Driving with pets crash prices increases, says study

Michael strong, the Detroit Bureau - 3 days

As head of the U.S. Department of transportation declared repeatedly his goal distracted driving Ray LaHood, such as while driving talk. A new study adds another to his list of driving No. nos: pets, particularly for senior drivers.

To say, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham that both overall and at fault crash rates for drivers 70 years or older higher which were their pet often rode with them.

"This is the first study to assess the presence of pets in a vehicle as a possible internal distraction for older drivers," said Gerald McGwin, co-author of the study and a professor in the Department of epidemiology.

The crash risk for drivers, who drove with their pets was the double of drivers who never drove with an animal. Crash rates for those who occasionally or rarely drove with pets were tariffs for non-pet owner.

LaHood has good reason, distracted driving be worried: it makes more than 10 percent of all U.S. highway deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Government recently policies around the eyes of the driver, mobile phones, and on the road and discouraging car manufacturers prevent troublesome dashboard devices make.

The guidelines are to limit how long drivers look from the street. After Highway Safety Administration, drivers should their eyes off the road for longer than two seconds do not ingest. A playful pet, especially one on the front seats could require too much attention.

More than half of pet owners said, took their pet with them in the car at least temporarily usually riding in the front seat or the back seat.

"The increased crash rate for older drivers who drive always with pets is important in connection with the awareness of drivers of potentially dangerous driving habits."

The problem with pets in the car not have, that they are likely to physically interfere in the operation of the vehicle, but that they are disturbing. Hawaii is the only State that currently the driver before a pet in driver lap prohibits. Arizona, Connecticut and Maine have broader laws restrict conduct or activities which could potentially distract a driver such laws can apply to pets in a vehicle.

The authors suggest that older drivers slower cognitive performance and response time than younger riders displayed when dealing with "a higher cognitive or physical workload while driving."

"Another disturbing element, especially an active, potentially moving animal, provides more options for an older driver to cope with a condition in a satisfactory way less than add", McGwin said.

In the study, researchers noted, that 83 percent of respondents agreed it was unsafe, pets, to allow travel unrestrained in a vehicle but only 16 percent is trying to use any kind of pet safety restraint in your vehicle.

The study employs 2,000 community living - people who do not live in assisted living or nursing homes - licensed drivers aged 70 and over. There were 691 participants had pets.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Stop, daydreaming and focus on driving!

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau - 5 days

Keep your mind on the road and your hands on the wheel. At least, that's the warning that we should take heart from a new study on the causes of many traffic deaths: daydreaming.

Apparently are you be five times more frequently involved in a fatal accident, because you "" were lost in thought as if you were distracted by the use of an electronic device, according to new research by the Erie Insurance Group.

"Were to interfere with the results," said Erie Senior Vice President Doug Smith.

The study focused on the 65,000 fatal accidents that have occurred in the United States 10 percent in the past two years as the result of some kind of distracted driving - in accordance with federal and other insurance industry estimates identified.

But what was the research next came as a huge surprise. It identified 62 percent of falls as a result of simply as "lost in thought." That could mean, failed on the back of another vehicle, rolling through a red light or another driver error recognize a dangerous curve in the road, running. In contrast, only 12 percent of fatal accidents were blamed, the collected data on some form of the use of mobile phones.

Other forms of distractions, which include:

««Rubbernecking, 7 percent;
Children or other passengers, 5 percent;
For an object elsewhere in the car, reach 2 per cent;
Eat or drink, 2 percent.

Contain other, lighter factors to achieve operating vehicle controls, such as the heating or the radio, and even an ashtray. Pets were also a problem for incidents that 1 percent of all deadly distracted driving blamed.

"Distracted driving any activity, which takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel or your thoughts your primary task of driving is safe", Smith said. "We looked at what law enforcement officers across the country reported, if they filled reports of fatal crashes and the results were disturbing." "We hope that the data will encourage the people who avoid these risky behaviors that unnecessarily involved increase their risk of a fatal accident."

The study was released just in time for what the U.S. Department of transportation distracted driving national awareness month has declared.

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While Erie could find many other distractions that can lead to fatal crashes, it continues to emphasize the need to pull a driver over to send texts, and avoid the use of mobile phones while driving.

Recent studies support the concern that this has become a serious problem. In November last year as TheDetroitBureau.com reported, a State Farm study found almost half of drivers under 29 while using the Internet at least once in the month behind the wheel.

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Automaker offers curb drowsy driving

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

You've ever even behind the wheel nodded caught? It would be not alone. More than a third of all drivers admit they have done this at some time or another and drowsy driving begins to blame for at least 100,000 crashes and more than 1,500 deaths per year in the United States.

Notes a new study by the Centers for disease control, that while driving at least once during the previous month - tell each 24 adults in the United States, have fallen asleep, and experts believe this number that "Micro sleep." is low, because drivers often do not recognize if she had one or two seconds

Sleep even a moment can be disastrous, when you consider that at only 60 miles per hour, that such a vehicle is 88 ft travel, or about four to five car lengths.

"If I'm on the road, I would be a little worried about the other drivers" after reading the results of the study, said lead author Anne Wheaton of the CDC.

The telephone survey stretched 147.076 adults in 19 States and the District of Columbia, making it the largest survey of its kind. It found that 4 percent of respondents said she've been nodded at least once during the previous month way.

100,000 Crashes a year
Even more cause for concern were carried earlier studies, such as one by the National Sleep Foundation in 2005. The NSF reported that 60 percent of adults sleepy drove driver of a vehicle during at least once during the previous year, while 37 percent, that she are actually out nodded. And those that sleep recognized, 13 percent indicated that that they routinely acts, at least once in the month.

The Foundation's sleep study also showed that 4 per cent recorded the survey pool, either an accident or an accident near because they were drowsy or asleep at the wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration an estimated 100,000 crashes a year caused by sleepy drivers - what an estimated 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year.

The latest research findings, the CDC found that men tend to doze off behind the wheel, as drivers in the ages between 25 and 34, and those who get regularly less than six hours of sleep per night. An earlier Gallup survey found that men twice as often as women to drive sleepy.

The challenge for researchers is to get accurate results, how all sleepy drive differently defined and have can be from often unaware that she actually nodded for a second or two motorists.

Kfz-Technik
A study by the Virginia Tech transportation Institute used cameras and other sensors in 100 vehicles to see what happens on the road. Although the numbers were small, allowed the one-year study researchers project, the sleepiness to a certain degree, 20 percent of all crashes contributed. You appreciate that a driver is drowsy four to six times more likely to be a collision as involved, which is wide awake.

It may be difficult for the police to identify a drowsy driver in contrast to drunken drivers. But motorists even addressed new technology warnings. A number of vehicles, including products from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, are programmed on-site sign that sleepy is a driver. Some are looking for specific steering wheel inputs, another system to a camera on the driver's face.

Most of the technologies, just try to identify a driver, if that happens, perhaps through a coffee cup emblem somewhere on the dash blinks or a gong sound.

Ford has added a drowsy driving warning, which it with the optional new lane-keeping assist system on the 2013 has coupled the fusion sedan. It uses a forward-facing camera order for visible road markings, alerting the driver through the steering wheel to vibrate when the system senses the car drift out of its lane to see.

"We found the driver languages we definitely inclined towards characteristics were the real practical benefit of inform them about potentially dangerous situations that they missed," after Billy Mann, Managing Director of the Penn Schoen Berland survey consider a current for Ford, as consumers responded to new security technology.

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More US women than men have driving license

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
As this has clearly shown month presidential elections, there is a significant demographic change in America - and you need to check that voter roles, to confirm that not. Just looking around you on the highway.

More women than men's study now a driver's license have a new Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan or UMTRI, the gender trends in driving licences between 1995 and 2010 looked at.

The gap will show expected to continue widening the study, that the number of Americans with a driver's license has to shrink over the past 15 years was. The decline in men 25 to 29 years already twice as large as females.

"The demographic gender require large impact on the size and type of vehicle energy consumption and road safety", said Michael Sivak, co-author of the study.

While the right to vote in most of the country by the time that won, rolled Henry Ford his first model T, efforts to the women of the street little momentum during the early 20.Jahrhundert still had earned women not saying Margaret Walsh, author of "Sex and the car in the United States."

"they were outnumbered in the minority," writes Walsh "and your driving style often mocked men." However, it added, "could see women as men, the benefits of a freer movement."

In the 1950s the driving test - had given millions of women, although only half reach driving age in the Eisenhower era, when women to stay at home and were expected to raise a family, had received a license yet.

But when the idea of women's Liberation began to bite, the trend in gear shifted. In 1995, the number of women with a license was only slightly behind 87.4 million to 89.2 million men. And vice versa, even the gap up to the year 2010 with 105.7 million licensed 104.3 million American women compared to men.

The UMTRI study finds that the gap varies according to age. There was a remarkable decline in recent years the number of teenagers who get their licenses. Almost every fourth, which didn't bother 19 year old, as of 2008, the Michigan research group in a study published discovered last summer compared to one in eight back in the 1970s.

Meanwhile, the new report UMTRI, that while the share of men aged between 25 and 29 licenses receive has fallen 10.6 per cent in the last 15 years, it has fallen only 4.7 per cent among women shows.

Men are still dominated by older drivers. This probably reflects the fact that it slightly more men by a ratio of 105 to 100 in the United States than women born. But the ladies after 70 years catch up because men are less likely to live so long - with a life expectancy of 75 years, compared to 80 years for women. The UMTRI study shows older women hang their licenses longer.

Margaret Dunning landed in the headlines after 102 this year - and driving is still 82 years had 740 Roadster the Packard. Describes himself as "just a farm girl", they have learned how go at 8 and was officially licensed by 12, after the death of her father.

As to why fewer men their license get, experts show on a variety of factors, including the economy: vehicles are specially designed for insurance companies in recent years much more expensive become.

Sampson suggests that the rise of the Internet and the increased use of Smartphone technology in the game can be. "Virtual Contact", he said, "reduces the need of actual contact."

On the other side can see women getting a license and a car as a sign of liberation.

But who is really more the better driver? Different studies come up with contradictory results.

Would suggest a 2011 UMTRI study published in the journal traffic injury prevention found that female driver run far more into each other much higher rise than are likely to be pure coincidence. Crashes with two women were "over-represented" according to Sampson.

Then again, one found 2011 MetLife Auto & home safety American pulse survey that women receive fewer cards for reckless driving and accident about 50 percent less often than men die.

Bad driver jokes aside, it seems that most women detect who is doing a better job on the road. According to the new study by MetLife 51 percent of women believe they're better drivers with only 25 per cent men; the rest are undecided. Show in men, which included the streets, only 39 percent say they govern in the survey with 26 percent on their female counterparts.

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Ford warns some escape owners to stop, driving

The Detroit Bureau

The new 2013 Ford Escape is facing its second recall in only a week-this one interfere with 11,500 vehicles.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
Ford Motor Co. advises owners of an estimated 11,500 new escapes to park their vehicles until they line leaks can be repaired by dealers due to potential fuel, could cause fires.

New 2013 escape crossover can commercial vehicle Ford's well with consumers but security have made not so good with the supervisory authorities of the Federal Republic, after that recall Detroit maker the second, on which the new model announced in less than a week. Earlier versions of the escape are assemblies also because of concerns about potentially sticky accelerators.

Remember the latest escape is aimed specifically at new 2013 models with 1.6 liter engine of the manufacturer. Other versions are not in the recall, involved where Ford takes the unusual step questions owners can be not made with the vehicle repairs. Retailers offer a loaner vehicle for free and to handle the transport of vehicles to the service bays for repairs.

Reminds in contrast to most where decision makers take up to one month begin to notify owners repair, urges immediate action in this case Ford the manufacturer's safety after Ray Naevi, Assistant Director operations. "As soon as possible repair our intensive investigation and testing the identified problem, and we are moving us vehicles for our customers." "In the meantime, it is extremely important that the affected customers can't ignore this product recall and contact your dealer immediately."

The manufacturer says he knows no injuries as a result of the defect but does not specify when, or may have taken place as many fires due to the possible fuel line leaks.

Ford owner wants to act quickly, not to wait to get the normal notification process. Owners of the 11,500 asks her 2013 escapes from the recall covered, to contact its customer relations at 1-866-436-7332-Center or go online to www.fordowner.com how to do.

The latest announcement is a further blow to the popular escape line. The new crossover was the target of a recall Monday covering announced 10,000 2013 models that could experience so-called "carpet entrapment," where loose floor mats jam the pedals and lead, that the vehicle by running could control.

Meanwhile, Administration announced beginning a study of 730 000 Ford escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs from the 2001 to 2004 model years this week at the national highway traffic safety. The vehicles could sticky accelerators - ironically, as a result of repairs, which experience due to a previous callback. Still no decision about whether vehicles back order this decided.

This week headlines could a setback, as Ford wants to convince that it has solved the last quality issues it driver behind of the industry as the 2012 j.d. power quality initial survey average in such well-tracked studies have left.

But the industry, usually an increase in the number of recalls in recent months according to industry analysts. This can be the result a crackdown by federal authorities after the Toyota safety scandal of 2009/10.

Honda announced today that it by 172,000 CR-V crossover and Acura ILX limousine door locking problems would remember.

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Teen new requirements could reduce driving deaths

The Detroit Bureau

Emergency teams struggle to save young people in a nighttime accident involved.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, according to government statistics, but a new insurance industry report suggests that the numbers could sink, by restrictions on teen drivers tighten laws.

Car crashes for one of three people responsible reported among young people are for highway safety projects that could be saved through the use of more restrictive licenses annually at least 500 lives every year the Centers for disease control, but the new study of insurance. In some Member States, which IIHS said it expected the mortality rate among teen drivers of less than 50% fall.

The new study emphasised it best-practice guidelines adopted, called from various Member States, including driving a ban with Teen passengers, limited night rides and a request for the supervised.

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"Even the best States can do better", says Anne McCartt, senior Vice President for research at IIHS. "There is room for improvement in all areas, and States could see claims immediate reduction in fatal crashes and collision, once regulations are in place to strengthen."

States with the toughest constraints the sharpest decline in teen of fatalities compared to those with less restrictive policy signed the IIHS reported. The Institute isolated five specific policies which seem to help:

Later driving age, 17 in New Jersey;They allow later age 16 in district of Columbia, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, and five other States;At least 65 hours of supervised driving in Pennsylvania;Night driving ban in Idaho, South Carolina; AndA ban teen passengers in 15 States and Washington, D.C.
The IIHS report indicates that all but nine States now have to allow so-called graduated driver's licenses or GDLs, the young people to build up experience and maturity behind the wheel. There are three levels: a period of supervised driving under a learner who allow, meanwhile licensing, certain restrictions, followed by a license that manages full permissions.

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Since the year 2000, the IIHS has been assessed the various countries according to the effectiveness of their teen driving regulations. Initially only six States and D.C. evaluation "Good". Today however is the up to 36 States and district. Another seven earn now "faire" reviews, with seven other rated "Marginal."

But the IIHS says that the steam run the transition to more stringent restrictions has and it move to state legislators to act a new strategy that moves the public get a sense of how many lives could, with stricter rules be saved. Click here , to the computer on the IIHS Web site access.

"States have to not the toughest laws in the nation Security realize profits." Strengthening pays off one or two components. To maximize all the benefits of tiered licensing but we encouraged legislators to consider, "McCartt says the strongest provisions."

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South Dakota, could for example see a full 63% drop in fatal crashes, the IIHS projects and a decline in the collision claims by 37%.

Even States which have adopted many of the proposed restrictions, could be better, says McCartt. By the further increase of his age minimum license, increasing driving hours monitored and drive a night add constraint, the insurance would trade group projects Connecticut of a 17% drop in fatal crashes and 13% reduction in claims see collision.

McCartt recognizes that while further restrictions it supports may be difficult is the evidence that legislators Act taking into account the proposals are always "politically popular."

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Feds to crack down on texting while driving

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration wants automakers to put limits on vehicle technologies that permit texting and cellphone calling when a car is moving, as part of a broader effort to stop driving behaviors that could be distracting and cause crashes.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed voluntary steps on Thursday that would establish new safety criteria for hands-free calling, navigation, and entertainment systems that have become common in new cars and trucks.

The guidelines are mainly an attempt to reach younger drivers, who are the most inexperienced and whose daily lives are most influenced by wireless technology.

"Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America's roadways -- that's why I've made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel," LaHood said.

Distracted driving deaths totaled 3,092 in 2010, the latest available figures show. But LaHood's agency believes the total could be higher due to the unwillingness of drivers to always admit behavior, lack of witnesses to a crash in some cases, or the death of the driver.

Most U.S. motorists surveyed last year acknowledged few situations in which they would not use a cellphone or text while behind the wheel. However, they supported measures to curb both practices, the Transportation Department said.

The guidelines announced on Thursday would cover standard and optional systems not directly relevant to safe driving or that cause "undue distraction" by engaging the driver's eyes or hands for more than a brief moment.

The proposal recommends disabling in-vehicle electronic devices that the driver could use when a car is moving. This would cover text messaging, Internet browsing, and access to social media.

The proposal is a compromise for LaHood, who stopped short of ordering that General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler and other manufacturers restrict hands-free and other dashboard advances popular with consumers and key selling points in new vehicles.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman said in December that certain hands-free and other communications devices should be banned in cars.

The proposed guidelines are subject to a 60-day public comment period. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will hold hearings in March in Los Angeles, Washington and Chicago.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters.

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Automakers take aim at drowsy driving

Daimler

The Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist system will flash a warning if a motorist appears to be ready to doze off.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

If you’ve ever felt yourself nodding off when you’ve spent a little too much time behind the wheel you’re not alone. According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation more than two in five drivers admit they’ve fallen asleep, even for a moment, when driving.

While most motorists now recognize the dangers of drunk driving, AAA officials fear that there’s a more casual attitude when it comes to drowsy driving.  But new technology is designed to not only alert drivers who have begun to drift off while behind the wheel but also help them avoid an accident.

Calling drowsy driving a “serious concern,” Ford Motor Co.’s global product chief Derrick Kuzak recently revealed that the maker’s updated 2013 Lincoln MKS sedan will be able to tell when a driver is distracted or, worse, beginning to doze.  The luxury model’s Lane Keeping System will initially sound an alert if the vehicle drifts out of its lane.  If necessary, it will then add a bit of torque to the steering wheel to gently nudge the MKS back into its lane.

If the system senses that the driver is repeatedly drifting it assumes it’s time for a break and will flash a coffee cup-shaped warning to alert the driver to stop an rest.

Lincoln’s new system – which will also be available on the 2013 MKT crossover – is the latest in an array of new technologies designed to keep track of drivers and warn them when they may be over-tired.  In some of its models, Lexus uses a special camera designed to watch head movements, which can provide the telltale first signs of drowsy driving.  Mercedes-Benz, meanwhile, tracks driver inputs through the steering wheel with its Attention Assist system and will also flash a warning if a motorists appears to be ready to doze off.

The problem is not insignificant.  Though 96% of those surveyed by AAA said that drowsy driving is unacceptable, nearly one in three, or 32%, admitted doing it in just the past month, and one in 10 acknowledged actually falling asleep behind the wheel at some point during the previous year.

“Although the vast majority of drivers recognize the serious threat of drowsy driving, a ‘do as I say, not as I do’ attitude exists when getting behind the wheel. Drowsy driving kills, just as sure as drunk, drugged and distracted driving does,” AAA Foundation president and CEO Peter Kissinger said in a foundation news release. “Drivers have a tendency to underestimate the impact being tired has on their driving ability, which puts themselves and others at risk.”

The safety organization suggests there are a number of signs to watch for: including   difficulty keeping your eyes open and focused; difficulty keeping your head up; drifting from your lane; hitting rumble strips; missing traffic signs or driving past your exit; yawning repeatedly and rubbing your eyes; or feeling irritable and restless.

Safety experts suggest that it’s a good idea to travel when you’d normally be awake and take an overnight break rather than pressing on during a long trip.  Other tips to minimize drowsy driving include:

Taking a break very two hours or 100 miles;Pulling over when you feel tired rather than pressing on;Handing over the wheel to a passenger who’s more awake. AndDrinking a caffeinated beverage.

But be aware that caffeine takes about a half hour to enter the bloodstream so don’t simply grab a soft drink or energy drink at the rest stop and pull back on the road.  Give it some time to take effect before driving again.

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