Insurance group urges Amazon, FedEx to boost tech in delivery vans

TLDR:

Researchers are calling for increased safety technology in delivery vans used by companies like Amazon and FedEx to prevent crashes and injuries. Technologies like automatic emergency braking and lane departure prevention could significantly reduce the number of accidents involving light vans.

Key Elements:

• About half a million light vans are sold in the US each year for delivery purposes.
• Research shows that these vans are involved in a significant number of crashes, resulting in injuries and fatalities.
• Technologies like automatic emergency braking and lane departure prevention could help reduce the number of accidents.
• Companies like Amazon and FedEx are urged to incorporate more safety features in their delivery vans to protect drivers and pedestrians.

Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have highlighted the importance of equipping delivery vans with advanced safety technologies to enhance road safety. With the increasing demand for e-commerce and home deliveries, the use of vans for package transportation has also surged. However, these vans are prone to accidents, with a high number of crashes reported annually.

The Institute’s findings suggest that implementing crash prevention technologies like automatic emergency braking and lane departure prevention could significantly reduce the occurrence of fatal crashes involving light vans. While these technologies are commonly available in passenger cars, they are relatively rare in light vans. Companies like Amazon have started incorporating third-party technology in their delivery vans to monitor drivers’ behavior and reduce collision rates.

Additionally, technologies such as forward collision warning, blind spot warning, speed limiting controls, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection could further enhance safety for both drivers and pedestrians. Automakers like Ram, Ford, and Mercedes have already started offering some of these features in their vans, emphasizing the need for more widespread adoption to prevent accidents and save lives.