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[AAA: Young drivers more likely to drive drowsy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/aaa-young-drivers-more-likely-to-drive-drowsy/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/aaa-young-drivers-more-likely-to-drive-drowsy/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/12/aaa-young-drivers-more-likely-to-drive-drowsy/#commentsFiled under: ,

Teen driver pulled over by police officer at night

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaamerican automobile associationdistracted drivingdriver safetydriving fatiguedrowsydrowsy drivingsleepysleepy driversteen driversteenage driverstraffic safetyMon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20375602/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/12/aaa-young-drivers-more-likely-to-drive-drowsy/20375602/article-detail.xml 20375602 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/teen-driver-with-policeman_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/teen-driver-with-policeman.jpg <![CDATA[You've lost that lovin' feelin'?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/#commentsFiled under:

Why Teen Drivers Are Dwindling And What It Means



He serves as the chief judge at the world's most prestigious classic car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. He's a widely respected automotive journalist and author, and he has a garage full of hot rods and other cool cars. But when it comes to his two teen children, "They haven't shown the slightest interest" in what's in that garage, Ken Gross laments.

Teenage rebellion? Perhaps, as teens often seem determined to resist their parents in just about every way imaginable, but one thing parent and child once always seemed to agree on was the importance of driving a car. Not anymore.

According to a recent study, nearly a third of American 19-year-olds haven't bothered to get their driver's licenses yet. Three decades ago, it was just one in eight who skipped that right of passage, according to Michael Sivak, of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, or UMTRI. Among those 20 to 24, meanwhile, only 81 percent had gotten their licenses in 2010, down from 92 percent in 1983.

Paul EisensteinPaul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

Continue reading You've lost that lovin' feelin'?

You've lost that lovin' feelin'? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby boomersbuying habitscar buyinggen xgen yjim lentzken grossmark fieldsteen driversFri, 31 Aug 2012 17:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20301508/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/20301508/article-detail.xml 20301508 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/thic0027336-opt-1346435006_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/thic0027336-opt-1346435006.jpg <![CDATA[Young drivers know distracted driving is dangerous, do it anyway]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/young-drivers-know-distracted-driving-is-dangerous-do-it-anyway/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/young-drivers-know-distracted-driving-is-dangerous-do-it-anyway/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/08/young-drivers-know-distracted-driving-is-dangerous-do-it-anyway/#commentsFiled under:

Teenage girl driving

Distracted driving has joined smoking, drinking, drug use, and unprotected sex on the list of behaviors that teens know are risky but engage in nonetheless.

According to a national survey by Consumer Reports, half of all teens surveyed had used a handheld phone while driving in the past 30 days, while 30 percent copped to texting. Eight percent said they operated a smart phone app and seven percent used email or social media while driving. But how many considered this behavior a bad idea? Fully 63 percent said talking on the phone could be considered "dangerous," while almost all of them thought the others qualified, with about 80 percent agreeing to adding the word "very" to that description, according to CR.

We've already seen clever public service announcements attempting to curb this behavior, and CR's survey says the publicity is working. Over 60 percent of respondents said they were influenced to stop or reduce phone use while driving by reading or hearing about the problem, while only 40 percent responded to legal bans. And of course, family members laying down the law fared the worst, at only 30 percent saying that caused them to knock it off and put the phone down when behind the wheel.

Unsurprisingly, CR found that positive peer pressure could help curb the behavior, as almost 50 percent said they were less likely to talk on the a handheld cell phone or text if they had a buddy in the car. The magazine inferred that this could have to do with the half of respondents who said they had asked someone to stop using their phone while they were a passenger.

Of course, this problem with talking and texting while driving isn't restricted to teenagers. Just like kids growing up in the 1980s learned to do drugs by watching their parents, the youth of today are witnessing mom and dad engaging in distracted driving. CR says 48 percent of young drivers said they'd seen a parent talking on the phone while driving and 15 percent caught one texting.

This got us thinking: Maybe it's time to reboot our favorite PSA of all time. Scroll down to watch.

Continue reading Young drivers know distracted driving is dangerous, do it anyway

Young drivers know distracted driving is dangerous, do it anyway originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>consumer reportsdistracted drivingi learned it from yousafetyteen driverstextingTexting while drivingTue, 08 May 2012 17:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20233972/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/08/young-drivers-know-distracted-driving-is-dangerous-do-it-anyway/20233972/article-detail.xml 20233972 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/teen-girl-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/teen-girl-driving.jpg <![CDATA[Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/#commentsFiled under: ,

Crazed teen girl behind the wheel

Research by the American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety has revealed teenage girls are twice as likely as their male counterparts to use devices like cell phones while driving. The study used video taken of young drivers while they were behind the wheel to determine how teenagers engage in distracted driving. While talking on the phone and texting ranked among the highest sources of distraction, personal grooming and reaching for objects in the vehicle also played significant roles. Outside of using electronic devices, AAA found teens were distracted around 15 percent of the time while behind the wheel.

Girls were also found to be 10 percent more likely than their male counterparts to be engaged in other distracted driving activities. AAA found the young ladies to be 50 percent more likely to attempt to reach for something in the vehicle and 25 percent more like to eat while operating a vehicle.

Of course, driving with passengers in the vehicle also contributed to distraction, while having a parent or adult in the vehicle caused rates of distracting behavior to fall off. Shocking stuff we know. Hit the jump for the full AAA press release.

Continue reading Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys

Teen girls twice as likely to use cell phones while driving as teen boys originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaaaaa foundation for traffic safetydistracted drivingstudyteen driversteenage driversteenage girlsteenagersMon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20201039/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/26/teen-girls-twice-as-likely-to-use-cell-phones-while-driving-as-t/20201039/article-detail.xml 20201039 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/crazed-teen-girl-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/crazed-teen-girl-driver.jpg <![CDATA[Latest reason for teen crashes? Peer pressure]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/#commentsFiled under:

teen driver

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]]>childrens hospital of philadelphiacrashcrashespeer pressureresearchstate farmstudyteenteen driversteensFri, 03 Feb 2012 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20159343/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/03/latest-reason-for-teen-crashes-peer-pressure/20159343/article-detail.xml 20159343 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/teen-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/teen-driver.jpg <![CDATA[You think being a teen driver in the U.S. is costly? Try $18k/year in UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/image-needed-you-think-being-a-teen-driver-in-the-u-s-is-cos/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/image-needed-you-think-being-a-teen-driver-in-the-u-s-is-cos/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/image-needed-you-think-being-a-teen-driver-in-the-u-s-is-cos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Happy teenage driverIf numbers compiled by the Institute of Advanced Motorists are accurate, you better start a successful Internet business as a teenager in the UK if you want to afford your first year of driving. In the guise of the "average" 17-year-old male driving a 2007 ("57-plate" in UK parlance) Kia Picanto economy car, the IAM discovered that a year behind the wheel would run a staggering £11,500 ($17,890 U.S.).

While every single fee but the price of the car was more expensive than those American teens encounter, the insurance premium stood like Everest above the others. Driving lessons were £1,128 ($1,755 U.S.), the driving test was £100 ($156 U.S.), the Picanto rang up at £3,000 ($4,667 U.S.), and road tax and MOT (Ministry of Transport) fees came out to £180 ($280 U.S.). Insurance for Mr. Teen for one year, though, required £7,091 ($12,292 U.S.). That's a year of college - at a pretty good college. And we haven't even got to the inevitable accidents, speed camera tickets and parking infractions.

Said an IAM executive, "When insurance premiums match university tuition fees, innovative thinking is needed." Or perhaps a few years abroad: the average annual cost of insurance for a Ford Ka MkII for a 17-to-20-year-old is a paltry £1,651 ($2,569) by comparison.

You think being a teen driver in the U.S. is costly? Try $18k/year in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto insurancecar insurancedriversdrivers licensedriving testiiaminstitute of advanced motoristsinsuranceteen driversteensukunited kingdomMon, 10 Oct 2011 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20077216/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/10/image-needed-you-think-being-a-teen-driver-in-the-u-s-is-cos/20077216/article-detail.xml 20077216 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/happy-teen-girl-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/happy-teen-girl-driver.jpg <![CDATA[GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/gm-launching-onstar-based-family-link-that-tracks-teen-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/gm-launching-onstar-based-family-link-that-tracks-teen-drivers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/gm-launching-onstar-based-family-link-that-tracks-teen-drivers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

onstar family link

Your children use the Internet for social media, Wikipediaing (yep, we just made that up) their homework and drowning in the misery that is a teenager's life. You, on the other hand, use the Internet for work... and social media and Wikipediaing your kid's homework. Now, OnStar has another way for you to use the web, and it involves your family as well.

The program is called Family Link, and it allows for owners of OnStar-equipped vehicles to keep track of their rides when they're out of sight. Say your son or daughter borrowed the Acadia, you can log in to your Family Link account and see exactly where little Billy or Sally have taken your GMC. Family Link also allows you to receive text or email alerts throughout the day, at predetermined intervals, which update you on the status of your automobile.

General Motors plans to roll out the service to 10,000 customers via an invite-only trial. Consumer response will help dictate the plan's rollout timeline, pricing and additional services that could be added. In fact, OnStar is already thinking ahead - possible add-on extras include speed warnings, boundary alerts and estimated arrival times.

So, is this sort of technology welcome in America's households, or is it too "Big Brother" for you? Have your say in Comments.

Continue reading GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers

GM launching OnStar-based Family Link that tracks teen drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big brotherfamily linkgeneral motorsgmon staronstaronstar family linkteen driverstelematicstrackingtracking systemTue, 02 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20006674/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/02/gm-launching-onstar-based-family-link-that-tracks-teen-drivers/20006674/article-detail.xml 20006674 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/family-link-vehicle-locate_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/family-link-vehicle-locate.jpg <![CDATA[Depressed teens more dangerous behind the wheel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/depressed-teens-more-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/depressed-teens-more-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/depressed-teens-more-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/#commentsFiled under:

Depressed teenage girl driverA new Australian study may indicate that depressed teens are more likely to get into an accident than their mentally-fit peers. According to our peers over at AOL Autos, a recent report published in the journal Injury Prevention translates the fact that depressed individuals are more likely to engage in self-destructive behavior into teen driving habits.

It's no secret that younger drivers are more likely to get into an accident. Researchers point out that individuals between 17 and 24 years old accounted for 22.3 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2008, but the study of 1,284 young drivers showed that those who had signs of depression and anxiety also freely admitted to speeding.

Those involved in the research seem to think the results indicate a strong correlation between mental illness and risky driving behavior, though it's important to note that the findings rely on self-reported behavior instead of actual scientific observations. Even so, the study suggests that mental evaluations can be used to determine which young drivers will be more of a danger behind the wheel.

Depressed teens more dangerous behind the wheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>depresseddepressionstudyteen angstteen depressionteen driversteenage depressionteenagersyoung driversFri, 29 Jul 2011 16:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20004481/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/29/depressed-teens-more-dangerous-behind-the-wheel/20004481/article-detail.xml 20004481 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/depressed-teen-girl-driver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/depressed-teen-girl-driver.jpg <![CDATA[Cost to insure a new UK driver? Nearly $10,000/year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

L Plate on a Suzuki Samurai

According to The Daily Telegraph, young drivers in Britain can pay as much as £546 per month for auto insurance. That's around $890/month at current conversion rates. The report indicates that UK drivers between the ages of 17 and 22 years old pay an average of £5,957 - around $9,640.

And you thought it was expensive to get car insurance for your child.

Why the steep price tag for UK drivers with Learner's tags? It's no shock to learn that young drivers carry a higher risk of being involved in an accident than their elder counterparts, and as such, insurance companies assign higher premiums to the group. Unfortunately, as a result of these tough insurance prices, it's estimated that as much as 20 percent of UK drivers between the ages of 17 and 22 are driving without any coverage at all.

Additionally, around 41 percent of UK parents are currently insuring their child's vehicle in their name to cut costs. Unfortunately, doing so is illegal, and insurance companies can refuse to cover a claim if they find that parents have been fronting insurance for their young drivers.

So what's the solution? The Daily Telegraph reports that some insurance companies are turning to a black box that measures g-forces from sudden acceleration, braking and cornering, as well as the time of day that the vehicle is being driven and its speed to custom-tailor insurance premiums. Similar measures are being undertaken here in the States as well.

Cost to insure a new UK driver? Nearly $10,000/year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 May 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto insuranceblack boxcar insuranceinsuranceteen driversukyoung driversWed, 25 May 2011 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19948920/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/25/cost-to-insure-a-new-uk-driver-nearly-10-000-year/19948920/article-detail.xml 19948920 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/l-plate-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/l-plate-630.jpg <![CDATA[Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/ford-mykey-now-allows-parents-to-block-howard-stern-playboy-rad/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/ford-mykey-now-allows-parents-to-block-howard-stern-playboy-rad/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/29/ford-mykey-now-allows-parents-to-block-howard-stern-playboy-rad/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford MyKey 2011
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

Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011Ford'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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>censorshipdriver safetyfordford mykeyford mykey 2011mykeyparentingspeed limiterteen driverteen driversWed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19780608/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/29/ford-mykey-now-allows-parents-to-block-howard-stern-playboy-rad/19780608/article-detail.xml 19780608 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/sirius-restricted_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/sirius-restricted.jpg <![CDATA[Study: Teens don't think texting while driving is as dangerous as DUI]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/study-teens-dont-think-texting-while-driving-is-as-dangerous-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/study-teens-dont-think-texting-while-driving-is-as-dangerous-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/20/study-teens-dont-think-texting-while-driving-is-as-dangerous-a/#commentsFiled under:

Texting and Driving

Despite plenty of academic research demonstrating that texting while driving can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving, a new poll shows that most teens simply don't think that's the case. State Farm recently sponsored a poll conducted by Harris Interactive in which 14-to-17 year-olds were asked whether they thought they would die one day if they regularly text and drive. Only 35 percent of those asked strongly agreed with that statement. Compare that figure with the 55 percent of teens who think that drinking and driving could prove deadly, and you begin to see the disparity.

Likewise, those polled believed that their chances of getting into an accident are higher while drinking and driving versus texting and driving. The auto insurance giant says that it's up to parents to underscore the dangers of both activities for their children. We couldn't agree more - especially after seeing that only a little more than half of the teens surveyed appear to adequately understand the potential consequences of drinking and driving. With public safety groups and parents having already spent decades reminding young people of the dangers of driving under the influence, it looks like it's going to take at least that long to reach them about the perils of distracted driving. Hit the jump for the press release.

[Source: State Farm | Image: Getty]

Continue reading Study: Teens don't think texting while driving is as dangerous as DUI

Study: Teens don't think texting while driving is as dangerous as DUI originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Distracted drivingDrinking and DrivingDrinkingAndDrivingDUIState Farmteen driversteen drivingTeenDriversTeenDrivingtextingTexting and DrivingMon, 20 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19641103/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/20/study-teens-dont-think-texting-while-driving-is-as-dangerous-a/19641103/article-detail.xml 19641103 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/texting_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/texting.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Teen car sales drop as jobs remain scarce]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/report-teen-car-sales-drop-as-jobs-remain-scarce/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/report-teen-car-sales-drop-as-jobs-remain-scarce/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/23/report-teen-car-sales-drop-as-jobs-remain-scarce/#commentsFiled under:

We all remember our first car. There's nothing quite like the memory of seeing your parents hand you the keys to a vehicle you can call your own, and the experience has historically happened somewhere between a child's 16th and 18th year. Right?

Perhaps not. It seems that the time-honored act of buying your first new-to-you car in your teenage years is waning in popularity. And the same is also true of vehicles purchased from well-meaning parents for their children. According to CNW Marketing Research, in calendar year 2005, there were 7.5 million vehicles purchased by or for teens. In 2010, that number is expected to dwindle all the way down to 4.2 million.

Tellingly, this statistic is falling right alongside the flickering teen job market. CNW reports that 27 percent of all American teens have not worked full- or part-time so far this year, which is up dramatically from 2005. Not surprisingly, only 16 percent of teenagers that do happen to have their own set of wheels pay the full monthly payment themselves (that's down from 21 percent).

Transaction prices are also down, which has led to another intriguing bullet point: 57 percent of cars purchased by or for teens are from domestic automakers, due largely to the fact that American cars tend to be less expensive on the used market.

[CNW Marketing Research | Image: Getty]

Report: Teen car sales drop as jobs remain scarce originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNW Market Researchcnw marketingCNW Marketing ResearchCnwMarketingCnwMarketingResearchCnwMarketResearchfirst carfirst carsFirstCarFirstCarsteenteen driverTeen driversteen drivingteenagerteenagersTeenDriverTeenDriversTeenDrivingteensFri, 23 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19564717/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/23/report-teen-car-sales-drop-as-jobs-remain-scarce/19564717/article-detail.xml 19564717 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/first-car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/first-car.jpg <![CDATA[Video: PSA - Ken Jeong and Joel McHale urge you to put a sock on it]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/video-psa-ken-jeong-and-joel-mchale-tell-you-to-put-a-sock-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/video-psa-ken-jeong-and-joel-mchale-tell-you-to-put-a-sock-on/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/28/video-psa-ken-jeong-and-joel-mchale-tell-you-to-put-a-sock-on/#commentsFiled under: ,

Wear your thumb socks - Click above to watch video after the jump

In the never-ending battle to get teenage drivers to put down their cell phones while driving, Sprint has assembled an A-Team of comedic force to advocate the use of thumb socks. We're not kidding. The ever-hilarious comedians Ken Jeong and Joel McHale have jumped on board to get teens to wrap up their opposable digits while driving. The theory is that the slick sock fabric makes it nearly impossible manipulate your phone's buttons and cuts out using the iPhone's touchscreen all together.

Sprint will be more than happy to send you three pairs of the socks once you sign up for an account over at the Do Something web site. The company is hoping kids will give the extra pairs to their friends, or keep a pair in the glove box.

Sounds like a good idea, to be sure. Thing is, we have a hard time believing your average teenager is going to embrace wearing something that's four fingers short of a glove and takes effort to put on. Considering the fact that tying shoe laces is too much a stretch for most of the sub-20 population, we don't expect to see thumb socks become all the rage all of a sudden. Hit the jump to see Jeong and McHale do their best to get the word out.

[Source: Do Something]

Continue reading Video: PSA - Ken Jeong and Joel McHale urge you to put a sock on it

Video: PSA - Ken Jeong and Joel McHale urge you to put a sock on it originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cell PhoneCell PhonesCellPhoneCellPhonesdistracted drivingDistractedDrivingDo SOmethingDoSomethingJoel McHaleJoelMchaleKen JeongKenJeongPSApublic service announcementPublicServiceAnnouncementSprintTeen DriversteenagersTeenDriversTextingTexting while drivingTextingWhileDrivingThumb WarThumbWarWed, 28 Apr 2010 12:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19455869/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/28/video-psa-ken-jeong-and-joel-mchale-tell-you-to-put-a-sock-on/19455869/article-detail.xml 19455869 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/thumb-socks-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/thumb-socks-630.jpg <![CDATA[AAA study says teen drivers kill others more than they kill themselves]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/aaa-study-says-teen-drivers-kill-others-more-than-they-kill-them/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/aaa-study-says-teen-drivers-kill-others-more-than-they-kill-them/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/aaa-study-says-teen-drivers-kill-others-more-than-they-kill-them/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teenage drivers are dangerous, that's no revelation. AAA has analyzed the last decade of crash data by its AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and found that while deadly crashes are down overall, teenage drivers are still at least twice as lethal to other people as they are to themselves.

While measures such as graduated licensing and improved driver training have brought down fatalities, more could still be done. Passengers in cars driven by teens continue to fare the worst, while other drivers, pedestrians and other non-motorists are also victims. The statistics certainly make parents contemplate carting around their progeny indefinitely, as AAA says that 49 states could beef up their graduated licensing programs. Add to the discussion the dismal state of driver training and the level of distraction many drivers (not just teens) inflict upon themselves while piloting 3,000-pound projectiles, and you might also start seriously considering telecommuting. Check out the official press release from AAA after the jump.

[Source: AAA | Photo by djuggler | CC2.0]

Continue reading AAA study says teen drivers kill others more than they kill themselves

AAA study says teen drivers kill others more than they kill themselves originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaa teenage driver safetyAaaTeenageDriverSafetyaccident statisticsAccidentStatisticsteen driverteen driver accidentsteen driver fatalteen driversteen drivers licenseteen drivingteen driving fatalteen driving safetyteenage driverteenage driver accidentsteenage driver fatalteenage driversteenage drivingteenage driving fatalteenage driving safetyTeenageDriverTeenageDriverAccidentsTeenageDriverFatalTeenageDriversTeenageDrivingTeenageDrivingFatalTeenageDrivingSafetyTeenDriverTeenDriverAccidentsTeenDriverFatalTeenDriversTeenDriversLicenseTeenDrivingTeenDrivingFatalTeenDrivingSafetyTue, 03 Mar 2009 17:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1474894/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/03/03/aaa-study-says-teen-drivers-kill-others-more-than-they-kill-them/1474894/article-detail.xml 1474894 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/2612835735_01b50099f7_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/03/2612835735_01b50099f7_opt.jpg <![CDATA[AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

Nobody would argue that the potential for lost-life is the worst thing about teen crashes, but the related monetary expenses are also rather staggering. AAA estimates that teen crashes ended up costing more than $34 billion annually in medical expenses, lost work, property damage, quality of life loss and other related costs in 2006 alone. According to AAA, fifteen to seventeen year-old drivers were involved in nearly a million crashes in 2006, injuring 406,427 people and killing 2,541. Each fatality carries an average cost of $3.841 million while injury accidents post an average of $50,512.

According to their research, AAA suggests that states should take up graduated driver licensing strategies, which they say are proven to reduce fatal crashes involving teen drivers by an average of 38 percent. Browse through the press release after the break for the whole set of sad statistics.

[Source: AAA]

Continue reading AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year

AAA: Teen crashes cost society $34 billion per year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaateenteen accidentsteen driversteen safetyteen-accidentsteen-driverteen-driversteen-safetyTeenAccidentsteenagerteenagersTeenDriversteensTeenSafetyThu, 10 Apr 2008 07:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1163010/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/04/10/aaa-teen-crashes-cost-society-34-billion-per-year/1163010/article-detail.xml 1163010 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/aaa_logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/aaa_logo.jpg <![CDATA[Huh? Fewer 16-year olds are getting their licenses]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/huh-fewer-16-year-olds-are-getting-their-licenses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/huh-fewer-16-year-olds-are-getting-their-licenses/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/huh-fewer-16-year-olds-are-getting-their-licenses/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Have teenagers gone nuts? The Federal Highway Administration is reporting that the percentage of teenagers with driver's licenses is going down. Yeah, decreasing! What is up with that?

When I was growing up, my teenage years focused on just one objective... driving. All I wanted was to get my driver's license. That little card with your picture on it was the golden ticket. You could borrow your parent's car, fill the tank (and grab a candy bar) for $20, and nobody could reach you until you returned. We didn't have cell phones, text messaging or GPS tracking. A driver's license represented freedom.

So, what happened? Experts aren't blaming unmotivated teenagers. Instead, they point the finger at the environment in which we are raising our kids. In today's world, parents are much more likely to chauffeur their teenagers from place to place. Tighter state laws govern when kids can drive, and in many cases legislation has pushed the driving age limit higher. Fewer high schools are offering driver's education classes, forcing parents to pay for more expensive private instruction, and steeper rates are making insurance cost-prohibitive for the high-risk teen-age category. Top it all off with gasoline at more than three-dollars per gallon, and maybe a driver's license just doesn't represent what it used to.

[Source: New York Times]

Huh? Fewer 16-year olds are getting their licenses originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DriversDrivers EducationDriversEducationLicensePermitTeenteen driversteen drivers licenseTeenageTeenDriversTeenDriversLicenseFri, 29 Feb 2008 11:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1125958/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/02/29/huh-fewer-16-year-olds-are-getting-their-licenses/1125958/article-detail.xml 1125958 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/teen_driver_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/02/teen_driver_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Aussie speeding PSA hits below the belt]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/27/aussie-speeding-psa-hits-below-the-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/27/aussie-speeding-psa-hits-below-the-belt/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/27/aussie-speeding-psa-hits-below-the-belt/#commentsFiled under:

Australia's new series of commercials aimed at keeping young male drivers from speeding doesn't waste time with complex morality tales or blood-splattered movies or shocking statistics. The premise is this: speed, and you're not, well ... endowed. Unhappy with results from more traditional messages about the dangers of speeding, the Roads and Traffic Authority decided to equate speeding with people openly calling a driver out as uncool in one of those unique Aussie ways they have for these things. The aim is "to make speeding socially unacceptable." According to the RTA's stats, they've finally found a way to get a young man's attention.

Thanks for the tip, Craig

[Source: New South Wales RTA]

Aussie speeding PSA hits below the belt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiaspeedingteen driversTeenDriversWed, 27 Jun 2007 08:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/926590/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/06/27/aussie-speeding-psa-hits-below-the-belt/926590/article-detail.xml 926590 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/nsw_kids_speeding_uncool_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/nsw_kids_speeding_uncool.jpg -1 2