2012

I’ve often reported on various driving simulators across the country that allow teenagers to experience the consequences of distracted driving or driving under the influence, etc.  But a new story shows that not all simulators necessarily have to involve motor vehicles. In Iowa City, Iowa, a bike riding simulator has been developed that allows researchers… read more

This next story provides a stark example of how, even though it’s easy to get excited about innovations in medicine, we still have to be aware of any potential risks and act accordingly to avoid those risks. For 60 years, persons suffering from atrial fibrillation, which is a condition involving an irregular heartbeat, had to… read more

Now that all-electric vehicles have been on the market for nearly two years, people have gotten a chance to see and experience these cars in action.  A new report details how the owners feel about their environmentally friendly vehicles. Scientific American queried owners about their experiences with such vehicles as the Chevy Volt and the… read more

Owing to the fact that recent reports have pegged it as the most dangerous city in the country for pedestrians, Orlando is launching measures designed to cut down on both pedestrian accidents and improve the way the area is perceived. The new initiative is going by the moniker “Best Foot Forward.”  A far-reaching partnership between… read more

The city of Newark, New Jersey, is being used as an example of the correlation between an increase in pedestrian collisions and a generally lower income average. Researchers believe this correlation has been established for two primary reasons.  The first is that people with low income are often unable to afford a car, and so… read more

A new study suggests that a person’s weight might have an influence on the likelihood of that person surviving a vehicular accident. The study, which will be presented by the University of Buffalo in New York at Chicago’s Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, hinges on the fact that persons of normal weight utilize seat belts… read more

For those still not sure that the act of texting while driving is dangerous, here’s one more study that seeks to convince you. Under the banner of a project known as Generation tXt, students, under the guidance of University of Oklahoma School of Medicine faculty, looked at the driving habits of thirty students between the… read more

I’ve often used this blog to discuss the dangers inherent in texting while behind the wheel of an automobile.  But could the very act of simply anticipating a call coming through be posing a danger as well? That’s what a new study suggests.  Researchers at the University of Washington conducted a study which looked at… read more

A team of British researchers has embarked upon the creation of technology that they say could keep elderly drivers driving longer and in a safer fashion than had previously been possible. Scientists from Newcastle University have outfitted a Peugeot Ion with various tracking devices that can keep track of levels of stress, concentration, and driving… read more

Communication is crucial when a patient is meeting with a healthcare professional to talk about their care plan.  But what happens when this communication is compromised? A new study suggests that the quality of translation for non-English speaking patients in American hospitals could have a direct impact on the safety of the patient.  Published in… read more

A new survey conducted in the state of Michigan has some startling results that show just how prevalent distracted driving might be throughout the country as a whole. In anticipation of this month’s Distracted Driving Awareness campaign, Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning conducted a survey of 600 people, and their results might surprise you. … read more

A new report suggests that big rigs would be much safer if speed limiter devices were in use, and very soon a rule may go into effect requiring that very thing. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently released findings compiled by looking at 138,000 trucks and 15,000 crashes.  To determine whether or not the… read more