To reinforce its emphasis on safe driving, Unitrin Direct Auto Insurance is now offering a 6% discount in Georgia off major coverages for customers who sign a pledge to stay focused on the road when they're behind the wheel.
"Educating people on how to drive safely goes hand in hand with providing the best possible auto insurance coverage," said Scott Carter, Unitrin Direct president. "By offering savings to policyholders in Georgia who agree to avoid common distractions, Unitrin Direct is encouraging safer driving while introducing another way to make auto insurance more affordable."
The pledge is a promise by policyholders not to do things that will take their attention off the road. At the top of the list is using a cell phone, which, in many studies, has been shown to significantly increase driver risk. One of the most notable, released in 2002 in Great Britain, concluded that using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle is as dangerous as driving legally drunk. That finding was backed up more recently in a 2006 study overseen by researcher Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Utah. After testing people on a driving simulator, Drews's group found that drivers using cell phones are 5.36 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers.
Unitrin Direct's pledge, which can be easily completed online at UnitrinDirect.com by going to Manage Policy and signing the pledge electronically using the E-signature feature, addresses these concerns by requesting that, if drivers must talk on the phone, they use hand-free devices and only initiate a call when the vehicle is stopped. (On request, Unitrin Direct will also mail customers a hard copy of the pledge.) Drivers also agree to obey all traffic laws and to not read text messages, e-mails, GPS devices or load or watch DVDs while driving.
"Unitrin Direct is proud to be taking an active role in educating people about the hazards associated with inattentive driving," said Andy Mason, Georgia product manager. "By following the common-sense guidelines in this pledge, our customers are helping make the roads safer."
Studies that have expanded on the topic of driver distractions show a strong correlation between a few seconds of diverted attention and the risk of an accident. One that was released in 2006 by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that driver inattention is responsible for up to 30 percent of crashes. Its report stated that even the simple act of reaching for an object such as a falling cup increases the risk of a crash or near crash by nine times. In a Mason-Dixon poll from 2003, a staggering 91 percent of those surveyed said they had engaged in risky behavior while driving, including talking on a cell phone, eating and even reading.
"It's a very real issue," Carter said. "As a leading auto insurance company that puts customers needs first, Unitrin Direct hopes its pledge will increase awareness of the great importance of staying focused while behind the wheel of a car."
A rapidly growing auto insurer that is popular with customers for its unique blend of friendly service and affordable car insurance, Unitrin Direct has a history of encouraging safe driving through rate breaks. Along with the focused driver pledge discount, Unitrin Direct also offers reductions for policyholders who drive vehicles with safety devices such as anti-lock brakes, air bags and passive seatbelts. Also, customers can qualify for a "Responsible Driver" discount if their safety record has been clean for the previous 12 to 36 months.*
Using a unique, direct business model, Unitrin Direct is able to streamline the insurance process to reduce overhead and pass savings along to consumers looking for affordable auto insurance. Customers who switch to Unitrin Direct from another carrier save an average of $303.** At UnitrinDirect.com, it's now quicker and easier than ever to get an online car insurance quote. Customers who prefer the phone can get an auto insurance quote by calling 1-800-642-5254.
About Unitrin Direct
Unitrin Direct is dedicated to providing its customers with outstanding service and quality coverage at competitive prices, making auto insurance simple by offering people the choices they want with the convenience they deserve. The Unitrin Direct insurance companies are subsidiaries of Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE:UTR) in Chicago and part of the Unitrin family of companies that has over six million policyholders. The Unitrin Direct companies offer affordable automobile insurance in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. To get a free auto insurance quote, visit http://www.unitrindirect.com/ or call (800) 642-5254.
* Discounts not available in all states.
** Average savings based on new customers who reported savings between March and June 2006.
Insurance underwritten by Unitrin Direct Property & Casualty Company and Unitrin Direct Insurance Company.
Source: Unitrin Direct
e premte, 17 gusht 2007
New Side Impact Crash Tests of Large Luxury Cars Reveal Luxury Doesn't Always Buy Safety
Three of six large car models earn the top rating of good, but one is marginal in side impact crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Results show a range of performance in how well large cars are designed to protect people in serious side crashes.
Ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to replicate the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.
The best performers are the Acura RL, Kia Amanti, and Volvo S80, all 2007 models. The S80 also earns the Institute's 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior overall crash protection. The S80 qualifies because it's rated good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and has electronic stability control as standard equipment. The 2007 Cadillac STS and Mercedes E class earn acceptable ratings in the latest round of side tests. The worst performer is the 2008 BMW 5 series, which earns the second lowest rating of marginal for side impact protection. All 6 cars are equipped with standard side airbags that protect the heads of people in front and rear seats.
Side impacts are the second most common fatal crash type after frontal crashes. About 9,200 people in passenger vehicles were killed in side impacts in 2005. In crashes with other passenger vehicles during 2004-05, 49 percent of driver deaths in 1-3-year-old cars and minivans occurred in side impacts, up from 31 percent in 1980-81. During the same time, the proportion of driver deaths in frontal crashes declined from 61 to 46 percent.
"These changes are attributable to two effects," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "There have been significant improvements in frontal crash protection — standard airbags, improved structural designs, and increased use of safety belts, for example. At the same time, growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side."
High price doesn't always predict safety performance: The lowest priced vehicle in the group the Institute recently tested, the Amanti, was one of the best performers. One of the most expensive models, the 5 series, was the worst.
"The Amanti shows that you don't have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickup trucks," Lund points out. The side structure of the Amanti allowed more intrusion than in the other cars in this group, but all of the injury measures recorded on the dummies were low. The standard head curtain airbags for front- and back-seat occupants kept the dummies' heads from hitting any hard structures including the intruding crash test barrier.
The head-protecting airbags in the BMW 5 series are tubular structures that differ from the curtain airbags in the Amanti but also are effective. However, torso protection is rated poor for the driver dummy in the 5 series, even though it has separate airbags designed to protect the chests and abdomens of front-seat occupants. Measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely to occur in a real-world crash of this severity. A pelvic fracture also would be possible.
Changes are made to improve occupant protection in side impacts: The Mercedes E class was re-engineered for 2007 with an emphasis on improving occupant protection in side crashes. When the Institute tested an early production model in 2007, the car earned an acceptable rating mainly because of high forces recorded on the driver dummy's torso. Mercedes changed the front door trim panels on cars built after May 2007 to try to fix the problem and asked the Institute to test the revised car. The result was a slight improvement but not enough to change this car's rating. The test of the revised design still showed high forces on the driver dummy that could result in rib and pelvic fractures in a real-world crash of similar severity.
"The E class earns the Institute's top rating of good for front and rear crash protection. If this manufacturer can improve side impact protection, this car will earn TOP SAFETY PICK," Lund says.
General Motors made changes to the Cadillac STS including reinforcing the B-pillars, changing front door trim panels, and modifying the side torso airbags. The car with these changes earns the second highest rating of acceptable.
The side impact test is only one aspect used to evaluate vehicle crashworthiness. The Institute also conducts 40 mph frontal offset crash tests and evaluates vehicles' seat/head restraint designs for protection in rear crashes. Nearly every passenger vehicle, including all of the cars in this group, now earns the highest rating of good for frontal crash protection. However, side and rear evaluations vary widely. Consumers shopping for safety need to be aware of these differences and choose vehicles that offer the best overall protection in crashes.
For comparative evaluations of hundreds of passenger vehicles, go to www.iihs.org/ratings
How side tests are conducted: A vehicle's side evaluation is based on performance in a crash test in which the side of the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Overall ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the test. Injury measures obtained from the two dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a real-world crash would sustain serious injury to various body regions. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the test also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
Ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are based on a crash test in which a barrier designed to replicate the front end of a typical SUV or pickup truck strikes the tested vehicle in the side at 31 mph.
The best performers are the Acura RL, Kia Amanti, and Volvo S80, all 2007 models. The S80 also earns the Institute's 2007 TOP SAFETY PICK award for superior overall crash protection. The S80 qualifies because it's rated good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and has electronic stability control as standard equipment. The 2007 Cadillac STS and Mercedes E class earn acceptable ratings in the latest round of side tests. The worst performer is the 2008 BMW 5 series, which earns the second lowest rating of marginal for side impact protection. All 6 cars are equipped with standard side airbags that protect the heads of people in front and rear seats.
Side impacts are the second most common fatal crash type after frontal crashes. About 9,200 people in passenger vehicles were killed in side impacts in 2005. In crashes with other passenger vehicles during 2004-05, 49 percent of driver deaths in 1-3-year-old cars and minivans occurred in side impacts, up from 31 percent in 1980-81. During the same time, the proportion of driver deaths in frontal crashes declined from 61 to 46 percent.
"These changes are attributable to two effects," says Institute president Adrian Lund. "There have been significant improvements in frontal crash protection — standard airbags, improved structural designs, and increased use of safety belts, for example. At the same time, growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side."
High price doesn't always predict safety performance: The lowest priced vehicle in the group the Institute recently tested, the Amanti, was one of the best performers. One of the most expensive models, the 5 series, was the worst.
"The Amanti shows that you don't have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickup trucks," Lund points out. The side structure of the Amanti allowed more intrusion than in the other cars in this group, but all of the injury measures recorded on the dummies were low. The standard head curtain airbags for front- and back-seat occupants kept the dummies' heads from hitting any hard structures including the intruding crash test barrier.
The head-protecting airbags in the BMW 5 series are tubular structures that differ from the curtain airbags in the Amanti but also are effective. However, torso protection is rated poor for the driver dummy in the 5 series, even though it has separate airbags designed to protect the chests and abdomens of front-seat occupants. Measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely to occur in a real-world crash of this severity. A pelvic fracture also would be possible.
Changes are made to improve occupant protection in side impacts: The Mercedes E class was re-engineered for 2007 with an emphasis on improving occupant protection in side crashes. When the Institute tested an early production model in 2007, the car earned an acceptable rating mainly because of high forces recorded on the driver dummy's torso. Mercedes changed the front door trim panels on cars built after May 2007 to try to fix the problem and asked the Institute to test the revised car. The result was a slight improvement but not enough to change this car's rating. The test of the revised design still showed high forces on the driver dummy that could result in rib and pelvic fractures in a real-world crash of similar severity.
"The E class earns the Institute's top rating of good for front and rear crash protection. If this manufacturer can improve side impact protection, this car will earn TOP SAFETY PICK," Lund says.
General Motors made changes to the Cadillac STS including reinforcing the B-pillars, changing front door trim panels, and modifying the side torso airbags. The car with these changes earns the second highest rating of acceptable.
The side impact test is only one aspect used to evaluate vehicle crashworthiness. The Institute also conducts 40 mph frontal offset crash tests and evaluates vehicles' seat/head restraint designs for protection in rear crashes. Nearly every passenger vehicle, including all of the cars in this group, now earns the highest rating of good for frontal crash protection. However, side and rear evaluations vary widely. Consumers shopping for safety need to be aware of these differences and choose vehicles that offer the best overall protection in crashes.
For comparative evaluations of hundreds of passenger vehicles, go to www.iihs.org/ratings
How side tests are conducted: A vehicle's side evaluation is based on performance in a crash test in which the side of the vehicle is struck by a barrier moving at 31 mph. The barrier represents the front end of a pickup or SUV. Overall ratings reflect injury measures recorded on two instrumented SID-IIs dummies, assessment of head protection countermeasures, and the vehicle's structural performance during the test. Injury measures obtained from the two dummies, one in the driver seat and the other in the back seat behind the driver, are used to determine the likelihood that a driver and/or passenger in a real-world crash would sustain serious injury to various body regions. The movements and contacts of the dummies' heads during the test also are evaluated. Structural performance is based on measurements indicating the amount of B-pillar intrusion into the occupant compartment.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
e mërkurë, 11 korrik 2007
Safety Advocates, Families Call on Congress to End Secrecy on Vehicle Safety Data, Close Recall Loopholes
In the wake of a June recall of allegedly defective Chinese-made light truck tires, safety advocates and an attorney representing the families of three men involved in a deadly crash have asked members of Congress to make automotive defect information public and to close a loophole in the regulations regarding importers' ability to recall defective products.
Last month, Foreign Tire Sales of Union, N.J. appealed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for help in recalling an estimated 450,000 light truck tires after the company allegedly learned that the manufacturer, the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company, had left a critical component out of the tire. The steel-belted radial light truck tires, sold under the names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS, were implicated in the August 2006 deaths of Rafael B. Melo and Claudeir Jose Figueiredo in a rollover crash, and Carlos Souza, who was seriously injured. The Melo, Figueiredo, and Souza families sued FTS and Hangzhou Zhongce in May sparking the recall.
FTS reported to the federal agency that the company suspected that something was wrong with the tires as early as October 2005, when it examined a tire involved in a property damage claim and found the gum strip, a feature designed to keep the belts from separating, was missing. FTS said it was further alarmed by a sharp increase in the number of warranty adjustments on the tires. According to FTS' defect report, additional testing and evaluations continued to confirm their concerns about the safety of the tires.
Initially, FTS said that it lacked the financial resources to collect, dispose of and replace the allegedly defective tires. But after NHTSA ordered it to conduct a recall, FTS announced a consumer-remedy plan.
Safety Research & Strategies, a vehicle safety-consulting firm, located in Rehoboth, Mass., along with Jeffrey Killino, a Philadelphia, PA product safety attorney representing the families of the men who were killed and injured in the August 2006 crash, have written to the members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to raise concerns about the continued secrecy of NHTSA's Early Warning Reporting data, which is required under a provision of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act.
"This tragedy contains lessons for regulators - that this public safety information needs to be public,'' said Killino, of Woloshin & Killino. "The Melo, Figueiredo and Souza families are hoping that those lessons will be applied to future defect cases and raise the level of vehicle safety for everyone."
The TREAD Act was passed in October 2000, in response to the controversy over the safety of Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone Wilderness / ATX tires. The SUV's tires wound up shouldering the blame for a spate of Explorer rollovers that killed at least 270 people, according to an official NHTSA tally. Since 2003, auto, tire and other equipment manufacturers have been required to submit certain types of data-warranty claims, production numbers, property damage claims, injury-causing and fatal incidents, consumer complaints and field reports-as part of an early warning system to alert regulators to defects. The rules themselves have been contentious, and manufacturers and safety advocates have fought in federal court over the data's accessibility.
"Secrecy and data on product safety don't serve the public. Given the enormous magnitude of the EWR data and limited government resources available, public scrutiny will only enhance NHTSA's ability to identify potential safety threats," said Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies. "The government routinely relies on the public to help identify risks to public safety - like potential terrorist attacks, for example. This is really no different."
The recall also brings to light a gap in the regulations that allows an importer to sell an automotive component in the U.S. without having the financial capability to launch a recall if needed. According to NHTSA, FTS isn't the first importer to discover a major defect and then claim that a recall would bankrupt the company.
Source: Safety Research & Strategies; Woloshin & Killino
Last month, Foreign Tire Sales of Union, N.J. appealed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for help in recalling an estimated 450,000 light truck tires after the company allegedly learned that the manufacturer, the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company, had left a critical component out of the tire. The steel-belted radial light truck tires, sold under the names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS, were implicated in the August 2006 deaths of Rafael B. Melo and Claudeir Jose Figueiredo in a rollover crash, and Carlos Souza, who was seriously injured. The Melo, Figueiredo, and Souza families sued FTS and Hangzhou Zhongce in May sparking the recall.
FTS reported to the federal agency that the company suspected that something was wrong with the tires as early as October 2005, when it examined a tire involved in a property damage claim and found the gum strip, a feature designed to keep the belts from separating, was missing. FTS said it was further alarmed by a sharp increase in the number of warranty adjustments on the tires. According to FTS' defect report, additional testing and evaluations continued to confirm their concerns about the safety of the tires.
Initially, FTS said that it lacked the financial resources to collect, dispose of and replace the allegedly defective tires. But after NHTSA ordered it to conduct a recall, FTS announced a consumer-remedy plan.
Safety Research & Strategies, a vehicle safety-consulting firm, located in Rehoboth, Mass., along with Jeffrey Killino, a Philadelphia, PA product safety attorney representing the families of the men who were killed and injured in the August 2006 crash, have written to the members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to raise concerns about the continued secrecy of NHTSA's Early Warning Reporting data, which is required under a provision of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act.
"This tragedy contains lessons for regulators - that this public safety information needs to be public,'' said Killino, of Woloshin & Killino. "The Melo, Figueiredo and Souza families are hoping that those lessons will be applied to future defect cases and raise the level of vehicle safety for everyone."
The TREAD Act was passed in October 2000, in response to the controversy over the safety of Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone Wilderness / ATX tires. The SUV's tires wound up shouldering the blame for a spate of Explorer rollovers that killed at least 270 people, according to an official NHTSA tally. Since 2003, auto, tire and other equipment manufacturers have been required to submit certain types of data-warranty claims, production numbers, property damage claims, injury-causing and fatal incidents, consumer complaints and field reports-as part of an early warning system to alert regulators to defects. The rules themselves have been contentious, and manufacturers and safety advocates have fought in federal court over the data's accessibility.
"Secrecy and data on product safety don't serve the public. Given the enormous magnitude of the EWR data and limited government resources available, public scrutiny will only enhance NHTSA's ability to identify potential safety threats," said Sean Kane, president of Safety Research & Strategies. "The government routinely relies on the public to help identify risks to public safety - like potential terrorist attacks, for example. This is really no different."
The recall also brings to light a gap in the regulations that allows an importer to sell an automotive component in the U.S. without having the financial capability to launch a recall if needed. According to NHTSA, FTS isn't the first importer to discover a major defect and then claim that a recall would bankrupt the company.
Source: Safety Research & Strategies; Woloshin & Killino
Survey Shows Teen's Risky Driving Habits Include Text Messaging Behind the Wheel
AAA, Seventeen magazine survey reveals speeding, phone calls common
Orlando, Fla., 7/10/2007 -- An alarmingly high number of teen drivers are engaging in some very risky behavior while they are driving including sending and reading text messages, according to new survey research by AAA and Seventeen magazine.
The survey, featured in Seventeen magazine’s August issue, on newsstands today, shows that 61 percent of teens admit to risky driving habits. Of that 61 percent, 46 percent say that they text message when driving and 51 percent talk on cell phones while driving. The research, conducted in April, was a survey of more than 1,000 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens claiming more than 6,000 15- to 20-year-olds each year,” said William Van Tassel, PhD, manager, AAA Driver Training. “Inexperience behind the wheel coupled with poor decision-making ability make it even more important for teens to stay focused when driving. Their attention should not be divided among phones, friends and the road.”
Other teens in the vehicle can be a major distraction for teen drivers, and driver distraction is a factor in 25-50 percent of all crashes. Yet, 58 percent of teen respondents said that they drive with their friends in the car.
The research also reveals that 40 percent of teens exceed the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more while driving, and 11 percent of teens admit to drinking or using other drugs before getting behind the wheel.
“Teens love to text, talk on their cell phones and hang out with their friends,” said Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket. “But when you mix those social activities with young, inexperienced drivers, the results are dangerous and in many cases fatal. As the country’s largest teen magazine, we want to educate teens about reckless behavior behind the wheel and help them understand the scary consequences.”
“Novice young drivers need experience to gain the proficiency that will help to keep them safe on the road,” said Van Tassel. “It’s critical for teens to drive in the safest environment for at least the first six months of unsupervised driving.”
Making the driving experience safer for teens would include ensuring that they drive during daylight hours, on familiar roads and without teen passengers. Parents can be positive role models by exhibiting good driving skills and behavior such as obeying speed limits, being courteous to other drivers, and avoiding the use of electronic devices while driving.
Parents should also discuss teen car crashes and how to prevent them, according to AAA. Conversations with teens can begin with topics that parents are already familiar with, such as the importance of wearing a seat belt, and move into the hazards of driving at night, while on a cell phone, or with teen passengers. Entering into a parent-teen driving agreement can be a helpful way to start the dialogue.
For more information on parent-teen driving agreements or on keeping teens safer on the road, log on to www.AAA.com/publicaffairs
To find a driving school near you, or to find out more about driving courses, go to AAA.com.
Seventeen reaches more than 13 million readers every month and is today's largest selling teen beauty and fashion magazine. Seventeen is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) and one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with a total of 19 U.S. titles and nearly 200 international editions. Hearst Magazines reaches more adults in the U.S. than any other publisher of monthly magazines (73.4 million according to MRI, fall 2006). The company also publishes 19 magazines in the United Kingdom through its wholly owned subsidiary, The National Magazine Company Limited.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com
# # #
Source: AAA
Orlando, Fla., 7/10/2007 -- An alarmingly high number of teen drivers are engaging in some very risky behavior while they are driving including sending and reading text messages, according to new survey research by AAA and Seventeen magazine.
The survey, featured in Seventeen magazine’s August issue, on newsstands today, shows that 61 percent of teens admit to risky driving habits. Of that 61 percent, 46 percent say that they text message when driving and 51 percent talk on cell phones while driving. The research, conducted in April, was a survey of more than 1,000 16- and 17-year-old drivers.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of teens claiming more than 6,000 15- to 20-year-olds each year,” said William Van Tassel, PhD, manager, AAA Driver Training. “Inexperience behind the wheel coupled with poor decision-making ability make it even more important for teens to stay focused when driving. Their attention should not be divided among phones, friends and the road.”
Other teens in the vehicle can be a major distraction for teen drivers, and driver distraction is a factor in 25-50 percent of all crashes. Yet, 58 percent of teen respondents said that they drive with their friends in the car.
The research also reveals that 40 percent of teens exceed the speed limit by 10 miles per hour or more while driving, and 11 percent of teens admit to drinking or using other drugs before getting behind the wheel.
“Teens love to text, talk on their cell phones and hang out with their friends,” said Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket. “But when you mix those social activities with young, inexperienced drivers, the results are dangerous and in many cases fatal. As the country’s largest teen magazine, we want to educate teens about reckless behavior behind the wheel and help them understand the scary consequences.”
“Novice young drivers need experience to gain the proficiency that will help to keep them safe on the road,” said Van Tassel. “It’s critical for teens to drive in the safest environment for at least the first six months of unsupervised driving.”
Making the driving experience safer for teens would include ensuring that they drive during daylight hours, on familiar roads and without teen passengers. Parents can be positive role models by exhibiting good driving skills and behavior such as obeying speed limits, being courteous to other drivers, and avoiding the use of electronic devices while driving.
Parents should also discuss teen car crashes and how to prevent them, according to AAA. Conversations with teens can begin with topics that parents are already familiar with, such as the importance of wearing a seat belt, and move into the hazards of driving at night, while on a cell phone, or with teen passengers. Entering into a parent-teen driving agreement can be a helpful way to start the dialogue.
For more information on parent-teen driving agreements or on keeping teens safer on the road, log on to www.AAA.com/publicaffairs
To find a driving school near you, or to find out more about driving courses, go to AAA.com.
Seventeen reaches more than 13 million readers every month and is today's largest selling teen beauty and fashion magazine. Seventeen is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) and one of the world's largest publishers of monthly magazines, with a total of 19 U.S. titles and nearly 200 international editions. Hearst Magazines reaches more adults in the U.S. than any other publisher of monthly magazines (73.4 million according to MRI, fall 2006). The company also publishes 19 magazines in the United Kingdom through its wholly owned subsidiary, The National Magazine Company Limited.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 50 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com
# # #
Source: AAA
e mërkurë, 4 korrik 2007
Nation's Top Safety Official Reminds Motorists to Take Caution During Deadliest Days on America’s Roads
The nation’s top safety official today urged drivers to help save lives by buckling up, driving sober and obeying speed limits during the July 4th holiday which is traditionally the deadliest day on America’s roads.
“We want people to enjoy the fireworks and cook outs but more importantly we want people to be alive to enjoy the next celebration,” said Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The statistics show over 25 years just how hazardous travel is during the Independence Day holiday period, Nason said. She pointed to alcohol as a major factor in fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday, stressing that a designated, sober driver be identified before the celebration begins. Statistics show that 51 percent of all deadly traffic crashes are related to the use of alcohol during the July 4 holiday, compared to the annual average of about 40 percent.
In addition, Nason said nearly half of those killed in crashes were not using seat belts. Using seat belts – and placing children in proper car seats in the back seat – are the best ways for drivers to protect themselves and their families, she said.
“With so many more people on the road for their holiday celebrations, it becomes critical for drivers to buckle up, drive sober and obey the speed limit,” Nason said.
Source: NHTSA
“We want people to enjoy the fireworks and cook outs but more importantly we want people to be alive to enjoy the next celebration,” said Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The statistics show over 25 years just how hazardous travel is during the Independence Day holiday period, Nason said. She pointed to alcohol as a major factor in fatal crashes during the July 4 holiday, stressing that a designated, sober driver be identified before the celebration begins. Statistics show that 51 percent of all deadly traffic crashes are related to the use of alcohol during the July 4 holiday, compared to the annual average of about 40 percent.
In addition, Nason said nearly half of those killed in crashes were not using seat belts. Using seat belts – and placing children in proper car seats in the back seat – are the best ways for drivers to protect themselves and their families, she said.
“With so many more people on the road for their holiday celebrations, it becomes critical for drivers to buckle up, drive sober and obey the speed limit,” Nason said.
Source: NHTSA
e martë, 3 korrik 2007
Most Seat/Head Restraints in SUVs, Pickup Trucks & Minivans Are Marginal or Poor
Rear Crash Protection: SUV, pickup truck, and minivan head restraint evaluations by IIHS
The designs of seats and head restraints in 21 current SUV, pickup, and minivan models are rated good for protecting people in rear impacts, but those in 54 other models are rated marginal or poor. Another 12 are rated acceptable. The latest evaluations of occupant protection in rear-end collisions by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that the seat/head restraints in more than half of light truck and minivan models fall short of state-of-the-art protection from neck injury or whiplash.
The ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor for 87 current models are based on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that together assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in a typical rear crash.
Among the best performers are the seat/head restraint combinations in SUVs made by Subaru and Volvo and new designs from Acura, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai. Seat/head restraints in 3 minivan models from Hyundai and Ford earn good ratings. The redesigned Toyota Tundra is the only pickup model evaluated with seat/head restraints rated good for rear crash protection.
"In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than any other crash type," says David Zuby, senior vice president of the Institute's Vehicle Research Center. "It's not a major feat of engineering to design seats and head restraints that afford good protection in these common crashes."
Rear-end collisions are frequent, and neck injuries are the most common injuries reported in auto crashes. They account for 2 million insurance claims each year, costing at least $8.5 billion. Such injuries aren't life-threatening, but they can be painful and debilitating.
Good seat/head restraint designs keep people's heads and torsos moving together: When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, its seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, an occupant's head will lag behind this forward torso movement, and the differential motion causes the neck to bend and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration, the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.
The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together. To accomplish this, the geometry of a head restraint has to be adequate — high enough to be near the back of the head. Then the seat structure and stiffness characteristics must be designed to work in concert with the head restraint to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is pushed forward.
SUVs improve: In the latest evaluations, the seat/head restraint combinations in 17 of 59 SUV models are rated good, 5 are acceptable, 14 are marginal, and 23 are rated poor. In minivans, seat/head restraints in 3 models are rated good, 2 are acceptable, 1 is marginal, and 5 are rated poor. In pickups 1 is good, 5 are acceptable, 5 are marginal, and 6 are rated poor.
While there hasn't been much overall improvement among pickups and minivans since the last time the Institute evaluated protection in rear crashes, the performance of the seat/head restraints in SUVs is much better. In 2006 those in only 6 of 44 SUV models earned a good rating.
"The reason may be that automakers have updated or introduced many new SUVs since 2006, but minivans and pickups are being updated more slowly," Zuby points out.
In the latest tests seat/head restraints in the Mitsubishi Outlander improved to good from the previous design that was rated acceptable. Those in the Acura MDX, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorento improved from their previous ratings of poor to good. Those in the Honda Pilot and Mercedes-Benz M class improved from marginal to good. The seat/head restraints in the Toyota Tundra pickup improved to good from acceptable.
In contrast some manufacturers have introduced new models with subpar seat designs. The ones in the BMW X5, Dodge Nitro, and Suzuki XL7 are rated poor. Those in the new Mazda CX-7 and Mazda CX-9 are rated marginal.
Among the poor-rated seats in the new evaluations, those in 7 models didn't make it to the testing stage because the geometry of their head restraints is marginal or poor. This means they can't be positioned to protect many taller people, so the Institute doesn't test them. Among these lowest rated seats are those in the Cadillac SRX SUV, Nissan Quest minivan, and Ford Ranger pickup.
Safety ratings and government rules are driving the changes: Some manufacturers are making changes to the seat/head restraint designs in their vehicles to earn the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award. Other improvements are being spurred by changes to federal safety rules. Front-seat head restraints will have to extend higher and fit closer to the backs of people's heads under a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2004. Originally set to go into effect for front-seat head restraints in September 2008, the agency recently delayed the effective date in response to petitions for reconsideration. Under the new phase-in schedule, manufacturers must start to fit better front-seat head restraints in 80 percent of their models beginning in September 2009. Front-seat head restraints in all new vehicles made after September 2010 must comply.
"There's lots of room for improvement in the designs of seats and head restraints," Zuby says. "We know many manufacturers are trying to fit better head restraints in their vehicles, and some have been working with us to boost their ratings as they introduce new models. Some manufacturers were waiting for resolution of regulatory issues before fitting better designs in their vehicles. And some didn't get changes made in time for the Institute's tests. For example, BMW plans to redesign the seats in the BMW X5 and BMW X3 SUVs to earn better ratings for the 2008 model year."
The Institute's procedure for evaluating the geometry of seat/head restraints is used worldwide by the Research Council for Automobile Repairs, an international consortium of insurance-sponsored research centers. US federal crash test ratings don't evaluate seat/head restraint designs, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expressed interest in exploring adding the Institute's seat/head restraint ratings to its website that publishes New Car Assessment Program results. In Europe, the European New Car Assessment Programme is considering adding a head restraint evaluation component to new vehicle assessments.
"The Institute's evaluations of seat/head restraint designs suggest that the worldwide attention is yielding results," Zuby says. "We're seeing more seat/head restraints rated good and acceptable than we used to. It's clear that many foreign and domestic automakers are moving in the right direction."
Sled test simulates rear-end collision: Seat/head restraint ratings are based on a 2-step evaluation. In the first step restraint geometry is rated using measurements of height and distance from the back of the head of a mannequin that represents an average-size man. Seats with good or acceptable geometric ratings are subjected to a dynamic test conducted on a crash simulation sled. This sled test replicates the forces in a stationary vehicle that's rear-ended by another vehicle of the same weight going 20 mph, which accelerates the struck vehicle to 10 mph. The sled is a movable steel platform that runs on fixed rails and can be programmed to recreate the accelerations that occur inside vehicles during real-world crashes.
A dummy specially designed to assess rear-end crash protection, BioRID, is used to measure the forces on the neck during the simulated crashes. Researchers also measure how hard the seatback pushes on the dummy's back and how quickly the head restraint supports the head.
The Institute's dynamic ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are derived from two seat design parameters (peak acceleration of the dummy's torso and time from impact initiation to head restraint contact with the dummy's head) plus neck tension and shear forces recorded on BioRID during the test. The sooner a restraint contacts the dummy's head and the lower the acceleration of the torso and the forces on BioRID's neck, the better the dynamic rating. A seat/head restraint's dynamic evaluation is combined with its geometric evaluation to produce an overall rating.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
The designs of seats and head restraints in 21 current SUV, pickup, and minivan models are rated good for protecting people in rear impacts, but those in 54 other models are rated marginal or poor. Another 12 are rated acceptable. The latest evaluations of occupant protection in rear-end collisions by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that the seat/head restraints in more than half of light truck and minivan models fall short of state-of-the-art protection from neck injury or whiplash.
The ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor for 87 current models are based on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that together assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in a typical rear crash.
Among the best performers are the seat/head restraint combinations in SUVs made by Subaru and Volvo and new designs from Acura, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai. Seat/head restraints in 3 minivan models from Hyundai and Ford earn good ratings. The redesigned Toyota Tundra is the only pickup model evaluated with seat/head restraints rated good for rear crash protection.
"In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than any other crash type," says David Zuby, senior vice president of the Institute's Vehicle Research Center. "It's not a major feat of engineering to design seats and head restraints that afford good protection in these common crashes."
Rear-end collisions are frequent, and neck injuries are the most common injuries reported in auto crashes. They account for 2 million insurance claims each year, costing at least $8.5 billion. Such injuries aren't life-threatening, but they can be painful and debilitating.
Good seat/head restraint designs keep people's heads and torsos moving together: When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, its seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, an occupant's head will lag behind this forward torso movement, and the differential motion causes the neck to bend and stretch. The higher the torso acceleration, the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.
The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together. To accomplish this, the geometry of a head restraint has to be adequate — high enough to be near the back of the head. Then the seat structure and stiffness characteristics must be designed to work in concert with the head restraint to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is pushed forward.
SUVs improve: In the latest evaluations, the seat/head restraint combinations in 17 of 59 SUV models are rated good, 5 are acceptable, 14 are marginal, and 23 are rated poor. In minivans, seat/head restraints in 3 models are rated good, 2 are acceptable, 1 is marginal, and 5 are rated poor. In pickups 1 is good, 5 are acceptable, 5 are marginal, and 6 are rated poor.
While there hasn't been much overall improvement among pickups and minivans since the last time the Institute evaluated protection in rear crashes, the performance of the seat/head restraints in SUVs is much better. In 2006 those in only 6 of 44 SUV models earned a good rating.
"The reason may be that automakers have updated or introduced many new SUVs since 2006, but minivans and pickups are being updated more slowly," Zuby points out.
In the latest tests seat/head restraints in the Mitsubishi Outlander improved to good from the previous design that was rated acceptable. Those in the Acura MDX, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorento improved from their previous ratings of poor to good. Those in the Honda Pilot and Mercedes-Benz M class improved from marginal to good. The seat/head restraints in the Toyota Tundra pickup improved to good from acceptable.
In contrast some manufacturers have introduced new models with subpar seat designs. The ones in the BMW X5, Dodge Nitro, and Suzuki XL7 are rated poor. Those in the new Mazda CX-7 and Mazda CX-9 are rated marginal.
Among the poor-rated seats in the new evaluations, those in 7 models didn't make it to the testing stage because the geometry of their head restraints is marginal or poor. This means they can't be positioned to protect many taller people, so the Institute doesn't test them. Among these lowest rated seats are those in the Cadillac SRX SUV, Nissan Quest minivan, and Ford Ranger pickup.
Safety ratings and government rules are driving the changes: Some manufacturers are making changes to the seat/head restraint designs in their vehicles to earn the Institute's TOP SAFETY PICK award. Other improvements are being spurred by changes to federal safety rules. Front-seat head restraints will have to extend higher and fit closer to the backs of people's heads under a rule issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2004. Originally set to go into effect for front-seat head restraints in September 2008, the agency recently delayed the effective date in response to petitions for reconsideration. Under the new phase-in schedule, manufacturers must start to fit better front-seat head restraints in 80 percent of their models beginning in September 2009. Front-seat head restraints in all new vehicles made after September 2010 must comply.
"There's lots of room for improvement in the designs of seats and head restraints," Zuby says. "We know many manufacturers are trying to fit better head restraints in their vehicles, and some have been working with us to boost their ratings as they introduce new models. Some manufacturers were waiting for resolution of regulatory issues before fitting better designs in their vehicles. And some didn't get changes made in time for the Institute's tests. For example, BMW plans to redesign the seats in the BMW X5 and BMW X3 SUVs to earn better ratings for the 2008 model year."
The Institute's procedure for evaluating the geometry of seat/head restraints is used worldwide by the Research Council for Automobile Repairs, an international consortium of insurance-sponsored research centers. US federal crash test ratings don't evaluate seat/head restraint designs, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has expressed interest in exploring adding the Institute's seat/head restraint ratings to its website that publishes New Car Assessment Program results. In Europe, the European New Car Assessment Programme is considering adding a head restraint evaluation component to new vehicle assessments.
"The Institute's evaluations of seat/head restraint designs suggest that the worldwide attention is yielding results," Zuby says. "We're seeing more seat/head restraints rated good and acceptable than we used to. It's clear that many foreign and domestic automakers are moving in the right direction."
Sled test simulates rear-end collision: Seat/head restraint ratings are based on a 2-step evaluation. In the first step restraint geometry is rated using measurements of height and distance from the back of the head of a mannequin that represents an average-size man. Seats with good or acceptable geometric ratings are subjected to a dynamic test conducted on a crash simulation sled. This sled test replicates the forces in a stationary vehicle that's rear-ended by another vehicle of the same weight going 20 mph, which accelerates the struck vehicle to 10 mph. The sled is a movable steel platform that runs on fixed rails and can be programmed to recreate the accelerations that occur inside vehicles during real-world crashes.
A dummy specially designed to assess rear-end crash protection, BioRID, is used to measure the forces on the neck during the simulated crashes. Researchers also measure how hard the seatback pushes on the dummy's back and how quickly the head restraint supports the head.
The Institute's dynamic ratings of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor are derived from two seat design parameters (peak acceleration of the dummy's torso and time from impact initiation to head restraint contact with the dummy's head) plus neck tension and shear forces recorded on BioRID during the test. The sooner a restraint contacts the dummy's head and the lower the acceleration of the torso and the forces on BioRID's neck, the better the dynamic rating. A seat/head restraint's dynamic evaluation is combined with its geometric evaluation to produce an overall rating.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
e premte, 22 qershor 2007
NHTSA's Nicole Nason Earns Car Seat Credentials from Safe Kids Worldwide
Highest-Ranking Official to Be Certified, Nicole Nason Now Qualified to Teach Proper Use of Car Seats
Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is one of country's newest Child Passenger Safety Technicians after completing a rigorous three-day course, making her the highest-ranking government official ever to hold the credential.
Child Passenger Safety Technicians train parents and caregivers to select, install and adjust car seats and booster seats and to determine when a child is the right size to move from a child restraint to an adult safety belt. Most of the nation's 30,000 certified technicians are police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, nurses or childcare professionals. The training curriculum is developed by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and the technician credentials are issued by Safe Kids Worldwide.
"We've always enjoyed a good working relationship with NHTSA, but this is the first time the Administrator has joined us in providing direct, hands-on services to families," said Kerry Chausmer, director of certification for Safe Kids Worldwide. "The fact that Ms. Nason took three days out of her schedule to become an accredited expert in one of the many technical aspects of her agency's work is a powerful statement about the importance of child passenger safety."
Nason, a mother of two, noted that technicians can give caregivers the knowledge and confidence to install and adjust car seats correctly themselves. "Caregivers have such an enormous responsibility to make sure children are buckled up correctly, every time they ride," said Nason. "That is why programs like this are so vital for keeping children safe."
Approximately four out of five car seats are used incorrectly, and far too many young children who should be on booster seats are riding in safety belts that are designed to fit adults, said Alexis Kagiliery Lee, East Coast program manager of Safe Kids Buckle Up. "CPS technicians help parents make sense of the detailed instructions, provide hands-on education and sift through all the good and bad advice out there," Lee said.
Lee was the lead instructor, with Chausmer and J.J. Current of Safe Kids Worldwide, Kelly Hamilton of Safe Kids Palm Beach County (Fla.) and Jessica Butterfield of NHTSA assisting. All students passed and were issued credentials that must be renewed every two years through a combination of monitored fieldwork and continuing education.
To find a technician near you, visit http://www.safekids.org/certification
To find a car seat checkup event or your local Safe Kids coalition, visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/ and click on "Find Coalitions and Events Near You."
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. More than 450 coalitions in 16 countries bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. The organization was founded in 1987 by Children's National Medical Center with support from Johnson & Johnson.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide
Nicole R. Nason, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is one of country's newest Child Passenger Safety Technicians after completing a rigorous three-day course, making her the highest-ranking government official ever to hold the credential.
Child Passenger Safety Technicians train parents and caregivers to select, install and adjust car seats and booster seats and to determine when a child is the right size to move from a child restraint to an adult safety belt. Most of the nation's 30,000 certified technicians are police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, nurses or childcare professionals. The training curriculum is developed by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and the technician credentials are issued by Safe Kids Worldwide.
"We've always enjoyed a good working relationship with NHTSA, but this is the first time the Administrator has joined us in providing direct, hands-on services to families," said Kerry Chausmer, director of certification for Safe Kids Worldwide. "The fact that Ms. Nason took three days out of her schedule to become an accredited expert in one of the many technical aspects of her agency's work is a powerful statement about the importance of child passenger safety."
Nason, a mother of two, noted that technicians can give caregivers the knowledge and confidence to install and adjust car seats correctly themselves. "Caregivers have such an enormous responsibility to make sure children are buckled up correctly, every time they ride," said Nason. "That is why programs like this are so vital for keeping children safe."
Approximately four out of five car seats are used incorrectly, and far too many young children who should be on booster seats are riding in safety belts that are designed to fit adults, said Alexis Kagiliery Lee, East Coast program manager of Safe Kids Buckle Up. "CPS technicians help parents make sense of the detailed instructions, provide hands-on education and sift through all the good and bad advice out there," Lee said.
Lee was the lead instructor, with Chausmer and J.J. Current of Safe Kids Worldwide, Kelly Hamilton of Safe Kids Palm Beach County (Fla.) and Jessica Butterfield of NHTSA assisting. All students passed and were issued credentials that must be renewed every two years through a combination of monitored fieldwork and continuing education.
To find a technician near you, visit http://www.safekids.org/certification
To find a car seat checkup event or your local Safe Kids coalition, visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/ and click on "Find Coalitions and Events Near You."
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. More than 450 coalitions in 16 countries bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. The organization was founded in 1987 by Children's National Medical Center with support from Johnson & Johnson.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide
e enjte, 21 qershor 2007
MADD's Eliminate Drunk Driving Campaign Gains Momentum
Legislative victories on alcohol ignition interlocks in Arizona and Illinois applauded as new national data show drunk driving fatalities on the rise
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today announced significant state legislative victories in Arizona and Illinois that mandate alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, moving one step closer to its goal of a drunk-driving free America. The legislative progress is part of a bold new offensive in the war against drunk driving -- MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, launched in November 2006.
"Our vision of eliminating drunk driving is one step closer to becoming a reality," said MADD National President Glynn Birch. "As part of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, we will continue to work nationwide until every state does what Arizona and Illinois have done."
MADD is also calling for congressional hearings to develop a comprehensive strategy built upon solutions proven to work. MADD's National Board of Directors met recently with members of Congress to champion the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving and lobby for increased focus on the issue of drunk driving.
The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving has four elements: full implementation of alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, intensive high-visibility law enforcement, development of advanced vehicle technologies to prevent drunk driving and grassroots support led by MADD and its 400+ affiliates.
The need for the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving has been underscored by a recent federal report showing that drunk driving deaths are at their highest point since 1992, according to preliminary figures.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities involving a driver with a .08 blood alcohol content or higher rose from 13,613 in 2005 to 13,990 in 2006, representing almost a 3 percent increase. At the same time, overall traffic fatalities were down slightly by 0.3 percent.
"It's clear that more of the same will not help in the fight to make our roads safer," Birch said. "We still have states without the most effective tools in place to deter and stop drunk driving -- sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlocks. These tools stop higher-risk offenders and first-time drunk drivers. There is no justification for not using the tools we know will save lives and prevent injuries."
MADD's aggressive legislative strategy aims to strengthen drunk driving laws in all 50 states. Last month, the Arizona legislature and Governor took a bold step for public safety by mandating alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. The Illinois legislature also passed interlock legislation last month, which awaits Governor Blagojevich's signature before becoming law. Louisiana, New York, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are actively considering interlock laws.
An alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to a vehicle's ignition system. When a driver wishes to start his or her vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device. The vehicle will not start unless the driver's alcohol level is below a pre-set blood alcohol content (BAC).
"Alcohol ignition interlocks, when installed and monitored, save thousands of lives and help save society money in part by giving offenders the ability to drive without endangering the public," said MADD CEO Chuck Hurley.
Multiple studies have shown alcohol ignition interlocks are up to 90 percent effective in keeping both first-time and repeat offenders from recommitting the crime as long as the interlock is installed on the vehicle. Furthermore, 65 percent of the public supports the mandatory installation of alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.
Early results from New Mexico, the first state to mandate ignition interlocks as part of sentencing for all convicted drunk drivers, make the case for a national alcohol ignition interlock policy if reducing the number of drunk drivers on roadways is a priority.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation reported that alcohol-related injury crashes dropped by 20 percent and overall alcohol-related crashes declined by more than 17 percent in the first year the state adopted mandatory interlock legislation.
Despite a 40 percent decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities since MADD was founded in 1980, the threat of one of the nation's most deadly crimes still remains. Last year, nearly 14,000 people were killed by drunk drivers with an illegal BAC of .08 or above and countless others were injured. This represents more than 1,000 families every month that must live with the tragic consequences of drunk driving.
About MADD
Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501c(3) non-profit, grassroots organization with approximately 400 affiliates and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.madd.org/ or call (800) GET-MADD.
Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today announced significant state legislative victories in Arizona and Illinois that mandate alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, moving one step closer to its goal of a drunk-driving free America. The legislative progress is part of a bold new offensive in the war against drunk driving -- MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, launched in November 2006.
"Our vision of eliminating drunk driving is one step closer to becoming a reality," said MADD National President Glynn Birch. "As part of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, we will continue to work nationwide until every state does what Arizona and Illinois have done."
MADD is also calling for congressional hearings to develop a comprehensive strategy built upon solutions proven to work. MADD's National Board of Directors met recently with members of Congress to champion the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving and lobby for increased focus on the issue of drunk driving.
The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving has four elements: full implementation of alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, intensive high-visibility law enforcement, development of advanced vehicle technologies to prevent drunk driving and grassroots support led by MADD and its 400+ affiliates.
The need for the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving has been underscored by a recent federal report showing that drunk driving deaths are at their highest point since 1992, according to preliminary figures.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities involving a driver with a .08 blood alcohol content or higher rose from 13,613 in 2005 to 13,990 in 2006, representing almost a 3 percent increase. At the same time, overall traffic fatalities were down slightly by 0.3 percent.
"It's clear that more of the same will not help in the fight to make our roads safer," Birch said. "We still have states without the most effective tools in place to deter and stop drunk driving -- sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlocks. These tools stop higher-risk offenders and first-time drunk drivers. There is no justification for not using the tools we know will save lives and prevent injuries."
MADD's aggressive legislative strategy aims to strengthen drunk driving laws in all 50 states. Last month, the Arizona legislature and Governor took a bold step for public safety by mandating alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. The Illinois legislature also passed interlock legislation last month, which awaits Governor Blagojevich's signature before becoming law. Louisiana, New York, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are actively considering interlock laws.
An alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to a vehicle's ignition system. When a driver wishes to start his or her vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device. The vehicle will not start unless the driver's alcohol level is below a pre-set blood alcohol content (BAC).
"Alcohol ignition interlocks, when installed and monitored, save thousands of lives and help save society money in part by giving offenders the ability to drive without endangering the public," said MADD CEO Chuck Hurley.
Multiple studies have shown alcohol ignition interlocks are up to 90 percent effective in keeping both first-time and repeat offenders from recommitting the crime as long as the interlock is installed on the vehicle. Furthermore, 65 percent of the public supports the mandatory installation of alcohol ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.
Early results from New Mexico, the first state to mandate ignition interlocks as part of sentencing for all convicted drunk drivers, make the case for a national alcohol ignition interlock policy if reducing the number of drunk drivers on roadways is a priority.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation reported that alcohol-related injury crashes dropped by 20 percent and overall alcohol-related crashes declined by more than 17 percent in the first year the state adopted mandatory interlock legislation.
Despite a 40 percent decline in alcohol-related traffic fatalities since MADD was founded in 1980, the threat of one of the nation's most deadly crimes still remains. Last year, nearly 14,000 people were killed by drunk drivers with an illegal BAC of .08 or above and countless others were injured. This represents more than 1,000 families every month that must live with the tragic consequences of drunk driving.
About MADD
Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501c(3) non-profit, grassroots organization with approximately 400 affiliates and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. For more information, please visit http://www.madd.org/ or call (800) GET-MADD.
Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
e martë, 19 qershor 2007
Cars.com, DriversEd.com Announce Top 10 Driving Mistakes Teenagers Make
Site Offers Advice on Best New Cars for Teens
Cars.com, in conjunction with DriversEd.com, America's leading drivers education resource and solution, have identified the 10 most common mistakes teen drivers make, and identified their choices for the best new cars for teenage drivers.
"There are a number of factors that lead to an increase in accidents for teen drivers, including inexperience, dealing with emergency situations, distracted driving and the inclination to show off for friends," said DriversEd.com founder Gary Tsifrin. "By recognizing these common mistakes, we hope that teenagers will be able to avoid the risks associated with being a teenager behind the wheel."
The most common mistakes are:
Being distracted behind the wheel: Cell phones, CDs, food and even text messages can pose serious distractions to drivers. In some cases, drivers will even text message their backseat passengers. Distracted driving contributes to 80 percent of collisions.
Taking too many risks: Actions like ignoring traffic signals or school zone signs and changing lanes without checking blind spots are all considered "risky behavior." The difference between risky behavior and distracted driving is that risky behavior is deliberate, while distracted driving is often the result of ignorance.
Speeding: Most drivers occasionally speed, but teens do so because they don't have a good sense of how a car's speed can affect their response time. On average, teens drive faster than all other drivers as a whole. They will exceed speeds on residential roads that they interpret as empty because they haven't had any close calls there. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that speeding factored into roughly one-third of all fatal crashes in 2005 when teenagers were behind the wheel -- some 50 percent more than it did in fatal crashes for 20- to 49-year-olds.
Overcrowding the car: Teens frequently overcrowd their cars, cramming five or six into a cabin meant to seat four or five. Worse yet, the extra passengers often result in teens driving more aggressively. The distractions of carrying too many passengers can have serious consequences as well.
Driving under the influence: When teens drink and drive, they're even less likely to practice safe habits like seat belt usage: Of the 15- to 20-year- olds killed after drinking and driving in 2003, 74 percent were unrestrained, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Because teenagers are too young to drink legally, they're also less likely to call their parents to come get them when they shouldn't drive.
Following too closely: Maintaining a proper following distance is a critical step in preventing accidents. At 60 mph, a typical car needs between 120 and 140 feet to reach a full stop. Most SUVs require an extra 5 to 10 feet on top of that. Consider that 60 mph translates to 88 feet per second and it's easy to see why maintaining a proper following distance is a critical step in preventing accidents.
Driving unbuckled: A 2003 survey by NHTSA reported that 79 percent of drivers ages 16 to 24 said they wore their seat belts regularly, while 84 percent of the overall population did so. Approximately 21 percent of young drivers do not wear their seat belts regularly. Many young drivers have a sense of invincibility that also factors into teen speeding. Fortunately, many cars today have seat belt reminders that flash warning lights or chime until belts are secured. Call them annoying, but they help keep occupants buckled.
Not being able to handle emergencies: Knowing how to avoid an accident comes with driving experience. Young drivers can only learn so much in the classroom, which leaves learning maneuvers like straightening out a skid or how to apply the brakes correctly to real-world experience. Speeding and distracted driving only make things worse, as they compound the lack of experience by putting drivers at higher risk of encountering an emergency situation in the first place.
Driving drowsy: Drowsy driving affects an unlikely group: the so-called "good kids." That means straight-A students or those with a full plate of extracurricular activities. Overachievers have a lot of pressure. If they're playing varsity sports and are also preparing for an AP English exam, and if they've been going since 7 a.m. and now it's midnight and they have to get home, they don't think, "I'm too tired to drive."
Choosing the wrong car and not maintaining it: Too often, a combination of tight budgets and high style leads teens to pass up important safety features for larger engines and flashy accessories. A teen or novice driver will opt for a cool-looking sports car rather than a car that's really a safer choice. Then, if they sink all their money into it, they might be remiss in maintaining it.
Cars.com has several new-car recommendations for teen drivers based on a variety of criteria, including safety, price and size.
"We kept in mind that many parents are more concerned about safety, while their child is looking for style," said Cars.com managing editor Patrick Olsen. "This list offers new-car choices in various body styles and a wide range of prices likely to meet the needs of parents and teens."
Below are the top new-car picks for teens, listed by body style.
Cars:
Chevrolet Impala
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Mazda3
Mazda MX-5 (Miata) convertible
Mini Cooper
Scion tC
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Volvo S40
SUVs:
Hyundai Tucson
Toyota RAV4
Subaru Forester
Pickups:
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
Criteria and Considerations:
Safety as a category was highly weighted. While neither Cars.com nor DriversEd.com can designate a vehicle as safe or unsafe, an interpretation of crash-test ratings and an audit of safety features was conducted. Crash-test scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were used in measuring safety.
Due to the rollover risk in SUVs, the most important features considered were electronic stability systems and side curtain airbags. In small vehicles, side-impact airbags and curtains are highly weighted, as they often prove to be the difference between a Poor and a Good IIHS rating for a particular model. No vehicle with weak crash-test ratings was eligible for this list.
Ownership cost/reliability is another important consideration because low ownership cost can easily compensate for a higher sale price. Aside from being problematic, repairs are a significant component in the total cost of ownership. For reliability data, Cars.com relies on J.D. Power and Associates' Mechanical Reliability Ratings and Consumer Reports' Reliability Histories. Other factors in cost of ownership include fuel economy, required fuel grade (octane) and insurance costs, because these are items that many teens end up paying for on their own.
For more advice about buying cars for teen drivers, including information about used-car recommendations, visit Cars.com or DriversEd.com. In addition to these recommendations for teens, Cars.com recently selected the best cars for first-time drivers as part of its annual Lifestyle Awards. Teens and their parents can visit Cars.com's Lifestyle Buying Guide to view these selections and use the site's Lifestyle Criteria Search to choose the car that best meets their needs.
About Cars.com
Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (http://www.cars.com/) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from 13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.
Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies including Belo (NYSE:BLC) , Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE:GCI) , The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) , Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) .
About DriversEd.com:
DriversEd.com "click. learn. drive." is America's leading online drivers education resource and solution. The state specific curriculum is DMV approved and offers fully interactive, comprehensive courses-all online. Founded in 1997, DriversEd.com provides direct training as well as unified school district, charter school and private school partnerships along with national automotive and education initiatives. Fortune magazine says, "The real innovations of the course are the tricks it uses to ensure that students don't rush through the lessons or ask someone else to sit in for them." DriversEd.com is the most-visited drivers education, defensive driving and traffic school site on the Web. For more information on DriversEd.com, (http://www.driversed.com/)
Source: Cars.com
Cars.com, in conjunction with DriversEd.com, America's leading drivers education resource and solution, have identified the 10 most common mistakes teen drivers make, and identified their choices for the best new cars for teenage drivers.
"There are a number of factors that lead to an increase in accidents for teen drivers, including inexperience, dealing with emergency situations, distracted driving and the inclination to show off for friends," said DriversEd.com founder Gary Tsifrin. "By recognizing these common mistakes, we hope that teenagers will be able to avoid the risks associated with being a teenager behind the wheel."
The most common mistakes are:
Being distracted behind the wheel: Cell phones, CDs, food and even text messages can pose serious distractions to drivers. In some cases, drivers will even text message their backseat passengers. Distracted driving contributes to 80 percent of collisions.
Taking too many risks: Actions like ignoring traffic signals or school zone signs and changing lanes without checking blind spots are all considered "risky behavior." The difference between risky behavior and distracted driving is that risky behavior is deliberate, while distracted driving is often the result of ignorance.
Speeding: Most drivers occasionally speed, but teens do so because they don't have a good sense of how a car's speed can affect their response time. On average, teens drive faster than all other drivers as a whole. They will exceed speeds on residential roads that they interpret as empty because they haven't had any close calls there. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that speeding factored into roughly one-third of all fatal crashes in 2005 when teenagers were behind the wheel -- some 50 percent more than it did in fatal crashes for 20- to 49-year-olds.
Overcrowding the car: Teens frequently overcrowd their cars, cramming five or six into a cabin meant to seat four or five. Worse yet, the extra passengers often result in teens driving more aggressively. The distractions of carrying too many passengers can have serious consequences as well.
Driving under the influence: When teens drink and drive, they're even less likely to practice safe habits like seat belt usage: Of the 15- to 20-year- olds killed after drinking and driving in 2003, 74 percent were unrestrained, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Because teenagers are too young to drink legally, they're also less likely to call their parents to come get them when they shouldn't drive.
Following too closely: Maintaining a proper following distance is a critical step in preventing accidents. At 60 mph, a typical car needs between 120 and 140 feet to reach a full stop. Most SUVs require an extra 5 to 10 feet on top of that. Consider that 60 mph translates to 88 feet per second and it's easy to see why maintaining a proper following distance is a critical step in preventing accidents.
Driving unbuckled: A 2003 survey by NHTSA reported that 79 percent of drivers ages 16 to 24 said they wore their seat belts regularly, while 84 percent of the overall population did so. Approximately 21 percent of young drivers do not wear their seat belts regularly. Many young drivers have a sense of invincibility that also factors into teen speeding. Fortunately, many cars today have seat belt reminders that flash warning lights or chime until belts are secured. Call them annoying, but they help keep occupants buckled.
Not being able to handle emergencies: Knowing how to avoid an accident comes with driving experience. Young drivers can only learn so much in the classroom, which leaves learning maneuvers like straightening out a skid or how to apply the brakes correctly to real-world experience. Speeding and distracted driving only make things worse, as they compound the lack of experience by putting drivers at higher risk of encountering an emergency situation in the first place.
Driving drowsy: Drowsy driving affects an unlikely group: the so-called "good kids." That means straight-A students or those with a full plate of extracurricular activities. Overachievers have a lot of pressure. If they're playing varsity sports and are also preparing for an AP English exam, and if they've been going since 7 a.m. and now it's midnight and they have to get home, they don't think, "I'm too tired to drive."
Choosing the wrong car and not maintaining it: Too often, a combination of tight budgets and high style leads teens to pass up important safety features for larger engines and flashy accessories. A teen or novice driver will opt for a cool-looking sports car rather than a car that's really a safer choice. Then, if they sink all their money into it, they might be remiss in maintaining it.
Cars.com has several new-car recommendations for teen drivers based on a variety of criteria, including safety, price and size.
"We kept in mind that many parents are more concerned about safety, while their child is looking for style," said Cars.com managing editor Patrick Olsen. "This list offers new-car choices in various body styles and a wide range of prices likely to meet the needs of parents and teens."
Below are the top new-car picks for teens, listed by body style.
Cars:
Chevrolet Impala
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Mazda3
Mazda MX-5 (Miata) convertible
Mini Cooper
Scion tC
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Corolla
Volvo S40
SUVs:
Hyundai Tucson
Toyota RAV4
Subaru Forester
Pickups:
Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab
Criteria and Considerations:
Safety as a category was highly weighted. While neither Cars.com nor DriversEd.com can designate a vehicle as safe or unsafe, an interpretation of crash-test ratings and an audit of safety features was conducted. Crash-test scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety were used in measuring safety.
Due to the rollover risk in SUVs, the most important features considered were electronic stability systems and side curtain airbags. In small vehicles, side-impact airbags and curtains are highly weighted, as they often prove to be the difference between a Poor and a Good IIHS rating for a particular model. No vehicle with weak crash-test ratings was eligible for this list.
Ownership cost/reliability is another important consideration because low ownership cost can easily compensate for a higher sale price. Aside from being problematic, repairs are a significant component in the total cost of ownership. For reliability data, Cars.com relies on J.D. Power and Associates' Mechanical Reliability Ratings and Consumer Reports' Reliability Histories. Other factors in cost of ownership include fuel economy, required fuel grade (octane) and insurance costs, because these are items that many teens end up paying for on their own.
For more advice about buying cars for teen drivers, including information about used-car recommendations, visit Cars.com or DriversEd.com. In addition to these recommendations for teens, Cars.com recently selected the best cars for first-time drivers as part of its annual Lifestyle Awards. Teens and their parents can visit Cars.com's Lifestyle Buying Guide to view these selections and use the site's Lifestyle Criteria Search to choose the car that best meets their needs.
About Cars.com
Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (http://www.cars.com/) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2 million vehicles from 13,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Recently selected by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web site for car shopping, Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.
Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies including Belo (NYSE:BLC) , Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE:GCI) , The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI) , Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) and The Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO) .
About DriversEd.com:
DriversEd.com "click. learn. drive." is America's leading online drivers education resource and solution. The state specific curriculum is DMV approved and offers fully interactive, comprehensive courses-all online. Founded in 1997, DriversEd.com provides direct training as well as unified school district, charter school and private school partnerships along with national automotive and education initiatives. Fortune magazine says, "The real innovations of the course are the tricks it uses to ensure that students don't rush through the lessons or ask someone else to sit in for them." DriversEd.com is the most-visited drivers education, defensive driving and traffic school site on the Web. For more information on DriversEd.com, (http://www.driversed.com/)
Source: Cars.com
e hënë, 18 qershor 2007
National Teen Safe Driving Program to Host Summer Camp in Pittsburgh Area June 26-28
More than 600 students from Pittsburgh-area high schools will participate in free hands-on safe driving events June 26-28, at Consol Energy Park in suburban Washington.
Vehicle crashes remain the number one killer of teenagers in America, including 214 in Pennsylvania in 2005, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The “ride-and-drive” events, aimed at reducing teen auto-related deaths in the Pittsburgh area, is part of yearlong partnership Taking the Lead, based on the national Driving Skills for Life program conducted by Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company – and the Governors Highway Safety Association.
During three one-day safe driving sessions, teens will hone their skills in specially equipped vehicles such as skid cars on challenging road courses under the supervision of a team of highly skilled professional instructors. Students arrive at 8:30 a.m. each day and are served a continental breakfast. The sessions include a break for lunch and dinner, and conclude at 6:30 p.m. Also featured will be motivational speakers Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, former Pittsburgh Steelers and hosts of the popular In the Locker Room with Tunch and Wolf program on Pittsburgh’s WPCW-TV. In addition, there will be other fun activities. Spots remain open for each of the three days. Students can register by going on-line at www.kdka.com, www.drivingskillsforlife.com or call toll-free at 1.888.987.8765. Parents also are encouraged to attend.
The three-day event also is supported by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA-TV; Westfield Insurance, headquartered in Westfield Center, Ohio, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT). Also participating in the Taking the Lead partnership is KDKA-TV sister station WPCW-TV, a CW affiliate.
Developed in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, GHSA and a panel of safety experts, Driving Skills for Life aims to help newly licensed drivers develop skills necessary for safe driving beyond what they learn in traditional driver education programs. The Pittsburgh partnership includes on-air messaging, special programming and on-line information.
Studies demonstrate that teen crash rates decline considerably as young drivers gain experience behind the wheel. Driving Skills for Life helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes:
* Hazard Recognition
* Vehicle Handling
* Space Management
* Speed Management
* “Ford is delighted to have Driving Skills for Life participate in this program with KDKA-TV and Westfield Insurance,” said Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Taking the Lead demonstrates a solid commitment to help teens develop the additional skills necessary to reduce teen-related auto accidents.”
Said Chris Pike, Vice-President/General Manager of KDKA-TV: “This program fits with our mission of addressing an important issue in our community. Improving the driving skills of Pittsburgh-area teens will hopefully help these drivers and their families avoid the tragedies that are too often experienced in our area.”
Added Roger McManus, President of Westfield Insurance: “We’re proud to be part of this program. There is a growing need in the quest to enhance teen safety for collaboration between parents, law enforcement, advocacy organizations and corporate partners.”
“The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is honored to be part of this very important educational program,” said District 12 Executive Joseph J. Szczur, P.E. “This driving camp provides an excellent opportunity to help teen drivers develop safe driving habits and save lives.”
Driving Skills for Life provides effective learning tools, including the comprehensive interactive Web site that rewards students for taking the initiative to learn safe driving techniques. Several new learning modules have been introduced in 2007, including a car care module designed to assist teens who encounter vehicle problems on the road. In addition, educator materials are available at no charge in English and Spanish, allowing instruction of the program in school or community settings.
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.ford.com.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian Nation. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202.789.0942 or visit www.ghsa.org .
KDKA-TV , a CBS-owned and operated station, is committed to improving the quality of life in the region we serve. The station has a long history of community involvement including a 53-year tradition of supporting Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital with an annual telethon and a 25-year tradition of airing the annual KD Turkey Drive in support of Pittsburgh’s Food Bank.
In business for nearly 160 years, Westfield Insurance provides commercial and personal insurance and surety services to customers in 28 states. Westfield markets its products through more than 1,200 leading independent insurance agencies and is one of the country’s largest property and casualty insurers. Westfield Group provides banking through Westfield Bank SM and agency support through Westfield Services, Inc. Westfield has over $3.4 billion in assets and holds an “A (Excellent)” rating from A.M. Best, a leading insurance financial rating agency. The company has more than 2,500 employees throughout its operating states.
Source: Ford Motor Company
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Vehicle crashes remain the number one killer of teenagers in America, including 214 in Pennsylvania in 2005, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The “ride-and-drive” events, aimed at reducing teen auto-related deaths in the Pittsburgh area, is part of yearlong partnership Taking the Lead, based on the national Driving Skills for Life program conducted by Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company – and the Governors Highway Safety Association.
During three one-day safe driving sessions, teens will hone their skills in specially equipped vehicles such as skid cars on challenging road courses under the supervision of a team of highly skilled professional instructors. Students arrive at 8:30 a.m. each day and are served a continental breakfast. The sessions include a break for lunch and dinner, and conclude at 6:30 p.m. Also featured will be motivational speakers Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley, former Pittsburgh Steelers and hosts of the popular In the Locker Room with Tunch and Wolf program on Pittsburgh’s WPCW-TV. In addition, there will be other fun activities. Spots remain open for each of the three days. Students can register by going on-line at www.kdka.com, www.drivingskillsforlife.com or call toll-free at 1.888.987.8765. Parents also are encouraged to attend.
The three-day event also is supported by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA-TV; Westfield Insurance, headquartered in Westfield Center, Ohio, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT). Also participating in the Taking the Lead partnership is KDKA-TV sister station WPCW-TV, a CW affiliate.
Developed in 2003 by Ford Motor Company Fund, GHSA and a panel of safety experts, Driving Skills for Life aims to help newly licensed drivers develop skills necessary for safe driving beyond what they learn in traditional driver education programs. The Pittsburgh partnership includes on-air messaging, special programming and on-line information.
Studies demonstrate that teen crash rates decline considerably as young drivers gain experience behind the wheel. Driving Skills for Life helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes:
* Hazard Recognition
* Vehicle Handling
* Space Management
* Speed Management
* “Ford is delighted to have Driving Skills for Life participate in this program with KDKA-TV and Westfield Insurance,” said Jim Vella, President of Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Taking the Lead demonstrates a solid commitment to help teens develop the additional skills necessary to reduce teen-related auto accidents.”
Said Chris Pike, Vice-President/General Manager of KDKA-TV: “This program fits with our mission of addressing an important issue in our community. Improving the driving skills of Pittsburgh-area teens will hopefully help these drivers and their families avoid the tragedies that are too often experienced in our area.”
Added Roger McManus, President of Westfield Insurance: “We’re proud to be part of this program. There is a growing need in the quest to enhance teen safety for collaboration between parents, law enforcement, advocacy organizations and corporate partners.”
“The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is honored to be part of this very important educational program,” said District 12 Executive Joseph J. Szczur, P.E. “This driving camp provides an excellent opportunity to help teen drivers develop safe driving habits and save lives.”
Driving Skills for Life provides effective learning tools, including the comprehensive interactive Web site that rewards students for taking the initiative to learn safe driving techniques. Several new learning modules have been introduced in 2007, including a car care module designed to assist teens who encounter vehicle problems on the road. In addition, educator materials are available at no charge in English and Spanish, allowing instruction of the program in school or community settings.
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is committed to creating opportunities that promote corporate citizenship, philanthropy, volunteerism and cultural diversity for those who live in the communities where Ford does business. Established in 1949 and made possible by Ford Motor Company profits, Ford Motor Company Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster innovative education, auto-related safety, and American heritage and legacy. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advanced Studies, which provides high school students with academically rigorous 21st century learning experiences, and Driving Skills for Life, a teen-focused auto safety initiative. The Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, continues Ford's legacy of caring worldwide. Through the Volunteer Corps, salaried employees, union members, retirees and their families participate in a wide range of volunteer projects in their communities. For more information on programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, visit www.ford.com.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Indian Nation. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202.789.0942 or visit www.ghsa.org .
KDKA-TV , a CBS-owned and operated station, is committed to improving the quality of life in the region we serve. The station has a long history of community involvement including a 53-year tradition of supporting Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital with an annual telethon and a 25-year tradition of airing the annual KD Turkey Drive in support of Pittsburgh’s Food Bank.
In business for nearly 160 years, Westfield Insurance provides commercial and personal insurance and surety services to customers in 28 states. Westfield markets its products through more than 1,200 leading independent insurance agencies and is one of the country’s largest property and casualty insurers. Westfield Group provides banking through Westfield Bank SM and agency support through Westfield Services, Inc. Westfield has over $3.4 billion in assets and holds an “A (Excellent)” rating from A.M. Best, a leading insurance financial rating agency. The company has more than 2,500 employees throughout its operating states.
Source: Ford Motor Company
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Cellular Detection System Takes Aim at Motorists
It's an undisputed fact that drivers using cell phones become distracted, which has led to many accidents as well as a large number of fatalities. Consequently, many states have taken action by passing laws making it illegal to use a cell phone while driving.
While some motorists may see this as just another Big Brother master plan to infringe on their civil liberties and rob them of their privacy, the more informed will see it as a safety issue, just the same as seat belts and child restraints.
The challenge for municipalities is how to enforce laws banning cell phone use other than a police officer making a visual observation. With today's technology, there is a better solution.
"Automated detection of drivers using cell phones is a reality today," says Michael Rosen, President and CEO of Highway Safety & Technology (HST). "Our automated detection system will assist communities in enforcing laws which ban cell phone use while driving and aid in reducing traffic accidents," Rosen adds. "The safety of drivers, passengers and other motorists is far more important than the perceived loss of personal privacy and convenience."
Since 1997, there have been many independent studies conducted on cell phone use while driving. One example, the University of Utah has determined that drivers using cell phones are 5.6 times more likely to get into an accident than non-distracted drivers are. Some reports compare the recklessness of drivers using cell phones with drivers who are intoxicated.
Designed to detect, identify and cite drivers, who break cell phone use laws, HST's Cellular Detection System is the first of its kind in the world. It will be ready for use by municipalities in the United States this fall. The system uses sophisticated electronic-sensing equipment, which can either be pole-mounted or installed on a mobile unit.
An added benefit of the automated HST Cellular Detection System is that it frees up time for law enforcement officers to direct their efforts to other serious crimes.
HST plans to provide participating municipalities with a complete package consisting of electronic detection equipment, signage and legislation necessary to facilitate the legal process.
HST has a pending USA patent for its Cellular Detection System and is applying for patents throughout Europe. "The company wants to eventually take its process worldwide," says Rosen, an inventor and entrepreneur whose company is headquartered at 1692 Merriman Road, Akron, Ohio.
For more information visit HST's Web site at http://www.hwstusa.com/
Source: Highway Safety & Technology
While some motorists may see this as just another Big Brother master plan to infringe on their civil liberties and rob them of their privacy, the more informed will see it as a safety issue, just the same as seat belts and child restraints.
The challenge for municipalities is how to enforce laws banning cell phone use other than a police officer making a visual observation. With today's technology, there is a better solution.
"Automated detection of drivers using cell phones is a reality today," says Michael Rosen, President and CEO of Highway Safety & Technology (HST). "Our automated detection system will assist communities in enforcing laws which ban cell phone use while driving and aid in reducing traffic accidents," Rosen adds. "The safety of drivers, passengers and other motorists is far more important than the perceived loss of personal privacy and convenience."
Since 1997, there have been many independent studies conducted on cell phone use while driving. One example, the University of Utah has determined that drivers using cell phones are 5.6 times more likely to get into an accident than non-distracted drivers are. Some reports compare the recklessness of drivers using cell phones with drivers who are intoxicated.
Designed to detect, identify and cite drivers, who break cell phone use laws, HST's Cellular Detection System is the first of its kind in the world. It will be ready for use by municipalities in the United States this fall. The system uses sophisticated electronic-sensing equipment, which can either be pole-mounted or installed on a mobile unit.
An added benefit of the automated HST Cellular Detection System is that it frees up time for law enforcement officers to direct their efforts to other serious crimes.
HST plans to provide participating municipalities with a complete package consisting of electronic detection equipment, signage and legislation necessary to facilitate the legal process.
HST has a pending USA patent for its Cellular Detection System and is applying for patents throughout Europe. "The company wants to eventually take its process worldwide," says Rosen, an inventor and entrepreneur whose company is headquartered at 1692 Merriman Road, Akron, Ohio.
For more information visit HST's Web site at http://www.hwstusa.com/
Source: Highway Safety & Technology
e enjte, 14 qershor 2007
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Is Working to Make Vehicles and Streets Safer
With an Array of Lighting and Sensing Technologies
NORTHVILLE, Mich., June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In the last five years, Active Safety has become a hot topic in the automotive sector as automakers and suppliers strive to develop technologies that not only make vehicles safer but help them avoid accidents altogether.
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc., supports the drive for active safety with a variety of lighting and sensing technologies that alert drivers to dangerous situations inside and outside a moving vehicle.
Renowned for its Light Emitting Diodes (LED) products, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is also a leader in the field of photonics - the study and application of electromagnetic energy whose basic unit is the photon, incorporating optics, laser technology, electrical engineering, materials science and information storage and processing.
This expertise has enabled OSRAM to collaborate on a number of present and future active safety innovations, including:
-- Adaptive front lighting
-- Near-infrared (NIR) night vision
-- Blind spot sensing
-- Heads-up displays
-- Lane departure warning devices
-- Pedestrian protection and pre-crash sensing systems
-- Drowsy driver sensing systems
"All of these safety advances rely, in one way or another, on sensing, illumination and visualization," said Sevugan Nagappan, marketing manager for infrared/laser products at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc. "These attributes are core to our automotive product offerings, explaining why we've been asked to help develop so many of these vitally important technologies." Nagappan said the area of Active Safety is in a growth mode, whereas Passive Safety (seat belts, airbags, crumple zone, etc.) advances have peaked.
"In 2006, most of the vehicles in the market had a five-star safety rating, indicating that advancements in Passive Safety have reached a saturation level," Nagappan added. "Incremental improvements in Passive Safety will not lead to significant advances in overall safety of the vehicle. Additional life-saving potential is in Active Safety, buoyed by advancements in electronics and semiconductor technology."
About OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSRAM, one of the world's two leading lighting manufacturers. It offers its customers solutions based on semiconductor technology for lighting, sensor and visualization applications. The company operates sites in Regensburg (Germany), San Jose, Calif. (USA) and Penang (Malaysia). For the fiscal year ending in September 2005, the more than 3,500 employees of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors achieved a sales volume of 452 million euros. For more information, visit www.osram-os.com.
Source: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc.
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NORTHVILLE, Mich., June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- In the last five years, Active Safety has become a hot topic in the automotive sector as automakers and suppliers strive to develop technologies that not only make vehicles safer but help them avoid accidents altogether.
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc., supports the drive for active safety with a variety of lighting and sensing technologies that alert drivers to dangerous situations inside and outside a moving vehicle.
Renowned for its Light Emitting Diodes (LED) products, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is also a leader in the field of photonics - the study and application of electromagnetic energy whose basic unit is the photon, incorporating optics, laser technology, electrical engineering, materials science and information storage and processing.
This expertise has enabled OSRAM to collaborate on a number of present and future active safety innovations, including:
-- Adaptive front lighting
-- Near-infrared (NIR) night vision
-- Blind spot sensing
-- Heads-up displays
-- Lane departure warning devices
-- Pedestrian protection and pre-crash sensing systems
-- Drowsy driver sensing systems
"All of these safety advances rely, in one way or another, on sensing, illumination and visualization," said Sevugan Nagappan, marketing manager for infrared/laser products at OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc. "These attributes are core to our automotive product offerings, explaining why we've been asked to help develop so many of these vitally important technologies." Nagappan said the area of Active Safety is in a growth mode, whereas Passive Safety (seat belts, airbags, crumple zone, etc.) advances have peaked.
"In 2006, most of the vehicles in the market had a five-star safety rating, indicating that advancements in Passive Safety have reached a saturation level," Nagappan added. "Incremental improvements in Passive Safety will not lead to significant advances in overall safety of the vehicle. Additional life-saving potential is in Active Safety, buoyed by advancements in electronics and semiconductor technology."
About OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSRAM, one of the world's two leading lighting manufacturers. It offers its customers solutions based on semiconductor technology for lighting, sensor and visualization applications. The company operates sites in Regensburg (Germany), San Jose, Calif. (USA) and Penang (Malaysia). For the fiscal year ending in September 2005, the more than 3,500 employees of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors achieved a sales volume of 452 million euros. For more information, visit www.osram-os.com.
Source: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, Inc.
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TRW Automotive Collaborates with Chinese Motor Vehicle Inspection Agency to Develop Passive Safety Testing Capabilities
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE:TRW) has signed an agreement with the National Center of Supervision and Inspection of Motor Vehicle Products Quality (Shanghai) to co-invest in dynamic test capabilities supporting the occupant safety system (OSS) development of domestic Chinese customers. Capabilities will include head impact and body block tests to correspond with legal regulations and a programmable Hydro-Brake system for crash simulation sled testing.
Formerly known as the Shanghai Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, the Chinese agency was upgraded to a national third-party testing facility three years ago in response to the growing needs for independent vehicle testing and assessment in the country. The expanded facility resides in the town of Anting, offering ten labs for comprehensive full-vehicle and parts testing, inspection and assessment.
Zhongrong Huang, vice director of the agency, commented, "Our ambition is to build a world-class crash test facility in China. We are very pleased to collaborate with TRW, a global technology leader, in developing our testing capabilities on automotive safety components."
The launch of two Chinese new car assessment programs last year has sparked national interest in the passive safety features of motor vehicles. Crash test results were widely reported and assessment standards received increased scrutiny.
"As an industry leader in automotive safety, TRW has firmly planted itself in China with three occupant safety plants and a world-class engineering facility, poised to assist our Chinese customers in meeting the ever- increasing consumer expectations of vehicle safety," said Joachim Poole, OSS chief engineer, TRW Asia Pacific.
TRW supplies the full-range of its OSS products to the Chinese market including airbags, seat belts, steering wheels and safety electronics. The Shanghai-based TRW Asia-Pacific technology center provides comprehensive engineering support to its Chinese manufacturing facilities and its customers. Based on technological expertise and state-of-the-art equipment, the operation is engaged in specific design and simulation development, expert application engineering, and final product testing and validation according to local customer and market needs.
Poole pointed out that the agreement with the National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Motor Vehicle Products Quality (Shanghai) marked the first such collaborative effort between a Chinese national vehicle inspection agency and a multinational automotive supplier in Shanghai. He added, "Through this partnership, we have established another platform to work with Chinese vehicle manufacturers toward a common goal of helping to make safer cars for China and the world."
About TRW
With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 63,800 people in 28 countries. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. TRW has established 12 entities in China including 10 plants manufacturing the complete line of its core products. All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.
TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at http://www.trwauto.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made in this release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the "10-K"), and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2007, and include: the ability of TRW's subsidiaries to succeed in China; production cuts or restructuring by our major customers; work stoppages or other labor issues at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; non-performance by, or insolvency of, our suppliers and customers, which may be exacerbated by recent bankruptcies and other pressures within the automotive industry; the inability of our suppliers to deliver products at the scheduled rate and disruptions arising in connection therewith; interest rate risk arising from our variable rate indebtedness (which constitutes a majority of the company's indebtedness), especially in view of the current climate of rising interest rates; loss of market share by domestic vehicle manufacturers; efforts by our customers to consolidate their supply base; severe inflationary pressures impacting the market for commodities; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; our dependence on our largest customers; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; our substantial leverage; product liability and warranty and recall claims; limitations on flexibility in operating our business contained in our debt agreements; the possibility that our owners' interests will conflict with ours and other risks and uncertainties set forth under "Risk Factors" in the 10-K and in our other SEC filings. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
Source: TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.
Formerly known as the Shanghai Motor Vehicle Inspection Center, the Chinese agency was upgraded to a national third-party testing facility three years ago in response to the growing needs for independent vehicle testing and assessment in the country. The expanded facility resides in the town of Anting, offering ten labs for comprehensive full-vehicle and parts testing, inspection and assessment.
Zhongrong Huang, vice director of the agency, commented, "Our ambition is to build a world-class crash test facility in China. We are very pleased to collaborate with TRW, a global technology leader, in developing our testing capabilities on automotive safety components."
The launch of two Chinese new car assessment programs last year has sparked national interest in the passive safety features of motor vehicles. Crash test results were widely reported and assessment standards received increased scrutiny.
"As an industry leader in automotive safety, TRW has firmly planted itself in China with three occupant safety plants and a world-class engineering facility, poised to assist our Chinese customers in meeting the ever- increasing consumer expectations of vehicle safety," said Joachim Poole, OSS chief engineer, TRW Asia Pacific.
TRW supplies the full-range of its OSS products to the Chinese market including airbags, seat belts, steering wheels and safety electronics. The Shanghai-based TRW Asia-Pacific technology center provides comprehensive engineering support to its Chinese manufacturing facilities and its customers. Based on technological expertise and state-of-the-art equipment, the operation is engaged in specific design and simulation development, expert application engineering, and final product testing and validation according to local customer and market needs.
Poole pointed out that the agreement with the National Center of Supervision and Inspection on Motor Vehicle Products Quality (Shanghai) marked the first such collaborative effort between a Chinese national vehicle inspection agency and a multinational automotive supplier in Shanghai. He added, "Through this partnership, we have established another platform to work with Chinese vehicle manufacturers toward a common goal of helping to make safer cars for China and the world."
About TRW
With 2006 sales of $13.1 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, employs approximately 63,800 people in 28 countries. TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services. TRW has established 12 entities in China including 10 plants manufacturing the complete line of its core products. All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.
TRW Automotive news is available on the internet at http://www.trwauto.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made in this release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in our Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (the "10-K"), and our report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2007, and include: the ability of TRW's subsidiaries to succeed in China; production cuts or restructuring by our major customers; work stoppages or other labor issues at the facilities of our customers or suppliers; non-performance by, or insolvency of, our suppliers and customers, which may be exacerbated by recent bankruptcies and other pressures within the automotive industry; the inability of our suppliers to deliver products at the scheduled rate and disruptions arising in connection therewith; interest rate risk arising from our variable rate indebtedness (which constitutes a majority of the company's indebtedness), especially in view of the current climate of rising interest rates; loss of market share by domestic vehicle manufacturers; efforts by our customers to consolidate their supply base; severe inflationary pressures impacting the market for commodities; escalating pricing pressures from our customers; our dependence on our largest customers; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; our substantial leverage; product liability and warranty and recall claims; limitations on flexibility in operating our business contained in our debt agreements; the possibility that our owners' interests will conflict with ours and other risks and uncertainties set forth under "Risk Factors" in the 10-K and in our other SEC filings. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements.
Source: TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.
e shtunë, 9 qershor 2007
New Video Focuses on Older Driver Issues
Fact or myth? Do older drivers cause more accidents than younger drivers? This can be a sore subject, depending on your age. Equally controversial is the question of whether people should have to stop driving at a certain age. These and other older driver issues are featured in a 36-minute DVD, "Mobility Matters for Older Drivers," produced and released by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
As the Bay Area's population ages, and more senior drivers are on the road, questions concerning their continued driving abilities and alternatives to driving become more critical.
"The number of Bay Area residents 65 and older is expected to increase 84 percent between 2000 and 2020," notes MTC Commissioner Adrienne Tissier, "and the number of people age 85 or older in the region will grow by 108 percent. I hope this video makes people start thinking about how older people can stay mobile and not lose their quality of life if they can no longer drive."
Topics covered in the video include "myths and facts" about older drivers; what happens when a driver is referred to the DMV; a free service that helps seniors "fit" their cars; new, more visible roadway signage; and how families should discuss "giving up the car keys" with older family members. It features experts from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, California State Automobile Association, Caltrans, the American Association of Retired Persons, and more, plus an introduction by former State Senator Quentin Kopp.
The video is based on a Regional Summit on Older Drivers, sponsored by MTC and SamTrans.
To order a free copy of the DVD, email library@mtc.ca.gov or call 510.817.5836. The DVD is available to the public free of charge and also can be viewed on the MTC Web site (http://www.mtc.ca.gov/). MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
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As the Bay Area's population ages, and more senior drivers are on the road, questions concerning their continued driving abilities and alternatives to driving become more critical.
"The number of Bay Area residents 65 and older is expected to increase 84 percent between 2000 and 2020," notes MTC Commissioner Adrienne Tissier, "and the number of people age 85 or older in the region will grow by 108 percent. I hope this video makes people start thinking about how older people can stay mobile and not lose their quality of life if they can no longer drive."
Topics covered in the video include "myths and facts" about older drivers; what happens when a driver is referred to the DMV; a free service that helps seniors "fit" their cars; new, more visible roadway signage; and how families should discuss "giving up the car keys" with older family members. It features experts from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, California State Automobile Association, Caltrans, the American Association of Retired Persons, and more, plus an introduction by former State Senator Quentin Kopp.
The video is based on a Regional Summit on Older Drivers, sponsored by MTC and SamTrans.
To order a free copy of the DVD, email library@mtc.ca.gov or call 510.817.5836. The DVD is available to the public free of charge and also can be viewed on the MTC Web site (http://www.mtc.ca.gov/). MTC is the regional transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.
Source: Metropolitan Transportation Commission
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ATA Urges Motorists Not to Tailgate Trucks
ATA Notes Resurgence of Dangerous Practice Known as 'Drafting'
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is urging automobile drivers to avoid the dangerous practice of tailgating heavy trucks in efforts to increase fuel economy. The nation's largest trucking industry trade group also is advising fleet safety directors to warn their drivers and owner-operators about the resurgence of this dangerous practice among automobile drivers, known as "drafting."
"Drafting" involves driving a car very close behind a truck to use the reduction of wind resistance to reduce the amount of energy needed to propel the auto.
"Few driving behaviors are more dangerous on our highways than drafting," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "Drivers who practice this unsafe behavior are often out of the field of vision of the truck driver and are unable to see around the truck. 'Drafting' is unsafe, illegal and significantly increases the chances of injury and death. This practice compromises the safety of everyone on the nation's highways and must not be considered a viable means of extending fuel mileage."
ATA recently learned that drafting is being promoted by two websites dedicated to "hypermiling" and several recent news articles have described the hazardous fad. Hypermiling is an invented term for achieving high fuel economy by several means, including dangerous ones such as driving partly on the right shoulder, over-inflating tires, coasting with the ignition off and "drafting" behind tractor-trailers. Unfortunately, a segment about drafting shown recently on the Discovery Channel show "Mythbusters" is bound to prompt some drivers to try this stunt, which the show's hosts called "suicidal." ATA is working to educate the public on safe following distances through its Share the Road safety program.
"While drivers everywhere are feeling pinched by the high price of gasoline, safety should never come at the expense of fuel efficiency," said John Hill, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator. "FMCSA works closely with states and industry to educate consumers about large truck safety, and to target passenger vehicles that drive dangerously around commercial vehicles - including extreme tailgating, called 'drafting.' 'Hypermilers,' and others who embrace such reckless tactics, must consider their safety and those with whom they share the road, especially if a truck had to brake suddenly. These highly unsafe driving behaviors must be avoided by all motorists."
Stephen Campbell, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said, "There are far too many crashes involving cars and trucks where following too closely is identified as a contributing factor. If motorists are 'drafting' the truck driver more than likely cannot see them. Enforcement officers are on the lookout for, and will take action on, these unsafe and dangerous driving behaviors by 4-wheelers around trucks."
Source: American Trucking Associations
ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is urging automobile drivers to avoid the dangerous practice of tailgating heavy trucks in efforts to increase fuel economy. The nation's largest trucking industry trade group also is advising fleet safety directors to warn their drivers and owner-operators about the resurgence of this dangerous practice among automobile drivers, known as "drafting."
"Drafting" involves driving a car very close behind a truck to use the reduction of wind resistance to reduce the amount of energy needed to propel the auto.
"Few driving behaviors are more dangerous on our highways than drafting," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "Drivers who practice this unsafe behavior are often out of the field of vision of the truck driver and are unable to see around the truck. 'Drafting' is unsafe, illegal and significantly increases the chances of injury and death. This practice compromises the safety of everyone on the nation's highways and must not be considered a viable means of extending fuel mileage."
ATA recently learned that drafting is being promoted by two websites dedicated to "hypermiling" and several recent news articles have described the hazardous fad. Hypermiling is an invented term for achieving high fuel economy by several means, including dangerous ones such as driving partly on the right shoulder, over-inflating tires, coasting with the ignition off and "drafting" behind tractor-trailers. Unfortunately, a segment about drafting shown recently on the Discovery Channel show "Mythbusters" is bound to prompt some drivers to try this stunt, which the show's hosts called "suicidal." ATA is working to educate the public on safe following distances through its Share the Road safety program.
"While drivers everywhere are feeling pinched by the high price of gasoline, safety should never come at the expense of fuel efficiency," said John Hill, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator. "FMCSA works closely with states and industry to educate consumers about large truck safety, and to target passenger vehicles that drive dangerously around commercial vehicles - including extreme tailgating, called 'drafting.' 'Hypermilers,' and others who embrace such reckless tactics, must consider their safety and those with whom they share the road, especially if a truck had to brake suddenly. These highly unsafe driving behaviors must be avoided by all motorists."
Stephen Campbell, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said, "There are far too many crashes involving cars and trucks where following too closely is identified as a contributing factor. If motorists are 'drafting' the truck driver more than likely cannot see them. Enforcement officers are on the lookout for, and will take action on, these unsafe and dangerous driving behaviors by 4-wheelers around trucks."
Source: American Trucking Associations
MADD Announces Winners of 5th Annual National MADD Media Awards
20 Awards for Outstanding Coverage of Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking Issues: The Santa Fe New Mexican and NBC Today Show Earn MADD's Highest Honors
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced today the 20 winners of its 5th annual national MADD Media Awards program. The 2007 MADD Media Awards, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance and Volkswagen, are in recognition of outstanding media coverage advancing MADD's mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
"The media plays a vital role in educating the public and raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking," says Glynn Birch, MADD national president. "This awards program is MADD's way of thanking the media for its support of MADD's mission."
MADD's top honor -- the Award of Excellence -- goes to NBC Today Show for broadcast media and to The Santa Fe New Mexican in Santa Fe, N.M. for print media. NBC Today Show Contributor and Security Specialist Bill Stanton illustrated the effects of drinking and driving at different blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) while under the supervision of state police on a controlled driving track. The Santa Fe New Mexican published a series of stories after five members of a Las Vegas family were killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way on Interstate 25 outside of Santa Fe last November.
The 2007 MADD Media Awards winners are:
-- Award of Excellence -- Broadcast -- NBC Today Show
-- Award of Excellence -- Print -- The Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe, N.M.
-- National Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- Good Morning America Weekend Edition, ABC News
-- National Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight
-- National Television: Special Programming -- The Party Never Stops, Lifetime Television
-- Local Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, N.M.
-- Local Television: Drunk Driving Issues-Series -- WBKO-TV, Bowling Green, Ky.
-- Local Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- WBRC-TV, Birmingham, Ala.
-- Radio: Drunk Driving Issues -- NewsTalk 1530 KFBK, Sacramento, Calif.
-- Radio: Underage Drinking Issues -- MediaTracks Communications, Des Plaines, Ill.
-- Newspaper: Drunk Driving Issues -- The State, Columbia, S.C.
-- Newspaper: Underage Drinking Issues -- The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C.
-- National Magazine: Drunk Driving Issues -- Wired
-- National Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues -- Teen Vogue
-- Local Magazine: Drunk Driving Issues -- Seattle Magazine
-- Trade Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues -- Scholastic Choices
-- Spanish-Language Media: Broadcast -- Univision 38, Goleta, Calif.
-- Spanish-Language Media: Print -- La Voz de Nuevo Mexico, Santa Fe, N.M.
-- Community Awareness: Programming -- MetroBeat TV, Comcast, Denver Metro Area
-- Community Awareness: Public Service Announcements -- R & R Partners, Salt Lake City, Utah
The 2007 award winners will be honored at a luncheon as part of MADD's National Conference on September 7 in St. Louis, Mo. The MADD Media Awards have been sponsored by Nationwide Insurance for five years and Volkswagen for three years.
"Eliminating drunk driving must start with education," said Bill Windsor, vice president of safety for Nationwide. "Nationwide applauds the media for joining us in this important life saving crusade."
David Geanacopoulos, Director, Industry - Government Relations of Volkswagen of America, Inc. says, "As a proud supporter of MADD, Volkswagen congratulates and thanks this year's Media Award winners for building and sustaining public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. Your work illuminates the path toward concrete actions that save lives every day."
Each year, more than 13,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes and half a million others are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. In 2006, MADD served more than 41,000 victims/survivors of drunk driving. In 2006, MADD launched its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving that includes support for increased enforcement, current and emerging technologies and rallying the public behind the idea of making it impossible one day for a vehicle to be driven by someone who is drunk.
The call for entries for the 2008 MADD Media Awards will be announced this fall. Stories broadcasted or published between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 are eligible to enter the program.
For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/media-awards
MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with approximately 400 offices and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives.
For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/
Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced today the 20 winners of its 5th annual national MADD Media Awards program. The 2007 MADD Media Awards, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance and Volkswagen, are in recognition of outstanding media coverage advancing MADD's mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
"The media plays a vital role in educating the public and raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking," says Glynn Birch, MADD national president. "This awards program is MADD's way of thanking the media for its support of MADD's mission."
MADD's top honor -- the Award of Excellence -- goes to NBC Today Show for broadcast media and to The Santa Fe New Mexican in Santa Fe, N.M. for print media. NBC Today Show Contributor and Security Specialist Bill Stanton illustrated the effects of drinking and driving at different blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) while under the supervision of state police on a controlled driving track. The Santa Fe New Mexican published a series of stories after five members of a Las Vegas family were killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way on Interstate 25 outside of Santa Fe last November.
The 2007 MADD Media Awards winners are:
-- Award of Excellence -- Broadcast -- NBC Today Show
-- Award of Excellence -- Print -- The Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe, N.M.
-- National Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- Good Morning America Weekend Edition, ABC News
-- National Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight
-- National Television: Special Programming -- The Party Never Stops, Lifetime Television
-- Local Television: Drunk Driving Issues -- KRQE-TV, Albuquerque, N.M.
-- Local Television: Drunk Driving Issues-Series -- WBKO-TV, Bowling Green, Ky.
-- Local Television: Underage Drinking Issues -- WBRC-TV, Birmingham, Ala.
-- Radio: Drunk Driving Issues -- NewsTalk 1530 KFBK, Sacramento, Calif.
-- Radio: Underage Drinking Issues -- MediaTracks Communications, Des Plaines, Ill.
-- Newspaper: Drunk Driving Issues -- The State, Columbia, S.C.
-- Newspaper: Underage Drinking Issues -- The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, N.C.
-- National Magazine: Drunk Driving Issues -- Wired
-- National Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues -- Teen Vogue
-- Local Magazine: Drunk Driving Issues -- Seattle Magazine
-- Trade Magazine: Underage Drinking Issues -- Scholastic Choices
-- Spanish-Language Media: Broadcast -- Univision 38, Goleta, Calif.
-- Spanish-Language Media: Print -- La Voz de Nuevo Mexico, Santa Fe, N.M.
-- Community Awareness: Programming -- MetroBeat TV, Comcast, Denver Metro Area
-- Community Awareness: Public Service Announcements -- R & R Partners, Salt Lake City, Utah
The 2007 award winners will be honored at a luncheon as part of MADD's National Conference on September 7 in St. Louis, Mo. The MADD Media Awards have been sponsored by Nationwide Insurance for five years and Volkswagen for three years.
"Eliminating drunk driving must start with education," said Bill Windsor, vice president of safety for Nationwide. "Nationwide applauds the media for joining us in this important life saving crusade."
David Geanacopoulos, Director, Industry - Government Relations of Volkswagen of America, Inc. says, "As a proud supporter of MADD, Volkswagen congratulates and thanks this year's Media Award winners for building and sustaining public awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. Your work illuminates the path toward concrete actions that save lives every day."
Each year, more than 13,000 people are killed in drunk driving crashes and half a million others are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. In 2006, MADD served more than 41,000 victims/survivors of drunk driving. In 2006, MADD launched its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving that includes support for increased enforcement, current and emerging technologies and rallying the public behind the idea of making it impossible one day for a vehicle to be driven by someone who is drunk.
The call for entries for the 2008 MADD Media Awards will be announced this fall. Stories broadcasted or published between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 are eligible to enter the program.
For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/media-awards
MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with approximately 400 offices and 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives.
For more information, visit http://www.madd.org/
Source: Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Summer Is Most Dangerous Time of Year for Unattended Kids in and Around Cars
- First of its Kind Parent Survey Reveals Perceived Risks and Behaviors
- Safety Tips Offered in Both English and Spanish
With the onset of summer, the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) is teaming with XM Satellite Radio, the National WIC Association, local health clinics, automobile dealers, state highway safety offices, as well as others to remind parents to actively supervise their children in and around cars.
Each year hundreds of children suffer injuries or death from vehicles backing out of driveways, being trapped in hot vehicles or in car trunks, being strangled by power windows, in vehicles inadvertently put in motion by children moving the shift lever and similar types of incidents. ACTS is aware of at least 100 of these incidents in the U.S. and Canada this year.
"Active parental and caregiver supervision is the key to saving children's lives and preventing injuries," said ACTS president, Phil Haseltine. "It's important for parents to realize that one out of 10 motor vehicle-related child fatalities occur off the public streets, in places like driveways and parking lots," continued Haseltine. "A common thread in these tragedies is that they almost always involve an unattended or unsupervised child."
ACTS today announced the results of a first of its kind parent survey involving 900 parents of children ages 12 and younger. The survey found that:
-- Most parents perceive the risks to unattended children in and around cars as low.
-- Two thirds of parents thought it unlikely or very unlikely that a child in their neighborhood might die from the heat after being left alone in a car.
-- Less than half (46%) thought it was likely that a child in their neighborhood might be hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
-- 44 percent of parents surveyed have known someone whose child was hit by a car.
-- Nearly 9 out of 10 parents (87%) strongly agreed that parents should do a better job of supervising their children in and around cars.
The survey also showed that most parents are taking the correct actions to protect their children in and around cars:
-- On average, parents normally hold a child's hand in a parking lot until the child is at least 7 1/2 years old.
-- Most parents require their children to be in a safety seat or booster seat until age 6 1/2.
-- Nine out of 10 parents say they have never left a child under five alone in a car.
-- Three out of five parents say the same about a child under 12.
"Our research shows that most parents do a pretty good job of supervising their children," said Haseltine. "But with the onset of summer, kids spend more time outdoors and temperatures rise quickly in enclosed vehicles. Parents and caregivers need to be vigilant and actively supervise children, particularly when they are in or around a motor vehicle."
-- The following tips can help keep children safe in and around motor vehicles:
* Observe - Walk completely around your car before getting in. Know where your children are and teach them to move away from a vehicle when it is started.
* Hold Hands - Most parents hold their child's hand around streets, driveways and parking lots until the child is at least 7 1/2 years old.
* Buckle Up - Set a good example and don't move the car until your children are properly restrained as well.
* Supervise - Nine out of 10 parents say they have never left a child under five alone in a car. But, they agree that children need more supervision.
* Know your choices - New safety technologies can help keep kids safer around cars. Pick the devices that are right for your family and try them before buying to make sure they meet your expectations.
This safety information will be shared with parents across the country through national partnerships with XM Satellite Radio, the National WIC Association, the National Automobile Dealers Association, Safe Kids Worldwide, the Governors Highway Safety Association and locally with Unity Health Care in Washington, DC. These groups, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others will assist in distributing millions of brochures in English and Spanish. XM Satellite Radio will be airing public service announcements on its 21 Instant Traffic & Weather channels (XM 210-230) and its 24-hour Emergency Alert Channel (XM 247).
Safety tips, a more detailed Parents Report and other information will be available in both English and Spanish on ACTS new dedicated website: http://www.safetyfeature.org/
ACTS is a nonprofit organization that educates the public and policymakers about traffic safety issues, particularly those associated with occupant restraint systems and other vehicle technologies. ACTS develops educational materials, sponsors research and conducts symposia on a variety of highway safety topics. ACTS' members include DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Ford Motor Company; General Motors Corporation; Mazda North American Operations; Nissan North America, Inc.; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Volkswagen of America, Inc. and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.
Source: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
- Safety Tips Offered in Both English and Spanish
With the onset of summer, the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS) is teaming with XM Satellite Radio, the National WIC Association, local health clinics, automobile dealers, state highway safety offices, as well as others to remind parents to actively supervise their children in and around cars.
Each year hundreds of children suffer injuries or death from vehicles backing out of driveways, being trapped in hot vehicles or in car trunks, being strangled by power windows, in vehicles inadvertently put in motion by children moving the shift lever and similar types of incidents. ACTS is aware of at least 100 of these incidents in the U.S. and Canada this year.
"Active parental and caregiver supervision is the key to saving children's lives and preventing injuries," said ACTS president, Phil Haseltine. "It's important for parents to realize that one out of 10 motor vehicle-related child fatalities occur off the public streets, in places like driveways and parking lots," continued Haseltine. "A common thread in these tragedies is that they almost always involve an unattended or unsupervised child."
ACTS today announced the results of a first of its kind parent survey involving 900 parents of children ages 12 and younger. The survey found that:
-- Most parents perceive the risks to unattended children in and around cars as low.
-- Two thirds of parents thought it unlikely or very unlikely that a child in their neighborhood might die from the heat after being left alone in a car.
-- Less than half (46%) thought it was likely that a child in their neighborhood might be hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
-- 44 percent of parents surveyed have known someone whose child was hit by a car.
-- Nearly 9 out of 10 parents (87%) strongly agreed that parents should do a better job of supervising their children in and around cars.
The survey also showed that most parents are taking the correct actions to protect their children in and around cars:
-- On average, parents normally hold a child's hand in a parking lot until the child is at least 7 1/2 years old.
-- Most parents require their children to be in a safety seat or booster seat until age 6 1/2.
-- Nine out of 10 parents say they have never left a child under five alone in a car.
-- Three out of five parents say the same about a child under 12.
"Our research shows that most parents do a pretty good job of supervising their children," said Haseltine. "But with the onset of summer, kids spend more time outdoors and temperatures rise quickly in enclosed vehicles. Parents and caregivers need to be vigilant and actively supervise children, particularly when they are in or around a motor vehicle."
-- The following tips can help keep children safe in and around motor vehicles:
* Observe - Walk completely around your car before getting in. Know where your children are and teach them to move away from a vehicle when it is started.
* Hold Hands - Most parents hold their child's hand around streets, driveways and parking lots until the child is at least 7 1/2 years old.
* Buckle Up - Set a good example and don't move the car until your children are properly restrained as well.
* Supervise - Nine out of 10 parents say they have never left a child under five alone in a car. But, they agree that children need more supervision.
* Know your choices - New safety technologies can help keep kids safer around cars. Pick the devices that are right for your family and try them before buying to make sure they meet your expectations.
This safety information will be shared with parents across the country through national partnerships with XM Satellite Radio, the National WIC Association, the National Automobile Dealers Association, Safe Kids Worldwide, the Governors Highway Safety Association and locally with Unity Health Care in Washington, DC. These groups, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others will assist in distributing millions of brochures in English and Spanish. XM Satellite Radio will be airing public service announcements on its 21 Instant Traffic & Weather channels (XM 210-230) and its 24-hour Emergency Alert Channel (XM 247).
Safety tips, a more detailed Parents Report and other information will be available in both English and Spanish on ACTS new dedicated website: http://www.safetyfeature.org/
ACTS is a nonprofit organization that educates the public and policymakers about traffic safety issues, particularly those associated with occupant restraint systems and other vehicle technologies. ACTS develops educational materials, sponsors research and conducts symposia on a variety of highway safety topics. ACTS' members include DaimlerChrysler Corporation; Ford Motor Company; General Motors Corporation; Mazda North American Operations; Nissan North America, Inc.; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Volkswagen of America, Inc. and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.
Source: Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety
e martë, 22 maj 2007
This Memorial Day Teens Can Turn to Web for Safe Driving Tips to Survive 'Deadliest Driving Season'
The Memorial Day weekend kicks off the beginning of summer days of fun, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), it also kicks off the deadliest driving season of the year.
On average, 269 more people die in traffic fatalities each month during the summer than in any other season of the year. Of the 25 deadliest days on American roads over the past five years, 20 of them fell during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Even more troubling is the fact that motor vehicle crashes are now the leading cause of death for 15-to-20-year-olds in America, with more than 7,000 teens killed annually in vehicle accidents. NHTSA also reports that one in five 16-year-old drivers are involved in collisions during their first year of driving.
To help minimize the number of accidents involving teens, Ford Motor Company is working to help teens become better drivers by turning to the Web. Ford is now offering safe driving tips in video format on popular Web sites like www.youtube.com, www.yahoo.com, in addition to Ford's interactive teen safe driving Web site, www.drivingskillsforlife.com. New tips will be posted each week through early June.
The short video spots provide a variety of driving tips for teens and adults delivered by professional instructors from Ford's Driving Skills for Life program. The videos show teens what to do if passenger-side wheels leave the roadway, how to recover in a skid, how to sit properly for safe driving, how to anticipate danger, and when it's important to slow down.
"We're turning to the Web because that's where teens live, and where they get much of their information," said Sue Cischke, senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "We want the video spots to get teens thinking about safe driving, and we think the tips can be valuable for adults, as well."
Cischke said the best way for teens to learn safe driving is to get behind the wheel with an experienced driver -- a driving instructor or parent -- who can share their knowledge first hand.
"The best thing both teens and adults can do to remain safe is to buckle up, and avoid alcohol while driving. Research into driving related injuries and fatalities clearly demonstrates that," Cischke said. "We're proud that our safe driving program has helped many teens return home safely, and we want to spread our safe driving message any way we can."
Research provided by NHTSA indicates that one of the biggest reasons for high teen driver and passenger fatalities is low safety belt use among teens. More than 60 percent of occupants killed in vehicles driven by teens were not wearing safety belts. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent -- and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans. Yet nearly one in five Americans still fail to regularly wear their safety belts.
Ford's Driving Skills for Life program emphasizes belt use and helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management. Ford will continue to hold several hands-on driving safety events across the United States, and provide free educational materials to high schools around the country.
Established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company and the Governors Highway Safety Association, Driving Skills for Life provides effective learning tools, including the comprehensive interactive Web site that rewards students for taking the initiative to learn safe driving techniques. In addition, educator materials are available at no charge in both English and Spanish, allowing instruction of the program in school or community settings. Driving Skills for Life has staged hands-on driving events that have reached nearly 6,000 students. The program also combines learning materials for use by students, parents, educators, and instructors for use at home, in schools and community settings.
To view web video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid900881707
Source: Ford Motor Company
On average, 269 more people die in traffic fatalities each month during the summer than in any other season of the year. Of the 25 deadliest days on American roads over the past five years, 20 of them fell during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Even more troubling is the fact that motor vehicle crashes are now the leading cause of death for 15-to-20-year-olds in America, with more than 7,000 teens killed annually in vehicle accidents. NHTSA also reports that one in five 16-year-old drivers are involved in collisions during their first year of driving.
To help minimize the number of accidents involving teens, Ford Motor Company is working to help teens become better drivers by turning to the Web. Ford is now offering safe driving tips in video format on popular Web sites like www.youtube.com, www.yahoo.com, in addition to Ford's interactive teen safe driving Web site, www.drivingskillsforlife.com. New tips will be posted each week through early June.
The short video spots provide a variety of driving tips for teens and adults delivered by professional instructors from Ford's Driving Skills for Life program. The videos show teens what to do if passenger-side wheels leave the roadway, how to recover in a skid, how to sit properly for safe driving, how to anticipate danger, and when it's important to slow down.
"We're turning to the Web because that's where teens live, and where they get much of their information," said Sue Cischke, senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "We want the video spots to get teens thinking about safe driving, and we think the tips can be valuable for adults, as well."
Cischke said the best way for teens to learn safe driving is to get behind the wheel with an experienced driver -- a driving instructor or parent -- who can share their knowledge first hand.
"The best thing both teens and adults can do to remain safe is to buckle up, and avoid alcohol while driving. Research into driving related injuries and fatalities clearly demonstrates that," Cischke said. "We're proud that our safe driving program has helped many teens return home safely, and we want to spread our safe driving message any way we can."
Research provided by NHTSA indicates that one of the biggest reasons for high teen driver and passenger fatalities is low safety belt use among teens. More than 60 percent of occupants killed in vehicles driven by teens were not wearing safety belts. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent -- and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans. Yet nearly one in five Americans still fail to regularly wear their safety belts.
Ford's Driving Skills for Life program emphasizes belt use and helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management. Ford will continue to hold several hands-on driving safety events across the United States, and provide free educational materials to high schools around the country.
Established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company and the Governors Highway Safety Association, Driving Skills for Life provides effective learning tools, including the comprehensive interactive Web site that rewards students for taking the initiative to learn safe driving techniques. In addition, educator materials are available at no charge in both English and Spanish, allowing instruction of the program in school or community settings. Driving Skills for Life has staged hands-on driving events that have reached nearly 6,000 students. The program also combines learning materials for use by students, parents, educators, and instructors for use at home, in schools and community settings.
To view web video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid900881707
Source: Ford Motor Company
e premte, 11 maj 2007
Fall Hazard Prompts NHTSA, CPSC and Evenflo to Announce Recall of Embrace Infant Car Seat/Carriers
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in cooperation with Evenflo Company Inc., today announced a recall of the following consumer product.
- Name of Product: Evenflo Embrace(TM) Infant Car Seat/Carriers
- Units: About 450,000
- Manufacturer: Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio
Hazard: When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to rotate forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 679 reports of the handle on the car seat/carriers unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 160 injuries to children. These reports include a skull fracture, two concussions, cuts, scrapes and bruises.
Description: The recall involves Evenflo Embrace(TM) Infant Car Seat/Carriers made before April 8, 2006. The recalled car seat/carriers have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598 or 599. The model number and production date information can be found on a white label on the bottom of the carrier and on the top of the convenience base. Models beginning with "5" are units sold with the travel system (compatible stroller). "Evenflo" is on the carrying handle and car seat base. Embrace(TM) infant car seat/carriers made on or after April 8, 2006 are not included in this recall.
Sold at: Department and juvenile products stores nationwide sold the car seat/carriers from December 2004 through September 2006 for between $70 and $100 when sold alone and between $140 and $200 when sold with a compatible stroller.
Manufactured in: United States and China
Remedy: Consumers should not use the handle until the repair kit has been installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when secured in a vehicle. Contact Evenflo to receive a free repair kit that strengthens the handle latch. Recall notice will be sent to all registered owners of the recalled product. The recalled units should not be returned to the retailer.
Customer Contact: For additional information, contact Evenflo at (800) 490-7497 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the recall Web site at http://www.embracehandle.com/
Evenflo Recall Hotline: (800) 490-7497
NHTSA Recall Hotline: (888) 327-4236
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http//:www.cpsc.gov/talk.html
Further recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Name of Product: Evenflo Embrace(TM) Infant Car Seat/Carriers
- Units: About 450,000
- Manufacturer: Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio
Hazard: When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to rotate forward. When this happens, an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: Evenflo has received 679 reports of the handle on the car seat/carriers unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 160 injuries to children. These reports include a skull fracture, two concussions, cuts, scrapes and bruises.
Description: The recall involves Evenflo Embrace(TM) Infant Car Seat/Carriers made before April 8, 2006. The recalled car seat/carriers have model numbers beginning with 317, 320, 397, 398, 540, 548, 549, 550, 556, 597, 598 or 599. The model number and production date information can be found on a white label on the bottom of the carrier and on the top of the convenience base. Models beginning with "5" are units sold with the travel system (compatible stroller). "Evenflo" is on the carrying handle and car seat base. Embrace(TM) infant car seat/carriers made on or after April 8, 2006 are not included in this recall.
Sold at: Department and juvenile products stores nationwide sold the car seat/carriers from December 2004 through September 2006 for between $70 and $100 when sold alone and between $140 and $200 when sold with a compatible stroller.
Manufactured in: United States and China
Remedy: Consumers should not use the handle until the repair kit has been installed. The product can continue to be used as a car seat when secured in a vehicle. Contact Evenflo to receive a free repair kit that strengthens the handle latch. Recall notice will be sent to all registered owners of the recalled product. The recalled units should not be returned to the retailer.
Customer Contact: For additional information, contact Evenflo at (800) 490-7497 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the recall Web site at http://www.embracehandle.com/
Evenflo Recall Hotline: (800) 490-7497
NHTSA Recall Hotline: (888) 327-4236
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http//:www.cpsc.gov/talk.html
Further recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
e enjte, 10 maj 2007
AAA Michigan Program Goal is Mature Drivers' Safety
CarFit comes to Michigan cities in May/June
AAA Michigan is implementing the first in-car safety program to help reduce the number of older Americans injured in car crashes by ensuring a senior's proper fit in the vehicle. The free program, called CarFit(R), is designed to ensure older Americans have properly adjusted their vehicles to help reduce senior crashes and the death and injuries that can result.
Drivers age 65 and older can receive a quick, but comprehensive check of how well they "fit" with their vehicle. A series of CarFit(R) events are scheduled throughout the state, beginning Friday, May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the AAA branch office in Grand Rapids.
CarFit(R) uses a 12-point checklist to ensure that senior drivers are sitting properly in their vehicles and that seats, seatbelts, mirrors, steering wheels, head restraints, gas/brake pedals and other controls are positioned properly for each driver. A proper fit can help improve seniors' visibility of the roadway and control of their vehicle.
"Although seniors are often the safest drivers when it comes to wearing their seatbelts, and they are less likely to speed or drink and drive, age- related fragility makes them more likely to be injured when a crash does occur," said Jack Peet, Manager, AAA Community Safety Services. "Older Americans need to take extra care to ensure their cars are properly adjusted for them."
The American Society on Aging developed CarFit(R) in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association after more than two years of research and development. A pilot evaluation found the program is strongly needed. Early data show that more than one-third of seniors had at least one safety issue needing to be addressed.
The U.S. has more than 28 million drivers 65 and older on the roads today and more than 191,000 were injured in crashes in 2005, according to statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. By the year 2020 there will be more than 40 million senior drivers in the U.S.
Source: AAA Michigan
AAA Michigan is implementing the first in-car safety program to help reduce the number of older Americans injured in car crashes by ensuring a senior's proper fit in the vehicle. The free program, called CarFit(R), is designed to ensure older Americans have properly adjusted their vehicles to help reduce senior crashes and the death and injuries that can result.
Drivers age 65 and older can receive a quick, but comprehensive check of how well they "fit" with their vehicle. A series of CarFit(R) events are scheduled throughout the state, beginning Friday, May 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the AAA branch office in Grand Rapids.
CarFit(R) uses a 12-point checklist to ensure that senior drivers are sitting properly in their vehicles and that seats, seatbelts, mirrors, steering wheels, head restraints, gas/brake pedals and other controls are positioned properly for each driver. A proper fit can help improve seniors' visibility of the roadway and control of their vehicle.
"Although seniors are often the safest drivers when it comes to wearing their seatbelts, and they are less likely to speed or drink and drive, age- related fragility makes them more likely to be injured when a crash does occur," said Jack Peet, Manager, AAA Community Safety Services. "Older Americans need to take extra care to ensure their cars are properly adjusted for them."
AAA Michigan's CarFit(R) schedule through June 2007:
(All events are from 1-4 p.m. and are by appointment only;
call 1-800-646-4222 to schedule a time.)
Friday, May 11 Grand Rapids North 4650 Plainfield Ave., NE
Friday, May 18 Saginaw 3785 Bay Road
Tuesday, May 22 Marquette 3020 U.S. 41 West
Wednesday, May 23 Lansing 2829 E. Grand River Ave.
Wednesday, May 23 Alpena 2539 US-23 South
Friday, June 1 Waterford 5140 Highland Road
Friday, June 8 Brighton 8350 W. Grand River Ave.
Friday, June 15 Flint G-5009 W. Bristol Road
Friday, June 22 Traverse City 940 US-31 North
The American Society on Aging developed CarFit(R) in collaboration with AAA, AARP, and the American Occupational Therapy Association after more than two years of research and development. A pilot evaluation found the program is strongly needed. Early data show that more than one-third of seniors had at least one safety issue needing to be addressed.
The U.S. has more than 28 million drivers 65 and older on the roads today and more than 191,000 were injured in crashes in 2005, according to statistics from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. By the year 2020 there will be more than 40 million senior drivers in the U.S.
Source: AAA Michigan
e mërkurë, 9 maj 2007
SAE International Automotive Safety Book Updated
The latest SAE International publication on automotive safety stands as the first and only reference guide that covers both accident avoidance and mitigation of injuries.
Automotive Safety Handbook, Second Edition examines the state-of-the-art in passenger car vehicle safety, focusing on relationships among the occupant, the vehicle and the restraint system. Co-authored by Ulrich Seiffert and Lothar Wech, this book serves as a resource for experts and students interested in safety engineering and vehicle safety.
Reflecting the latest changes in technology and legislation, the second edition provides updated information on the following:
-- accident avoidance
-- pedestrian protection
-- vehicle compatibility
Other subjects covered include:
-- occupant protection
-- biomechanics
-- vehicle body and interior design
-- accident simulation tests
The list price of this 306-page book is $99.95; SAE International members can purchase it for $79.96.
Seiffert is the acting chairman of WiTech Engineering GmbH, a speaker for the Center of Traffic Management, and a lecturer at the Technical University of Braunschweig. Previously, he was a member of the research and development board for Volkswagen AG in Germany. He holds a number of patents in safety and has received several awards for his work in the field of safety engineering. An author of many books, Seiffert also has published more than 300 technical papers.
Wech is the general manager of TUV SUD Automotive GmbH, TUV Suddeutschland Group. He is an expert on passive vehicle safety and has served as chairman of the Crash-Tech Conferences for nearly 15 years.
Source: SAE International
Automotive Safety Handbook, Second Edition examines the state-of-the-art in passenger car vehicle safety, focusing on relationships among the occupant, the vehicle and the restraint system. Co-authored by Ulrich Seiffert and Lothar Wech, this book serves as a resource for experts and students interested in safety engineering and vehicle safety.
Reflecting the latest changes in technology and legislation, the second edition provides updated information on the following:
-- accident avoidance
-- pedestrian protection
-- vehicle compatibility
Other subjects covered include:
-- occupant protection
-- biomechanics
-- vehicle body and interior design
-- accident simulation tests
The list price of this 306-page book is $99.95; SAE International members can purchase it for $79.96.
Seiffert is the acting chairman of WiTech Engineering GmbH, a speaker for the Center of Traffic Management, and a lecturer at the Technical University of Braunschweig. Previously, he was a member of the research and development board for Volkswagen AG in Germany. He holds a number of patents in safety and has received several awards for his work in the field of safety engineering. An author of many books, Seiffert also has published more than 300 technical papers.
Wech is the general manager of TUV SUD Automotive GmbH, TUV Suddeutschland Group. He is an expert on passive vehicle safety and has served as chairman of the Crash-Tech Conferences for nearly 15 years.
Source: SAE International
Euro NCAP: For Safer Cars
Over ten years ago, Euro NCAP presented its first ever results from vehicle crash testing. Since then, Euro NCAP’s distinctive black and yellow logo has decorated manufacturers marketing campaigns in television, magazines and newspapers, as a symbol of car safety. Euro NCAP will continue this strong association of trust by maintaining the key elements and colours of its former logo, with modern adaptations for its increased use.
Today, Euro NCAP is also introducing new logos for all its ratings. This will ensure that consumers are quickly able to verify the scores of any vehicle in the three protection ratings: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Pedestrian. Back in February 1997, manufacturers claimed that the assessment criteria were so severe that no car could achieve four stars for adult occupant protection. Yet so far in 2007, only one car out of eight has achieved fewer than four stars in this rating. Euro NCAP’s assessment criteria has not lessened in its severity, manufacturers are just taking safety more seriously.
Euro NCAP’s Secretary General Adrian Hobbs said, ‘I am happy that manufacturers are now achieving four or more stars in our adult occupant rating, but am continually disappointed that they are still not reaching the highest scores in the pedestrian rating. I am hoping that by introducing these new logos for our ratings that we will see increased performance in this crucial area of car safety.’
Today, Euro NCAP’s new and improved website will also go on-line. This website will offer greater possibility in comparing the results of crash tests of vehicles in the various categories. Website users will be able to view video clips of the crash tests of vehicles they are researching to understand their performance. Euro NCAP will also offer advice on various subjects concerned with car safety.
Euro NCAP Secretary General, Adrian Hobbs said ‘I believe that the introduction of Euro NCAP’s new website will revolutionise the way that we display the results of our crash tests. I also hope it will really assist consumers in choosing and buying a safer vehicle.’
Euro NCAP’s new visual identity and website is launched today at the Bridgestone Testing Ground near Rome. Euro NCAP is also releasing the results of our Europe-wide ESC fitment survey, which is presented as part of the Choose ESC! Campaign.
Euro NCAP’s commitment to consumers ensures that test results are released as soon as possible. Keep checking our website for details of forthcoming results.
For further information on our new guidelines please contact: Cordelia Wilson, Communications Manager +32 2 4007746 or E-mail.
Read more about Euro NCAP Guidelines: http://www.euroncap.com/guidelines.aspx
Notes:
1. With the introduction some time ago of the Child Occupant Protection rating it is important to refer to the Adult Occupant Protection rating correctly. In the past, this has been referred to as the “Overall” or “Occupant” rating. Neither of these is now satisfactory.
2. The front impact test is conducted at 64km/h (40mph) into an offset deformable barrier, the side impact test 50km/h (30mph), the pole test at 29km/h (18mph) and the pedestrian tests at 40km/h (25mph).
3. Comparison between Size Categories: It is essential that no attempt is made to compare the ratings between cars in different segments or mass groups. The frontal crash test aims to measure the performance of the car impacting another car of similar mass. There is no capability to determine what would happen if cars of widely different masses impact each other. It is not primarily the mass difference that has the effect, but the effect that mass has on the structural stiffness combined with the relative height of the structures from the ground.
Source: Euro NCAP
Today, Euro NCAP is also introducing new logos for all its ratings. This will ensure that consumers are quickly able to verify the scores of any vehicle in the three protection ratings: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant and Pedestrian. Back in February 1997, manufacturers claimed that the assessment criteria were so severe that no car could achieve four stars for adult occupant protection. Yet so far in 2007, only one car out of eight has achieved fewer than four stars in this rating. Euro NCAP’s assessment criteria has not lessened in its severity, manufacturers are just taking safety more seriously.
Euro NCAP’s Secretary General Adrian Hobbs said, ‘I am happy that manufacturers are now achieving four or more stars in our adult occupant rating, but am continually disappointed that they are still not reaching the highest scores in the pedestrian rating. I am hoping that by introducing these new logos for our ratings that we will see increased performance in this crucial area of car safety.’
Today, Euro NCAP’s new and improved website will also go on-line. This website will offer greater possibility in comparing the results of crash tests of vehicles in the various categories. Website users will be able to view video clips of the crash tests of vehicles they are researching to understand their performance. Euro NCAP will also offer advice on various subjects concerned with car safety.
Euro NCAP Secretary General, Adrian Hobbs said ‘I believe that the introduction of Euro NCAP’s new website will revolutionise the way that we display the results of our crash tests. I also hope it will really assist consumers in choosing and buying a safer vehicle.’
Euro NCAP’s new visual identity and website is launched today at the Bridgestone Testing Ground near Rome. Euro NCAP is also releasing the results of our Europe-wide ESC fitment survey, which is presented as part of the Choose ESC! Campaign.
Euro NCAP’s commitment to consumers ensures that test results are released as soon as possible. Keep checking our website for details of forthcoming results.
For further information on our new guidelines please contact: Cordelia Wilson, Communications Manager +32 2 4007746 or E-mail.
Read more about Euro NCAP Guidelines: http://www.euroncap.com/guidelines.aspx
Notes:
1. With the introduction some time ago of the Child Occupant Protection rating it is important to refer to the Adult Occupant Protection rating correctly. In the past, this has been referred to as the “Overall” or “Occupant” rating. Neither of these is now satisfactory.
2. The front impact test is conducted at 64km/h (40mph) into an offset deformable barrier, the side impact test 50km/h (30mph), the pole test at 29km/h (18mph) and the pedestrian tests at 40km/h (25mph).
3. Comparison between Size Categories: It is essential that no attempt is made to compare the ratings between cars in different segments or mass groups. The frontal crash test aims to measure the performance of the car impacting another car of similar mass. There is no capability to determine what would happen if cars of widely different masses impact each other. It is not primarily the mass difference that has the effect, but the effect that mass has on the structural stiffness combined with the relative height of the structures from the ground.
Source: Euro NCAP
e shtunë, 28 prill 2007
Before You Make A Purchase, Do Some Safety Checks
The most essential thing in this world is life and to protect it, one should put it in his topmost priority. This is also true in choosing cars. A potential car buyer should not be confined in a box that only offers elegance and comfort; he must go beyond that demarcation.
To help purchasers make the right purchasing decision on his next car, safety features should not be overlooked. Crash test results, airbags, child seats, auto systems and more are to be carefully measured. There are several factors in evaluating the overall safety of the car. These factors include its performance in an emergency-handling situation to protect car occupants.
In comparing safety potentials of vehicles, one should also consider appropriate variables. Do some safety checks on these variables to ensure optimum safety capabilities. One significant variable is the Insurance-industry crash-test rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a research group, is aimed at conducting its own series of crash tests to assess the car’s safety features. In conducting its frontal-offset crash, a vehicle is run at 40 mph into a deformable barrier. Instead of engaging the whole width of the car's front end, the barrier covers just the 40 percent of the car directly in front of the driver.
The IIHS uses a deformable barrier in doing the frontal-offset crash test. It more closely simulates a typical form of fatal crash – the car-to-car, driver's-side-to-driver's-side collision. Such crash test emphasizes the structural durability and ability of the car to protect the area around the driver without collapsing. IIHS rates cars as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. Earlier the group has formulated its own side-impact tests that simulate a vehicle being struck in the side at 31 mph by a vehicle with the height and weight of a conventional pickup or sport utility vehicle. The test is said to be more severe than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) side-crash test.
Another safety variable is the NHTSA’s crash rating. The government agency conducts two types of crash tests – the side impact and the full frontal. The highest vehicle rating is five-star with fewer stars indicating greater probability of serious injury.
Both IIHS and NHTSA crash results are only comparable to vehicles within similar weight class. If the car’s weight is different, the results could vary.
Other safety variables include antilock brake system (ABS), airbags, seat-belts and head restraints. ABS prevents wheels from locking up during a hard stop, provides shorter stops, helps keep the vehicle straight, and allows the driver to maneuver during a panic stop. Air bags, on the other hand, are mandatory in most states. But it is worth checking what kind of airbags a car has. Seatbelts are essential. The most efficient so far is the three-point lap-and-shoulder belts. In addition, some automakers equip their vehicles with safety-belt pretensioners and force limiters. Head restraints, conversely, are essential for protecting neck against possible injuries.
Child safety is another important variable. The compatibility of the car’s seat and the child seat should be determined to secure a snug fit. Accident avoidance features should also be noted. Consider braking, acceleration, visibility, seat comfort, driving position to ensure a safe ride. Features like the electronic stability control (ESC) and rollover resistance are also significant aspects to ponder on. But the common denominator is to be secure about the quality of auto parts. The
Volvo ignition coil along with other parts accessories should be maintained and repaired when called for.
By: Glady Reign
To help purchasers make the right purchasing decision on his next car, safety features should not be overlooked. Crash test results, airbags, child seats, auto systems and more are to be carefully measured. There are several factors in evaluating the overall safety of the car. These factors include its performance in an emergency-handling situation to protect car occupants.
In comparing safety potentials of vehicles, one should also consider appropriate variables. Do some safety checks on these variables to ensure optimum safety capabilities. One significant variable is the Insurance-industry crash-test rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a research group, is aimed at conducting its own series of crash tests to assess the car’s safety features. In conducting its frontal-offset crash, a vehicle is run at 40 mph into a deformable barrier. Instead of engaging the whole width of the car's front end, the barrier covers just the 40 percent of the car directly in front of the driver.
The IIHS uses a deformable barrier in doing the frontal-offset crash test. It more closely simulates a typical form of fatal crash – the car-to-car, driver's-side-to-driver's-side collision. Such crash test emphasizes the structural durability and ability of the car to protect the area around the driver without collapsing. IIHS rates cars as Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. Earlier the group has formulated its own side-impact tests that simulate a vehicle being struck in the side at 31 mph by a vehicle with the height and weight of a conventional pickup or sport utility vehicle. The test is said to be more severe than the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) side-crash test.
Another safety variable is the NHTSA’s crash rating. The government agency conducts two types of crash tests – the side impact and the full frontal. The highest vehicle rating is five-star with fewer stars indicating greater probability of serious injury.
Both IIHS and NHTSA crash results are only comparable to vehicles within similar weight class. If the car’s weight is different, the results could vary.
Other safety variables include antilock brake system (ABS), airbags, seat-belts and head restraints. ABS prevents wheels from locking up during a hard stop, provides shorter stops, helps keep the vehicle straight, and allows the driver to maneuver during a panic stop. Air bags, on the other hand, are mandatory in most states. But it is worth checking what kind of airbags a car has. Seatbelts are essential. The most efficient so far is the three-point lap-and-shoulder belts. In addition, some automakers equip their vehicles with safety-belt pretensioners and force limiters. Head restraints, conversely, are essential for protecting neck against possible injuries.
Child safety is another important variable. The compatibility of the car’s seat and the child seat should be determined to secure a snug fit. Accident avoidance features should also be noted. Consider braking, acceleration, visibility, seat comfort, driving position to ensure a safe ride. Features like the electronic stability control (ESC) and rollover resistance are also significant aspects to ponder on. But the common denominator is to be secure about the quality of auto parts. The
Volvo ignition coil along with other parts accessories should be maintained and repaired when called for.
By: Glady Reign
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