What do rising stars Kat Graham (Vampire Diaries), Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages) and Joe Jonas have in common?
They were among the young celebrities helping Ford demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving at the recent Variety Power of Youth event, held at Paramount Studios, Hollywood.
Ford is one of several automakers that sponsor teen driver education programs, and came on board as a sponsor of the event.
"We are excited to take part in an event that recognizes the commitment of young people to making a positive difference,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “This is also a great opportunity for Ford to help elevate the conversation around teen driving safety."
At a recently held Bridgestone Tire event the manufacturer shared big news regarding their latest tire designs and their launch of a teen driving safety program.
One of the corporation’s latest designs is the updated Potenza RE-11, from Bridgestone’s premier tire line. “We recently added a groove in the tire’s shoulder for better road contact which helps maintain a strong corner stiffness by being flexible and draining water, (away from the tread),” Bridgestone Senior Project Engineer Cara Adams said. Another new design is the S-04 Pole Position, “Which is our ultra high performance and is designed for wet and dry roads. The S-04 has wide (silencer) grooves for rapid water evacuation and the design provides a quieter ride. We have also included high silica which improves tread (for wet braking), and ridges which increase response and handling,” Adams explained. The S-04 also has a, “Rayon body ply which assists in high speeds and provides excellent durability.”
The ladies of Specialty Equipment Market Association's SEMA Businesswomen's Network, (SEMA/SBN) and FORD Motor Co. held a contest for female automotive enthusiasts to design and customize a 2013 Ford Mustang GT donated by FORD. The venture is appropriately named “Powered by Women” and later in the year the customized car will be auctioned off with the proceeds going towards the SEMA scholarship fund. The fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket leaders and innovators. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 - $2,000, with $4,000 going to the top student enrolled in journalism, engineering, transportation and many other college majors will qualify.
The three design concepts developed submitted were created by female designers and the build of the winning design will be conducted by female volunteers. The project is meant to shine the light on females working in the automotive aftermarket and encourage more women to pursue careers in the industry.
Two of the designs were created by SEMA Businesswomen’s Network member (and Ford Motor Co. employee) Jennifer Seely. Seely submitted her design concepts for the contest which were named High Gear and Chromatic.
In case you didn't know, Ask Patty is on Pinterest and we're busy pinning away everything automotive we think is neat! This weekend we've put up a pinboard just for Easter, featuring Easterly (is that a word) Automotive goodies. From bunny ears for your car to Peeps in Twinkie-mobiles, we hope this pinboard will brighten your weekend.
And while we're at it, if you're a pinner, follow us! We'll do the same. Have a great weekend, and happy Easter Ask Patty Nation!
This weekend, we celebrate one of my favorite colors. Green! Don't forget to wear yours, or you risk a good pinchin'. And don't forget to be green as well! Have you given your car a green checkup lately? Find out how you could be saving on gas and polluting a little less by contacting your local Certified Female Friendly Service shop - find yours at askpattycertifiedfemalefriendly.com
Of course, St. Patty's is a time of celebration as well - a day when everyone's Irish. If you plan on celebrating, don't plan on driving. As we've told youbefore - buzzed driving is drunk driving. Have a good time, but stay safe!
Finally, I leave you with one of my most favorite songs, which isn't Irish, but I think it's appropriate nonetheless. You've probably heard it before, but give it a listen again - and take some time to appreciate bein' green this St. Patty's Day weekend.
As well as being Women's History Month, March is also dedicated to another cause near and dear to us here at Ask Patty: It's National MS Education and Awareness month, a month set aside by the MS Foundation to educate and bring awareness of this debilitating disease to the public. Multiple Sclerosis, says the MS Foundation, stops people from moving. Thei goal, along with organizations like United Spinal and others, is to make sure it doesn't.
Ask Patty, as many of you know, is an ardent supporter of both United Spinal and the MS Foundation, and is a sponsor of the annual Jon Lancaster Toyota Scion Bike MS ride and fundraiser, so we wanted to do our part in helping to spread awareness. If you know someone who has MS, or have perhaps been recently diagnosed yourself, take a moment to read through these materials brought to you by the MS Foundation and United Spinal. Even if you don't - take a moment to read them anyway.
Take a moment this month to help someone with MS to keep moving forward.
November/December 2011 Issue Tinkering with MS Theories: What if the Problem is in the Plumbing? Possible implications of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). MS Life: A new low-vision product, the Swank Diet, assistive tech experiences, research news, and a perspective on secondary-progressive MS.
September/October 2011 Issue MS Life: The Baclofen pump, exercise tips, transferring advice, research news, and a perspective on the transition to scooter.
July/August 2011 Issue Yoga for MS Relief: Research and personal experience. Seated Yoga: Pose Instructions Gym Chains: An exercise fan with MS reviews Bally Total Fitness. MS Life: Fighting fatigue, mindfulness meditation, home access, research news, and a perspective on swimming with dolphins. Travel: Cruising with MS.
Jodi Kippe, Crowe-Horwath; Cherie Watters, Puente Hills Hyundai; Audrey Zavodsky, Professional Racer, to Receive Top Honors
In recognition of their professional accomplishments and contributions to the automotive industry, three distinguished businesswomen have been chosen to receive the coveted Spirit of Leadership Award, presented annually by the Women’s Automotive Association International (WAAI).
This year’s honorees are Jodi Kippe, partner at Crowe-Horwath, a public accounting and consulting firm specializing in audit, tax, advisory, risk, and performance services; Cherie Watters, general manager of three southern California dealerships—Puente Hills Hyundai, Mazda of Puente Hills and South Bay Hyundai; and Audrey Zavodsky, PhD, professional race-car driver and head of human resources, leadership and professional development, for Ford Motor Company.
The women will be honored at the 13th Annual Spirit of Leadership Awards Dinner on Saturday, February 4, 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards dinner, hosted by WAAI, is being held in conjunction with the 2012 NADA/ATD Convention. Proceeds from the event will be contributed to the WAAI International Scholarship Program, which provides tuition assistance to qualified students pursuing careers in the automotive industry.
“The women selected as this year’s honorees have a proven track record of exceptional professional achievements and as role models and mentors in both the automotive industry and their communities,” stated Lorraine Schultz, WAAI founder and CEO. “We are privileged to recognize these accomplished women.”
Founded in 1995, WAAI centers it efforts on recognizing the achievements of women in the automotive industry, providing networking and relationship-building opportunities, and encouraging growth through mentoring, ?educational endeavors and scholarships.
For additional information on the awards dinner, including sponsorship and advertising opportunities, and to purchase tickets, visit the WAAI website, www.waai.com. Or email to Lori Sousa, event coordinator, lsousa@dealerriskservices.com.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes occur every year as a result of drowsy drivers, leading to 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. Thankfully new vehicle safety policies and standards are always evolving because this leads to more innovative safety ideas from the auto industry as implemented in their newest designs.
At this year’s annual Detroit Auto Show, Ford Motors will not only be featuring their 2012s at this momentous event they will also be introducing their 2013 Fusion. Although many aspects of this updated model have been held tightly under wraps, one technological feature of the Fusion has been released to additionally entice enthusiasts and consumers. That feature is Ford’s new Lane Keeping System which is meant to help driver’s avoid unintended lane departures due to distraction or drowsiness.
“We are not the first to offer this technology but we are the first to bring it to an affordable non-luxury vehicle,” said Michael Kane, Ford development engineer. “Fusion’s Lane Keeping System combines a digital imaging sensor with our own state-of-the-art control software to process images and then determines what level of warning or assistance should be provided to the driver. We have put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane detection capability and the smoothness of the assist.”
The Lane Keeping System uses a digital camera mounted on the windshield ahead of the rearview mirror, allowing the Fusion to watch the road ahead to detect an unintentional lane departure. It also has three levels of assistance available to the driver depending on what is happening: Lane Keeping Alert, Lane Keeping Aid and Driver Alert. It is also activated after vehicle speed reaches above 40 mph and then first reads lane markers and then transmits image of markers to the interior’s icon screen (which also shows the car between two lanes). The screen then illuminates on the instrument cluster to indicate the system has been enabled. Ford’s Lane Keeping System takes advantage of the electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) used in the new Fusion to provide a vibrating alert to the driver while gently steering the car back into the lane if the driver doesn’t respond.
“Ford’s Lane Keeping System software monitors the car’s position in real time,” said Kane. When the system detects the edge of the lane without a turn signal activated the lane marker icon turns yellow and the steering wheel vibrates to simulate driving over rumble strips. If the driver doesn’t respond and continues to drift, the lane icon turns red and EPAS will nudge the steering and the vehicle back toward the center of the lane. If the car continues to drift, the vibration is added again along with the nudge. The driver can overcome assistance and vibration at any time by turning the steering wheel, accelerating, or braking.
Drivers can monitor whether the system is detecting behavior consistent with drowsy driving with an alert gauge in the instrument cluster that features a steaming cup of coffee. As the indicator gets closer to the coffee cup, the driver should consider taking a break to rest.
If the driver doesn’t take a break and the system detects a driving pattern consistent with being tired, an audible chime and a visual alert will suggest the driver stop and rest. If the same conditions persist and the driver doesn’t stop, a second, more assertive warning will be issued. As soon as the driver stops and shuts off the engine or opens the door, the monitor resets its information.
Whether it’s a gust of wind, a momentary distraction or heavy eyelids that cause the vehicle to wander, the Lane Keeping System in the 2013 Ford Fusion effectively provides drivers with an extra set of eyes on the road and hands on the wheel to help them arrive at their destination safe and sound.
