2012

The Nebraska State Fair, which is set to take place up until Labor Day, features a driving simulator that will illustrate to vistors the dangers of distracted driving. The booth is being brought to visitors by the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Nebraska Safety Center will also have safety information and a motorcycle display alongside the… read more

A new Ohio law is set to ban texting while driving. Starting at the end of August, this activity will be a secondary traffic offense in Ohio, meaning that a citation for texting can only be issued if the driver is pulled over for some other violation. Younger drivers are now prohibited from using any… read more

With kids headed back to school, the Simi Valley Police Department reminds drivers to obey traffic laws and be courteous to those they share the road with. In particular, drivers should avoid distractions such as using a cellphone or eating food behind the wheel. Drivers should watch for pedestrians and bicyclists and allow ample tme… read more

At Charlotte High School in Florida, one volunteer is on a mission to get high school students to stop texting and driving. At lunchtime, she asks the students to sign a petition in which they pledge to not text behind the wheel. When they sign this petition, students receive a “Texting Kills” bracelet. She has… read more

The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and police in that same area have begun to crack down on distracted driving. According to them, driving while operating a mobile electronic device is the third biggest contributor to fatal car crashes. Texting while driving makes it 23 times more likely to crash, whereas talking on the phone… read more

A new survey suggests that being in a car crash while texting or knowing someone who has are the first and second most effective ways to reduce the dangerous practice. Clearly these are not methods which could be utilized in the drive to keep teens safe on the road. The survey does provide a third… read more

Kickboard USA has announced the voluntary recall of approximately 5,600 scooter products. The recall is for the three-wheeled Mini Micro scooter. This product contains a plastic platform that can break and thus lacerate children using the item. Model numbers include MM0079, MM0080, MM0109, and MM0113.  If you have this product, please discontinue use immediately and… read more

Around 21,000 Kenmore Elite and LG Electronics gas dryers sold by Sears and other retailers have been recalled due to a fire hazard. There have been over 100 complaints about the heat not turning off automatically after the dry cycle is complete. There have also been reports of minor injuries and damage to clothing.  Sears… read more

Monro Muffler, an auto repair company with 800 locations throughout the United States, has reached a settlement in which they have vowed to implement safer work practices.  The settlement with the Department of Labor follows a hydraulic lift incident at its Stoughton, Massachusetts location. The settlement will require Monro Muffler to institute regular mechanical checks… read more

The Meramec region of the state of Missouri is mobilizing a committee to investigate and educate people about the risks of driving while distracted and other dangerous driving habits. While the state as a whole has experienced fewer traffic accidents within the last year, the eight-county Meramec region reported an increase. Although cellphone use is… read more

In March, Pennsylvania’s anti-texting while driving law went into effect.  However, the number of citations issued by the Pennsylvania State Police for the offense is thus far very low.  As of the beginning of August, the number of citations issued by the organization was just 73, while the number of tickets issued by the Philadelphia… read more

In order to show the dangers of distracted driving, Allstate set up a Teen Safe Driving Challenge at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday. Teens were asked to drive through a closed course while driving instructors sent them texts to distract them. The teens were then given a post-driving evaluation to show their performance while… read more