Autoblog

NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

After a new analysis of 2011's traffic fatality numbers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were even fewer deaths than previously reported: 32,367 are reported to have died on the road last year, a 1.9-percent drop compared to 2010. Previously the drop had been reported as 1.7 percent. Even more eye-popping, that number is down 26 percent compared to the number of deaths in 2005, and 2011 saw the the lowest number of fatalities since 1949.

We did drive less last year, but mileage decreased by only 1.2 percent so it can't account for all of the difference. On top of that, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles was 1.10, the lowest number ever reported. Looking more closely, there were more motorcyclist, pedestrian, cyclist and large-truck occupant deaths, and accidents attributed to distraction claimed more lives in 2011 than 2010. But drunk driving deaths and deaths in passenger cars and light trucks both declined.

The adjustment will make 2012's numbers go even further in the wrong direction. In the first quarter of this year road fatalities were up 13.5 percent compared to Q1 2011; the half-year number had come down but was still up nine percent. That's the largest half-year increase since such data started being gathered. You can read the NHTSA press release below with more information on last year's numbers.

Continue reading NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012

NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Traffic fatalities see surprise 13.5% jump in 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

Just as safety authorities were lauding the decrease in automobile driver fatalities and lamenting the unchanged motorcycle rider fatalities for 2011, we get news that traffic deaths have risen overall in Q1 of this year by a whopping 13.5 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts traffic fatalities at 7,360 people, a rise from 6,720 in the same period last year and representing a jump from 0.98 deaths to 1.10 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The National Safety Council has even higher numbers, declaring there were 8,170 deaths the first three months of this year compared to 7,270 last year.

No one is yet sure of the reason for the jump. A portion of the blame has been put on the warmer-than-usual winter that had led to more people driving. Overall mileage was down in 2011 compared to 2010 by 1.2 percent or 35.7 billion miles. But total driven miles of Q1 this year increased just 1.4 percent. This year's number is even higher than the Q1 number from 2010, when 6,690 traffic deaths were reported by the NHTSA, yet it's still less than every year from 2005-2009. The improving economy has also been cited as a factor.

Importantly, though, NHTSA said that due to special factors the fatality rate so far this year "should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."

Traffic fatalities see surprise 13.5% jump in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Latest reason for teen crashes? Peer pressure

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

A new study from the water-is-still-wet research department has found that teens may have been the victims of peer pressure just before a crash. The studies were crafted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm. The first study surveyed 198 teens and found that those who were more likely to have friends pile into a vehicle with them were also apt to call themselves "thrill seekers." Those teens also said they didn't want their parents to set rules or keep an eye on their comings and goings. In addition, they were less likely to perceive the risks associated with driving in general.

The second study, meanwhile, analyzed information from 677 teens who were involved in serious crashes while behind the wheel. As it turns out, both male and female drivers were more likely to be distracted just before the incident, with 71 percent of males saying they were distracted by their passengers. The study found 47 percent of female teens admitted the same. The study also found teen males with passengers were six times more likely to perform an illegal maneuver and twice as likely to drive aggressively before a crash compared to their counterparts driving alone.

While it's no secret that teens with passengers are more likely get into an incident, the two studies help shed some light on why that is.

Latest reason for teen crashes? Peer pressure originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

West Virginia traffic accidents rise after NASCAR races

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

West Virginia has more NASCAR fans per capita than any other state in the nation.

Fitting, then, that The Mountain State was chosen by the Journal of Applied Social Psychology for a study on what connection, if any, exists between watching crash-filled races on television and how viewers then drive in the real world.

The study's conclusion? Five days after a televised NASCAR race, aggressive driving-related accidents in West Virginia, a state with no NASCAR tracks of its own, rose significantly, with over 23 accidents recorded versus 19 on other days, according to The Wall Street Journal, reporting on the findings.

The study, which covered years 2003 to 2006, noted that bad weather had an effect on the number of wrecks, but maintains that the 156 televised NASCAR events in that time span also correlated with an uptick in crashes.

West Virginia traffic accidents rise after NASCAR races originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vintage crash compilation shows how far racing has come

Aaron Richardson — Sun, 22 May 2011 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Videos, Racing

Killed Myself When I Was Young - Click above to view videos after the jump

This compilation of racing crashes in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s is a jarring reminder of when auto racing really was a life-or-death venture. Put simply, if you drove a race car during this period, you were as likely to be killed as you were to retire.

Thanks to ever-increasing speeds and no regard for driver and spectator safety, it was common for races to turn deadly. Because of the sacrifices these drivers made, racers, teams and sanctioning bodies have since come together to make racing safer than ever.

If "Killed Myself When I Was Young" interests you, check out the hour-long YouTube video "Grand Prix: The Killer Years," detailing the fight for even basic safety measures in Formula 1. Be advised that neither video is for the faint of heart; both are embedded after the jump.

Continue reading Vintage crash compilation shows how far racing has come

Vintage crash compilation shows how far racing has come originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 22 May 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Auto journalist's 16-year old son crashes Porsche 911 Turbo - in his garage

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Porsche, Canada

We'll admit it - one of the best parts about being an auto journalist is the ability to spend time with many different cars, most of which are in our possession for a week at a time. And while the automakers trust us to be extremely careful and avoid damage at all costs, sometimes the unavoidable happens. Usually it's a chipped windshield or a bit of curb rash, and even that's enough to make us wince and break out the apology pen. Peter Cheney, a writer for Canada's The Globe and Mail, had one such experience lately, but he wasn't behind the wheel. In fact, he wasn't even in the car.

We're very accustomed to the idea of friends and family members wanting to take a closer look at the cars we're testing, and when Cheney's 16-year-old son wanted to snag a closer look inside the Porsche 911 Turbo his dad was driving that night, Cheney thought nothing of it. That is, until his son came tearing back into the house, a look of panic in his eyes. When Cheney went to investigate what was up, he saw the unthinkable - the big-buck sports car had rocketed through his garage door, causing an reported $11,000 in damage to the car and an additional $2,700 in garage repairs. "Yikes" doesn't quite cover it.

Be sure to head over to The Globe and Mail to read the full account of what happened. It's an incident that we hope never happens to any of us, but most importantly, we're glad no one was hurt. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

Auto journalist's 16-year old son crashes Porsche 911 Turbo - in his garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New 'skull and skin' helmet sounds creepy cool

Devon Brozek — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Motorcycle, Design/Style

Have you heard the expression "break neck speeds?" This often overused tag has become the go-to hook line in many motorcycle crash stories on your local evening news. A new design concept called Super Skin from Industrial Design Consultancy, or IDC, looks to address the core issue.

Eighty percent of current motorcycle related deaths are a result of head trauma, and experts agree that rotational forces are the obvious culprit in most of these cases. Taking a cue from how noggins normally protect themselves, IDC claims their "Skull and Skin" design reduces the force that Yoda wouldn't want to be with you by up to 50 percent, which reduces the possibility of permanent brain injury by 67 percent. We think we can all agree that those numbers are 100 percent positive! Simply put, the Super Skin is a flexible membrane wrapped over a gel barrier that allows it to stretch up to eight times its normal length. Take the whole recipe through a vacuum casting process, and it then becomes durable and retains the look and feel of a "normal" helmet.

Before we can get our heads clad in Super Skin, we'll be holding our breath until the summer season. Check with your local Lazer Helmet dealer for access to this creepy cool concept. Oh yes, there will be a price tag put on your head. The Super Skin line is rumored to start at $235 (based on the current exchange rate) and will be available in the open-face Rider or full-face Solano designs.

[Source: idc.uk.com]

New 'skull and skin' helmet sounds creepy cool originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Videos, Australia

Don't drink and drive - Click above to view the video after the jump

Years ago when we were in drivers ed watching either Blood on the Highway or Red Asphalt -- the two gore-filled negative education films from the early 1970s that tried to scare us stright -- the cheerleader seated in front of us cold passed out. Just flopped right on the floor. It had to have been the scene where the camera arrives on the scene of a motorcycle wreck and, well, let's just say the poor rider needed an new knee. But as blood and guts infused as those films were, they can't even hold an emergency room candle to the carnage taking place on Australian television.

This film is a "best of" from 20 years of Transport Accident Commission films. And man... Notice how we didn't pass out during drivers ed? We have an iron stomach. That said, this video gets to be a little much. There's just so much non-stop carnage... The video almost makes us care less about drinking and driving than it does the perils of watching blood-infused video clips. Almost.

Here's what our Aussie tipster Casey had to say about the video, "Celebrating' 20 years of TAC TV advertisements, this once-only three-minute clip was shown on all free-to-air TV networks once on December 10 2009. It's a collage of their work over the 20 years and the graphic scenes put to air. It's an excellent (and chilling) viewing." Agreed, you're going see high production values and even higher casualty rates. Watch the video - if you have the stomach for it - after the jump.

[Source: Colorbus]

Continue reading VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials

VIDEO: Australian Transport Accident Commission celebrates 20 years of disturbing commercials originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Ten minutes of rally crashes devoid of butt-rock soundtrack

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Videos

Finns crashing with pure engine sounds - Click above to watch the video

It's often said that the Finns are ~~drunk and walk around carrying axes~~ the best rally drivers in the world. There's been lots of speculation as to why. Some say it's their relative isolation -- large distances between places makes for lots of fast, back roads driving. Others speculate it's their tough Viking blood that makes the Finns fearless in the face of death. Still others feel it's the sheer boredom of living in Finland that fosters a devil may care attitude towards life and limb.

But after watching this video, we have a new theory. The Finns are the world's best rally drivers because they crash so dang much. We're not kidding. If practice makes perfect then the country of Finland as a whole is... well, we can't say perfect now can we? Watch for yourself, after the jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: Ten minutes of rally crashes devoid of butt-rock soundtrack

VIDEO: Ten minutes of rally crashes devoid of butt-rock soundtrack originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Feds' new crash-test program to go into effect in 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Safety

Click above to view video of the 2008 smart fortwo crash test

Each year, it seems as if more and more new models are able to ace both the IIHS' and the government's crash-test ratings. In fact, according to Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, 97-percent of all new cars available today earn the highest four or five-star ratings from NHTSA. These all-too-similar ratings makes it rather difficult for consumers to make a choice based solely on passenger safety, so the Fed's have decided to take another stab at the current rating system, which was introduced way back in 1979. Though still based on a five-star ranking, the revised 2010 ratings will include additional front-end tests and a new side-impact test meant to mimic the impact of a vehicle that collides with a tree or pole. Also new for the '10 model year is an overall rating meant to make comparisons easier between competing vehicles. More changes are possible for 2012, as NHTSA is still considering whether to make electronic nannies like stability control mandatory.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Feds' new crash-test program to go into effect in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle

Professionals earn pockets full of cheese usually because they do whatever it is they do better, faster, stronger than anyone else. Sometimes, though, they get the big bucks because they'll do something again after having nearly killed themselves the first time. That is: they'll get right back on the horse when a lot of non-professionals would instead grab a gin and tonic and watch reruns of I Love Lucy.

Jorge Lorenzo earned his money and a stay in hospital over the weekend during practice for the MotoGP China Grand Prix. On one run the bike bucked under him coming out of a turn, sending the 21-year-old rider up out of his seat like he was riding a bronco, but he managed to keep the bike upright and moving. On a following run he wasn't so fortunate, highsiding, somersaulting, and suffering a fractured left ankle, a painful right ankle, a cut heel, a knee abrasion, and forearm compression.

But here's where Lorenzo really impresses: he still got on the bike to qualify on Saturday, and came in fourth in Sunday's race. Follow the jump to check out the videos of the bucking incident and the highside. And from now on, the word you're looking for to describe Jorge Lorenzo: pro.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Continue reading VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead

VIDEO: Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 May 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

What do 5-star ratings really mean?

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:27:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Safety

When manufacturers get a 5-star crash rating for one of their models, the klieg lights and publicity klaxon get thorough workouts. Those tiny ten-sided polygons have gotten to mean so much to consumers that it's not unusual for a carmaker to drop a few hundred large on prime time commercial space and 60-point text to convey the message. Well, not to deflate anyone's... airbag... but Airbag Solutions has broken down the test methodology and what the results mean in real-world cases. It in no way demeans the quality of the rating system or the work done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as similar tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but it does show that ultimately the ratings apply to a narrower set of circumstances than one might have thought. For instance, crash test dummies replicate effects only for adults -- babies, kids, and teenagers don't count. If you're in a crash at more than 40 mph, or if you hit a car with a weight differential of more than 250 lbs, the rating scale doesn't apply. One would assume that a 5-star car at 38 mph would still be better in a crash at 70 mph than a 3-star car, but there's a lot of gray area around the well-defined boundaries of the protocols. Click the 'Read' link to get the full story.

[Source: Airbag Solutions]

What do 5-star ratings really mean? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: Adventures on ice in the Pacific Northwest

Scott Davis — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Ice is one of those things that people can never seem to figure out. For some reason they just keep on driving, no matter what the conditions might be. These Portlanders, apparently, are no different than the rest of us. They learn the hard way that when everything is frozen, the laws of physics rule and a low coefficient of friction leads to wrecked cars. Lots of 'em.

The first vehicle in this video offers us the best example of a driver making an accident much, much worse than it otherwise would be. If you listen closely, you can hear that the accelerator remains depressed in a desperate attempt to regain control. This single vehicle manages to impact with its surroundings eight times in a scant 40 seconds. You'll have to watch the video for the rest of the fun... at least everyone heeds the warnings from the rooftop videographers and no one gets hurt.

[Source: YouTube]

Thanks for the tip, John!

VIDEO: Adventures on ice in the Pacific Northwest originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Are you an Aries? Then you may suck at driving

Dan Roth — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:44:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc., Safety

Next time you smash your ride into something, just blame it on the stars. Tell the cop Mercury was in retrograde, causing your driving to follow suit and thus leading to the crash of your Mercury. Watch out if you're an Aries with an Aries - that's a dangerous thing to be.

InsuranceHotline.com, a Canadian website that provides insurance quotes to drivers, conducted a study correlating accident rates to zodiac signs. You'd think age and ability would hold more water, but apparently astrology trumps even changing zip codes when determining how prone a particular driver is to accidents. Libras are the worst, followed by Aquarians. The best were Leos and Geminis. As for that Aries, they have a "me first" attitude that leads them into bad juju. If InsuranceHotline's study is accurate, it appears that everyone on the road is an Aries.

[Source: Reuters via scotsman.com]

Are you an Aries? Then you may suck at driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Dec 2006 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Decling death rates due to safer vehicles, not better drivers

Damon Lavrinc — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

The number of fatal crashes on U.S. roads have steadily declined over the last few decades and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has found that this has little do with a safer motoring public and more to do with safer vehicle design.

Their findings confirm what has been assumed for years, that as more safety equipment is added and eventually mandated, drivers who would have been killed years earlier in older models are now surviving with greater frequency.

The study also points to the lack of required seat belt usage in some states and the waning enforcement of DWI charges as worrisome developments. These concerns, coupled with speed limits that have steadily increased across the country, are providing the IIHS a bleak outlook on the future.

One glaring omission in the press release (printed after the jump) is the effect of driver training programs on new drivers and how further driver improvement is a necessity to decrease on-road fatalities.

Continue reading Decling death rates due to safer vehicles, not better drivers

Decling death rates due to safer vehicles, not better drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PSA: What to do after a car crash

Eric Bryant — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:06:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Few people think about car crashes before they happen, and immediately after one occurs isn't the time to start. Therefore, putting a few minutes into post-crash preparation makes sense before finding yourself staring into a deflated airbag with a dazed look. Doug Flint from The Car Connection has some great tips - he refers to them as "rules" and has good reasons to do so - and we'd recommend giving his list a thorough read.

From our collective crash experience, encompassing everything from parking-lot fender-benders to leaving the road at 105 mph, we can indeed assure everyone that it's tough to keep your wits about you after unintended physics intervenes with driving. Make some plans now for who you'll call for a tow and how you'll pay, and don't leave the scene until things are sorted out with the authorities, medical personnel, and someone who can give a level-headed assessment of your car's drivability. A good roadside assistance plan that covers all the drivers in your family is a great idea (going through your insurance company will probably yield a discount).

Include every driver in your family in on this planning; even if you've got nerves of steel and aren't rattled by bent sheetmetal... odds are good that there's a less experienced crasher in your household.

[Source: The Car Connection]

PSA: What to do after a car crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jun 2006 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments