Safe Drive

Who’s the better driver - Housewife or doctors?

2006-12-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

After reviewing of more than 1 million accident, speeding and moving-violation records across the country, the San Francisco-based Quality Planning Corp. (an insurance research firm), has come up with the list which ranked 40 occupations by the number of accidents per 1,000 insured drivers in the 12-month period studied:

Top 5 occupations-

1. Student

2. Medical doctor

3. Attorney

4. Architect

5.Real estate agent

Bottom 5 occupations-

36. Homemaker

37. Politician

38. Pilot

39. Firefighter

40. Farmer

This is very interesting list, to say the least.

That students are by far the most accident-prone shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. Young driver lack driving experience and underestimation of their own mortality typically make them poorer-than-average drivers.

We also can understand real estate agents being on the list, given the 30,000 to 40,000 miles a year they drive on average. More miles mean more opportunities to crunch or be crunched.

But what about doctors, lawyers and architects ? Aren't those highly educated professionals are less likely to be risky drivers? Researcher from Quality Planning Corp. speculate that this may be becasue they are too confident (or arrogant) to take risks, or lack of attention while driving, due to workloads, or simply weak physical coordination because of fatigue.

Car-navigation systems distract drivers

2006-09-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Here is an old news, but worth repeating - a survey shows car-navigation systems distract drivers from the road. Of nearly 2,000 people surveyed, 17 percent of drivers who used a map lost concentration, compared to 19 percent of those who used a nav system. Most nav-system drivers who neglected to program their routes "admitted they had then had to take their eyes off the road to input the details whilst driving," and "Nearly one in eight [drivers] did not even bother to check out a route they were unfamiliar with and simply relied on the technology to get them to their destination."

May bicycle helmets actually hurt cyclist ?

2006-09-23T21:30:00.000-07:00

May bicycle helmets actually hurt cyclist ?

Here is an interesting study - a traffic psychologist rode a sensor-equipped bike around Britain, and when he wore a helmet, cars passed more than three inches closer, on average, than when he didn't. He was also hit by two vehicles while wearing the helmet. Psychologist's theory: wearing a helmet makes you look like you know what you're doing, so drivers assume you can operate in tighter space.

When the traffic psychologist dressed as a woman, drivers gave him more than five inches of extra space.
Overall, here is the Psychologist's interpretation - helmets protect you in a low-speed tumble but may backfire in serious car traffic.

Motorists be aware.

Poor Sleep Quality Common Among Commercial Truck Drivers

2006-08-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Starting today, try to steer clear of that tailgating truck driver speeding down the interstate. He may be falling asleep.
ased on a recent study, nearly 1 out of 5 truck drivers may be at risk for driving impairment because of poor sleep quality, more than 13% of commercial truck drivers averaged less than five hours of sleep per night, and nearly 5% suffered from severe sleep apnea.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board and other organizations that monitor traffic safety, fatigue is an "important factor" in serious crashes involving commercial vehicles, which kill about 5,600 Americans annually.

DSRC cars - cars that can't crash

2006-08-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Can we develop cars that can predict a coming collision and take action to stop it ?
The key to the crash-free future is vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or as some experts called it - V2V. It is not hard to imagine that in the near future, sophisticated GPS will soon allow you to pinpoint your vehicle's precise location at any given moment, and stability-control systems that track your car's speed and direction are even now feeding such information to onboard computers.
Here come the DSRC cars - cars equipped with Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) devices which can receive those traffic location data and take action on it. The Federal Communications Commission has recently cleared the 5.9-gigahertz band dedicated DSRC usage among cars, other cars, and roadside transceivers. This DSRC approach is better than some other initiatives, such as the car distance control systems.
The primary remaining challenge is finding the means to communicate right data to the right car at the right time, not only to 2 or 4 cars, but to hundreds of cars in some areas.
Here are two good stories on this front -
(1) Volkswagen's Electronics Research Laboratory recently fitted two Jettas and two Audi A3s with DSRC units and used V2V to successfully run them, platoon-style, through San Francisco.
(2) General Motors has gone one better than VW with a demonstration DSRC-equipped Cadillac CTS that stops itself to avoid accidents. Its enhanced stability-control system predicts where it's headedÂlike, into the rear end of another DSRC car stopped in the middle of the roadÂand prompts the onboard computer to apply the brakes without any input from the driver. The effect is very cool. It's also a little spooky, and many doubt that live-free-or-die Americans will ever sign off on fully autonomous vehicles.

Finally, we can drive cars that can't kill !

Allstate Insurance says Sioux Falls is safest driving city

2006-08-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

Researchers with Allstate Insurance Co. says Sioux Falls is safest driving city. Factors likely to have helped push Sioux Falls to the top spot include streets that are laid out logical and strong traffic enforcement. Last year, Sioux Falls was ranked the second. Allstate Insurance Co. found that each motorist in this growing city in southeast South Dakota has on average one accident every 14.3 years - 30% better than the national rate of one every 10 years.
Few years ago, I recall a survey showed that people live in South Dakota have the longest life span comparing with people live other states.
Following Sioux Falls on the list were Fort Collins, Colo.; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Huntsville, Ala.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee, Wis.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Warren, Mich.
I am bit surprised that Milwaukee, Wis. is one of the top 10. I don't think (you might agree with me) that Milwaukee's streets are laid out that logically. According to Allstate insurance research, drivers in Milwaukee, ranked 22nd in population, are likely to experience a crash once every 12.5 years, the best among cities with between 500,000 and 1 million people.
Motorists in Newark, N.J., were most at risk, according to the study, averaging an accident once every five years. Washington, D.C., was second-to-last at 5.1 years.

A funny car accident picture

2006-07-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

How Old is "Too Old" to Drive?

2006-07-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, only two states (yes, only 2 states), Illinois and New Hampshire, require drivers 75 years and older to retake a road test when renewing their licenses. I can't believe this.

The same institute (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) reports that older drivers have higher rates of fatal crashes based on miles driven than any other group, except very young drivers. Older driver are simply not as nimble, nor do they have the strength. Some older people can't handle a wheel in an emergency. Given the fact, more states should give the tests.

What do your think?

GMAC Insurance say America's pedestrians are in deep trouble

2006-07-22T03:05:00.000-07:00

GMAC Insurance administers an annual basic driving knowledge test in US. In 2006, they tested 5,288 drivers and released the results last week. Of those tested, nearly 10% were unable to answer enough questions correctly to achieve a passing score of 70. Here are some details:
(1) 20% of drivers do not know that a pedestrian has the right of way at a marked or unmarked crosswalk. (2) 1 in 3 drivers don’t usually stop for pedestrians – even if they’re in a crosswalk or at a yellow light. (3) One-third admit they speed up to make a yellow light even when pedestrians are in the crosswalk.
Test result reveals drivers blatantly disregard pedestrians, and treat driving as the New ‘Down Time’. If GMAC Insurance test results are any guide, America's pedestrians are in deep, deep trouble.

Top 10 automotive safety innovations

2006-07-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently did a analysis to find out which automotive innovations that have saved the most lives over the last 42 years.

The No.1 innovation ? The Safety belt ! A no-brainer. According to NHTSA, in 1960, only one in 10 occupants wore a safety belt; by 2002, four out of five did, saving an estimated 168,524 lives over the 42-year period.

The No.2 innovation is the energy-absorbing steering column that doesn't impale driver in a head-on crash, has prevented 53,017 fatalities.

Other top 10 automotive safety innovations are:

3) locks that keep doors closed in a crash (28,902 lives saved)

4) padded dashboards (21,043 lives)

5) side-impact reinforcement (14,703 lives)

6) dual brake cylinders that prevent total brake failure (13,053 lives)

7) front airbags (required only since the '90s; 12,074 lives)

8) bonded windshields that resist popping out in a collision (6,710 lives)

9) child safety seats (5,954 lives)

10) stronger,crush-resistant roofs (3,466 lives).

40 most reliable used cars for the last decade

2006-06-01T06:09:00.000-07:00

Warranty Direct is a UK based, privately owned insurance company. The firm collects lots of data about automobile warranty issues from the manufacturers. It then has taken this data and produced a reliability index – an independent comparison of frequency of failure across the 55,000 vehicles it insures for the last 10 years. Below are 40 most reliable used cars over the past decade based on the Warranty Direct index:
1- Honda Accord; 2 -Subaru Forester; 3 -Mazda MX-5; 4 -Mitsubishi Carisma; 5 -Toyota Yaris; 6 -Honda Civic; 7 -Nissan Almera; 8 -Honda CR-V; 9 -Toyota RAV4; 10- Nissan Micra; 11 -Lexus IS 200;12- Mazda 626; 13 -Jaguar X-Type; 14 -Toyota Landcruiser; 15 -Volvo S/V40; 16- MINI (BMW); 17- Suzuki Vitara; 18 -Mazda 323; 19 -Toyota Carina E; 20- Saab 9-5; 21 -Lexus LS400; 22 -Ford Ka; 23- Rover 45; 24 -Hyundai Lantra; 25 -Mercedes SLK; 26 -Citroen Xsara; 27 -Ford Cougar; 28- Subaru Impreza; 29 -Skoda Octavia; 30- Audi A4; 31 -Nissan Primera; 32 -Toyota Avensis; 33 -Volvo 850; 34 -Vauxhall Corsa; 35 -Seat Toledo; 36 -Volkswagen Golf; 37- Daewoo Lanos; 38 -Fiat Brava; 39 -Hyundai Coupe; 40 -Mitsubishi Shogun

She said, he said

2006-05-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

My friend is a regional law enforcement liaison for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . She doesn't agree with everything I said about the 'car kills' thing. She said automobile accidents are primarily caused by the driver's inexperience and risk-taking behaviors. My main arguments is that there will always be millions of millions of inexperienced drivers and risk takers (risks arer personal perception/judgment). Technologically speaking, our automobiles are faaaaaaar away from ideal in terms of preventing car accidents.

Design cars just for teenagers

2006-05-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

You may know that the No.1 cause of death among teenagers in the developed world is the car.
It will be so nice if parents can buy cars designed just for teenagers. It is, after all, a matter of life and death.
So, what does a parent want for this kind of car? Here is my list :
1) cheap. 2) two seats only. 3) great gas mileage. 4) low powered. 5) funky looking. 6) allows easy attachment/customization of side panels. 7) not embarrassing. 8) requires breathalyzer test to start. 9) easy to set, hard to hack speed limiter. 10) constant GPS reporting via cellphone (or RFID devices), allowing the owner of the car to see where the car is. 11) constant speed reporting via cellphone (or RFID devices), with easy to set alerts by cell phone. 12) lots of airbags.
Any other ideas ?

Safety belts safe

2006-05-17T17:45:00.000-07:00

Based on the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration number, that lap and shoulder safety belts reduce the risk of death for those in the front seat of passenger cars by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%. The fatality risk for front-seat motorists in sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans who wear seat belts is reduced by 60%; moderate-to-critical injuries by 65%. In accordance with above numbers:

1) 58% of those killed who were not wearing a seat belt crashed along rural roads;

2) in crashes involving pickup trucks, about 70% people who died were unbelted;

3) more than 60% people age 8-44 who were killed inside a passenger vehicle were not buckled up.

But still, 48 million US citizens do not regularly put on seat belts when they are on the road.

Why men pay more automobile insurances than women?

2006-05-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Compare to women, men always have to pay more in their automobile insurances. Here is an study and some numbers explaining why.

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System maintains a database that provides detailed information about 1,284,629 of automobile fatalities. The information comes largely from police officers called to crash scenes. Such an enormous database allows researchers to test a wide variety of specific hypotheses about the causes of traffic fatalities. As an example, in the current issue of Chance, traffic safety expert Leonard Evans studies the role of sex differences. Overall, the data show that about 73% of all people killed in car accidents are male. For every age, all the way through the mid-90s, male fatalities outnumber female fatalities by a factor of about 3 or more.

Interestingly, a similar ratio holds for pedestrian deaths. The period from 1975 to 2003 saw 126,715 male deaths and 55,669 female deaths. Indeed, even among infants and young children, male fatalities invariably out numbered female fatalities. "The ratio of male to female pedestrian risk, while greater than one at all ages, increases rapidly to more than three at an age close to puberty," Evans writes. Similar patterns can be seen in the sex and age dependence of arrest data and measured testosterone levels.

To answer why more men killed in car accidents than women, Leonard Evans concludes, "I believe the simplest and most plausible interpretation is that the effects reported reflect intrinsic behavioral differences between the sexes originating at a hormonal level."

In an accompanying commentary on Evans' paper, statistician Mary Meyer of the University of Georgia raises several concerns about the analysis. She points out that Evans' use of raw numbers is appropriate only if men and women drive approximately the same number of miles under roughly the same conditions. But the matter of fact is men averaged 65% more driving miles than women. When driving miles are taken into account, the fatality rate among men is 70% higher, rather than 270%.

Although Mary Meyer doesn't completely rule out a hormone explanation, She suggests that other, more direct social factors, such as alcohol use, help explain the disparity. In 2003, for example, 27% of the male drivers in fatal crashes had been drinking, whereas only 12.5% of the female drivers had done so. And, of male drivers, 34% were wearing no seatbelt versus 24% for female drivers.

I agree with Leonard Evans's conclusion personally. Due to higher hormonal level of male sex, men have higher tendency to engage in aggressive, risk-taking social behaviors, such as dangerous driving, drinking and not wearing seatbelt, thus cause high automobile fatality.

Sadly, Leonard Evans's study shown that men, overall, appears don't possess better driving skill than women. Men have to pay more in their automobile insurances for a long long time.

Are men better drivers than women ?

2006-05-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

Argue all you want; however you'd be hard-pressed to find documented proof that men are superior to women as drivers in terms of safety. (trust me, I tried few years on this). Women may be weak in one area, but men are weak in other.

As far as car insurance companies concerned, a female between the ages of 18 and 25 would pay less than her male counterpart because as a rule younger women drivers have fewer accidents and moving violations than males in the same age group. One car insurance agent told me that

"young males, between the ages of 16 to 25, typically pay more than females in their age group, because many young men are more likely to show daredevil tendencies in their driving because of emotional immaturity and misplaced feelings of immortality".
On the flip-side, IIHS reported that from 1975 to 2003, female deaths in motor vehicle crashes increased 14% compared to an 11% decline for male motorists during that same period. We're also seeing women driving more aggressively, picking up that bad habit from their male counterparts.

Drowsiness, inattention play big role in car accidents

2006-04-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

Data below is from the latest driving safety study in US. Three main safety factors considered are - driver's distraction, drowsiness, age and sex:

1) driver distraction was the cause of most auto crashes and near crashes. Driver inattention was a factor in 80% of all crashes and 65% of all near crashes. Although cell phones and other hand-held communication devices were linked to the highest frequency of near crashes and incidents, eating, applying makeup, reading, and reaching for objects - like the radio or CD player - were also distractions.

2) drowsiness contributed to 20% of all crashes and 16% near crashes. Drowsy driving may be significantly under reported before in police crash investigations. They were at least 4 times more likely to crash or narrowly escape an accident than rested motorists.

3) drivers 18- to 20-years-old were 4 times more likely to be inattentive while driving that drivers 35 and older. These youngest drivers were also more apt to speed and drive aggressively.

How to train teenager drivers ?

2006-04-14T05:50:00.000-07:00

I am so tired of constantly reading news about teenagers dying from car crashes. Here are some stats I have collected:
1) one in every five of 16-year-old drivers has an accident;

2) traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers;

3) every year about 5,000 teens die in motor vehicle crashes.
After some research and thinking over this issue, below I listed several thing parents should do when time comes to teach their teens how to drive:

The Attitude:

1) parents must be parent, not kid's buddy. Parents should be the TRUE driver in the training. You must make tough decisions that will not be popular with teens.
2) it is perfectly OK to not let kids drive. Germany, a country with a lower highway death rate than America, requires drivers to be 18 years old. If your teen is irresponsible or disregards your rules, don't let they drive. Get them the bus schedule or a bicycle, even though he/she is 18.

3) let teens accept responsibility - you’re the car owner. Let your teen know that it’s his job to avoid red-light runners, yield-sign ignorers, and all other traffic-law flouters.

The Techniques:

1) intall phased "graduated license" program. In the first stage of training, an adult must accompany the teen driver. In the 2nd stage, the teen is prohibited from driving during the high-risk after dark hours without an adult. Also, the teen may not carry non-related passpassengersil receiving a full license. The 3rd stage, to instill the discipline, offense (alcohol, traffic citations, crashes) would result in the suitable penalty.

2) let professional instructor to teach your kids. This is makes training more effceffective formal. For reason always unknown to parents, kids will listen to anyone except their parent.

3) seatbelts are must. Almost 50% of teens who die in car crashes were not wearing seatbelts. Be harsh if they fail to buckle up.

4) no teenage passengers - 3/4 of crashes by 16- and 17-year-old drivers occur with other teens in the car. Children under 18 should be prohibited from riding with a teenage driver without specific parental approval.

5) no distractions - Cell phones and sound systems distract drivers. Talking on the phone, eating or drinking, or even listening to music is far too much of a distraction for a new driver.

6) use newer cars - although most parents use older cars to let teens try their hands, if you can afford, give them the newer car. Automobile's crash-safety features have been enhanced a lot in the last few years. You will feel saver to let teens try cars equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS reduces stopping distances and allows the driver to retain steering control during emergency braking. It is also very nice to have a training with the electronic stability control, which is designed to prevent the car from spinning out on slick surfaces.

Every driver's dream - car distance control systems

2006-04-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the something every driver is dreaming about, and I can't believe Nissan announced it first: Nissan has designed a new thing called "Distance Control Assist System", which is an electronic system that helps drivers control the distance between themselves and the vehicle in front - the feature we often see in Sci-Fi movies. It is reported that:

"the system is able to determine the distance to the car in front, as well as the relative speed of both cars, using a radar sensor in the front bumper. If the driver releases the accelerator pedal or is not pressing the accelerator pedal, the system automatically applies the brakes. If the system determines that braking is required, an indicator will appear on the instrument panel and a buzzer will sound simultaneously. The accelerator pedal then automatically moves upwards to assist the driver in switching to the brakes".

At this time, no date has been set for the introduction of the system into Nissan's product offerings. What I like to know is how much car accident reduction this system can bring to us.

Are SUVs and pickup trucks safer than passenger cars ?

2006-03-25T17:43:00.000-08:00

I always thought SUVs and pickup trucks safer than passenger car. This is because in a crash, the higher bumper on many taller vehicles, such as SUVs and trucks, hits a typical passenger car above the car's bumper line and crumple zone, exerting its force into weaker portions of the smaller vehicle and inflicting greater damage.

However, this will be changed fast: to help reduce this incompatibility, many SUVs are being redesigned with lower, more compatible bumpers. Automakers recently announced voluntary plans to design SUVs and pickup trucks in ways that will make them less dangerous to occupants of passenger vehicles. The upcoming changes are intended to lessen the chances that larger vehicles will ride over car bumpers in a collision. A January 2006 study by the IIHS outlined the benefits of these plans, while comparing fatality rates among crashes. IIHS analysis showed that car-driver death rates were significantly lower in front and side crashes with SUVs and pickups that already met these design commitments. Further, in front-to-front collisions between cars and vehicles with low bumper, the fatality risk was 18-21% lower for crashes with SUVs and 9-19% lower for crashes with pickups. Those figures are for car drivers using seat belts, but without seat belt use, the risk drops to 2-3 % for SUVs and 3-4% for pickups. This data suggest that seat belt use is critical in front-end crashes. In front-to-side collisions, the risk reduction was 47-48% for car crashes with SUVs and 1-9% with pickups.

Above statistics show that these new compatibility standards will save more lives each year. Automakers are expected to comply by the 2010 model year. After that, there will be less people buying SUVs and pickup trucks purely for the sake of safety.

Safer driving in the dead of night

2006-03-24T05:02:00.000-08:00

After dark, our chances of being involved in a fatal car crash go up sharply. In the United States, for example, more than 20% of all fatal crashes occur between midnight and 6 a.m., though less than 3% of daily traffic volume is on roadways during these hours.
Of course drinking and fatigue are big factors. But inadequate illumination also ranks high: headlights provide about 50 meters of visibility on a dark road, but it takes nearly 110 meters to come to a full stop from 100 kilometers per hour. At that speed, you may not respond fast enough to an unexpected event, simply because the bright spot provided by your headlights doesn't give you enough time. This is especially true for people older than 55 -60. Trust me , I saw enough of seniors ran into car accident after dark.

I know carmakers are trying to do something about that for some time. Their answer is to use (near or far) infrared sensors to let drivers see as much as 3 or 4 times farther ahead and help them quickly distinguish among objects. Currently, the high cost of such systems make senior drivers refuse to buy. I heard that in 2006, for $2000 - $3000, you can install these system on flagship car lines of Mercedes-Benz and BMW( the S Class and the 7 Series).

Even 'Hands-Free' talking is dangerous when you drive

2006-03-19T21:17:00.000-08:00

Cell phones have been labeled dangerous in a handful of studies cataloguing how they distract drivers. One solution in many minds is the "hands-free" phone. I got two such phones. One for work, one for personal use. They do let you hands go free. But, according to a recent study (Psychological Science, Mar. 2006), "hands-free" phones are lousy in terms of safety. In fact, your reaction time behind the wheel seems to be slowed whenever you are doing anything but just driving.

In above mentioned study, 40 students drove a car simulator with a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals and a large plasma screen. They followed a lead car and were told to brake as soon as they saw brake lights. They were also asked to do other simple tasks, such as press a button on the steering wheel or say a word out loud when they saw a light flash in the lead car's rear window. On average they were 174 milliseconds slower at braking when the two tasks occurred at the same time compared to when the tasks were presented 350 milliseconds apart. That 174-millisecond delay translates to 16 feet in a car going 65 mph, the scientists say.
We can't look and listen Importantly, the delays were the same whether the tasks involved visual or audible input, vocal or manual responses. we human brain just can't look and listen at the same time.

Baby boomers and the coming of highway safety crisis

2006-03-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

Baby boomers are politically powerful and confident of their abilities, and they prize their mobility. But I believe they’re about to become the biggest threat on the highway. I already observed some of the initial signs.

I keep imagine in the 2025, an estimated 40 million baby boomers clog the left lanes of America, blinkers flashing, one foot trembling over the brake. Though motorists older than 70 drive far less frequently than other age groups, they already account for an outsize proportion of fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The death rate per mile traveled for drivers over 85 is 4 times that of the 30-59 age group. The only group more dangerous than senior citizens is teen-agers. Senior drivers have special trouble judging speed and distances, which causes an inordinate number of rear-end and left-hand-turn accidents.

Well, I may take an early retirement by then.

The Safest Cars 2006

2006-02-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Selena Maranjian has compiled the list of Safest Cars 2006 for us -

Large cars:
Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego;
Volkswagen Audi A6;

Mid-sized cars:
Saab 9-3;
Subaru Legacy;
Audi A3 and A4;
GM Chevrolet Malibu;
Volkswagen Jetta and Passat;

Small cars:
Honda Civic 4-door.

Subaru Legacy is the top safety pick in 2006 from IIHS

2006-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the 2006 Subaru Legacy has been awarded its new ‘Gold’ designation - the highest rating awarded - for occupant protection in the mid-sized car category.

To win the elite Gold award, a vehicle must have earned good ratings in the Institute's frontal offset and side impact crash tests, and seat/head restraints must also be rated good for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. Previously, IIHS gave 'best pick' awards separately for front and side crash test performance; this year, they combined all measures together, and set up the Top Safety Picks awards. The new awards mean consumers can compare cars' ratings more quickly and easily. They won't have to review multiple sets of test results separately.

Technically speaking, the foundation of Subaru’s passive safety (occupant protection) is the Ring Frame Reinforced structure, with a front-end structure that disperses collision energy in three directions. This structure, which is an exclusive Subaru design, forms a series of “rings” around the passenger compartment, providing excellent protection in a variety of collision types. In addition, all 2006 Legacy and Outback models are equipped with standard front airbags, front seat side impact air bags and side curtain air bags that offer additional head protection for front and rear occupants. The Subaru Advanced Airbag System uses sensors to detect the presence and weight of a front passenger as well as the driver’s distance from the steering wheel. All Subaru Legacy and Outback models also provide the peace of mind of a four-wheel disc Anti-lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution.

We all had been driving drowsy

2006-01-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

Based on the 2005 "Sleep in America" poll from the National Sleep Foundation(NSF), 60% of all adult drivers have driven while drowsy; more than 1/3 have dozed off while behind the wheel. The results: 100,000 police-reported crashes, more than 1,500 deaths and 76,000 injuries per year.
According to NSF, typical stay-awake strategies such as blasting the radio or opening a window aren't effective at fending off fatigue. Downing coffee may work temporarily, but many people forget the effects of caffeine can take up to 30 min. to kick in.

What should we really worrying about

2006-01-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

According to David Ropeik of Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, people's fear are often out of proportion with actual risk. For instance, people are scared of sharks attack, but the odds of becoming a shark snack are only 1 in 3.7 million. In contrast, the odds of dying in a car crash are 1 in 88, but few people are afraid to drive.

Sharks attack stick in our heads because they are rare and make news. For car accidents, we are so used to it that we no longer sensitive to it any more.

Worst states for auto insurance premium

2006-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

I am so glad I live in Chicago.

If you braved the traffic-choked streets of New York City, the breakneck pace of the New Jersey Turnpike, or the nearly out-of-control chaos of Interstate 95, you will not be surprised to learn that the Northeast is home to four of the five most expensive states for auto insurance, according to figures from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

The primary driver for insurance prices is the number of claims filed. According to info.insure.com, in 2001 nationwide, the average annual combined premium was $817.43 (that includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages). New Jersey ranks highest in the nation for combined average annual auto insurance rates: $1,182.54. In the No. 2 spot is New York, at $1,161.27, followed by Washington, D.C. ($1,156.23), Rhode Island ($1,027.03), and Massachusetts ($1013.46).

Some un-safe luxury cars of 2006

2006-01-10T04:21:00.000-08:00

Buyer beware - crush testing from U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that some current luxury cars have subpar crash-test scores. The Jaguar X-Type sedan from Ford Motor, the Infiniti G35 and M model lines from Nissan Motor all received one "poor" rating each. Some 2006-model luxury cars have also had safety recalls already - DaimlerChrysler's redesigned Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV has been recalled for a faulty power steering system, as has the Cadillac Escalade SUV from General Motors.

Sports car or car safety?

2006-01-08T19:07:00.000-08:00

The news about cars lately has had more to do with the speed of sports car rather than car safety. It appears making safe cars instead of flashy ones no longer make business sense.

Case in point, here was a story from Forbe.com:
"Two years ago, Volvo led journalists on a tour of its Car Safety Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. Deputy Chief Executive Sven Eckerstein opened the proceedings by saying, 'This may seem like a hard place, with cars crashing--a moment of terror we all hope we never experience.' The program involved a crash-test demonstration--a simulation of what happens when a driver runs a red light and hits the car with the right of way. A Volvo XC90 SUV, going 30 mph, smashed into the driver's door of a Volvo S40 sedan as it lurched forward at 15 mph. Ten minutes later, journalists inspected the crash up close and felt the "moment of terror" of which Eckerstein spoke. The airbags were steaming and the XC90's interior had the horrible smell of an electrical fire. But Volvo executives said had a person been in the S40, shielded by side airbags and curtains, he or she would perhaps have suffered bruises or a fractured rib at worst, but likely would not have been hospitalized. At that moment, the irresponsibility of building cars with subpar safety became clear to the observers".

According to the same article, in 2006, there are 14 cars on the market have top speeds of 202 mph or higher, but only 5 cars on the market have perfect crash-test scores, and all five cars are sedans, not sports car.

It is quite clear that there is plenty of room in the auto business for companies to make safety a top selling point. But few are doing so at thos moment.

Roadside erotic images cause car accidents

2006-01-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

You guessed it, and researcher have recently measured it - erotic images (those smutty underwear billboard, etc.) on the roadside cause about 0.5 second of distraction, which might be the reason for some car accidents on busy streets. (reported by Psychology Today, Feb. 2006 issue). People being shown shocking photographs tend to miss the images that come right after (the so called emotion induced blindness), therefore slow reaction in the traffic.

Least-safe cars of 2006

2006-01-07T21:02:00.000-08:00

Below is the list of least-safe cars for 2006, based on testing results from (IIHS) Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -

Hyundai Elantra,

Nissan Sentra,

Kia Optima,

Suzuki Forenza,

Mazda6,

Toyota Corolla.

Those least-safe cars are all characterized by (1) relatively cheap price, with an average base price of $15,323 and no prices higher than $19,555; and (2) no side airbags.

Drinking, driving and dying

2005-12-28T21:59:00.000-08:00

In 2005, 17,000 people were killed, and 1/2 million people were injured due to drunk driving. Source: http://www.madd.org/

Majority of work-related fatalities were caused by highway incidents

2005-12-23T22:17:00.000-08:00

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2004, a total of 5,703 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States, an increase of 2 percent from the 5,575 fatal work injuries that were reported in 2003.

However, the majority of work-related fatalities were caused by highway incidents. In 2004, there were 1,374 fatal highway incidents, representing about one of every four fatal work injuries in 2004. (the second-leading cause of death on the job involved falls, predominately from roofs or ladders.)

Danger of 16-year-olds drivers

2005-12-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

A news from Chicago Tribune (11/13/2005) - five Mundelein High School (Illinois) students, including the driver, were in a Trans Am convertible when the driver sped over the railroad tracks, lost control and crashed into a tree. Two teenages were killed. It turned out that a charge to be filed against the 16-year-old driver, because the driver violated a state' s 'Graduated driver licensing' law that limits the number of passengers for 1st time driver.

Based on research from the Insurance Institute for Highway, with one teen in the car with a teen driver, the fatal crash risk doubles, with two or more in the car, the risk can be five times high. In 2003, Illinois Department of Transportation data show, 16-year-olds held 1.5 percent of state driver's licenses but accounted for 2.7 percent of fatal crashes. Their rate of fatal crashes was second to that of 18-year-olds and three times the rate of 50- to 54-year-old drivers.

Obesity ups male drivers' death risk, as does being very thin

2005-06-05T22:02:00.000-07:00

Being obese increases male drivers' risk of dying in a car crash, as does being very slim, according to an analysis of data from more than 22,000 drivers ages 16 and older.
Researchers, led by Shankuan Zhu, MD, Ph.D, in the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, used the National Automotive Sampling System, Crashworthiness Data System, a data collection system sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Using data collected from 1997-2001, they found obese men and those with a very low body mass index had the highest death rate from motor vehicle crashes. Obesity did not affect women's risk of death from such crashes.
Men with the highest body mass index were at greatest risk for death from front or left-side collisions. And men with the lowest BMI also had higher death rates than the lowest rates found among overweight but not obese men. The researchers said their findings lend credence to the theory of a "cushioning effect" for overweight men that might protect them from fatal injury in a crash.