2012

The NHTSA will issue $17.5 million in funds to states with distracted driving laws that allow police to pull drivers over specifically for that offense. It is hoped that the states can use the money to both enforce the law and educate people about the danger of distracted drivers.  The NHTSA will also receive $5… read more

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ruled that vehicle event data recorders popularly known as black boxes will have to display standardized information. Experts believe that the ruling could mean we’re not far away from a future ruling mandating such devices in new vehicles. The ruling takes effect at the beginning of October. Privacy… read more

The reprieve is over in Beachwood, Ohio. Beachwood Police have stopped giving warning tickets for distracted driving and now will hand out citations for those talking on cell phones or using any type of electronic device while driving. Hands-free electronic devices remain legal. Violators can expect to pay a $101 fine. Police have the power… read more

A recent law banning distracted driving in Ontario has come under fire due to its lack of clarification on what constitutes distracted driving. Drivers in the province are banned from using cellular devices while driving, but recent incidents have demonstrated that tickets are not being issued in other cases of distracted driving.  In particular, the… read more

Keeping distracted drivers safe is the goal of the new Vehicle to Vehicle technology.  The author of a report about the testing of such technology in Ann Arbor got to take a ride in a luxury car, although other types of cars can be outfitted as well. Equipped with V2V, the car alerts the driver… read more

Australia’s National Road Safety Council has suggested a ban on cellphone use among drivers younger than 26. It has also been suggested that some kind of technology be developed to block reception of cellphones in vehicles as an additional step to prevent distracted driving.  This advice comes on the heels of the New South Wales… read more

A new article talks about some of the dangers teen drivers face when they get behind the wheel.  Accidents among teenage drivers are more likely because the driver lacks experience, and the risk becomes greater when friends of the same age are in the car or driving takes place at night. Parents might consider not… read more

The Soux Fall City Council deferred a vote on a ban that sought to outlaw texting while driving and other cellphone usage to sometime in September. The council hopes to seal any loopholes by making texting or using GPS at the red light part of the ban. To do such things in the city, you… read more

Energizer has just recalled their LED Rotating Night Lights after receiving reports that they can overheat and are a burn hazard. The lights were available at Target retail locations across the country.  Only models manufactured between February 2010 and July 2012 are affected by this recall. Consumers should stop use of this product immediately and… read more

In New York, Webster High School students were recently taught the dangers of texting and driving. Videos were shown that displayed the danger and warned the kids not to commit the act. In addition to the video, the school safety supervisor spoke to students about the threat, and one paralyzed individual talked about his own… read more

We’ve probably all used them at some point in our lives, or at least had someone swear by their curative properties.  I’m talking about sinus cleansers known as neti pots.  These long-spouted tea pots, when placed directly into an individual’s nostril, send a saline solution through the sinus cavities as a means to ease allergies,… read more

It’s almost inevitable that if you spend any amount of time on the road, you’re going to hit a traffic jam at some point.  Given the onslaught of cellular phones and other mobile devices, it’s no surprise then that some enterprising companies have developed apps to help get people through or around traffic without a… read more