2012

The state of Alabama is considering prohibiting school bus drivers from using their cellphones while behind the wheel, in what’s becoming a growing national trend. A bill passed recently by the state’s House of Representatives would ban school bus drivers from using their cellphones for anything other than an emergency situation while the bus is… read more

According to an estimate from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately 1 in four drivers will be 65 years old or older by the year 2030. Baby Boomers, the generation comprising the largest percentage of Americans, will begin entering their mid-60s soon, and several organizations — including the American Highway Users Alliance, National Association… read more

The Michigan state senate recently passed a bill that would prohibit new drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel of a moving automobile. If passed, the bill – labeled “Kelsey’s Law” after a 17 year old girl who was killed in a collision while talking on her cellphone – would ban non-emergency cellphone use… read more

The state of Pennsylvania has recently passed a bill banning text messaging while driving. State Bill 314 was introduced by state Senator Robert Tomlinson, a Republican from Northampton. It makes using an “interactive wireless communication device,” to “send, read or write a text-based communication while the vehicle is in motion.” The law does not prohibit… read more

Nearly 15,000 Hyundai Sonata hybrids are being recalled due to a potential issue with the rear center seatbelt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall affects Sonata hybrids manufactured between December 2010 and March 2012. The rear center seatbelt in this model incorporates a release mechanism that can be detached from the… read more

The state legislature in Alaska is considering a bill that would ban teenage drivers from using a cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. House Bill 128 would give police the authority to write a citation to a teen using a cellphone while driving, but only if the driver has been stopped for violating a different… read more

Sometimes the safety features we count on to protect us don’t function as well as we need them to, as this recent vehicle recall reminds us. More than 275,000 Subaru Forester sport utility vehicles are being recalled by Fuji Heavy Industries Limited due to an issue with the rear seatbelt that might increase the risk… read more

The Kawasaki Motors Corporation of Irvine, California has issued a voluntary recall for several models of its utility vehicles because they pose a fire hazard. The vehicles’ fuel tubes can create friction with the housing unit for the air cleaner, possibly causing holes to form in the tube and increasing the risk of a fire…. read more

The Hydro-Gear LLP has issued a recall for several models of lawn tractors sold from January 2011 to January 2012 due to a risk of brake failure. A defective gear in the hydrostatic transaxle of certain tractor models can cause the brakes to cease functioning, thus endangering the operator. The recall affects the Troy-Bilt, MTD… read more

Acclarent Incorporated has issued a recall for its Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation System catheter due to a risk of airway obstruction. The Inspira AIR Balloon Dilation System was manufactured from  March 2011 to June 2011, and measures 18 millimeters by 40 millimeters. The affected units have the product code BC1840A. The balloon catheter, designed to… read more

The state of Ohio has developed a creative way to warn young motorists of the dangers of distracted driving. The Ohio Department of Transportation has been visiting high schools in the state demonstrating a new driving simulation program that reproduces the difficult and dangerous conditions of operating a motor vehicle while texting or while under… read more

Mega Profit Trading, located in China, has issued a voluntary recall of the 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater toy due to a risk of tipping, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with Health Canada. This recall affects approximately 2,150 units throughout the United States and Canada. The 4-in-1 Dramatic Play Theater is… read more