Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/#commentsFiled under: ,



In an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-impaired driving crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a set of recommendations, 19 in total, calling for more stringent laws and enforcement. "Most Americans think that we've solved the problem of impaired driving, but in fact, it's still a national epidemic," NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said. "On average, every hour one person is killed and 20 more are injured."

The most controversial of the recommendations has to do with the blood-alcohol level (BAC) that consitutes being legally drunk behind the wheel. As of today, all states consider the BAC threshold to be a limit of 0.08, but the NTSB is calling for it to be lowered to 0.05 (the agency points out that over 100 countries on six continents have BAC limits set at 0.05 or lower). The NTSB estimates that nearly 1,000 lives would be saved by the change.

In other recommendations, the NTSB has called for police to use passive alcohol sensors to help better detect alcohol vapor in the ambient environment, and it is suggesting giving authorities the power to immediately suspend or revoke driver's licenses at the time of DWI. It also maintains that states should employ measures to improve interlock compliance. To read the rest, check out the full press release below.

Continue reading NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws

NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bacblood alcohol contentblood alcohol leveldrink drivingdriving under the influencedrunk drivingduidwilegal duinational transportation safety boardntsbThu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20570641/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/20570641/article-detail.xml 20570641 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/field-sobriety-test-getty-point_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/field-sobriety-test-getty-point.jpg <![CDATA[New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/30/new-years-day-not-st-patricks-most-deadly-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/30/new-years-day-not-st-patricks-most-deadly-on-us-roads/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/30/new-years-day-not-st-patricks-most-deadly-on-us-roads/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 parade

Earlier this month, as part of its conclusions to an investigation into wrong-way driving crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommend ignition interlocks for all those convicted of a DUI. That means every first-time offender couldn't start his car until he had satisfied the breathalyzer attached to his ignition. With the nation's deadliest hours for drunk driving approaching, New Year's Day, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has pointed out the dangers of the holiday and voiced support for the NTSB measure.

The AAA says its own study shows that "nearly eight out of ten Americans support requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders, even if it's their first conviction." Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has put the national rate of repeat DUI offenders at 15 percent, but there's a huge variance: in California nearly eight percent of fatal DUI crashes are repeat offenders and DUI recidivism overall was 24 percent in 2007, whereas in New Mexico in 2011 more than 50 percent of fatal DUI crashes are attributed to repeat offenders. Another stat from MADD is that "The average driver drives drunk 87 times before their first arrest."

There are already 17 states that mandate ignition interlock devices for those convicted of DUI, and the NTSB is asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to speed up research into manufacturer-installed interlock devices. It will probably be a while, if ever, before the federal government or the rest of the country follows the lead of those 17 states, but the real point is this: We've made it past the Mayan Apocalypse, so enjoy the new world and be careful behind the wheel come NYE.

Continue reading New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads

New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaaccidentamerican automobile associationcrashDriving Under the Influencedriving while intoxicatedduidwifatalitiesignition interlockNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Transportation Safety Boardnew years daynew years evenhtsantsbnyetraffic fatalitiesSun, 30 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20412478/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/30/new-years-day-not-st-patricks-most-deadly-on-us-roads/20412478/article-detail.xml 20412478 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/2013.jpg <![CDATA[NTSB wants to ban mobile phone and electronics use in cars across the country [UPDATE]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/ntsb-wants-to-ban-mobile-phone-use-in-cars-across-the-country/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/ntsb-wants-to-ban-mobile-phone-use-in-cars-across-the-country/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/ntsb-wants-to-ban-mobile-phone-use-in-cars-across-the-country/#commentsFiled under: ,



In August of last year, a 19-year-old pickup driver received 11 texts in as many minutes while traveling down a Missouri highway outside Gray Summit. The truck rear-ended a stopped tractor trailer at speed, which was then struck by not one, but two school buses, resulting in a massive, multi-car pileup that left 38 people injured and two dead - including the serial texter and a 15-year-old student riding in one of the buses.

The crash made national news and gained even more press after the driver's phone records were released. Today, the National Transportation Safety Board is recommending a nationwide ban on using a mobile phone while driving.

The key word there is "recommending." The NTSB doesn't have the power to enact legislation; it can only persuade lawmakers to pass a bill making it illegal for the driver to operate a mobile phone unless it's an emergency. But the NTSB is taking it a step further. The government group doesn't want drivers to use any electronic or Internet-connected device in the car, and that could include some of the newest 'Net-enabled infotainment systems embedded into vehicles. Further, the proposed ban means even using a Bluetooth headset to take calls could be illegal.

Currently, mobile phone bans are enacted by states, with nine states and the District of Columbia prohibiting their use while behind the wheel, and 35 states banning texting while driving. Those figures doesn't include the other states that ban novice or bus drivers from using a mobile phone while driving.

The NTSB's hearing was held earlier today, but the official text of the recommendation has yet to be released. We'll update this post accordingly when the NTSB offers us more than its initial findings and a tweet.

UPDATE: The text of the NTSB's recommendation is available after the jump, and as suspected, it's a sweeping suggestion for all States and the District of Columbia to not only ban mobile phone use, but any electronic device while driving.

Continue reading NTSB wants to ban mobile phone and electronics use in cars across the country [UPDATE]

NTSB wants to ban mobile phone and electronics use in cars across the country [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcell phone bancell phone usedistracted drivingmobile phone banNational Transportation Safety Boardntsbtextingtexting while drivingTue, 13 Dec 2011 14:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20127117/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/13/ntsb-wants-to-ban-mobile-phone-use-in-cars-across-the-country/20127117/article-detail.xml 20127117 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/was3311348-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/was3311348-628.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Baby boomers about to flood roads with older drivers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/14/report-baby-boomers-about-to-flood-roads-with-older-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/14/report-baby-boomers-about-to-flood-roads-with-older-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/11/14/report-baby-boomers-about-to-flood-roads-with-older-drivers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Elderly Driver

Next year, the very first Baby Boomers will be 65 years old. By 2025, nearly one in five drivers will be 65 or older. Looking even further ahead, the number of licensed drivers over age 65 is set to double in 2030, to 57 million. The National Transportation Safety Board believes that the government needs to prepare for this and work towards reducing death and injury rates for elderly drivers.

We've already seen a substantial drop in elderly driver deaths, however. The number of drivers aged 70 or older involved in fatal accidents has declined by 20 percent over the last decade. Buried in that nice-sounding statistic is a more serious one, though: a driver over 70 is three times as likely to sustain a fatal injury compared to someone 35 to 54 years old.

Studies show that the average male drives six years longer than he should and the average female continues driving for another 10 years after she should turn in her keys. State governments are allowed to decide on their own restrictions pertaining to elderly drivers, and many provisions are making it onto upcoming ballots. They include requiring vision tests, shortening renewal periods and banning renewal by mail.

[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Getty]

Report: Baby boomers about to flood roads with older drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 14 Nov 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby boomersdrivers licenseelderlyelderly driversElderly peopleNational Transportation Safety BoardntsbSun, 14 Nov 2010 17:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19712608/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/11/14/report-baby-boomers-about-to-flood-roads-with-older-drivers/19712608/article-detail.xml 19712608 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/elderly-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/elderly-driver.jpg -1 2