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With the un-official summer driving season due to begin this Memorial Day weekend, here’s a NON-CRASH COURSE in safe driving. Harmless driving is more than keeping a gas tank sufficiently full. Always plan enough time on long trips to stop, to stretch, get something to eat, return calls or text messages, and change drivers or rest if you feel drowsy. Above all don’t drive distracted; defy speed limits, and do drive sober. Both alcohol and drugs whether legal or illicit can cause impairment. It is illegal to drive impaired by any substance in all states – no exceptions. They can and do ruin the skills critical for safe and responsible driving such as coordination, judgment, perception, and reaction time.
“A little planning and some safety checks might spare you from dealing with the consequences of a breakdown — or worse, a highway crash,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today. “Before heading out, check the weather, road conditions, and traffic. Don’t rush through your trip; allow plenty of time to get to your destination safely. And always familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go, even if you use a GPS, and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time.” Continue reading
May 2024 US New Vehicle Sales Forecast Up
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US new-vehicle sales for May 2024, including retail and non-retail transactions, are forecast at 1,446,800, a 2.9% increase from May 2023 on a selling day adjusted basis, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData.* May 2024 has 26 selling days, one more than May 2023. This sales volume, not adjusted for the number of selling days is an increase of 7% from a year ago. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) for total new-vehicle sales is estimated to be 16.1 million units, up 500,000 from May 2023.
“Expected new-vehicle sales results for May represent a mixed bag of outcomes. On the positive side, the total sales pace will exceed 16 million units for the first time this year. Also, discounts are similar to last month, despite May being a month in which discounts traditionally increase to take advantage of elevated shopping activity during the Memorial Day weekend. This is good news for manufacturer and retailer profitability. However, the industry continues to produce more vehicles than are being sold, leading to rising inventories and increasing the likelihood of elevated discounts as the year progresses,” said Thomas King, president of the data and analytics division at J.D. Power. Continue reading →