Autoblog

Scottish police call for cars with mandatory cruise control

Chris Tutor — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, UK

The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS) is asking the government to help them slow down drivers. Despite Scotland recording its lowest traffic fatalities since they began keeping track of the statistic, Transport Minister Keith Brown says, "... one death on our roads is one too many as far as I am concerned."

According to The Scotsman, officers have asked the Scottish Parliament to push manufacturers to make cruise control standard equipment.

"For people like salesmen, if all cars had cruise control, it would be easier to drive within limits," says Chief Superintendent David O'Connor. O'Connor isn't just talking about freeway speed limits, either - he envisions motorists using speed limiters in school zones and such, too.

O'Connor goes even further, and says he would ideally like to see all cars fitted with black boxes to record driver behavior. The device, he argues, would be most beneficial among drivers under 25.

The Scottish government is already experimenting with the black box idea on business cars of drivers under 25. To implement the idea nationally, though, would reportedly require changes to European Union laws, something the Scottish Parliament has no control over.

Scottish police call for cars with mandatory cruise control originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Young motorists driving far less than even 10 years ago

Zach Bowman — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

A new study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group indicates Americans are driving less than they were a few years ago. That drop is largely thanks to young people. Those between the ages of 16 and 34 drove 23 percent fewer miles in 2009 than they did in 2001. While it's tempting to attribute the decline to the recession, the study suggests the decline may continue even after the economy picks up pace. Factors like steeper fuel prices, more readily available public transportation and a shift in priorities are likely to continue to allow young drivers to cut down on their time behind the wheel.

The study cites one poll that found a full 45 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 34 have moved to replace driving with other modes of transportation. By comparison, only 32 percent of older drivers have done the same.

Is this bad news? Not from our point of view. Our aging highway infrastructure is constantly struggling to keep pace with the volume of cars on the road. With more drivers opting for alternative transportation, there's bound to be less traffic and more room for those of us who actually prefer driving. Throw in decreased demand for gasoline, and we may even see fuel prices stay manageable in the near future. All hail the new generation.

Young motorists driving far less than even 10 years ago originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Depressed teens more dangerous behind the wheel

Zach Bowman — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

A 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.

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Cost to insure a new UK driver? Nearly $10,000/year

Zach Bowman — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Earnings/Financials, UK

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.

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Ferrari signs 11-year-old to development program, renews Massa contract

Noah Joseph — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ferrari, Canada

We don't know about you, but when we were 11 years old, most of us here at Autoblog were dreaming about one day driving a Ferrari. Never in our wildest dreams could never have imagined being signed to a contract with the Scuderia. Not at that age, anyway. But that's exactly what's happened for Lance Stroll.

An eleven-year-old racing prodigy from Montreal, Stroll has already been kickin' butt and taking names in pro karting series at home and around the world. He's won several karting races and titles, and was named Rookie of the Year and then Driver of the Year by the Fedération Sport Automobile du Quebec. Not bad for a kid who hasn't even reached his Bar Mitzvah yet.

As part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, Stroll will be joining a rapidly growing roster of older drivers - including several European feeder formula champs - being supported by Maranello in their budding careers. Stroll's contract was announced in the ramp-up to the Canadian Grand Prix which returns to his home town of Montreal this weekend.

Against the backdrop of aspiring drivers being recruited by Formula One teams at decreasing ages, Ferrari's program was launched after Felipe Massa was sidelined last season and the team struggled to find a suitable replacement. Massa's contract, incidentally, was also officially renewed for another couple of seasons, confirming earlier reports. Both announcements can be found after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari signs 11-year-old to development program, renews Massa contract

Ferrari signs 11-year-old to development program, renews Massa contract originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Internet killing America's car culture?

Zach Bowman — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

The number of young drivers on the road these days is steadily declining, according to research compiled by Automotive News, and while that may mean you're less likely to get into a fender bender with a high school sophomore, it may also spell bad news for the automotive industry. The article says that in 1978, around half of all 16 year-olds and three-quarters of all 17 year-olds had their driver's licenses. Fast forward to 2008, and those numbers have dropped off to 31 percent and 49 percent, respectively.

That's a significant drop, and its brought about in part by the fact that some states have moved the licensing age from 16 to 18, but Automotive News sites a few sources that claim the internet is to blame. With everything available at your fingertips, why bother with the expense and hassle of owning a car? Likewise, driving a car makes using mobile internet devices like smart phones and laptops less than convenient compared to public transportation.

The article goes on to say that young folk also point to environmental concerns as one of the largest reasons for foregoing a driver's license. Whatever the cause, manufacturers are likely looking at this information with a worried eye, just as Japan's automakers have been doing for the last 10 years.

[Source: Automotive News]

Is the Internet killing America's car culture? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Jersey drivers under 21 required to affix red sticker to cars *UPDATE

Eric Loveday — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:32:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Should other drivers be aware that the vehicle they're tailing is piloted by someone under the age of 21? New Jersey thinks so and has become the first state to enact a law requiring drivers under 21 to affix a red sticker to both their front and rear license plates.

The law, called Kyleigh's Law in memory of a young driver killed by another young driver, will go into effect beginning in May, and the stickers can be purchased from the local motor vehicle department for $4.00.

The sticker program is not without its challengers. Some believe that it will call out undue attention to teenage drivers while others believe that teenage drivers could become the target of criminals or even sex offenders.

According to the state, the stickers will help local police to enforce the state's 11 o'clock curfew for young drivers and to enforce other laws specific to restricted license drivers.

Similar systems have been instituted around the globe - from the UK to Japan - for years, with varying levels of effectiveness. Whether the sticker solution will be widely adopted across the U.S. remains to be seen, but feel free to posit your own opinion in the comments below.

UPDATE: Drivers who have completed the 12-month provisional-license period will not have to display the decal even if younger than 21. Only those with provisional licenses or learner's permits will be required to display the red sticker. Once the driver obtains a regular driver's license, the sticker can be removed.

[Source: New Jersey Online , My Central Jersey]

New Jersey drivers under 21 required to affix red sticker to cars *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test

Noah Joseph — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs

F1 Young Drivers Test at Jerez - Click above for high-res image gallery

The biggest football fans don't just watch the NFL. They're watching college football too. If not because they say it's a better spectacle, then simply to see the future pros who'll ultimately be drafted by NFL teams.

Formula racing works the same way. (Well, sorta.) There are countless feeder series staged every year around the world, and most of the drivers in them are hoping for their shot at the big leagues. But with championships split between so many series - from Formula Renault to GP2 and from Indy Lights to Formula 2 - it can be a bit much to follow.

Fortunately this year in the off-season, all the returning F1 teams came together for one massive test at the Jerez track in Spain. There they put the latest crop of up-and-coming talent to the test. Follow the jump to read how it unfolded.

Gallery: F1 Young Driver Test, Jerez, December 2009

Continue reading Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test

Star Search: Fresh talent descends on Jerez for F1 mega test originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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