Tag Archives: Automobile Safety

Bycicle Friendly Long Beach California

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Chevy Volt DanceStreet by street, people are starting to see some big changes in Long Beach California. This started last summer when green paint, also known as “sharrows” (shared lane marking) appeared on the roads of the city’s busiest streets. These lines were put there as a reminder for motorist to share the roads with cyclists. According to a December report by the city, the number of cyclists on 2nd Street increased by 29% while the number of bikes on the narrow sidewalks decreased by 22%. The amount of incidents on the streets has also decreased.

The success of the “sharrows” has prompted the city to undertake other bicycle oriented enhancements such as adding more “sharrows” on streets where bikes tend to congregate and adding “bicycle boxes” that give cyclist a safe place in front of cars to wait for signal changes. The city is also working with businesses to provide incentives such as 20% lunch discounts to prompt cyclist to ride their bikes more.

The program has also sparked interest from other cities. This week, the city is hosting delegate transit planners from Los Angeles, Glendale and other nearby cities who would like to draw inspiration from the Long Beach bike plan. City manager Patrick West (who rides a road bike around town on the weekends) jokes that the rise in recent bike thefts is a good thing, because it means that there are more people out riding bikes.

Toyota Gas Pedal Recall Continued

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On Thursday, Toyota Motor Sales (TSM) U.S.A., announced it would recall almost 2.3 million vehicles due to sticking accelerator pedals. This announcement is separate from the earlier recall of 3.8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to fix a design flaw that could cause the gas pedal to become trapped under the floor mat. Approximately 1.7 million vehicles are subject to both separate recall actions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been looking into two recent incidents in Texas and New Jersey, and was considering starting an investigation. Four people died on Dec. 26 near Dallas when a Toyota Avalon sped off a road and into a pond. Police found the floor mats in the Avalon’s trunk.

“In recent months, Toyota has investigated isolated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats,” said TMS Group Vice President Irv Miller. “Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. The condition is rare, but can occur when the pedal mechanism becomes worn and, in certain conditions, the accelerator pedal may become harder to depress, slower to return or, in the worst case, stuck in a partially depressed position. Consistent with our commitment to the safety of our cars and our customers, we have initiated this voluntary recall action.”

Toyota’s accelerator pedal recall includes the following Toyota Division vehicles:

• 2009-2010 RAV4,
• 2009-2010 Corolla,
• 2009-2010 Matrix,
• 2005-2010 Avalon,
• 2007-2010 Camry,
• 2010 Highlander,
• 2007-2010 Tundra,
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

No Lexus Division or Scion vehicles are affected by this recall action. Also not affected are Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna, Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and select Camry models, including all Camry hybrids. Toyota will continue to investigate incidents of unwanted acceleration and take appropriate measures to address any trends that are identified. Toyota owners who have questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

Brake Failure Recall For Chrysler

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During a routine quality inspection, automaker Chrysler, noticed that some vehicles had an improperly formed brake booster push rod retaining clip or no clip at all. Even though there have been no accidents or consumer complaints related to the problem, Chrysler feels there is potential for the push rod to separate from the brake pedal assembly resulting in loss of brakes. As a result, they will be recalling 2010 models of the Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty and 2009 and 2010 models of the Dodge Ram pickup. Owners will be notified this month if their vehicles are affected, and Chrysler will replace the faulty or missing clips free of charge.

Honda Ridgeline Recalled For Electrical Fire Under Dash

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After six reported fires under the dash board of the 2006-2007 Honda Ridgeline and an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was determined that there was no defect with the H.V.A.C. fan motor connector.

Honda decided to investigate the problem by themselves, based on consumer complaints, and found that if the electrical harness was kicked by accident, it could short circuit and start a fire. Honda concluded that a short circuit would probably “self-extinguish,” but that a fire was possible, and it decided to recall.

The recall will affect 2006-2007 Ridgeline vehicles manufactured between January 17, 2005 and June 7, 2006. If you own one of these, your local Honda dealer will inspect the wiring, replace it if necessary, and fit a protective cover for the wiring, free of charge.

Desktop On The Dashboard

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Even after all the talk about distracted drivers and products developed to make less distractions, Intel and Google are hoping to bring your desktop to the dashboard. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, they displayed 10 inch screens above the gearshift displaying high definition videos, 3-D maps and web pages. These “infotainment systems” will hit the market this year and are likely to become standard equipment in a wide range of auto’s before long. They prevent drivers from watching video and using some other functions while the car is moving, but they can still pull up content as varied as restaurant reviews and the covers of music albums with the tap of a finger.

Nicholas A. Ashford, a professor of technology and policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says “This is irresponsible at best and pernicious at worst. Unfortunately and sadly, it is a continuation of the pursuit of profit over safety — for both drivers and pedestrians.” The technology and car companies say that safety remains a priority.

Ford Sync’s New Rival Kia UVO

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Earlier I talked about Fords new hands free infotainment service, ‘Sync’, and how it is going to make our roads a little safer by giving drivers less distractions. Next week, Kia Motors Corp. will introduce ‘UVO’, a North American competitor to Ford Motor’s Sync. Ford’s exclusive contract with Microsoft expired at the end of 2008 and in May of that year, Microsoft announced that Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group would develop a voice-controlled infotainment system for the North American market. Fiat Auto Group also uses Microsoft technology to power its infotainment service, called Blue&Me.

Like Sync, UVO is based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, known as the Windows Embedded Auto Software Platform. Spokesmen for Kia and Microsoft say the Kia version will have features unique to the South Korean automaker. UVO will debut on an unnamed Kia vehicle sometime in 2010. The automaker will not release specifics until it formally introduces UVO at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Ford and Microsoft In ‘Sync’

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With concerns about distracted drivers causing automobile accidents, Microsoft has created Sync, a voice controlled in car system where there is no LCD screen distracting you from the road. Push a button on the steering wheel, tell the system what you want and your request is confirmed by a robotic female voice.

Sync is Ford’s voice-controlled in-car system for wireless hands-free operation of a cell phone and for playing music from a connected MP3 player. Automated calls for 911 assistance in the event of an air bag deployment are also part of the Sync package Ford has been adding features to Sync since its introduction. The latest version includes built-in GPS navigation with spoken turn-by-turn directions; traffic updates; recorded news and sports articles; and vehicle health reports.

There is no monthly fees for the first three years (Ford has not determined whether fees may be applicable after that), and drivers do not need to pay extra for a data cell phone plan. The system sends information over a voice channel of the driver’s phone.

Though the system is quite simple to use, drivers do need to learn Sync’s preset commands which means either reading the manual or waiting for prompts from the interactive voice menu. People who have tried the system say they are never 100% comfortable with only voice commands and having passengers in the vehicle make it difficult to have a conversation and follow directions at the same time. Like all new technology, Sync has it’s glitches but hopefully with more testing it can become a tool in making our roads a little safer.

Get Your Teen On the Right Track When Learning to Drive

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Here are some facts about teens and driving:

-Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of teen death in the United States
-Six thousand teens die each year in traffic accidents.
-Teens are 10 times more likely to die in a vehicle accident than the average driver.
-a teenager is injured in a motor vehicle accident every 15 minutes.

The best way for a teenager to learn to drive, is to practice “avoidance and survivability.”

“Avoidance” means to avoid distractions when driving — talking or texting on cell phones, talking to a friend in the car, eating or paying more attention to the stereo.

“Survivability” is simple….”Buckle Up”! In many accidents involving teens, the teen has been ejected through the windshield because they were not wearing their seat belts

The standards for teens to get a drivers license is higher today than it was when we were learning to drive. Many states now require at least 30 hours behind the wheel before issuing a license. (Most veteran driving instructors suggest at least 40 hours practice). Since most schools provide only about 5-6 hours of driving training most of the responsibility is on the parent.

Here are some tips to help you help your teen become a better driver.

When you first take your teen out, start in an area where there is very little traffic. Picking a familiar area makes it easier and more comfortable for the driver and teacher. Avoid talking down to your student or loosing patience with them, the extra stress can only hurt the learning process. Give directions well in advance. As your teen becomes more comfortable behind the wheel, less instruction will be needed and you can increase the responsibilities of your teen. Eventually taking them driving at night and then in poor weather.

Teaching your teen to drive starts before your teen even starts to drive. Hopefully, by watching your driving techniques your child should have already picked up some ‘good’ habits. Ultimately, parents should make the best teachers for their kids, but if this is not possible, there are many public and private companies offering driving instruction.