Current Events in August 2019

While countless efforts are being made by consumers to reduce their carbon footprints, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of New Hampshire suggests that shale natural gas development are taking away areas consumers commonly enjoy for outdoor recreation.

According to the researchers, outdoor activities like hiking and camping have become severely impacted due to shale natural gas development (SGD) efforts. 

“What most people don’t realize is that a lot of the shale natural gas energy development is happening within or adjacent to public parks and protected areas,” said researcher Michael Ferguson. “So those who love playing in the great outdoors are often encountering anything from heavy duty truck traffic congestion to actual construction and drilling operations while recreating on public lands.” 

What this looks like

The researchers were inspired to start this research project after learning how the Trump administration had given the green light for SGD efforts on land that was previously protected from such projects. 

Areas that have been commonly used by consumers to hike or camp are instead being used for exploration of oil and natural gas, and these digs are impeding the ways that consumers can engage in outdoor activities. The researchers focused their study on recreationists in Pennsylvania, as the state is home to natural gas deposits, as well as countless outdoor options for residents. 

Perhaps the most important finding from this study was that consumers no longer had the freedom of traversing the outdoors. The researchers say many consumers had to switch up their plans or activities because areas they frequented were no longer protected from SGD. 

More specifically, nearly 24 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed for the study reported a direct impact due to SGD, whether it was encountering SGD workers, well sites, or pipelines along their route, or experiencing heavier than usual truck traffic while out. 

Ultimately, around 14 percent of those surveyed were affected in ways that directly impacted their activities, some so much so that it prevented future trips to Pennsylvania for such excursions; others were forced to avoid certain areas because of SGD activity. 

The researchers point out that outdoor activities provide a huge influx of income to the U.S. government, and interfering with such activities will start to interfere with those profits. Moreover, they explained that SGD efforts can do more than just push recreationists off once-protected land, as these efforts can also do permanent damage to the environment. 

“The outdoor recreation industry has quietly positioned itself as a massive economic sector in the United States,” said Ferguson. “As SGD grows in the United States, the number of affected recreationists could increase and current numbers of those impacted could rise. It is important for lawmakers, natural resource managers, and industry representatives to recognize that outdoor recreation is an increasingly critical component of the economy and should have a seat at the table when looking at responsible SGD.” 

Staying safe

As detrimental as SGD can be to outdoor activities, recent incidents have also proven how dangerous the natural gas can be. Late last year, a pipeline in Pennsylvania’s Beaver County exploded, damaging homes and cars up to 500 feet away, and creating a landslide near the site of the landslide. 

Earlier this year, still feeling the effects of the explosion, Pennsylvania suspended the pipeline company, Energy Transfer Partners, from getting new state permits, as the company was unable to properly stabilize the areas affected by the explosion. 

“There has been a failure by Energy Transfer and its subsidiaries to respect our laws and our communities,” Governor Tom Wolf said. “This is not how we strive to do business in Pennsylvania, and it will not be tolerated.”

Hyundai said it will install rear seat reminder systems as standard equipment on most new models by 2022, a move aimed at preventing children from being accidentally left in a parked car.

The system is called a Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) door-logic system, and it will remind the driver that a child is in the back seat. Two 2020 models, the Santa Fe and Palisade, already have the system in place. Both SUVs have the Ultrasonic ROA, an enhanced version of the alert system, available as an option. 

Before the end of this year, the 2020 Sonata will also feature standard door-logic ROA. The 2019 Santa Fe has the Ultrasonic ROA feature available as an option. 

"Heatstroke in vehicles is preventable and we are doing our part to prevent this," said Mike O'Brien, vice president, Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "We have great systems that use both door logic memory and motion sensors to help prevent children and pets from being forgotten in the car, but it also helps in case children accidentally lock themselves in."

Congress may act

Congress is moving toward making these systems mandatory. U.S. Rep. Timothy Ryan (D-Ohio) introduced legislation in May to require deployment of the safety feature in cars sold in the U.S., saying it would help reduce preventable hot car deaths.

“Our cars can already alert drivers when they leave their keys in the car, their lights on or their trunk open -- none of which are life threatening. It is not unusual for the government to mandate safety features to protect lives,” Ryan said when he offered the bill.

Preventable deaths

There have been 906 heat stroke-related deaths among children in cars in the U.S. since 1989, according to the website KidsAndCars.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing deaths of young children and pets in and around vehicles. Almost 50 of those deaths occurred last year.

“In the vast majority of those cases, the adult did not realize the child was inside the car. It’s not enough to educate parents about the risks. Even the most attentive parent can get distracted, so we need safety features built into our vehicles,” said Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

Hyundai’s ROA door-logic system detects if a rear door was opened or closed before the car was started, then gives the driver a reminder to check the rear seat, using the in-dash video panel as the driver exits the vehicle. 

The Ultrasonic ROA uses an ultrasonic sensor that helps to detect the movements of children and pets in the back seat. The video below, supplied by Hyundai, explains how the systems work.

If you drive either a Dodge Charger HEMI or a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, you’d better keep a close eye on it. Both models top  the Highway Loss Data Institute’s (HLDI) list of vehicles that are most likely to be stolen.

In addition to carrying the Dodge nameplate, the two models have something else in common -- very large and powerful engines. HLDI says that appears to be the attraction for car thieves. The models have theft claim rates that are more than five times higher than the average for late model vehicles.

The Infiniti Q50 is also highly likely to be stolen, joining a group of trucks and other luxury vehicles as those most likely to be stolen. The list is largely made up of vehicles with big engines, rugged pickup trucks, and luxury rides.

The list also provides insight into the kinds of cars that don’t tempt thieves. For example, motorists who drive the two-wheel-drive BMW 3 series appear to have the least risk. The model had a single claim for whole-vehicle theft in 104,901 insured vehicle years. An insured vehicle year is one vehicle insured for one year.

Thieves also aren’t that taken with Teslas. The Model S and Model X are both on the list of least-stolen vehicles. HLDI says that may be because electric vehicles are usually parked in garages or close to houses where they can be plugged in for charging.

In fact, the HLDI research showed that electric vehicles generally have lower theft claim rates than comparable cars and trucks.

Out of favor

The Cadillac Escalade, a staple of previous lists, appears to be out of favor with car thieves, who instead have increased thefts of the Land Rover Range Rover and other expensive competitors.

“The models most likely to be stolen tend to be powerful, pricey or pickups, but vehicle theft is also a crime of opportunity,” says HLDI senior vice president Matt Moore. “Better security features on all vehicles would be the best way to address the problem.”

HLDI’s whole-vehicle theft report is different than its standard theft report, which looks at all theft claims. Older, cheaper models have dominated that list, with thieves targeting cars that can be stripped down and sold for parts. 

This year’s HLDI list finds thieves are focused on more expensive luxury cars that are presumably being sold in-tact on the black market.

Spansive of San Bruno, Calif., is recalling about 950 Spansive Source wireless, multi-phone chargers.

Metallic accessories attached to phones placed on the chargers can overheat while phones charge, posing a burn hazard to users.

The firm has received one report of a metallic phone accessory overheating when placed on the charger. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Spansive Source wireless multi-phone chargers capable of powering up to six phones simultaneously, four wirelessly and two more via USB ports located at the base of the charger.

The recalled chargers were sold in both white and charcoal colors, each with a green label at the bottom. “Spansive” is printed on the chargers.

The chargers, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively online at Spansive’s website www.spansive.com for about $200. Only chargers sold on May 23 -- 24, 2019, which are identifiable by a green label on the bottom of the charger, are included in this recall.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled phone chargers and return them to Spansive for a full refund. Spansive is contacting purchasers directly about the recall.

Consumers may contact Spansive at (800) 426-6251 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, by email at support@spansive.com or online at www.spansive.com and click on “Spansive Source Recall Notice” at the bottom of the page for more information.