Research shows that drivers 16 to19 years are at a higher risk of automobile accidents than any other age group. These studies suggest that new drivers are more at risk because of their lack of experience behind the wheel, prompting many states to advocate graduated driver licensing programs. Some experts believe that imposing restrictions on new drivers is a start, but feel there is more that can be done even before teens get behind the wheel of a real car. Continue reading
Tag Archives: driver texting
NHTSA To Address Distracting Auto Technology
The focus of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) is to set minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicle equipment. They protect drivers against unreasonable risk of crashes due to the design, construction, and performance of a vehicle and they set minimum standards for protection in the event of an accident. But when it comes to the design of electronic systems, automobile manufacturers have historically been on their own.
Back when electronic systems were relatively simple automakers followed voluntary guidelines which called for displays to be high enough that drivers can scan the road while viewing displays, and that interfaces be simple enough so drivers don’t take their attention away from the road. But, today’s automobile interfaces have become considerably more complicated and even though car makers tell drivers to pay attention to the roads, they continue to pack their vehicles with infotainment systems that encourage multitasking. Today’s high tech features allow the driver to entertain and navigate as well as stay connected through their phones, e-mail and social media. According to automobile industry officials, “You can’t stop drivers from multitasking and becoming distracted. By giving motorists built-in connections that are simpler and less distracting than portable devices, we are making the roads safer.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood disagrees. He calls distracted driving “a deadly epidemic,” and feels federal authorities should set some safety standards. And they are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is developing its own set of guidelines, to be released this fall. They will address visual and manual distractions and hope to eventually set guidelines for voice controls and portable devices.
Get Your Teen On the Right Track When Learning to Drive
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.
Cell Phone and Texting Tickets
It is a lot easier for California Police to ticket California drivers holding cell phones to their ears and not using a hands free device than to ticket a driver texting. It is estimated that over 200,000 tickets have been written in the past year to driver’s not using hands free devices while only a few hundred have been written to drivers either texting or being texted. The problem is that police officers have a hard time determining when texting is being done by a driver.
Officials are very concerned because texting is on the rise and is considered more distracting then talking on a cell phone. Please don’t text while you drive.
If you have questions about the California Lemon Law, please contact the California Lemon Law Firm of Delsack and Associates for a free review. The toll free number is 888-Ex-Lemon (888-395-3666).
