Fresh off a vibrant Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in which Brandmotion received Manufacturer of the Year honors from the association's Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) council, the supplier of factory-grade safety solutions to the aftermarket announced it had expanded the number of applications for its multi-camera systems; specifically in its 360 Vision line.

The additional SKUs allow the company to offer an uncompromising view while parking and maneuvering on trucks from 2004 to 2016 if equipped with compatible factory radio screens.

"This was a very important step for us," said Brandmotion President and Founder Jeff Varick. "Our mission has always been to provide drivers with enhanced safety and convenience systems on the aftermarket side, yet ensure that they are tightly and seamlessly integrated into the factory functionality of the vehicle's existing components. Ours is not the first 360-degree system on the market, but it is one of the best in delivering a factory experience, from the matching OEM-grade wiring harnesses to the ergonomic ease of use. It's a great system for F-Series owners, and you can expect us to add more vehicle-specific applications for the technology."

While the upcoming federal mandate requires that all vehicles have at least a single back-up camera, many vehicle manufacturers are equipping vehicles with two-camera systems to show front and rear views. Still others have employed a four-camera system with on-board processing that stitches the four views together to create a "Birds-eye view" of the vehicle's surroundings in real time.

In its 2015 Vehicle Rear Vision Market Study, Brandmotion identified several trims in the F-Series line that either require expensive trim package upgrades to get a camera system, or simply don't have one available.

The Brandmotion 360-degree Vision system consists of four high-resolution cameras, two of which are designed to fit under the side mirrors and provide a 185-degree view. The third is flush-mounted in the front bumper, while the rear-view camera is embedded in a vehicle-specific tailgate handle.

Users see the rear view automatically when the vehicle is put into reverse gear, overlaid with distance park lines to aid in maneuvering, with a smaller top-down vehicle view alongside. The driver can then select between multiple views including the top-down view and split-screen views from each camera.

Currently, Brandmotion's 360-degree Vision system covers the following models:

• Part No. AVMS-3614 – 2015 and newer F-150 with 4-inch MyFord Factory Display
• Part No. AVMS-3618 – 2015 and newer F-150 with 8-inch MyTouch Factory Display
• Part No. AVMS-3604 – 2012-2014 F-150 with 4-inch MyFord Factory Display
• Part No. AVMS-3608 – 2013-2014 F-Series with 8-inch MyTouch Factory Display
• Part No. AVMS-3600 –2004 and newer F-Series with composite-input (RCA-type) video display

All vehicle-specific kits carry an MSRP of $1229.95 plus installation, while the universal AVMS-3600 has a suggested retail price of $999.95 plus installation. In addition to the 360-degree Vision system, Brandmotion offers vehicle-specific, multi-camera systems for several vehicle brands equipped with factory display radios, including Ram, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge. For more information, visit Brandmotion.com or follow Brandmotion on Facebook at facebook.com/brandmotion. 

Boston Globe -- Waze, the smartphone app that maps out faster routes using traffic information submitted by its users, is now using City of Boston data on crashes to alert drivers to the most dangerous intersections.

As part its campaign to eliminate fatal crashes, the city partnered with Waze to let people know when they are passing through areas with the highest rates of traffic collisions. The app warns motorists to drive cautiously and slowly when approaching the intersections.

Waze announced the partnership on Wednesday as part of a nationwide launch of the new feature. Four other major US cities — New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. — are participating.

Read the rest of the story here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/16/smartphone-app-waze-uses-data-from-city-remind-drivers-dangerous-intersectons/4NDjrVFPfYj5c1GS3begEP/story.html

Edmunds, DETROIT, June 1, 2016 — Software-related vehicle safety recalls are on the rise, according to a new analysis by J.D. Power SafetyIQ.

SafetyIQ, an online application developed by J.D. Power that integrates National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data with the research firm's own automotive data, shows that software-related formal complaints by consumers so far in 2016 are at least on par with this time last year.

And 2015 set a record for these types of complaints, with 615 lodged for the full year, compared to the previous annual record of 505 set in 2014.

J.D. Power notes that over the past five years, consumers have registered a total of 2,011 formal complaints related to automotive software with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Consumer complaints are the canaries in the coal mine for automobile manufacturers when it comes to anticipating future recalls and longer-term customer satisfaction," said Renee Stephens, vice president of U.S. Automotive at J.D. Power, in a statement. "Software-related problems have become much more prevalent and, if not addressed, could begin to erode consumer trust in new automotive technology."

SafetyIQ reveals a clear connection between consumer complaints and recall decisions, with the number of recalls increasing at a rate similar to the number of formal grievances filed.

J.D. Power's analysis shows that 189 software-related recalls have been issued over the past five years affecting more than 13 million vehicles, most involving the vehicles' powertrains, electrical systems, cooling systems and control systems. Of those, 141 recalls were said to present a risk of crashing, and 44 had the potential to cause injury.

Although car shoppers may be wowed by the latest vehicle technology, such as on-board connectivity and systems automation, some of the latest tech trends have already been the cause of some concern among consumers.

For example, as previously reported by Edmunds, connectivity has brought along with it the threat of hacking, which some motorists fear could cause them to lose control of a vehicle and possibly result in a crash.

A U.S. Senate report last year concluded, "There is a clear lack of appropriate security measures to protect drivers against hackers who may be able to take control of a vehicle or against those who may wish to collect and use personal driver information."

Read the rest of the story HERE.

NBC News, 3/27/2016 -- As part of a unique industry-government consortium, American motorists will soon find virtually every car, truck and crossover on the market equipped with a breakthrough safety system called Automatic Emergency Braking.

But that's likely to be only the start. The same group of 20 automakers, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, plans to push even more advanced safety technology into tomorrow's cars faster than would normally be possible under the slow and cumbersome regulatory process.

Experts say such moves — which will help lead up to an era of fully autonomous vehicles — could yield huge benefits in terms of lives saved, as well property damage prevented.

Autonomous Emergency Braking, or AEB, alone has been shown to reduce the number of rear-end collisions by as much as 40 percent, according to a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind earlier this year suggested it may be possible to bring the total number of U.S. highway fatalities — which topped 32,000 in 2014 — down to zero in the not-too-distant future.

To get there, automotive manufacturers and suppliers are taking a two-pronged approach, starting with improvements in passive safety — systems like seat belts and airbags designed to keep occupants safe in a crash. The latest vehicles are expanding the use of high-strength steel, carbon fiber and other materials which, along with new designs, absorb much of the energy of a crash before it reaches the passenger compartment. 

Read the rest here: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/autos/technology-taking-auto-safety-next-level-n544841