Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/party-time-volvo-celebrates-50-years-of-the-three-point-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/party-time-volvo-celebrates-50-years-of-the-three-point-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/14/party-time-volvo-celebrates-50-years-of-the-three-point-belt/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Volvo's three-point seat belt - Click above to watch the video after the break

Back in 1958, most Americans wouldn't have been caught dead wearing a seat belt. That was mostly because safety belts were optional equipment in every car sold in the U.S. and drivers were suspicious of the things.

Just one year later, though, Nils Bohlin of Sweden invented and patented a three-point safety belt system that Volvo immediately made standard on its Amazon model. Variations on that system are still being used today in virtually every modern car.

Volvo, as you might expect, is pretty proud of itself, bragging that Mr. Bohlin is personally responsible for saving a million lives and that the three-point safety belt is Volvo's most important innovation and "almost certainly the most important invention in the whole history of traffic safety." Hmm. Maybe, but what about the, um, stop sign? Or double yellow line? Just saying. Then again, Volvo says the German patent office called the three-point belt one of the eight patents that had the greatest importance to mankind between 1885 and 1985. Surely that's now been trumped by 24-7 cable news networks.

Regardless, if you want to celebrate 50 years of safer driving with Volvo, chill the beer, fire up the grill and watch the video after the break. There's some great historical footage including one of a crash test with a live person as well as, more importantly, gratuitous footage of a girl in short shorts. Hit the jump to watch the video and read the full press release from Volvo.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt

Party Time: Volvo celebrates 50 years of the three-point belt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3-point belt3-point safety belt3-pointBelt3-pointSafetyBeltsafetysafety beltSafetyBeltseat beltseatbeltvideovolvoFri, 14 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Florida signs new primary seat belt law, gets $35 million from gov't]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/08/florida-signs-new-primary-seat-belt-law-gets-35-million-from-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/08/florida-signs-new-primary-seat-belt-law-gets-35-million-from-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/08/florida-signs-new-primary-seat-belt-law-gets-35-million-from-g/#commentsFiled under: ,

Drivers and front-seat passengers in Florida may be cited for not wearing seat belts when a new law takes effect on June 30. Known as a "primary" seat belt law, the law allows enforcement officers to pull vehicles over solely for a belt violation (a "secondary" seat belt law requires another infraction to take place before a ticket may be issued). Florida is only the 28th state to enact a primary seat belt law, while the remainder have secondary laws and New Hampshire has no seatbelt law whatsoever.

Signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist earlier this week, the legislation makes Florida eligible for up to $35 million in federal grant money created in 2005 as an incentive for states to establish seat belt laws. While Florida's fine for the nonmoving seat belt violation will be a mere $30, studies show that drivers are 13% more likely to fasten their belts if they can be pulled over for it. While the millions in federal money and ticket revenue are both incentives to the state, that's not the primary motivation behind it. "This bill will save lives," the governor said. "That's what is important."

[Source: Palm Beach Post]

Florida signs new primary seat belt law, gets $35 million from gov't originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 May 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CharlieCristFloridaGov Charlie CristGovCharlieCristlegislationSeat BeltSeatBeltSeatbelt lawseatbelt lawsSeatbeltLawSeatbeltLawsseatbeltsSeatbletFri, 08 May 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota's JDM collision-detecting radar system could come to Lexus]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/toyotas-collision-detecting-radar-system-could-come-to-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/toyotas-collision-detecting-radar-system-could-come-to-lexus/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/12/toyotas-collision-detecting-radar-system-could-come-to-lexus/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Two new JDM Toyota safety technologies are likely to arrive on future Lexus models in the United States. The first is a system that uses a millimeter-wave radar to detect objects in the vehicle's path. When obstructions are noted, the driver is alerted by an indicator or a sound. If the pending collision is imminent, a pre-crash system activates the brakes, removes slack from the seats belts and then deploys the airbags.

The second system involves the seats themselves. If an imminent rear-end collision is detected, the seat backs will automatically return to an upright position. In addition, seat belts will tighten and the headrests will move forward to help prevent whiplash. Both innovations are planned to arrive soon on Japan-market vehicles from Toyota Motor Corporation, so it's expected that these technologies will likely debut on upcoming Lexus models in the States.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Toyota's JDM collision-detecting radar system could come to Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collision avoidancecollision detectioncollision preventioncollision warning with full auto brakeCollisionAvoidanceCollisionDetectionCollisionPreventionCollisionWarningWithFullAutoBrakeLexusRadarRear SeatRearSeatSafetySeat BackSeat BeltSeatBackSeatBeltToyotaWhiplashThu, 12 Mar 2009 08:31:00 EST<![CDATA[End of unsafe era: (Some) School buses to get seat belts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/end-of-unsafe-era-some-school-buses-to-get-seat-belts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/end-of-unsafe-era-some-school-buses-to-get-seat-belts/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/15/end-of-unsafe-era-some-school-buses-to-get-seat-belts/#commentsFiled under: ,



My wife and I thoroughly trained our oldest daughter on seat belt safety, and it got to the point where she would scream at the top of her lungs if one of us didn't buckle our belts. When she first stepped foot on a school bus, she was terrified to learn that there were no seat belts and didn't understand how school buses were the exception to the seat belt rule. After many years of extensive study, however, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is changing that, at least for buses weighing under 10,000 lbs. The NHTSA's findings are the same as a 2002 study that smaller buses should receive belts and seat backs should be raised to 24 inches, but nothing was done about the findings back then. A series of bus crashes since has helped build the case to finally require the seat belts on certain buses and taller seat backs for them all.

Part of the reason for inaction was that adding seat belts would decrease seating capacity by 17% while also adding $40-$50 per seat to bus costs. With 25 million children riding 500,000 buses, that adds up to $100 million in annual costs that would, according to reports, save roughly one life per year. Statistics show that about 5 children die each year in school bus accidents, which represents .1 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Kids that travel by bike to school die at a far greater rate of 12.2 per 100 million miles traveled, and kids who walk to school die at a rate of 8.7 per 100 million. The NHTSA's ruling goes into effect November 2011, which is five months before my oldest daughter rides the bus for the last time and gets into her own car.

[Source: Detroit News, photo by gareth_lofthouse | CC 2.0]

End of unsafe era: (Some) School buses to get seat belts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nhtsasafety beltSafetyBeltschool busSchoolBusseat beltSeatBeltWed, 15 Oct 2008 16:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota whistleblower joined by civil suit over father's death]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/toyota-whistleblower-joined-by-civil-suit-over-fathers-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/toyota-whistleblower-joined-by-civil-suit-over-fathers-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/29/toyota-whistleblower-joined-by-civil-suit-over-fathers-death/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A faulty seatbelt that traps an occupant in a vehicle and leads to his death is a horrible tragedy. If the defect were given a pass at the manufacturing plant, it goes beyond tragic to criminal. Toyota is now facing two lawsuits in California, both centered around manufacturing defects that may have been ignored at its joint-venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant.

We reported earlier on the first lawsuit filed by Katy Cameron, a NUMMI worker who alleges that vehicles with serious problems were passed out the door, even though the NUMMI plant purportedly subscribes to the "Toyota way" of manufacturing. Instead of empowering workers to spot and correct defects, even stop the assembly line to make things right, management at the NUMMI plant allegedly discouraged Cameron by demoting her.

A second lawsuit has also been filed by the Singh family, who are blaming the seatbelt latch in their 2002 Corolla for the death of Raminder Singh. The Singhs were involved in an accident that led to an engine fire, and while 19-year-old Gurinder Singh was able to exit the vehicle, his father remained trapped by his seatbelt despite Gurinder's efforts to unlatch it.

A spokesman for Toyota has been quoted as saying, "as heart-rending and tragic as this collision was, Toyota has an altogether different view of the facts." The facts will hopefully come to light during this civil trial, which heard opening statements on Tuesday.

Thanks for the tip, Jon!

[Source: Money/CNN]

Toyota whistleblower joined by civil suit over father's death originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corolladeathdefectsfirekaty cameronKatyCameronlawsuitmanagementnummiseatbeltsinghSingh ToyotaSinghToyotatoyotaThu, 29 Nov 2007 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Buckle Up: Seat belt saves choking driver]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/buckle-up-seat-belt-saves-choking-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/buckle-up-seat-belt-saves-choking-driver/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/21/buckle-up-seat-belt-saves-choking-driver/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Seat BeltSteven John Earp of Eugene, Oregon could never have imagined that the breakfast sandwich he was eating behind the wheel as he drove to work last week was almost his last meal, period. How so? Well, during the course of his meal on wheels, Mr. Earp began choking on his sandwich, and the situation was so dire that he blacked out behind the wheel. While unconscious, he plowed into another parked car, and for his sake, that's probably the best thing that could have happened.

Upon impact, Mr Earp's seat belt performed what amounted to be an unassisted heimlich maneuver on him, clearing the blockage that had caused him to lose consciousness and control of his car. No one else was hurt, and the only harm done was to the two vehicles involved in the crash. Mr. Earp, who collapsed after exiting the car when he regained consciousness, was taken to the hospital for observation and later released.

The lessons learned here are very simple:
  1. Buckle up, because your seat belt can save you in more ways than one.
  2. Put the damned sandwich down and wait till you get to the office to stuff your face. Capisce?
[Source: The Register-Guard]

Buckle Up: Seat belt saves choking driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choking in carchoking victimChokingInCarChokingVictimEugene, OREugene,Orheimlich maneuverHeimlichManeuverseat beltSeatBeltSteven John EarpStevenJohnEarpTue, 21 Aug 2007 18:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS recalled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/porsche-911-gt3-and-gt3-rs-recalled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/porsche-911-gt3-and-gt3-rs-recalled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/porsche-911-gt3-and-gt3-rs-recalled/#commentsFiled under: , ,



According to What Car?, Porsche isn't immune to the recall woes that normally plague much larger automakers. The article states that 43 911 GT3s and their harder-core RS siblings are suffering from faulty seatbelts. The optional six-point belt's unlocking mechanism apparently won't come loose, causing concerns that if a crash were to take place, the occupants wouldn't be able to escape the vehicle without the belts being cut.

Porsche will be contacting the owners of said 911s to arrange a date for inspection. Unfortunately, the website What Car? referred to for further information, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), didn't have any details about what specific models were affected and in what part of the world the vehicles were sold. As soon as we get more information, we'll update this post.

[Source: What Car?]

Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 RS recalled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>911gt3gt3 rsGt3Rsporscherecallseat beltseatbeltsix pointsix-pointSixPointFri, 13 Apr 2007 08:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Billboard warns of not buckling up in the back seat]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/26/billboard-warns-of-not-buckling-up-in-the-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/26/billboard-warns-of-not-buckling-up-in-the-back-seat/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/26/billboard-warns-of-not-buckling-up-in-the-back-seat/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Here is quite a hard-hitting image to remind people to buckle up, even in the back seat. We should all know the benefits of seat belt usage by now, but some people still seem to think they might be immune in an accident, should they choose the rear seat rather than the front, for some reason. This powerful visual reminder might help to convince them they're wrong.

Taking 3D billboards to a new extreme, the slingshot seems to dwarf the billboard itself, effectively conveying the force that will propel you forward in a collision. The one thing the ad doesn't replicate, however, is the variety of surfaces you'll impact after launch. Seatbacks might not seem particularly harmful, but anything you strike will be painful as you fly into, over or around them at those velocities. We're not quite sure where this billboard is located or who was responsible for it, but we like it a lot. Buckle up. Even in the back seat.

[Source: Carscoop]

Billboard warns of not buckling up in the back seat originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buckle upBuckleUprear seat safetyRearSeatSafetyseat beltSeatBeltMon, 26 Mar 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[New seat belts resemble racing harnesses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/31/new-seat-belts-resemble-racing-harnesses/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/31/new-seat-belts-resemble-racing-harnesses/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/31/new-seat-belts-resemble-racing-harnesses/#commentsFiled under: ,

Regardless of the cocoon of air bags surrounding the occupants of today's vehicles, Dr. Priya Prasad, Ford Motor's Technical Fellow for Safety maintains that "the single most important piece of safety technology in a car or truck today remains the safety belt," and Ford engineers are actively researching new restraint technologies, like the four-point belt system shown above.

Ford research showed that consumers who tested the four-point belts perceived them to be safer, more comfortable and (depending on design) easier to use than conventional three point belts. Ford maintains that thousands of testers of "all demographics and sizes" gave the racecar-like harness the thumbs up, and we're sure that the photo intentionally shows a female driver, but we're skeptical that women will really find the new system "more comfortable."

Still, we're all for efforts to adopt simple, comparatively inexpensive, and effective technologies to enhance safety, and there's no question that four-point belts are safer than today's three-point system. Just ask any racecar driver.

[Source: Ford]

New seat belts resemble racing harnesses originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4-point seat beltfour-point harnessfour-point seat beltsafety beltseat beltSeatBeltThu, 31 Aug 2006 16:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Heaven Can Wait... so wear your seatbelt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/heaven-can-wait-so-wear-your-seatbelt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/heaven-can-wait-so-wear-your-seatbelt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/heaven-can-wait-so-wear-your-seatbelt/#commentsFiled under: ,



And now it's time your friendly Autoblog PSA. Martijn over at Fresh Creation ran across this very convincing commercial on YouTube that espouses the life saving benefits of wearing one's seatbelt. Does anybody not wear a seatbelt nowadays? (As of 2001, 73 percent of people in the U.S. were buckling up.) I can still remember a time when it wasn't cool to strap in, but enough berating by the parents and my first time out on a racetrack was enough to change my mind and make it stick. Seriously, regardless of whether your car has two, four or ten airbags plus a collision avoidance system, a seatbelt is your best bet in an accident.

The commercial is beautifully done, though perhaps a bit morbid. For any of you seatbelt strapping stragglers out there, hopefully it does the trick.

[Source: YouTube via FreshCreation]

Heaven Can Wait... so wear your seatbelt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialheaven can waitHeavenCanWaitseatbeltWed, 30 Aug 2006 09:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Eight adolescents in a Nissan Sentra plunge 200' into an L.A. ravine, survive]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/video-eight-adolescents-in-a-nissan-sentra-plunge-200-into-an/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/video-eight-adolescents-in-a-nissan-sentra-plunge-200-into-an/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/video-eight-adolescents-in-a-nissan-sentra-plunge-200-into-an/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Eight kids out for a Mulholland drive are lucky to be alive today, after the Nissan Sentra they were traveling in rolled 250' down a cliff at 2:20am on Friday in Los Angeles, California. You read that correctly, eight teens-two of which had stuffed themselves in the trunk.

As the story goes, driver Deydi Valle, 19, somehow managed to clip a telephone pole while going 'round a curve, sending the overtaxed Nissan tumbling into a ravine. It may have rolled as many as 20 times en route to its resting place. The group included a 12-year old boy, three 14-year old males, a 15-year-old female, and a 16-year old boy and girl. Amazingly, all of them are alive, and two of them were even able to scramble back to the road.

Word about injuries stemming from the crash appears to be a bit unclear, as the text of L.A. station KNBC's writeup indicates serious injuries including a broken back and a collapsed lung for one victim, and a skull fracture for another. But the follow-up video of the station's news broadcast indicates that none were seriously hurt. Also curious is the statement by one firefighter that the six teens in the passenger compartment were all wearing their seatbelts. Last we checked, Sentras of that vintage only have five belts, although it's possible two of the victims somehow shared a belt.

The driver was tested for alcohol and passed, and apparently there's no sign of drinking among the teens. That said, charges could still be forthcoming.

So... just what were eight mostly under-aged kids doing out at 2am in the heavily burdened compact? Apparently they were coming home from a family party.

[Source: KNBC Channel 4]

 

Video: Eight adolescents in a Nissan Sentra plunge 200' into an L.A. ravine, survive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 May 2006 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Los AngelesLosAngelesMullholland driveMullhollandDriveNissanseatbeltSentrateen accidentTeenAccidentSat, 27 May 2006 08:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford's inflatable seat belt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/02/fords-inflatable-seat-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/02/fords-inflatable-seat-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/01/02/fords-inflatable-seat-belt/#commentsFiled under: ,

We reported on Ford's inflatable seat belt concept a few days ago and the Blue Oval finally released a pic of the belt. The concept is designed specifically for second row passengers to further disperse the force of an impact over a wider contact area. Ford also has a version for the lap belt, although we think the shoulder belt bag would look great with a Pistons logo across it.

Exactly how far can airbag technology go and where can we expect the inflatables to show up next? I remember an urban legend from back in the day about an early experiment with airbags. According to legend a car was fitted with a dozen airbags in various places throughout a vehicles interior. A test was conducted in which all the airbags were triggered at once and the resulting sudden increase in interior pressure caused all the windows to blow out and the vehicle to virtually explode from within. We'll let the MythBusters tackle the validity of that one, although we can't be far off from having airbags in our trunks to protect tomotoes from bruising on the way home from the grocery.

[Source: Ford]

Ford's inflatable seat belt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagfordsafetyseatbeltMon, 02 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST