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Three years of research, and two papers, showing a strong correspondence between traffic fatality rates and the business cycle, have proven that, alcohol aside, the fundamental cause of traffic accidents is the mentally distracted driver. This paper is in four parts. A quick review of the discovery/development of the Driver''s Economic Distraction Indicator (DEDI - SAE 970280 on European expressways in the ''70s) and its application to all traffic fatalities in countries around the world (in F98S565). The DEDI is then updated to the ''90s while exploring: a) the use of M2 (as recommended by the American economist, Dr. Milton Friedman) instead of M1; b) OECD''S new Composite Leading Indicators; and c) the use of a locally available leading economic indicator (i.e., new vehicle sales) to give an early warning of a rise in local traffic accidents.

The recent publication in Europe of vehicle fuel consumption values on standardized test procedures has made it possible to compare the over-the-road energy efficiency of vehicles designed for North America with those designed for Europe. Thirty-six of the former were tested on the three ECE fuel consumption cycles. The results indicate equal or better performance for the American technology and made it possible to calculate “one-way” factors to predict a vehicle's performance on the ECE cycles from the U.S. EPA fuel consumption data for the UDDS and HWFET cycles.

Eighteen vehicles ranging from a 1938 Dodge to a 1965 Mustang were tested to determine their fuel economy and exhaust emissions relative to today's vehicles and today's driving conditions. The 1979 models are getting about 10% better fuel economy over the urban cycle and 20% better over the highway cycle than the older vehicles. The reasons for these differences as well as the exhaust emissions from the older vehicles are also discussed.

This paper presents a statistical analysis of emission test results from over 200 light duty production vehicles ('72 to '77 models) which were purchased, maintained (in a very good state of tune), driven (on Appendix “IV” routes), and tested by the Canadian government. The results are presented as fractions of the applicable emission standard by manufacturer and by model year. Some limited data on urban fuel economy is also presented. The results would be useful in analyzing engine design policy and to assist in policy making for emission control programs for in-use vehicles.