Road Safety News & Updates
Car to Car Technology
The Obama administration came out in support of car-to-car technology, saying it would increase safe driving and reduce road accidents. The technology lets cars detect each other on the road and could prevent over half a million collisions every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the cost of the technology in 2020 would be about $329 per vehicle.
Cellphones and Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, cell phones have a major impact on road safety. Analysis of data from 2013 and earlier indicates that 26 percent of vehicle accidents can be attributed to cell phone use. Surprisingly, only around 5 percent of those accidents are related to texting, and researchers at Texas A&M say talking can be as distracting as texting for drivers.
Hyundai Promises Safety Practice
Failure to react timely to a dangerous product has resulted in a $17.4 million fine for Hyundai. According to reports, the car maker learned that in 2012 that some Genesis cars made from 2009 through 2012 contained brake fluid that wouldn't function properly to prevent corrosion. Federal regulators fined the company because it didn't issue a recall on the vehicles until 2013. The fine comes with an agreement that Hyundai will make some safety practice changes.
AAA’s Digest of Motor Laws
Individuals across the country can drive safe and legally with the help of AAA's Digest of Motor Laws. The online database lets individuals search information by state or law type. The site links to information about road safety, state traffic laws, fees, and titling requirements, among other things.
Alisa Law
Federal legislators are considering "Alisa's Law," a bill that would encourage states to require ignition interlock devices on vehicles for all drunk driving convictions. The devices would be required for at least six months. The bill is named for the daughter of the president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who died in a drunk driving accident at the age of 15.
Sources:
https://recode.net/2014/08/18/feds-say-requiring-car-to-car-technology-could-prevent-accidents/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/03/28/cellphone-use-1-in-4-car-crashes/7018505/
https://www.carconsumers.org/inthenews.htm
https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/
https://www.madd.org/blog/2014/july/alisas-law.html
