While consumer electronics products can be useful and fun, consumers need to remember that the safe operation of a vehicle is, and should always be, their main priority when on the road. CEA’s Mobile Electronics Division takes the issue of driver distraction seriously, and to help educate the public on the safe way to use electronic products in their vehicles, the group has spearheaded a campaign called “Watch the Road”. The multi-faceted campaign includes a dedicated website (www.digitaldriver.org) where consumers can learn more about the safe use of in-car products. The Watch the Road campaign will add significantly to the education efforts by the industry to help consumers understand their role in driver safety.

Last year, too, the Mobile Electronics Division board joined forces with the Mobile Electronics Retailers Association (MERA) for the purpose of promoting “Your Ride Your Way”. MERA and CEA have launched a new website, (www.YourRideYourWay.com) to support the campaign. The website includes important information for three audiences: consumers, media, and mobile electronics retailers.

Your Ride Your Way seeks to illustrate how the design of factory-installed mobile electronics systems often complicates equipment upgrades and repairs. The initiative advocates improved consumer choice and continued vehicle access. One of the elements on the website is a page link for retailers entitled “Tell It to the Media”. From this page, retailers can download a sample letter to the editor and/or a news article that can be customized for a particular market and situation.

In association with Victory Technologies, MERA has developed an OEM integration solution that provides retailers with a comprehensive database of solutions in one place. This is accomplished by partnering the comprehensive technical database of Victory Technologies with automotive aftermarket manufacturer specific “work-arounds” and product applications. The database also includes “battlefield solutions” from retailers who have found solutions and solved problems in their install bays. The Victory Technologies database segments vehicles down to the trim level, allowing for detailed and specific technical data and product applications.

The detailed solutions include participating manufacturer product applications, product specs, pictures and deep links to manufacturer websites pertaining to product-specific technical information and issues resolution. In essence, MERA Integration Excellence puts thousands of aftermarket integration solutions at the retailers’ fingertips.

Participation is open to all industry members, but MERA members qualify for a special member rate.  For more information, retailers can visit www.merausa.org and click on the link to MERA Integration Excellence to get started.