Autoblog

And the worst backseat drivers are...

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Nobody likes a backseat driver. We don't need a study to tell us that we, as licensed pilots of two-plus-ton vehicular machines, don't enjoy commentary from the back seat, the passenger seat, or any other seat telling us to slow down, take the next left or asking us to fiddle with the stereo. We trust you agree.

That said, a study was indeed conducted by Insurance.com that sought to answer the question, "Who are the worst backseat drivers?" No, the answer din't prove to be racing legends like Stirling Moss (pictured above). Not surprisingly, spouses are the main culprits, at least according to the small sampling of 500 people who responded to the survey. Again - honey, I love you - we're not surprised. Thirty-four percent of women polled pointed accusatory fingers at their husbands, and a full forty percent of husbands pointed right back at their wives.

Other likely offenders include mothers (not fathers, interestingly) and friends. Sons and daughters got off the hook for the most part... perhaps because they are too busy updating their Facebook status or texting friends to pay attention to their parents' driving.

Besides the obvious commentary on speed and directions, responses of unwanted behavior from backseat drivers include talking too much, pushing an imaginary brake pedal, singing and eating. For more on the study and some possible solutions to these annoyances, click here to read more about the study.

And the worst backseat drivers are... originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jun 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AAA: Young drivers more likely to drive drowsy

Chris Tutor — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

Wake-y, wake-y... hit the brake-y! This is the National Sleep Foundation's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has completed a new survey with data indicating that one in seven drivers between 16 and 24 have admitted to falling asleep while behind the wheel at least once in the last year alone. That's a lot more drowsy driving compared to only 1 in 10 of all drivers who said they nodded off while driving.

While most people surveyed said sleepy drivers are a threat to public safety, at least 30 percent also admit they have recently driven while being tired enough that they struggled to keep their eyes open.

"Unfortunately, most drivers underestimate the risks associated with drowsy driving and overestimate their ability to deal with it - that's a dangerous combination," says AAA Foundation President & CEO Peter Kissinger.

"Research shows that fatigue impairs safe driving, with many symptoms causing drivers to behave in ways similar to those who are intoxicated," said AAA President & CEO Robert Darbelnet in the same press release.

Think you're a better driver than those folks? The list of things that constitute drowsy driving include not noticing traffic signs, driving past your intended street/exit, difficulty keeping your eyes open, yawning frequently, lane drifting and daydreaming.

AAA has a few suggestions to help you stay awake. Get plenty sleep the night before a long trip, avoid traveling whey you usually sleep, take a break every two hours and travel with someone who can take a turn driving.

Read the press release below for more signs of drowsy driving and how to prevent it.

Continue reading AAA: Young drivers more likely to drive drowsy

AAA: Young drivers more likely to drive drowsy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DOT releases Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving

Scott Burgess — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Everyone needs a plan, and now Ray LaHood and his people at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have released their Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving.

The blueprint calls for:

Getting the last 11 holdout states to pass laws banning distracted driving.
Challenge the auto industry to not provide vehicle content that the government considers distracting.
Educate young people about the perils of distracted driving.
Continue a public education campaign that "Provides all stakeholders with actions they can take that go beyond personal responsibility to helping end distracted driving nationwide."

Additionally, the government agency's blueprint announces pilot programs in California and Delaware to provide each with $2.4 million for increased law enforcement on distracted driving and create a public campaign reminding motorists that distracted driving is dangerous.

According to NHTSA, 3,092 motorists were killed in "distraction-affected crashes" in 2010.

DOT releases Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford

Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Modern technology means that parental controls are now spreading to cars as factory equipment, and the automaker leading the charge is Ford. Using the latest version of the company's MyKey system, parents can now block their children from listening to certain radio stations - say, for instance, Howard Stern or Playboy Radio on satellite. In fact, there are a dozen stations listed as explicit by Sirius, and all of them can be blocked using MyKey starting in 2011.

Also seeing an upgrade for 2011 is MyKey's speed-limiting technology. Previously, the top speed of a properly equipped Ford vehicle could be capped at 80 miles per hour (with chimes sounding at 45, 55 and 65). Now, users can preset a desired speed limit at any of four different settings - 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. While an obvious safety feature, the technology can also dramatically improve fuel efficiency.

Already, Ford's MyKey allows parents to limit audio volume, encourage seatbelt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up and provide earlier low-fuel warnings. All of these could be considered important safety features, considering that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teens are more likely to speed (a contributing factor in 30 percent of fatal accidents) and are less likely to use their safety-belts.

Ford contracted the firm Penn, Schoen & Berland to conduct a survey regarding its new MyKey features, and the results aren't terribly surprising: 85 percent of parents believe the speed limiting controls are important and 60 percent say the same regarding the radio content controls. Even 45 percent of teen drivers themselves say they approve of the technology... just as long as it means they get extended driving privileges from their parents. Of course, said teens can also simply circumvent the MyKey safety leash by listening to CDs or their MP3 players, but we digress.

Check out a video and full press release after the break to learn more about how the system works.

Gallery: Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vancouver using 3D optical illusion to scare motorists into safer driving?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Canada

Safety organizations and the District of West Vancouver, Canada are joining forces to build awareness about careful driving during the start of the school year. Thanks the work of the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, drivers motoring down 22nd Street in West Vancouver will be met with a 3D image of a girl chasing a ball across the street. No one is saying exactly how the tech works, but it's meant to be a wakeup call for drivers who may be distracted or otherwise not paying enough attention to their surroundings while driving near school zones.

The display will be installed for just one week and cost a princely total of $14,400 (USD) to operate. According to The Globe and Mail, drivers will be able to see that there is something on the road as they approach the 3D image. Once the vehicle reaches a certain point, the image of the child and her toy will appear. According to the BCAA Traffic Safety Association, September and October are the two months with the highest child fatalities, and this exercise should go well beyond the typical awareness campaign. Here's hoping it doesn't trigger any panic-braking induced accidents in the process.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]

Vancouver using 3D optical illusion to scare motorists into safer driving? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & Country

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:39:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Etc., Safety, Chrysler, Specialty

2010 Chrysler Town & Country SafetyTec - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although the Chrysler Group still has a rather large amount of floor space here at the 2010 New York Auto Show, the company didn't have a lot to offer this year...at least not just-baked stuff for the assembled media. Instead of showing off a new 300 or maybe even a 200C hybrid, they merely gathered up a bunch of older concepts and special editions and dropped them off at Javits. Chrysler at least had the good sense not to have a press conference. To be fair, the Pentastar is struggling and we don't mean to kick them when they're down so we'll focus on the positive instead.

One new vehicle we found amidst the recently unveiled specials was a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country with seemingly every one of Chrysler's latest safety and security features. The press release, which you'll find after the jump, says the package includes the company's Rear Cross Path (RCP) and Blind-spot Monitoring systems (BSM) to help drivers in making "safe lane changes and backing out of high-traffic parking situations." Both features are apparently firsts in this segment.

This new "SafetyTec" package, as it's known, is an option on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring and new Touring "Plus" models, and will be standard on the Town & Country Limited. The grouping includes standard and optional safety and security features like multi-stage airbags, seatbelt pretensioning, constant-force seat-belt retractors (CFR), active head restraints and supplemental side-curtain air bags. There are also accident-avoidance features like Smart Brake and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), plus security features like an anti-theft alarm and the Sentry Key engine immobilizer among other things. If Chrysler knows anything, it's minivans and the importance of safety to minivan buyers.

The new SafetyTec package will be available late spring at an undisclosed price. Follow the jump to read the long laundry list of included features and take a look at our gallery below.

Gallery: Chrysler Town & Country SafetyTec live in NY

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & Country

New York 2010: Chrysler shows off new SafetyTec package for Town & Country originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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