Military aircraft mechanics are fond of asking a trick question; "What is the primary purpose of an ejection seat?" The answer: to provide a place for the pilot to sit. The secondary purpose, hopefully never used, is to provide a fast, safe means of escape from a crippled aircraft. While cars don't have ejection seats, the car's seat is, never the less, a very important piece of safety equipment. Most drivers tend to think of the car seat in terms of comfort and appearance while ignoring the fact that the seat is a critical piece of safety equipment in a crash.

The most common type of crash on America's roadways is the rear- end crash and the most common injuries drivers experience from that type of crash are whiplash and spinal injuries. The reason for this is simple. One of the laws of motion says "an object at rest wants to remain at rest." While sitting in a car seat, your body wants to remain at rest. If you are struck from behind by another vehicle, your body will want to remain at rest while the car is rapidly pushed out underneath it. If your seat isn't properly positioned, your body will snap back, followed by your head. This rapid snapping back of the spine and neck is what causes all the back injuries. Those of you who may have experienced this type of injury know that you don't really start to feel the muscles tense up and the associated pain until the next day. If it goes untreated, the trauma can cause long term and sometimes permanent injury.

The seats position and its ability to remain upright in a crash, is so important that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the folks with the crash test dummies) actually test the seat separately from the car. They remove the seat from the car, put it on the track and simulate a rear end crash to see how well the dummy fares in a crash. You can see how these tests are conducted at: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_restraints/head_restraint_info.html. You can also look up the seat's ratings for your particular vehicle.

Too many people now days tend to place the reclining seat slightly back and drive in a slightly reclined position. While it may be relaxing, this is a very dangerous practice. The further back the seat, the greater distance your body will be stretched backwards in a crash. To provide the greatest protection, your seat should be in the full upright position with the headrest just barely touching the back of your head. In this position, your body will be protected by the seat and prevented from snapping back so violently in a rear-end collision.

The other advantage of placing the seat in a full upright position is to help keep you alert on long trips. Leaning the seat back may be more relaxing but it can be too relaxing, allowing you to become drowsy on long trips. To take full advantage of all the safety features in the vehicle, you should adjust the seat's position so that your body is a minimum of ten inches from the airbag. Your seat belt should be fastened with the lap belt low over your hips and the shoulder harness crossing the center of the chest and centered over the shoulder. Never drive with the shoulder harness behind you. If the shoulder harness doesn't fit properly, you can adjust the position where it attaches to the car's frame. If your car doesn’t have a shoulder harness adjustment mechanism, you can purchase a shoulder harness adjustment fitting for a very low price at your local auto parts store.

Labels: air bags, car seats, driver safey, driver training, seat belt, seat belt law, seat belt safety

Don't Depend on Dumb Luck—Designate a Sober Driver Before the Party Begins

March is the month to don some green, pull out the shamrocks, and look for the pot of gold. St. Patrick's Day is approaching, spring is arriving and every one is ready to celebrate and enjoy good cheer. For many St. Patrick's Day has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the large number of drunk drivers, the night out has also become very dangerous.


On St. Patrick's Day 2008, 37 percent of the drivers and motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or above, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.


"Whether you are meeting a few friends at the local pub after work or attending parade, if you plan on using alcohol, never drive while impaired-and never let your friends drive if you think they are impaired".


Additional NHTSA statistics show that in 2008, there were 134 crash fatalities on St. Patrick's Day. Out of that number, 50 people were killed in traffic crashes that involved at least one driver or motorcyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.


For a safe St. Patrick's Day take the following steps:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;


• Before drinking, please designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home;


• If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;


• Use your community's Sober Rides program


• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;


• And remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Driving impaired is simply not worth the risk, not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can be really significant. Don't depend on dumb luck this St. Patrick's Day. Designate your sober driver before the party begins.


For more information, visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.


*- ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS DEFINED AS 6PM MARCH 16 TO 5:59AM MARCH 18

Labels: blood alcohol level, buzzed driving, drunk driving, dui, underage alcohol use, underage drinking

A bill is working its way through the Florida legislature to increase the penalties for increasingly loud car stereos. Currently, Florida law prevents anyone from playing a car stereo at a volume "so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of 25 feet or more from the motor vehicle" or "louder than necessary for the convenient hearing by persons inside the vehicle in areas adjoining churches, schools, or hospitals." A ticket for a loud stereo is a non-moving violation and carries a small fine that many just see as a small price to pay for playing their stereos at the volume that they want. The new law, if enacted, would change the offense to a moving violation, increase the fine, and assign points; too many points on a driver's record can lead to suspension of driving privileges. The bill is supported by law enforcement agencies, especially in university communities such as Gainesville, where police are frustrated by having to respond to loud noise complaints but having their hands tied with limited enforcement authority.

Other states and municipalities are also cracking down on loud music. To reduce the growing volume, cities such as New York and Chicago are now impounding cars with loud stereos and holding them as evidence until the case is adjudicated. This provides a strong incentive for violators to appear in court and to pay their fines.

Aside from the annoyance most experience when forced to listen to a loud stereo, loud stereos on the road present a real safety issue to drivers for several reasons.

• Driver emotions
- Emotions have a big impact on driver safety. Driving experts have long known that the key to safe driving is keeping your emotions in check. A driver who is irritated, upset, or angry tends to take greater chances or fails to give full attention to the complex task of driving.

The driving situation, especially in urban areas is frustrating enough as it is. When a driver who is frustrated or angry is involuntarily assaulted by a booming stereo while stuck in traffic, the noise and irritation can lead to unsafe driving practices. In some cases, if a driver who is angry gets pushed over his or her tipping point the situation could become far more dangerous leading to a case of:


• Road Rage
- Road rage is a serious and growing problem on America's roadways. So serious that the American Psychological Association has given it its own diagnosis; Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). IED results when a driver who is angry gets pushed over a psychological tipping point, usually by the actions of another driver, and lashes out in an attempt to harm or even kill the other driver. There have been documented cases of road rage caused by loud stereos with at least one case leading to the murder of the driver whose loud stereo precipitated the event. There have also been cases of home owners or non-drivers, killing someone over a loud stereo.


• Physical effects - Studies show that people react physically to noise. At 90 decibels (dB) or above, studies have shown that the adrenaline reaction is so powerful that people can become openly hostile and belligerent. 120 to 130 decibels is the normal threshold for pain in the ears. The average "boom car" stereo produces 120 to 140 decibels.




Long term exposure to loud noises by pregnant women can influence embryo development. According to lowertheboom.org, a website devoted to reducing the amount of noise prevalent in modern society, "exposure to the high-intensity/low-frequency sound will negatively affect her unborn child, due to the fight-or-flight adrenaline response of the mother's body. If the noise assault is in the first trimester, damage to the delicate fetal organs can occur due to the interruption of normal oxygen and nutrient flow to the placenta. During the first 14 to 60 days after conception, important developments in the central nervous system and vital organs of the baby are taking place."




• Listening to the road – Drivers need to be able to "hear the road"; in other words, drivers need to be able to hear and interpret important sounds around them as they drive. The sound of screeching tires or the fast approach of another vehicle can alert a driver to possible dangerous situations. Being aware of and getting out of the way of emergency vehicles can mean the difference between life and death.
  
  

Reducing the stress level on drivers and courtesy to other drivers, even when that courtesy is not returned, is critical to a safe driving environment. Fans of loud car stereos are naturally trying to block any legislation that could curb their desire to play their stereos as loud as they want. They also tend to ignore or discount studies that show the dangers of exposure to loud music. One such driver suggested that, "if you don't like it, just don't listen to it." That is somewhat like telling someone who is passing by a pig farm to "just don't smell it." Senses can't be turned off and the full use of our senses to the greatest extent possible, are important for safe driving.

Labels: driver courtesy, driver emotions, driver safety, florida traffic laws, road rage, safe driving

At least two states, New York and Texas, have come up with a novel new way to prevent drivers who have accumulated too many points on their record from accumulating any more. Both states have enacted Driver Responsibility Assessment laws that are very similar in nature. In the hope of curbing aggressive driving behavior before it becomes necessary to suspend a license, these laws put a price on aggressive driving and other offenses that could become quite a financial burden on some drivers.

In both New York and Texas, the Driver Responsibility Assessment Law places a financial penalty on drivers who have accumulated too many points over and above the cost of the ticket. Depending on the offense, a driver may have to pay a minimum of $100 per year in order to maintain their driving privileges. For example, A New York driver who accumulates 6 points within an 18 month period will have to pay an annual "Driver Responsibility Assessment" of $100 per year for a three year period. Each additional point on the driving record after the initial assessment will result in an additional $25 per point. Failure to pay the annual assessments will result in suspension of driving privileges.

Below is a breakdown of New York state's assessment/surcharge offenses and costs:

New York's Driver Responsibility Law applies to anyone, whether licensed in New York or not, who commits any of the following offenses while driving in New York State.

Conviction of an alcohol-related traffic violation and the violation occurred in NYS on or after November 18, 2004 (includes boats and snowmobiles); or

Conviction of a drug-related traffic violation and the violation occurred in NYS on or after November 18, 2004 (includes boats and snowmobiles); or

DMV hearing determines that you refused a chemical test and the refusal occurred in NYS on or after November 18, 2004 (includes boats and snowmobiles); or

Receiving six or more points on your NYS driver record during a period of 18 months and the violations occurred in NYS, Quebec or Ontario on or after November 18, 2004.

If you are convicted of a traffic violation that is alcohol-related or drug-related, or if you refuse a chemical test, the annual assessment is $250. The minimum amount that you must pay each year is the annual assessment. The total assessment for the three years is $750.

If you receive six points on your driving record within eighteen months, your assessment will be $100 per year for a three year period or a total of $300. $25 is assessed for each additional point over and above the original six points.
For example: A driver convicted of driving more than 21 mph over the speed limit will receive six points and will be assessed $100 per year. If that driver is convicted of another violation and receives two additional points, the assessment will be $150 per year or a total of $450.

With a New York defensive driving course can provide up to a four-point reduction in the total number of active points on your driving record, depending on when the points were assessed. Learn more about the eligibiltiy requirements and benefits of a defensive driving course to protect your NY driving record.

For more information on the New York Driver Responsibility Law, visit: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DRP.HTM

Labels: aggressive driving, defensive driving course, driver responsibility laws, new york defensive driving, new york driving laws

On November 24th, a new law went into effect in New York that requires that all children under the age of 8 to be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system. This means that children under the age of 8 must be seated in an appropriate booster seat that allows the seat belt system to fit properly. This law is in response to several studies that showed that children were graduating to seat belts too early once they outgrew their child safety seats.

A study conducted in 2002 by State Farm Insurance and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia showed that 83% of children are graduating from child safety seats to adult seat belts too early. The problem lies in the different ways that seat belts fit around an adult's body compared to the way they fit around a child. When properly belted in, the seat belt should fit low over a vehicle occupant's hips. In a crash, the belt will provide restraint by pushing back against the relatively hard surface of the occupant's hip bones. If the belt were to sit higher across the soft tissue of the occupant's abdomen, it could cause significant damage to internal organs and could, in severe crashes, actually cut into the occupant's abdomen. Seat belts on children, with their small frames, tend to ride high over the child’s abdomen. The 2002 study refers to this as the "Seat Belt Syndrome" in children. The seat belt syndrome has contributed to abdominal and spinal injuries in children. The studies found that children between the ages of 3 and 9 were at greatest risk of seat belt syndrome. The problem is compounded by the way shoulder harnesses fit over children. Instead of sitting properly over a child's shoulder, the shoulder harness tends to ride across their neck and rub against their face causing many to place the shoulder harness behind them.

The answer to this problem is quite simple but, for some reason, the word has been slow in getting around. Booster seats raise the child's body to a position that allows the seat belt to ride low over their hips the way they are designed. Booster seats can also help to properly position the shoulder harness so that it provides maximum protection. The American Academy of Pediatrics published guidelines that say children should remain in booster seats until they are 4'9" in height or, on average, from 9 to 11 years of age. Their website also has guidelines on the proper use of child restraints from infants to teens.

In spite of campaigns by the insurance industry and guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are only 21 states, including New York, that have passed child restraint laws in compliance with federal guidelines. Many states have no requirement for child restraint systems beyond the age of 4.

When considering a booster seat for your child, remember that all booster seats are not created equally. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted crash tests and published a list of the best and worst booster seats that are currently on the market. The IIHS website also has pictures showing how lap belts and shoulder harnesses should fit to provide maximum protection. The best seats provide proper height adjustment for the lap belt and keep the shoulder harness away from the abdomen and over the shoulder where they belong.

For more information on proper placement and fitting of child safety seats, visit www.nysdmv.com. You can also visit www.safeny.com to find a child safety seat event or a list of permanent seat fitting stations. There are also online courses now available to educate drivers on the rules of the road and the latest defensive driving techniques.

Labels: child safety seat, driver education, driver safety, new york driving laws

Breaking down on the highway can be a scary thought, but it can happen to all of us, so if it ever happens to you, it's important that you know exactly what to do. Highway shoulders are only for emergency use and you should only stop on them if you have no other choice, if possible, you should always try to find a safer place to stop off the highway. You shouldn't stop on the shoulder to use a cell phone or check a route or a map; the shoulders are only for emergency use. If an emergency does force you to stop, then there are a few things you should do in order to make sure you, and any passengers, are safe.

First of all, if you think you are about to break down, then you need to safely make your way onto the shoulder. Stop as far away from the highway as you can. Once you have stopped, turn your wheel as far to the right, or in the opposite direction of the road. Leave your vehicle head lights on and turn on your hazard lights to increase your vehicles visibility. If for any reason you cannot make it to the shoulder, switch on your hazard warning lights, and only leave your vehicle when you can clear the highway easily. Do not attempt to place any warning devices on the highway.

When exiting the vehicle exit through the passenger side. This should be the side facing away from the highway. If not, get out the side that is furthest from the road, in order to ensure you are not getting out onto the highway or the shoulder itself, to avoid oncoming vehicles(e.g. the emergency services or other vehicles who may have broken down). You may think you're far from the road, but doing this will ensure you and your passenger's safety.

Next you need to get to a safe place; this would be up the bank or behind a barrier if possible. Once you're in a safe place, use a cell phone to call for help, it's best to call emergency help or road side assistance first. Notify immediate family members so that they know where you are and know that you are safe. Be prepared to describe to someone where you are, it can help to pinpoint your exact location, and allow road side assistance to reach you more promptly.

Breaking down on the highway can be scary, but that doesn't mean you can't do it safely. By following these tips and being responsible, you'll be back on the road in no time, safe and sound.

Labels: break downs, emergency, Highway Safety, vehicle safety

All New York drivers are eligible to take a defensive driving course that allows them to reduce the number of points on their drivers’ licenses and receive a discount on their auto insurance premiums. The cost of the course is quickly recouped by the savings on the driver's insurance policy. This course can be taken online or in a classroom. Taking the defensive driving class online allows drivers to complete the course at their own pace, in the comfort and privacy of their homes. It's easy even for drivers who have limited experience on the internet because the New York defensive driving course is designed to be simple for everyone, even those who are new to the internet. Here's how to complete the course online, remove points from your New York driving record, and save money on your auto insurance.

The New York Department of Motor Vehicles requires that the defensive driving course be six hours long, so the length of the course will be the same no matter which provider you choose. The benefits of the course are also the same no matter which provider you choose: Up to a four-point reduction in the total number of active points on your driving record, depending on when the points were assessed, and a 10% reduction from the base rate of your current liability, no-fault and collision premiums for three years. Each person with a New York driver’s license listed as a principal operator on the family's auto insurance policy must register for and complete the defensive driving course to be eligible for the insurance discount. For example, if a husband and wife have two passenger vehicles, both must take the course to receive a discount on each policy.

When you register for the course, you'll provide personal information to verify your identity and participation, such as the Client ID number from your NYS driver's license and your date of birth. Identity and participation information can also include biometric data like keystrokes, facial recognition or voice recognition. The six-hour time requirement for the NY defensive driving course begins after you complete registration. You may complete the course in one sitting or log in and out as many times as you like. Your place in the course is automatically saved as you progress through it. You must complete the course within 30 days of registration.

You are not required to pass a test to receive your certificate for completing the course. You will receive a certificate for passing based on the delivery option you select. To get your auto insurance reduction, present your certificate of completion to your insurance agent within 90 days (after 90 days, you may still receive a discount, but your insurance agent may issue the discount effective from the date you submitted the certificate).

You may see the New York defensive driving course referred to as "PIRP" or "I-PIRP." This is the course you need for removal of points from your driving record and an auto insurance discount. PIRP stands for Point and Insurance Reduction Program. I-PIRP stands for Internet Point and Insurance Reduction Program - the same course delivered via the internet.

Labels: auto insurance reduction, defensive driving course, new york defensive driving, point reduction