Van drivers at greater risk of crashing

VAN DRIVERS are 50% more likely to be involved in a collision when driving too close to the vehicle in front and a massive 142% more at danger of crashing when reversing. Drivers of vans are also 43% more at risk of being in an accident even when parked, while performing a U-turn puts them at 39% more likely to be in a collision than other road users. Other areas where van drivers are more at risk is when changing lanes (36%) and on motorways (19%).

Nissan NV3500 passenger van promises quiet and safety

Early this year Nissan introduced a full-sized commercial panel van that's offered in two flavors -- standard and tall; as in, you can walk around the interior. So it was just a matter of time until Nissan targeted the hotel shuttle and church bus crowd with a windowed passenger model using that platform. First impression is that Nissan's windowed van is a very credible competitor for a segment that has been dominated by the Ford E-series and the Chevrolet Express, and to a lesser degree by the GMC Savana and Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter.

Who's Where: CCS appoints Sally Erickson Wilson as chair of new color and materials design MA

The College for Creative Studies (CCS) has appointed Sally Erickson Wilson as associate professor and chair of its new Master of Fine Arts degree program in Color and Materials Design. Erickson Wilson moves to the school from Johnson Controls where she was design manager responsible for leading the North American fabric design team. As chair of the course, Erickson Wilson will be responsible for the graduate curriculum and will help students to develop an eye for color differentiation, materials craftsmanship and quality assessment.