Autoblog

Turn signal neglect results in over twice as many crashes as distracted driving

Zach Bowman — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:32:00 EST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has taken dead aim at stamping out distracted driving and with good reason. Last year, inattentive drivers caused around 950,000 accidents. But according to a new study by the Society of Automotive Engineers, there's another issue causing even more accidents across the country: turn signal neglect. According to their research, drivers neglect their turn signals, either by failing to turn when their signal is activated or not activating the signal at all, an astonishing 750 billion times a year. What's more, neglecting the signals may be responsible for as many as two million accidents per year.

SAE says the solution lies in the implementation of so-called "Smart Turn Signals," which use sensors to shut off turn signals before they become a safety hazard. What's more, engineers can integrate a "Turn Signal Assist" feature, which uses a vehicle information display to alert the driver if they fail to use turn signals on a regular basis or don't shut them off in a timely manner. The report says that since the system uses sensors already integrated into the stability control module, there would be no cost added to the vehicle's bottom line.

This is our skeptical face. We're major proponents of proper and consistent turn signal use, but we're bigger fans of creating smarter drivers through education than we are of building smarter cars. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Turn signal neglect results in over twice as many crashes as distracted driving

Turn signal neglect results in over twice as many crashes as distracted driving originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Toyota bomb scares due to... Nigerian turn signal inventor?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 20 May 2010 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Toyota

Authorities with the Federal Bureau of Investigation have finally determined the origin of the four suspicious packages that were mailed to various Toyota facilities last week. Turns out the boxes were filled with wires, relays and film canisters from a Nigerian engineer.

All four of the packages were sent without a return address, and bomb sniffing dogs reacted positively to the boxes when they were discovered. According to investigators, that's probably due to the fact that film uses some of the same chemicals as common explosives. From what everyone can tell, the sender was simply trying to get his ideas for a new turn signal to Toyota R&D. He certainly got their attention.

According to the Charleston Gazette, the FBI has no intention of tracking the engineer down or charging him with anything. The agency said that the whole thing was a simple misunderstanding.

[Source: The Charleston Gazette | Image: Rusty Jarrett/Getty for NASCAR]

Followup: Toyota bomb scares due to... Nigerian turn signal inventor? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 May 2010 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford adding three-blink function to turn signals

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Technology, Hatchback, Ford

It's fitting that Ford's first European offering to swim over this way will bring with it another feature that The Continent can take credit for: tap-for-three-blinks turn signal operation. It will appear on the Fiesta this summer, and then migrate to other vehicles in the 2011 line-up, starting with the Super Duty series.

The three-blink feature is not as polarizing as the placement of paddle shifters, but people are known to have their opinions. This writer likes it, preferring a mistaken tap to someone flashing their turn signal eternally. You can read Ford's release after the jump, and sound off on the new convenience - or not - in the comments.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford adding three-blink function to turn signals

Ford adding three-blink function to turn signals originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LaneFX blind spot exposure system lets you see your sides - UPDATED

John Neff — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

Blind spot detection systems that warn drivers when a vehicle is playing hide-and-seek in your blindspot using visual and audible alerts have already debuted on production vehicles. Volvo's got such a system on the new S80 and Audi on its Q7. Driveaware is a third-party company that took a different approach than the OEMs when developing its new product called LaneFX. Rather than detecting an oncoming vehicle, LaneFX automatically moves the corresponding power mirror outward to expose a vehicle's blindspot when the turnsignal is activated. The kit can be universally installed on any vehicle with power mirrors and also features ParkFX that tilts the mirrors downward when reverse is engaged. Check out a video of the LaneFX in action here.

UPDATED: Missed an important qualification that LaneFX does not automatically move a side mirror, but only when the turn signal is activated. Also, LaneFX does not claim exclusivity on the technology that allows up-down movement of the mirrors when the car is put in reverse. Oh yeah, the company's name is Driveaware, not DriveAware. Now we return you to your regularly scheduled reading...

LaneFX blind spot exposure system lets you see your sides - UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jun 2006 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom blinker tones to replace ringtones in popularity?

John Neff — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Technology

Could it happen? CNET pundit Rafe Needleman let us know via email he asked this very question after reading a Ford press release that reveals turn signals of today emit a digital tone that has been meticulously engineered by dudes in white labcoats. In the past that familiar clicking sound that accompanied those flashing green arrows was caused by a mechanical relay. With the electronic revolution having banished nearly all mechanical operations in a car besides the engine itself, it's feasible we could be downloading custom blinker tones for our pimped rides in the very near future.

We don't know about you, but we're planning on replacing our left blinker click with the THX intro and the right one with the startup sound a Mac makes. What about you?

[Source: CNET]

Custom blinker tones to replace ringtones in popularity? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey: lane-changing drivers skipping signals

Stuart Waterman — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Trends

In what can only be described as a piercing glimpse into the obvious, a national survey by Response Insurance reveals that a remarkable 57-percent of U.S. drivers don't use their turn signals when changing lanes. Even more amazing (frightening?) is that 7-percent of those drivers confess that they don't signal because it "adds excitement to driving"!

Signal-challenged drivers also admit to not having enough time (42-percent), being lazy (23-percent), not signalling because they forget to turn it off afterward (17-percent), changing lanes too often to bother signalling (12-percent), thinking that signalling isn't important (11-percent), and not signalling because other drivers don't (8-percent).

Fully 71-percent of drivers ages 18-to-24 admitted they don't signal when changing lanes.

From one group of driving enthusiasts to another: Light 'em up, people!!

[Source: Response Insurance via PRNewswire]

Survey: lane-changing drivers skipping signals originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Mar 2006 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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