Modern semitrailers for the most part do a good job of keeping passenger vehicles from sliding underneath them, greatly increasing the chances of surviving a crash into the back of a large truck, recent tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) show. But in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear, most trailers fail to prevent potentially deadly underride.
Earlier research showed that the minimum strength and dimensions required for underride guards are inadequate, prompting the Institute to petition the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2011 for tougher standards. The Institute also asked the agency to consider applying the standards to other types of large trucks, such as dump trucks that aren’t required to have any underride guards.
Child restraint manufacturers continue to roll out new booster seats that do a good job of improving the way an adult safety belt fits a typical booster-age child. This year, 19 of 31 new models evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earn the top rating of BEST BET, and one model is a GOOD BET.
The Institute began rating boosters five years ago because research indicated that most seats weren’t doing a good job of fitting safety belts correctly and consistently on children in a variety of vehicles. Boosters earn a rating of BEST BET, GOOD BET, Check Fit or Not Recommended, based on a protocol that involves measuring how three-point lap and shoulder belts fit a child-size test dummy seated in the booster on a stationary test fixture under four conditions that span the range of safety belt configurations in passenger vehicles. The evaluations focus on safety belt fit and don’t involve crash tests.
Eyeing vast new efficiencies in global fresh produce and fresh-cut flower transport, Maersk Container Industry (MCI) is now partnering with Boston-based technology company Primaira LLC to develop an air cleaning system in Star Cool Integrated refrigerated containers.
Thorough tests and trials have shown the patented technology, Bluezone®, to be an efficient eliminator of molds, fungi and bacteria. Using an ozone concentration 300 times higher than otherwise seen on the market, Bluezone also removes ethylene effectively.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64186-maersk-container-launch-new-technology
A roster of acclaimed chefs return for a second chance to become a member of the Iron Chef culinary society this fall, with the premiere of The Next Iron Chef: Redemption on Sunday, November 4th at 9pm ET/PT. The fifth installment of this top-rated competition series also adds a few newcomers to the mix, who have had their own experiences of not quite winning the crown. The competitors are given new opportunities to prove their skills are Iron Chef worthy, while revisiting some of the memorable moments that sent them home in the past. The culinary battle-royale, hosted by Alton Brown and shot in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, tests the kitchen chops, masterful skills and fortitude of these supreme experts, and culminates with the naming of the newest Iron Chef on Sunday, December 23rd at 9pm ET/PT.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/58135-food-network-next-iron-chef-redemption/
Hold your nose. This story stinks…literally! New York is used to its fair share of interesting smells, but for the first time ever, the city had the odorous honor of hosting the Annual Odor-Eaters National Rotten Sneaker Contest, a competition that tests just how offensive sneakers can get. Ready to be judged were seven finalists, ages five to fourteen, from across the nation. They gathered at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Times Square today wearing the decrepit and redolent rubber-soles that won them regional recognition. Only one competitor's sneakers were declared the stinkiest, and they belonged to 12 year old Jordan Armstrong from White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces, NM.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65107-odor-eaters-39th-national-rotten-sneaker-contest-new-york-city-winner
A group of moderately priced midsize cars outperformed most of their luxury counterparts in a challenging new frontal crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on 2013 models. Of the 18 midsize family cars evaluated in the small overlap test, two earn the top rating of good, 11 earn acceptable, three earn marginal, and two are poor.
In contrast, just 3 of 11 midsize luxury and near-luxury cars evaluated in the inaugural round of small overlap tests earned good or acceptable ratings. Midsize moderately priced cars are the second group to be tested. The best performers in this group are the Honda Accord 4-door and Suzuki Kizashi. Both earn a good rating.
Walgreens (NYSE:WAG)(Nasdaq:WAG) announces the launch of the 2014 Walgreens Way to Well Health Tour with AARP. For six years, Walgreens and AARP have conducted the community outreach program dedicated to providing free preventive and early detection health services to communities across the country. Now through December, Walgreens will use the tour to provide free health tests, assessments, education and consulting services with a renewed commitment to the everyday health of Americans nationwide.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7158751-walgreens-2014-way-to-well-health-tour-aarp
National Tire Safety Week is an industry-wide initiative that educates drivers about the importance of proper tire care. Summer is the season for road trips, so now is a good time to brush up on your tire maintenance knowledge. Remember though, tire safety is critical all year round.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7127551-michelin-tire-rack-street-survival-announces-national-program-schedule
Subaru of America, Inc. and Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit research and consumer advocacy organization, announced today the results of the 2015 Crate and Carrier Crashworthiness Studies - a collaborative initiative to examine the effectiveness and safety of pet crates and carriers in the event of a crash. After several eye-opening and informative tests - including instances of complete failure - three top products emerged; CPS has selected the Gunner Kennels G1 Intermediate with 8’ Tie Down Straps as the 2015 Top Performing Crate and both the PetEgo Forma Frame Jet Set Carrier with ISOFIX-Latch Connection and Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed with PPRS Handilock as the 2015 Top Performing Carriers.
To view the multimedia news release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7074157-subaru-pet-safety/
Parking crashes usually don’t result in serious injuries, but repair costs can quickly mount, along with the hassle of going without the family vehicle while waiting for the body shop to finish work. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has launched a rear crash prevention ratings program to help consumers identify models with the technology that can prevent or mitigate low-speed backing crashes. Two systems earn the highest rating of superior, and four earn the second-highest rating of advanced.
Rear crash prevention encompasses several technologies. Parking sensors issue warning beeps and/or seat vibrations when the equipped vehicle gets too close to another vehicle or object directly behind it, or, in some cases, in front of it. Rear cross-traffic alert warns drivers of approaching vehicles that might cross their path as they back up. Rear automatic emergency braking systems detect objects behind a reversing vehicle and may automatically brake if the driver doesn’t heed alerts to stop.
IIHS engineers evaluated rear autobrake systems on six popular 2017 model vehicles — the BMW 5 series sedan, Cadillac XT5 SUV, Infiniti QX60 SUV, Jeep Cherokee SUV, Subaru Outback wagon and Toyota Prius hatchback.
Under the three-tier rating scheme, models with optional or standard rear crash prevention systems are rated superior, advanced or basic. Ratings are determined by whether the vehicles have available rear autobrake and, if so, how it performs in a series of car-to-car and car-to-pole tests with different approach angles. The availability of parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert also is factored in.
The Outback and XT5 earn a superior rating when equipped with optional rear autobrake, parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert. The Cherokee, 5 series, QX60 and Prius earn an advanced rating with this optional gear.
Vier Modelle fallen im aktuellen Winterreifentest glatt durch und erhalten die Note „mangelhaft“. Aufgrund deutlicher Schwächen auf nasser Fahrbahn rät der ADAC vom Kauf des Kormoran Snowpro b2, des Maragoni 4 Winter E+, des Interstate Winter IWT-2 und des Sailun Ice Blazer WSL-2 ab. Verbraucher haben dennoch eine große Auswahl: Insgesamt haben ADAC und Stiftung Warentest 32 Modelle untersucht - elf Reifen erhalten ein „gut“ und sind damit besonders empfehlenswert. Gleich sieben gute Reifenmodelle gibt es in der kleinen Dimension mit der Größe 185/60 R15T (z.B. für Audi A 1, Citroën C3, Fiat Punto Renault Clio, VW Polo). Testsieger mit Bestnoten auf nasser Fahrbahn sowie auf Schnee und auf Eis ist der Continental ContiWinterContact TS850. Der neu entwickelte Dunlop Winter Response-2 überzeugt die Tester besonders auf nasser Fahrbahn, auf Schnee und beim Kraftstoffverbrauch. Ebenfalls sparsam ist der Semperit Speed-Grip 2. Der Michelin Alpin A4 glänzt beim Verschleiß und der Nokian WR D3 überzeugt auf trockener Fahrbahn. Bei den größeren Reifen (225/45 R17H z.B. für Audi A 3, Mercedes C-Klasse, Opel Astra, Skoda Oktavia) schneiden vier Produkte mit „gut“ ab. Drei Modelle setzen nach Ansicht der Tester besondere Akzente: Der Continental ContiWinterContact TS850 mit der Topbewertung auf Schnee, der Bridgestone Blizzak LM-32S mit der Bestnote auf Nässe und der Michelin Alpin A4 mit dem geringsten Verschleiß. Der ADAC Winterreifentest hat insgesamt 18 Prüfkategorien und bietet somit dem Verbraucher umfassende Informationen. Es wird unter anderem ein Praxistest auf einer verschneiten Passstraße, umfangreiche Brems- und Ausweichversuche auf Nässe, Schnee und Eis sowie Tests zu Verschleiß und Kraftstoffverbrauch durchgeführt. Im Gegensatz dazu bietet das EU-Reifenlabel nur Informationen zu Rollwiderstand, Nassbremsen und Außenfahrgeräusch - wie wintertauglich ein Pneu ist, zeigt es nicht.
KitchenAid has launched a new line of dishwashers combining striking design elements, including a unique black stainless steel finish, with high-performance features that have earned it bragging rights as the best performing dishwasher brand.
“Our latest dishwasher models bring a sleek and sophisticated look to the kitchen, but can tackle even the toughest challenges,” said Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. “Tests undertaken without the benefit of rinse aid have proven that our newest dishwashers offer the best combined wash and dry results of any leading premium brand.”
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7414131-kitchenaid-new-major-appliances/
