Auto Tech Gadgets More Appealing To Americans Than Safety Features

Auto tech gadgets more appealing to Americans than safety features...auto gadgets like GPS and bluetooth get more attention than your vehicle's safety features. That's a little bit scary when you think about it.

(ARA) - Whether you're planning a short trip to the store or a long ride across the country, getting behind the wheel is the easy part. Staying safe while driving, on the other hand, takes a bit more work.

However, when it comes to investing in technology that's designed to make the driving experience safer, Americans admit favoring increased convenience over driver and passenger safety, according to a MetLife Auto & Home American Safety Pulse Poll.

"The most recognized and sought-after technology features tend to be those which promote style over substance, when in reality, it's the less glamorous features like electronic stability control which make for safer vehicles," says Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home. "By increasing their understanding of the available safety features in today's vehicles, consumers can make more informed choices about which cars provide the best safeguards to help protect themselves and their families on the road."

Technology Awareness: Are Americans Too Distracted By Gadgets?

When asked about their familiarity with safety-oriented automobile features - some of which have been available for several years - survey respondents gave low marks:

* Less than half of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with electronic stability control, one of the most significant safety advancements in recent years, which helps improve steering and prevent rollover accidents. Almost one-third had never heard of it at all.

* Forty-four percent of respondents were very or somewhat familiar with brake assist, which applies additional brake force in the event of a sudden stop.

* Forty-three percent were very or somewhat familiar with forward collision warning, which alerts the driver when sensors detect an imminent front-end impact.

* Only 28 percent were very or somewhat familiar with the lane departure warning feature, which warns a driver that he or she is drifting out of the designated lane on a highway. Forty-one percent of respondents had never even heard of the feature.

In contrast, Americans gave much higher marks for convenience features, such as GPS (90 percent) and bluetooth accessories (77 percent). And, when asked which features they wanted in their next car, more people opted for convenience features such as GPS (63 percent) over safety features like electronic stability control (45 percent).

Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that electronic stability control significantly decreases the likelihood of a single-vehicle crash by up to 59 percent and provides a 23 percent reduction in the probability of fatal crashes. Starting this year, electronic stability control is a standard feature on all new passenger cars in the U.S.

Although safety technology can help to make America's roadways safer, the fact remains: No amount of technology can replace the safety benefit of an experienced driver behind the wheel.

"Auto manufacturers have made significant strides with regard to safety innovations over the past 10 years, but the ultimate safety feature is an alert and prepared driver," says Moore. "Technology advancements have greatly improved the comfort and safety of cars, but overreliance on these features can be dangerous - drivers need to remember that it's still up to them to operate their vehicles in a safe and responsible manner."

Where Can You Get Up To Speed On Safety?

To learn more about new auto technologies and how to make a positive difference in your driving, consider the informational tips offered at www.metlife.com.

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Civic-Minded: Serving Americans for Nine Generations

By the time you read this, Honda’s ninth-generation 2012 Honda Civic will be rolling onto American roads at a rate of around 700 per day. Since it debuted as a 1973 model, the Civic has sold nearly 9 million units in the U.S., in every form from coupe and sedan to hatchback and wagon. Given the volume and variety, chances are high you or someone you know has owned a Civic. Or three. In honor of the ninth gen, here are a few Civic details from the previous eight gens as well as some 2012-model context for good measure.

In April 1973, Motor Trend tested the original Civic, which cost—yep—$1973. (Interesting aside:  First known use of “factoid” occurred in 1973.) The 1552-pound hatch, with a 50-horse I-4, reached 60 mph in 14.3 seconds and returned observed fuel economy of 20.4 mpg. The 2012 in this issue, a 140-horse, $21,255, 2725-pound sedan, delivered 60 in 9.1 with fuel econ of 29.4.

The second-gen Civic appeared in 1980, garnering MT’s Import Car of the Year award. At 1822 pounds, the $4949 hatch had an 88.6-inch wheelbase and, among ICOTY competitors, it put down the shortest 60-0 span of 150 feet. This issue’s four-door EX has a 105.1-inch wheelbase and halted from 60 in 126.

“Rollerskate GT” is how we described Gen 3’s 1984 Civic CRX, a $6600, 76-horse two-seater that, with an independent front/semi-independent rear suspension and 175/70R13 Michelins, held for 0.85 g of lateral grip, same as that of a ’12 Fiat 500. Less sticky is the ’12 Civic EX’s 0.81.

When the ’88 fourth-gen Civic bowed, the “most powerful” tags went to the 105-horse CRX Si and 4WD wagon. With the exception of the CRX HF’s eight-valve 1.5-liter, the remaining powerplants boasted 16 valves. Today, one Civic, the Hybrid, has eight valves; the rest, 16.

Gen 5 debuted for 1992 and I remember it well—I owned a red Si. Anti-lock brakes weren’t available, but a driver-side airbag, split tailgate, and giant 14-inch wheels came standard. What a car. MT’s December 1991 issue lists 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. And 2012’s 201-horse Si? We haven’t tested one yet, but I predict a stat better than 6.5.

In 1995 Honda unveiled the sixth-gen ’96 Civic, which we dubbed “The next best thing to an Acura economy car.” An ultra-fuel-efficient model, the HX Coupe, joined the lineup, armed with a 1.6-liter, 115-horse I-4 and a CVT good for 33 city/41 highway mpg. 2012’s fuel miser, the HF sedan, offers 140 horsepower, a five-speed auto, and 29/41 mpg. Progress? In terms of fuel econ, not really. But, unlike the HX, the new HF comes standard with four more airbags, two extra doors, ABS, stability control, and air conditioning.

For 2003, a year after Gen 7 appeared, Honda introduced the first Civic Hybrid with combined output of 93 horses. Based on today’s EPA standards, fuel economy would come in at 40 city/43 highway. Ten years later, the 2012 Civic Hybrid moves ahead with a total rating of 110 ponies. The EPA numbers? An even 44/44.

The eighth gen made its formal entrance for 2006, dressed in a sleek, new “mono-form” body. Color us impressed. We named it our 2006 Car of the Year, writing, “The automotive joy that Honda Motor Company was founded on radiates from these new Civics.” In 2010, 252,882 of 260,218 new Civics sold in the U.S. were produced in North American plants; the remaining 7336 came from Japan. If the Civic were its own brand, ’10 sales would put it ahead of Volkswagen (256,830), Mazda (229,566), and Mercedes-Benz (224,944).

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Americans In No Hurry To Retire Clunkers, As Sales Falter

It's the cycle of life. As we buy new vehicles, we trade others in; frugal used-car owners buy those, and sell their older vehicles. And in turn, a tired heap of a vehicle is retired.

Trouble is, we're not retiring as many vehicles as we used to.

The average vehicle in the U.S. is now about ten years old (9.9 actually), and probably, if it's the typical vehicle, nowhere near retirement age. Back in 1990, the median age of U.S. vehicles was just 6.5 years, and in pre-recession 2007 it was still around nine years.

The good news for the industry is that, as of late, a few more vehicles are being brought to the junkyard, and it appears Americans have given up trying to repair some of their most worn-out beaters. According to Experian Automotive, vehicle scrappage significantly increased in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared to the quarter before, when Cash for Clunkers had driven many clunkers to an early retirement.

The bad news is that looking at these vehicle retirements over a slightly wider timeframe, we're still not making much room for a significant spike in new-vehicle sales. Yes, we've seen some encouraging results over the past several months, but auto sales are still deeply depressed.

Over the last half of 2010, about 5.7 million new vehicles were sold, while roughly the same amount were scrapped, so the number of currently registered vehicles in the U.S. has remained relatively stable, at about 240 million cars and light trucks (the U.S. is a mature market, so that total isn't going to change significantly). Of those that stayed in circulation, about 17.5 million used vehicles changed owners during that time.

In 2010, 5.3 percent of cars and 3.5 percent of trucks were retired from duty. That's also a fraction of what we were scrapping in strong economic times. Experian also points out that total vehicles from the 1983 to 1992 model years saw a decrease of more than eight percent just in the last half of 2010. The early 1990s were a period when most automakers made huge improvements in vehicle reliability and longevity.

As we've reported, the best we can hope for in 2011 is a modest sales recovery, perhaps reaching the 13-million mark this year.

In some respects, it's a chicken-or-the-egg issue. Which comes first, the urge to get a new vehicle or the need to get rid of the old clunker? Are you ready to retire a vehicle and replace it with a new one, or keep holding on?

[Experian Automotive]

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