Once Upon a Time

My bad angel tells me there are already too many rules and requirements in life. A groan was my initial reaction to John Yoswick’s introduction to this month’s feature story about state-mandated vehicle inspection programs, I admit. Luckily, my good angel convinced me to read on. A 20 percent lower accident rate and less highway fatalities in states with annual vehicle safety inspection programs are statistics that make me sit up and take notice.

Because we all know from experience that new programs are easier to accept when we have been given a voice in their creation, collision repair specialists are encouraged (by my good angel) to find out what is going on at state levels and with ASA at the national level, particularly within its mechanical division.

Speaking of safety issues, Keystone Automotive is back in the spotlight here at INSIGHT this month, with news that the aftermarket parts distributor has been named an additional defendant in a class action suit against Erie Insurance that questions the quality of aftermarket parts.

After reading our interview with Keystone CEO Charlie Hogarty last month, INSIGHT is betting that he will steer his company successfully through this new legal rough water.

If anyone has any doubt that our industry has an impact on the U.S. economy, be sure to read about the new NHTSA study that places a hefty $230.6 billion price tag on motor vehicle crashes.

Of course, that enormous amount includes a huge list of related costs and losses totaling almost ten times the total U.S. Collision Repair Market potential, calculated by INSIGHT to be approximately $28.3 billion in 2002. We burned the midnight oil here to update our most-requested chart. See page 19 for our market potential by state.

The bill supported by the California Autobody Association that would make it unlawful for an insurer to own an autobody facility has passed out of committee. There is a good deal of conversation across the nation about this, particularly since consolidator Sterling Collision Centers, owned by Allstate Insurance, has opened a new location in Ohio.