Legislature to consider banning cell phone use while driving

2009-01-11 My West Texas.com

Two House bills filed before the session, which starts Tuesday, propose laws that limit cell phone usage in cars, according to the Texas Legislature online.

Fewer teen drivers causing serious accidents

2009-01-09 Baltimoreexaminer.com

Mackenzie Papoi, 15, of Parkville, who only had a learner's permit, died Dec. 22 when she drove head-on into a Hummer after driving the wrong way on I-795.

Teen drivers in Oregon ignore cell phone ban

2009-01-08 MSNBC

Police say the law that went into effect last year is difficult to...

Survey finds drivers are hanging up cell phones

2009-01-08 Daily Breeze

Fewer California motorists are chatting on handheld cell phones since the ban against them began seven months ago, according to a new study. Handheld cell phone use by drivers has dropped by two-thirds since the July 1 state law became effective, according to a survey by the Automobile Club of Southern...

DWI Courts: Cure for drunk driving carnage?

2009-01-07 NewsChannel 10

By Luigi Fraschini, Studio One Networks It is abundantly clear that drunk driving is an important health and safety issue in the United States. The statistics make that obvious: There are more than 17,000 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States every year.

Deaths on Alabama's rural roads drop 17 percent

2009-01-07 My Fox Birmingham

Traffic deaths on Alabama's rural roads dropped to their lowest level in 23 years in 2008 due to stricter enforcement, new safety features on roads and soaring gas prices that led to less driving, state officials said Wednesday.

Eagan drivers adapting well to new way of getting around: Suburban commuters are learning to navigate a new roundabout. The European-style design can save money and reduce accidents. ( )

2009-01-07 RBC Dain Rauscher Inc. (fka Dain Rausche)

Jan 07, 2009 (Star Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The traffic on Eagan's new roundabout near Yankee Doodle Road flows smoothly, even in the busy times -- unless you're driving a semi-trailer truck.

Top Mistakes Teen Drivers Make

2009-01-07 Fox 19 Wxix Channel

Cars.com, in conjunction with DriversEd.com, America's leading drivers education resource and solution, have identified the 10 most common mistakes teen drivers make.

County road deaths decline

2009-01-06 The Macomb Journal

Macomb, Ill. - Fatal traffic crashes in McDonough County declined from six in 2007 to two last year. But an overall increase in traffic deaths in the five counties that make up Illinois State Police District 14 have troopers looking for ways to promote safer driving.

State sees fewest traffic fatalities in 64 years

2009-01-05 Leader-Telegram

Traffic crashes on Wisconsin roads and highways killed 589 people last year - 148 fewer than a year ago and the lowest total in 64 years, the state Department of Transportation reported Monday.

AAA: Using a cell phone makes a wreck 4 times more likely

2009-01-05 Kansas City.com

And, probably not too surprising, teenagers are usually those who get busted driving and talking at the same time, The Wichita Eagle reports. Authorities think their total of cellphone-involved wrecks might be low because the law essentially relies on drivers to self-report.

Cell phone users more likely to crash

2009-01-04 The Wichita Eagle

Cell phone ban unlikely for drivers

2009-01-04 Omaha World-Herald

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU LINCOLN State Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte thinks it would be a good idea to ban cell phone use while driving in Nebraska. He said so during a recent interview on his cell phone while he was behind the wheel.

Winter Driving Safety Tips for Seniors

2009-01-03 Nebraska.TV

Content NAVTEQ (ARA) - Today's "seniors" are boomers and they don't plan to slow down their lifestyles for a little thing like getting older -- or inclement winter weather.

Cameras help police catch problem drivers

2009-01-03 Carroll County Times

Beginning in 2009, drivers in Howard County face the prospect of getting caught on tape. The county is adding a video component to its red-light cameras, used to catch drivers running through intersections where the cameras are mounted.

Effectiveness of drivers' cellphone ban is debatable

2009-01-03 Los Angeles Times

Officials admit there's too little data to determine whether the ban has prevented accidents, but say the deterrent factor is strong enough to support its continuation.

AAA Offers "Tipsy Tow" Free for Drinking Drivers on New Years Eve

2008-12-31 KRNV CBS-4

Posted: Updated: Local News More Don't drive drunk - get free ride home with your vehicle On a typical day, a AAA tow truck can come to the rescue when you need help.

Increased seat belt use causes drop in fatalities

2008-12-28 timesnews.net

In a trend that bodes well for highway safety, motorists who fail to buckle their seat belts when they get behind the wheel are becoming a distinct and decreasing minority.

Holiday rise in drunken driving traced to young adults

2008-12-18 Boston.com

WASHINGTON - Drunken-driving accidents increase each year during the holiday season, and a large percentage are caused by drivers just over the legal drinking age, government officials said yesterday.

Drunk driving is increasingly common for young female Californians

2008-12-17 Inside Bay Area

LAPD Sgt. Roger Archambault stands by a car that was involved in a three-person fatal DUI. The driver survived but three people in his car died. Photographed at the LAPD's Van Nuys Division, Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

Older pedestrians at risk of getting hit

2008-12-11 Channel 7 abc

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - December 11, 2008 -- Trying to cross the street is deadly for senior citizens in New Jersey.

Group sues feds to release info on phone use in traffic deaths

2008-12-08 Baltimoreexaminer.com

A consumer group founded by Ralph Nader is suing the federal government to force officials to release a study on whether cell phone use was causing traffic deaths.

Majority of Americans Wrongly Believe Hand-Free Cell Phones Are Safer Than Hand-Held Devices...

2008-12-04 Forbes.com

Two-thirds of Americans who use cell phones while driving believe it is safer to talk on a hands-free cell phone than on a hand-held device according to a new study released today by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Car Cell Phone Use More Hazardous Than Chat With Passengers

2008-12-02 HealthDay

Fellow occupants can help keep driving safe, research...

Vanessa Williams Urges Parents and Teens to Give Each Other the Ultimate Holiday Gift an Allstate Parent-Teen Driving Contract

2008-12-02 Centredaily.com

Ugly Betty Star and Her Teenage Son Sign a Driving Contract, Launching Allstates National Home for the Holidays Teen Safe Driving...

Ignition interlocks not for all

2008-12-01 CourierPostOnline.com

Technology has allowed cars to be safer -- anti-lock brakes to prevent lock-up and skidding, air bags to provide protection in a crash and Bluetooth to allow hands-free phone calls are just a few examples.

Commit to change to cut distractions

2008-11-30 Tennessean

It has happened to all of us: The 'close call' that would have surely resulted in a traffic crash had we not seen the warning signs and taken evasive action.

'Joy riding' claims 2 teenagers' lives

2008-11-27 WGN-TV

Two teenagers lost their lives and three young siblings were seriously injured late Monday in a car wreck on an unlighted, winding country road notorious for attracting fast drivers.

Biker deaths pass 100 for year

2008-11-27 The Sun News

S.C. considers law changes to improve road safety as deaths approach record E-Mail Print Comments(0) Text Size: tool name tool goes here COLUMBIA -- Motorcycle fatalities in South Carolina have topped 100 for the third year in a row, though the total to date is slightly lower compared with 2007.

Progress in cars

2008-11-26 Democrat Herald.com

The latest report on car safety was encouraging. It also illustrated that todays cars and trucks, especially American brands, are vastly improved in general over their predecessors of a generation or two ago.

Liberty Mutual and ITNAmerica Encourage Families to Consider the Gift of Safety as Aging Relatives Hit the Road This Holiday SeasonLoading...

2008-11-26 Insurance News Net

BOSTON, Nov. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The holidays may be the best time for older drivers to consider transitioning to the passenger seat. In addition to Thanksgiving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists December 22, 23 and 24 among the top deadliest days of the year for all drivers.

NEW YORK STATE: Motorists urged to buckle up over holiday weekend

2008-11-23 Lockport Union-Sun Journal

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal As families and friends gather for the Thanksgiving holiday, the New York State Police are initiating a zero tolerance seat-belt enforcement blitz intended to save lives.

Too Young to Drive

2008-11-23 Washington Post

The current age limit for getting a driver's license in Maryland leads to hundreds of teenagers being hurt or killed every year. The state's minimum driving age is 16 years and three months, as it is in Virginia (in the District, it's 16 and six months).

Teens protest Ontario's proposed driving rules

2008-11-20 Denverpost.com

TORONTOCanadian officials proposed tougher restrictions on teen drivers in Ontario, including a prohibition on new motorists 19 and younger from driving with more than one teenage friend, prompting thousands of young drivers to protest online.

Texas Courts Lead U.S. in High-Tech Battle Against DUIs

2008-11-18 Denverpost.com

DALLAS, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The state of Texas is now the largest user of a high-tech, alternative sentencing program that aims to shift the focus from "warehousing" offenders and sanctioning cars to battling what judges call the root cause of the DUI epidemic: the alcohol addiction.

State patrols beefed-up for Turkey Day

2008-11-18 The Garrett Clipper

INDIANAPOLIS Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) Executive Director, T. Neil Moore announced Wednesday that more than 250 state and local law enforcement agencies will step up seat belt patrols, impaired driving patrols, and speed enforcement in order to prevent senseless tragedies from occurring on...

California Teen Driver Deaths Drop as Result of Graduated Driver Licensing Law

2008-11-17 Sacramento Business Journal

/PRNewswire/ -- California's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law has contributed to a significant drop in at-fault crashes involving 16-year-old drivers, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Road Runner by Andrea Kelly : AAA urges pact to help teens drive more safely

2008-11-17 Arizona Daily Star

Parents of teenage drivers for the sake of the kids, not to mention their car repair bills and insurance rates should know more about what their teens are up to behind the wheel.

No license? No worries

2008-11-16 Cincinnati Enquirer

Cries go out for action from state about an ever-increasing...

DENSO to Exhibit at the 15th World Congress on ITS

2008-11-13 Channel 8 Eyewitness News

KARIYA, Japan, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- DENSO Corporation will exhibit its intelligent transportation system (ITS) products in the areas of environment, safety and comfort and convenience at the 15th World Congress on ITS, Nov.

Vision test for elderly drivers saves lives

2008-11-12 Seattle Post Intelligencer

Does requiring a vision test for elderly drivers improve traffic safety? Perhaps. A Florida law requiring drivers 80 and older to get an eye test appears to have reduced the number of driving deaths among older people.

Traffic charges may land teens in defensive driving course

2008-11-09 Sampson Independent

Starting next month, teenagers charged with a motor vehicle violation will be required to attend a highly-interactive defensive driving course called â Alive at 25â â with the hope its pupils realize that goal.

Learning curve

2008-11-06 Houston Chronicle

Steep decline in teen traffic deaths, most markedly in Texas, worth examining further.

Anoka High teens hope to steer peers right

2008-11-04 Minneapolis Star Tribune

Armed with creativity and gumption, a group of Anoka High School students is taking a message of teen driving safety on the road. The school's chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has embarked on an ambitious campaign to clue in students and parents alike on the new teen driving...

Video Games Studied as Training Tool For Older Drivers

2008-11-03 Voice of America

Video Games Older Drivers report - Download (WM) Video Games Older Drivers report - Watch (WM) The world's elderly population is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Drugged driving law is tough -- and unfair, some say

2008-11-02 Wisconsin State Journal

etreleven@madison.com On Tuesday, more than nine months after a crash on a snowy highway that killed his fiancee, John H. Harrison Jr. will likely become the first person in Dane County to be convicted of a drugged driving homicide.

New Jersey Roadways Scariest Thing This Halloween

2008-10-31 2 News

MADD CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF A 3073 -- INTERLOCKS FOR ALL CONVICTED DRUNK DRIVERS; MADD APPLAUDS NEW JERSEY SUPERIOR COURT ON UPHOLDING ANTI-PLEA BARGAINING IN DRUNK DRIVING CASES TRENTON, N.

And You Thought Airbags Were Enough

2008-10-31 BestStuff.com

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. resulted in 2.9 million injury cases and 42,636 deaths in 2005.

Buckle up

2008-10-31 Bolingbrook Sun

Valley View in good shape to meet new seat belt...

Safety group calls for cell phone driving code

2008-10-31 Baltimoresun.com

1 2 next At KCI Technologies, a large engineering firm in Hunt Valley, employees know one of the rules is not to talk on a cell phone while driving a company vehicle.

Fatalities on the Rise in Vehicle-Animal Crashes - NYTimes.com

2008-10-30 The New York Times

Filed at 8:14 a.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fatalities from vehicle crashes with deer and other animals have more than doubled over the last 15 years, according to a new study by an auto insurance-funded highway safety group that cites urban sprawl overlapping into deer habitat.

Medical Fitness to Drive and a Voluntary Reporting Law

2008-10-29 Transportation Research Board

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has released a report that explores the functional impact and efficacy of Missouris Voluntary Reporting Law (HB-1536) for drivers considered as potentially unfit due to real or suspected medical-functional deficit or compromise.

Mo. coalition wants fewer than 850 traffic deaths

2008-10-29 KOAM-TV

Associated Press - October 28, 2008 7:14 PM ET JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri highway safety coalition has set a new goal of cutting annual traffic accident deaths to less than 850 by 2012, which would be the lowest mark since 1949.

School permits dont allow nonfamily passengers

2008-10-29 Lincoln Journal Star

The driver in an accident that killed three teenagers Sunday had obtained a learners permit June 13 and surrendered it Aug.15 for a school permit, according to the Cass County Sheriffs Office.

Trucking Group Issues Highway Safety Agenda

2008-10-28 Automotive Fleet

ARLINGTON, VA. --- The today unveiled the details of a bold highway safety agenda designed to reduce the number of highway-related fatalities and injuries on the nation's highways.

Officials offer tips for safe Halloween

2008-10-28 The Oregonian

Halloween is an especially important time to pay extra attention to child safety, officials say. With Halloween falling on Friday, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police urge motorists to take special care and drive sober.

Safest Vehicles for Downsizing

2008-10-28 NewsChannel 4 KFOR.com

Savvy Downsizing If fuel economy is a top concern, you don't have to downsize to the smallest vehicles available to get improvements in gas mileage. "Consumers can think about downsizing the engine, not the car," Rader says.

5 Teens Killed In Wrecks Amid Safety CampaignLoading...

2008-10-28 Insurance News Net

Oct. 25--Five teens have died in traffic crashes across the commonwealth since Oct. 18, even as insurance officials, police and educators were observing National Teen Driver Safety Week.

Texting has g2g for student drivers

2008-10-28 Kansan.com

Despite climbing number of accidents, students say they still text while driving.

With Car Cameras, Teen Drivers Have Wide Audience

2008-10-26 Washingtonpost.com

More than 100 cameras that record the moments before and after an unusual driving maneuver are still available for free for Southern Maryland families with teenage drivers.

Elderly Drivers: Stop or Go?

2008-10-25 Prudent Press Agency

(Prudent Press Agency)---Without so much as a tap on the brakes, my aunt whizzed through another stop sign. 'What are you doing?' I shrieked. 'That was a stop sign.

Antilock Brakes Trim Motorcycle Crashes

2008-10-22 WISN Milwaukee

WASHINGTON -- Antilock brakes could help motorcycle riders avoid fatal crashes, according to a study by the insurance industry.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Wednesday that the fatal crash rate involving motorcycles equipped with optional antilock brakes, or ABS, was 38 percent lower than...

Teen auto accidents peak in October

2008-10-22 North Jersey.com

In which month do teen auto crashes rise 20 percent higher than the typical month? B. October C. October Yes, as noted in a study by the State Farm Insurance Co.

Missouri law curbs drivers who are unfit

2008-10-22 Calibre Macro World

Oct. 22--Floyd Wright thinks he's a good driver. His wife Betty disagrees -- and so does the state of Missouri. Wright, 83, is one of thousands of Missouri drivers who have had their licenses revoked under a 10-year-old law that allows police officers, doctors, licensing staff and family members to...

Passenger distractions focus of Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct. 19-25

2008-10-21 Journal Advocate

COLORADO Car crashes are the number one killer of teenagers in Colorado, and students at more than 40 high schools in the state are trying to change that by educating their peers about being safe and responsible drivers and passengers during National Teen Driver Safety Week, Oct.

Federal focus on rural road safety brings high-level visitors to WTI

2008-10-21 Montana State University

-- By Michael Becker, MSU News Service Print w/imagesPrint text only MSU assistant professor and research scientist, Laura Stanley, demonstrates the driving simulator lab to Paul Brubaker from the U.

New Liberty Mutual/SADD Study Reveals Assertive Teen Passengers Can Curb Dangerous Teen Driving Behaviors Such as Street Racing

2008-10-20 Nashville Business Journal

BOSTON, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Street racing has been a part of American pop culture for nearly 70 years, glamorized by movies such as 'Rebel Without a Cause,' 'Grease' and 'The Fast and the Furious.

Driving and texting is a threat to motorists, authorities say

2008-10-19 Omaha World-Herald

The cell phone beeped with Angela Straw behind the wheel. The Bellevue West High School junior looked down at the screen of her pink Nokia and laughed.

When it's time for Grandma to stop driving

2008-10-09 MSNBC

Getting elderly motorists off the road poses myriad of...

Rhode Island Road and Bridge Conditions Likely to Worsen Unless $1.3 Billion Transportation Funding Shortfall is Reduced;

2008-10-07 News Blaze

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The condition ofRhode Island's roads, highways and bridges is likely to worsen unless the state is able to increase transportation investment and close a significant transportation funding shortfall.

Ford Lets Parents Set Limits for Teen Drivers

2008-10-07 The Wall Street Journal

By MATTHEW DOLAN Article Comments more in Autos » Email Printer Friendly Share: Yahoo Buzz MySpace Digg Text Size In an age where parents can drug-test their children and restrict the television shows they see, Ford Motor Co.

Employers commit to Drive Safely Work Week

2008-10-07 NBC 25

Employers know the importance of keeping their workforce safe and this week members of the Michigan Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) are making a commitment to encourage safe driving practices as they take part in Drive Safely Work Week which begins today.

Beshear Encourages Safer Driving

2008-10-06 Kypost.com

Web Produced: Nicole Green Last Update: 5:21 pm FRANKFORT, Ky. Whats the leading cause of death among those age 6 to 33? Traffic crashes. Someone a parent, child, grandparent, friend is needlessly killed on our nations highways every 12 minutes.

Slam on the brakes

2008-10-06 Asbury Park Press

New Jersey highway safety officials will participate in 'Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day' on Friday, a national initiative designed to draw attention to how poor driving behavior can result in tragedies on the roads.

October roads

2008-10-06 All Around Philly

October roads UPPER MERION - Autumn ushers in a host of seasonal hazards that drivers may have forgotten during the many warm months - wet leaves, frost, sun glare and deer crossing the road.

Teen driving deaths high in W.Va.: Area officials suggest ways to save lives

2008-10-05 Individual.com

(The Dominion Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- FOR INFORMATION on teen driving safety, visit www.allstate.com/teen. West Virginia has the 13th highest fatality rate for teen drivers per capita in the United States, according to a study conducted by Allstate Insurance Company.

New questions on booster seats

2008-10-05 Abilene Reporter

Booster seats are supposed to keep children who are too old for car seats safe by positioning them so their seat belts fit. Now, comprehensive tests on boosters are raising new concerns about some of these widely used products.

Drivers license age should be raised

2008-10-05 Victoria Advocate

Young drivers from the ages of 16 to 18 are the highest group for the number of fatal accidents. This statistic may be for several reasons, including lack of experience, immaturity and poor training, to name a few, according to a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (Advocate, Sept.

Fallout From Facebook is Forever

2008-10-05 Red Orbit

From Dr. Phil to 20/20 to PC World, a Rhode Island inmate is being used as an example of how online postings can come back to haunt you. PROVIDENCE -- A Rhode Island inmate is fast becoming a national poster boy for the consequences of having photos online that are damning or simply dumb.

Growing Ranks of Older Drivers Prompts New Recommendations

2008-10-05 WTOL 11

By Barry Abisch Provided by WorldNow States are being encouraged to revamp driver license testing requirements and develop low-cost transportion alternatives with an eye toward the growing number of older drivers on the nation's highways.

US insurer using computer games to sharpen driving skills

2008-10-02 Yahoo! Politics

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A major US insurance company on Thursday set out to prove that playing computer games can sharpen the minds of older drivers so much that they deserve discounts on their auto policies.

C U L8R: Texting banned while driving in California

2008-10-02 Aerotech News and Review

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill banning all forms of text messaging while driving in California Sept. 24. The law, which follows Californias ban of all but hands-free cellular phone use Jan.

Voting may be matter of life and death

2008-10-01 Omaha World-Herald

CHICAGO (AP) - Could voting for president be hazardous to your health? An analysis of Election Day traffic deaths dating back to Jimmy Carter's 1976 win suggests yes, but the authors say that's no reason not to go to the polls.

Who causes motor vehicle crashes?

2008-09-16 Wicked Local

A recent report provided a number of interesting findings about drivers and their motoring habits. Here are some of them: - One study found drivers tend to blame the other person.