantly reduce injury or property damage and associated costs from these crashes. The new standard requires all cars be able to stop and avoid
The vast majority of light vehicles sold in the U.S. already come equipped with the feature. In December 2023, it was announced 20 automakers had fulfilled a voluntary pledge they signed in 2016 to equip nearly all the light vehicles they produce for the U.S. market with AEB. The list included Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Stellantis. That pledge had been brokered by the NHTSA and the l CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, TN, have overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), making them the first U.S. autoworkers outside of the Big Three to successfully unionize. The election, held April 17-19, saw more than 3,600 votes cast. Of those, 73% were in favor of joining the UAW. This election is big,” said Kelcey Smith, a worker in the paint department at Volkswagen. “People in high places told us good things can’t happen here in Chattanooga. They told us this isn’t the time to stand up, this isn’t the place. But we did stand up and we won. This is the time; this is
the place. Southern workers are ready to stand up and win a better life.” “We saw the big contract that UAW workers won at the Big Three and that got everybody talking,” said Zachary Costello, a trainer in VW’s proficiency room. “You see the pay, the benefits, the rights UAW members have on the job, and you see how that would change your life. That’s why we voted overwhelmingly for the union. Once people see the difference a union makes, there’s no way to stop them.” “This is a movement for every blue-collar worker in America,” said l CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 6
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Columnist Mike Anderson: Battery Reconnects Lead Police to Visit Shop 3 Times Until Solution Found Columnist Abby Andrews: Car Insurance, Repair Cost Increases Far
Outpace Overall Rate
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Columnist Stacey Phillips Ronak: Talent Acquisition Program Leaders
9
Columnist John Yoswick: Associations Working to Enact State Laws
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