Monthly Archives: <span>February 2016</span>

New Research Links Some California Quakes to Oil Operations

A 2005 spate of quakes in California’s Central Valley almost certainly was triggered by oilfield injection underground, a study published Thursday said in the first such link in California between oil and gas operations and earthquakes. Researchers at the University …

NHTSA Says Fiat Chrysler Electronic Gear Shifters Confuse Drivers

Electronic gear shifters on some newer Fiat Chrysler SUVs and cars are so confusing that drivers have exited the vehicles with the engines running and while they are still in gear, causing crashes and some serious injuries, U.S. safety investigators …

Commercial Property: Inspecting Hard to Reach Areas Quickly and Inexpensively

There are times where an inspection will be necessary in the most unique or hard to reach places. In some cases, it is too difficult or time consuming to rent, transport, place and erect equipment that may or may not …

Zurich Stands Ready to Cut Underperforming Businesses to Rein in Claims

Zurich Insurance Group AG is “prepared to shrink” some of its businesses after being caught off guard by the scale of claims it had to absorb last year, according to Cecilia Reyes, the company’s chief risk officer. “We were surprised, …

Rear End Crashes Reduced by Front Crash Prevention Systems

Cars with front crash prevention systems are significantly less likely to rear end other cars, according to the latest research released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While front prevention crash systems remain optional, the National Highway Traffic Safety …

Southwest Seeing Fewer Wet Weather Systems

The southwestern United States has already begun a long-predicted shift into a decidedly drier climate, a new study looking at the last 35 years of weather pattern concluded. What’s now considered a normal year of rain and snow in the …

License Plate Readers Overwhelm Small New York Village With Data

When this Long Island village switched on its “ring of steel” last fall, it knew it was getting a potent policing tool. The system of 27 cameras would scan the license plate of every single vehicle that rolled into town. …

More Than Half of Mississippi Fatal Fires in Homes With No Smoke Alarms

More than half the people killed last year by house fires in Mississippi were in homes without working smoke alarms, the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office said. Fire Marshal Mike Chaney points said his office investigated 55 fire deaths in …

Chicago Cop Claims Trauma, Sues Estate of Teen He Killed

A white Chicago police officer who fatally shot a black 19-year-old college student and accidentally killed a neighbor has filed a lawsuit against the teenager’s estate, arguing the shooting left him traumatized. The highly unusual suit was filed Friday in …

Internet of Things Disrupting Customer Service

The Internet of Things is changing the customer experience, according to Kevin Daley, chief business architect at IBM. Daley, who looks at existing and future technologies and has been with IBM for the past 15 years, spoke recently at Safelite …