Does it seem as if some trends are omnipresent on everyone’s annual “Anticipated Trends” lists? 

Don’t worry, it's not just you. Innovation doesn’t just instantaneously burst onto the scene out of the blue.

There are levels to this–specifically, there are stages of development before concepts turn into actual working products fit for public consumption. 

On that note, these are three (not all unfamiliar) tech trends we’re looking forward to in 2023.

Flying Taxis

FAA compliance aside, this is one kind of tech that excites the sci-fi geek in many of us. 

No longer just a futuristic concept in...

Simply put, visibility is kind of our thing here at RVS and it’s critical to road safety.

So when it comes to buying a new/used vehicle, we sincerely hope that it factors into your decision-making. 

Though most, if not all of these vehicles are now equipped with some sort of visual video aid for parking or reversing (like backup cameras or sensors), their designs hinder visibility when it comes to seeing blind spots and operating safely on the road. 

These are the 5 worst cars when it comes to visibility:  

Nissan Murano 

• Super sleek with a super sloped roof helps to reduce rear window visibility...

Dude, Where's My Car?!

It’s been a perfect storm if you’re a car thief: supply chain issues stemming from 2020’s lockdowns combined with inflation have increased car values AND theft rates in the last two years. 

Reported thefts were up by 6% in 2021 from the previous year, and up 17% from 2019!

Whether for resale in the international black market, for their catalytic converters, or for their spare-part resale values, it seems some makes and models have perennial targets on their backs.

These 10 were the most stolen in 2021, according to the NICB:

1. 2004 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) = 48,206...

‘Tis that time of year again, when an extra cup of eggnog can mean the difference between life and death in a wintry storm. 

Though this is a bit overly dramatic, we do take winter (and drunk) driving seriously here at RVS. 

While we offer both heated systems AND driver fatigue detection systems (including an AI facial recognition dash cam in the works!) that address both of those issues, we also recommend taking preventative steps if you have to hit the road. 

Going that extra mile is crucial if you live in one of these 10 states* where driving fatalities are especially high in the winter:...

It’s not just a phase anymore!

Electrification is happening, along with legislation and battery production to support the necessary infrastructure. 

As big automakers like Chevy and Ford pivot their passenger vehicles to compete with the likes of Tesla, commercial vehicles have been a little slower to the punch–though some are starting to see the benefits of electrifying their fleets: 

Improved Efficiency

Efficiency is the name of the game when it comes to running a fleet, and EVs tend to be more efficient by nature. 

That signature EV instant torque means large vehicles need much less power...

Delivery vehicles may not be known for their innovative features (with the exception of a few concept models), but it doesn’t mean they need to be stuck in the past forever.

Upfitting a delivery fleet with safety systems (like those of the RVS + Geotab integration) improves operations, reliability, safety, and even profitability in the long run.

How?

Tracking Driver Behavior & Efficiency 

Using telematics to find the most efficient routes are important for any fleet, but even more so with last mile deliveries, since hitting those promised delivery times is the name of the game. Not doing so...

It’s disheartening how a vehicle’s crash costs can pile up. If you’re a smaller fleet, it’s downright draining. 

The costs of repairs are usually what come to mind, but there are less obvious expenses that sneak up and compound over time. 

Damages 

We’ll start with the immediate costs:

Property and vehicle damages cost tens of thousands of dollars–even more so if the vehicle or damage is beyond fixing and needs to be replaced.

Insurance

Few things in life are guaranteed, but taxes and higher insurance premiums after an accident can always be counted on.

Even if you’re not at fault, expect...

In a time of high fuel costs and inflation, operational inefficiencies can end up costing a fleet more than ever. 

Though seemingly innocuous at first glance, idling is one of these inefficiencies–and when compounded, it can cut into profits.

The more time a driver is on the road, the higher the chance they’ll spend sitting and waiting in traffic with the engine running. With a large fleet, this can add up to hundreds of wasted hours a month. 

Large trucks consume about .8 gallons of fuel an hour when idling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

When you consider that the average truck...

Few businesses incur daily risks as high as those of a commercial truck fleet.

With some of the largest blind spots on the road, most hazardous cargo, and drivers who spend more time behind the wheel than passenger-vehicle drivers, higher rates of fatal accidents make sense. 

Though it’s concerning, it’s no surprise that stats (courtesy of Policy Advice) as dismal as these exist: 

- A large truck was somehow involved in around 74% of fatal passenger car accidents

- Passenger-vehicle occupants are 68% of all truck accident fatalities

- In 4% of the large trucks involved in fatal collisions, hazardous...

Rear View Safety prides itself on improving safety for everyone on the road, including those in front of the wheel: pedestrians. 

While in-traffic deaths just had their worst 1st quarter since the early 2000s, the rate of pedestrians hit by vehicles hasn't fared much better.  

In fact, pedestrian deaths rose during 2020, hitting an average of 18 a day and 65,000 in total. The annual total in 2021 may be even higher, once the calculations are said and done. 

The increased foot traffic during the pandemic shut-downs was surely a contributing factor. The lack of proper safety infrastructure and...

Few things excite the RVS team like new tech and product updates, especially when it’s been a long time coming. 

Since we’re preparing for a slew of new stuff, we’ve decided to house all the product updates and upcoming tech on our New Arrivals page for easy updates!

Here’s a little preview of some of the new updates we’re serving up:

Simple Sight Is Simply Clearer

We know that wireless is the way of the future, especially if you want to operate a fleet of tractor trailers more efficiently.

Not only do our Simple Sight systems make camera-monitor pairing SUPER fast (in under a minute), but they're...

The NHTSA just released its traffic fatality estimates for the first quarter of 2022 and they’re high. Really high. 

According to the report, the first quarter of 2022 is the 7th quarter in a row where driving deaths have risen, with 9,560 fatalities this year compared to 8,935 during the same period in 2021. 

This 7% increase marked the highest first quarter levels since 2002. 

Naturally, these stats don’t stand alone, as drivers spent more time behind the wheel (up 5.9% to 40.2 billion miles). The number of fatalities per million miles traveled in this same period of time was 1.27 (up from...

There’s no state pride in making this list.

You can’t have proper road safety without proper roads, and in these states, road conditions are perpetually bad, poorly fixed, and pricey for inhabitants. 

We’ve compiled a short countdown of the ten worst road conditions by state (courtesy of Consumer Affairs), measured by a combination of factors that include: their own resident’s average rankings (out of 10), money spent by drivers per year due to driving on those roads, and percentage of roads with poor pavement (urban or rural, depending on state). 

5 . Massachusetts 

Residents gave their home...

It’s no secret that fuel prices are hitting some of the highest levels EVER (along with most everything else). 

While American households are getting hit at the pump, commercial fleets are feeling it hard, as high costs are cutting into profit margins.

It doesn’t need to bring businesses to a halt. There are some sound strategies on cutting down on fuel costs and they all involve tracking or keeping tabs on driver activities, something a good Fleet Manager is already doing.

These 5 strategies make any commercial fleet operation run a bit more efficiently:

- Tracking engine idling lets a Fleet...

According to First Street Foundation, 23% of all roads in the U.S. are at high risk of flooding (that's almost 2 million miles combined) and becoming untraversable.

With low elevation, proximity to coastal regions, and increased extreme weather instances, drivers in the states below are at much higher risk of experiencing flood damage to their homes and vehicles.

In fact, 85% of the most at-risk counties in the U.S. are in these 4 states alone:

- Florida

- Kentucky

- West Virginia

- Louisiana, with 8 of the top 20 most at-risk counties and the most at-risk county in the U.S., Cameron Parish

If...

In a time of rampant inflation, we’re giving some relief (especially if you’re in the business of managing a fleet of large vehicles). 

The price of our 9” LED 6-Channel Split Screen Monitor w/ Built In DVR has just been dramatically slashed from $959, and it’s the best $481.95 you’ll ever spend. 

The 96D’s features are right of out of a Fleet Operator’s dreams, and include:

- A split-screen that allows you to view up to 6-cameras at once

- Built-in DVR that can record footage from all those cameras connected (supports 2 SD cards up to 128GB each)

- Touch screen for a intuitive user interface...

If there’s one category in vehicle tech that’s continually evolving, it’s that of the wireless backup camera system–as it should be!

After all, commercial fleets would directly benefit from these features that are unique to wire-free tech:

- Preserved Vehicle Surfaces

Running wires means potentially risking exposure or damage to sensitive internal systems, like those in refrigerated trucks. Using wireless technology minimizes this risk.

- Easier Scaling Up 

The main feature (being wire-free) means you can add and remove cameras quickly without installing and running wires. When upgrading...