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

Big trucks, small trucks or medium trucks, regardless of their size, they are a natural part of the driving environment. They are driven by commercial drivers and play a substantial role in our commerce. It is important to learn about their characteristics and how to drive defensively around them.

So what should you keep in mind when sharing the road with trucks?

Take in account the differences in size and weight.

Due to their size and weight they can not react quickly in the driving environment. While most cars weigh an average of 3,000 pounds, large trucks are heavy and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. At that weight trucks can't maneuver like a 3,000 pound car and can not be brought to a quick stop. In a crash involving a 3,000 pound car and an 80,000 pound truck, the truck is going to sustain less damage.

Increase your following distance.

When traveling behind a truck use extra caution and increase your following distance to three or fours seconds. Doing so allows you to have a better view of the traffic conditions ahead. If you are following at a safe distance, consider it will only cost you two or three seconds of your time to remain behind the truck as you approach your exit.

The most common mistake that drivers make around trucks is thinking trucks have the ability to perform and to stop like a small car. It takes at least twice the distance for a large truck or bus to stop than it does for a small car. It also takes them longer to accelerate and get up to speed.

Use extra care when passing.

The US Department of Transportation Office of Motor Carrier Safety conducted a study titled "The Unsafe Driving Acts of Motorists in the Vicinity of Large Trucks". The study found "Particularly distressing to truck drivers is when a motorist passes a large truck, quickly cuts in front of it, then exits the highway." They cited the most common reason for collisions involving passenger vehicles and large trucks was the motorists "unfamiliarity with the performance limitations and capabilities of large trucks. It appeared that most drivers are unaware of the limited acceleration, braking, and visibility of large trucks and of the relationship between mass and velocity and the potential consequences of that relationship to safety." They need lots of room to maneuver and have a much wider turning radius.

Be aware of the blind spots.

Avoid cruising along in a truck's blind spots. Large vehicles have very large blind spots or what is referred to as "No-Zones". Semis have a large blind spot reaching up to 200 feet directly behind them. As you near the cab on the left side there is a blind spot that runs from behind the cab to just behind the driver. There is a much larger blind spot on the right side of the vehicle. Trucks with high hoods have a blind spot of up to 25 feet in front of the truck. The old saying that "If you can't see the truck's mirrors, the truck driver can't see you" is true. Some go even further to say if you can't see the truck driver's face in his mirrors, he can't see you.

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation found that in collisions involving cars and trucks, the driver of the car was at fault 73 % of the time. Other studies have shown that:

Passenger-car drivers are four times more likely to rear-end a truck than truckers are to rear-end cars;

Non-commercial drivers are 10 times more likely to crash into a truck head-on than vice versa;

Passenger-car drivers are three times more likely to speed in poor road conditions (such as rain) than truck drivers;

Non-commercial drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in crashes involving drowsiness.

The AAA study also found that in fatal collisions involving cars and trucks, 98% of the deaths were among occupants of the car.

When sharing the road with trucks, give trucks a wide berth and respect their limitations.

For more information about truck safety or commerical drivers license (CDL) please visit www.TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.

Labels: cdl, commercial drivers license, driver safey, sharing the road with trucks, truck safety

The first recorded traffic collision in the US occurred in May 1896 when Henry Wells, driving a Duryea motor wagon, struck and injured a cyclist. The cyclist wound up with a broken leg and Mr. Wells spent the night in jail. Things have changed since that time. In 2008, 716 cyclists were killed in traffic crashes and 52,000 were injured. Florida, the fourth largest state, led the nation with 125 bicycle deaths followed by California with 109.

Cycling has become a popular form of exercise and cyclists are appearing more and more on America's roads. More and more, cities are trying to make their roads friendlier to cyclists by creating cycling lanes but, for the great majority of roads, cyclists must share the same lanes with other traffic. All states have laws giving cyclists a right to use the road and requiring them to follow all the same laws and regulations that apply to motorists. Unfortunately, in many regions of the US where cycling is growing in popularity, tensions are growing between cyclists and motorists. When it comes to sharing the road, both motorists and cyclists need to understand the rules and exercise a little common sense.

Right-of-way

When it comes to who has the right-of-way, both cyclists and motorists need to understand that no one can take the right-of-way; they can only give it up to someone else. Courtesy on the road- even when it isn't returned - is critical to preventing conflicts and saving lives.

Motorists

• Motorists need to understand that cyclists have a right to the road and need to be alert to their presence. To avoid conflicts with cyclists, there are a few things that motorists need to know and understand.


• Cycles, whether motorized or not, have a small profile and can be difficult to see. Most of us expect to see cars but we don’t tend to look for or anticipate that there might be a cyclist in the area.


• Speed is a major contributor to collisions between motorists and cyclists. Speeding doesn't give you time to react if you encounter a cyclist around a curve or over a hill.


• Anticipate that there might be one or more cyclists over the next hill or around the next curve.


• Before making a right hand turn at an intersection, check for cyclists coming up in your right side blind spot.


• Before entering an intersection after a stop, check for cyclists approaching from the left. Look left, right, then, left again, before pulling out into the intersection.


• Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.


• Allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road.


• Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.


• Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
  
• Cyclists can stop much faster than a car; allow a greater following distance behind cyclists.


• When it appears that you will meet an oncoming vehicle and a cyclist at the same time, slow to let the other vehicle pass before attempting to pass the cyclist.
  Do not drive in a bicycle lane unless you are turning across it.

When the lane is too narrow to pass a cyclist safely, wait until the next lane is clear and give the bicycle all the rights of any other slow moving vehicle.

• Be especially careful around children riding bicycles.


• When encountering debris, potholes, or other obstructions, cyclists may need to "command the lane", meaning, they will need to move over into the center or left hand portion of the lane. Exercise patience and wait for a safe opportunity to pass.


• When roads are wet, they can be very slippery for a cyclist. Allow them extra room.

Cyclists

• All cyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets whenever they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.


• Always ride on the right hand side of the road with traffic.


• Cyclists are subject to the same rules of the road as any other vehicle operator. Obey all lane markings, signs, and signals.


• Cyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk.


• When riding at night, increase your visibility by using a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.


• Be courteous to motorists, even if the courtesy isn't returned. It can help keep you alive.

Although you have a right to the road, if there is a conflict with a motorist, it is better to pull over and stop than to risk a collision.

• Don't try to force the issue of your "right to the road" by commanding the lane to slow down traffic. Pull to the right and allow traffic to pass whenever practicable.


• If you encounter an angry motorist, don't add fuel to the fire by making gestures or responding in any negative way. Your actions could push a motorist over that psychological edge into a "road rage" situation. Concentrate on your own safety.

Labels: bicycle safety, blind spot, driver safey, helmet, motorist safety, right-of-way

Several instances have been reported over the past few years of Toyota and Lexus vehicles experiencing uncontrollable runaway engines resulting in speeds of more than 100 mph. One instance resulted in the death of a California family when their Lexus reached speeds of more than 120 mph before crashing. In another case, a man and his wife plunged over an ocean side cliff, resulting in the death of the wife.

On September 29th, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Consumer Safety Bulletin warning of potential problems with a series of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Following reports of runaway engines in these vehicles, Toyota determined that the floor mat could possibly jam the accelerator pedal causing a runaway acceleration. Toyota issued a letter on November 2, 2009, stating that an exhaustive review had been conducted and advised all owners of the affected vehicles to remove the driver side floor mats and not replace them until a remedy can be developed.

News stories by ABC and other news organizations are calling the Toyota claim of misplaced floor mats into question. Some experts believe that there may be a flaw in the engine computer program causing the runaway acceleration. Toyota and the NHTSA deny that this is the case. The experts go further to say that the computerized system lacks a fail-safe mechanism that allows for an emergency shut-down of the vehicle.

This article is not intended to determine who is right in this debate, but rather to provide information to Toyota and Lexus owners on what steps they should take if they experience a runaway engine.

The following models are affected:

2007 - 2010 Camry

2005 - 2010 Avalon

2004 - 2009 Prius

2005 - 2010 Tacoma

2007 - 2010 Tundra

2007 - 2010 ES350

2006 - 2010 IS250 and IS350

Owners should first follow the advice of Toyota and remove the floor mats.

Drivers may panic if confronted with this situation so every owner of a Toyota should read the emergency procedures and go over the procedures in their mind whenever they start the car.

Brakes May be Ineffective - If those who contend the problem goes deeper than floor mats are correct, applying the brakes in this situation may not be effective. In most modern vehicles, power assisted brakes operate by drawing a vacuum supplied by the engine. If the throttle sticks in the full open position, the vacuum will be lost and the power assisted brakes will fail after one or two pumps of the brake pedal. Even if the brakes are working properly, it would be difficult for them to stop a runaway vehicle traveling more than 100 mph.

If confronted by a runaway engine, drivers should:

Steer and look for an emergency escape route – Try to maintain control of the vehicle and look for a way to escape. At all times, look at where you want to steer the vehicle and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Drivers should predict what they will do at all times and keep an emergency exit plan in mind. If the road ahead is clear, remaining on the pavement may be the safest option. If there is traffic ahead and you have to consider driving off the road, look for soft soil or bushes that will assist in slowing the vehicle. Driving against a curb can also help slow the vehicle. In extreme situations, steer to make a glancing side blow rather than a head-on collision with another object.

Apply both the Emergency/Parking brake and the standard brakes - The emergency brake is a mechanical system that depends on cables and levers rather than hydraulic (brake fluid) pressure to apply the brakes. If confronted with a runaway engine, owners should apply the brakes and, at the same time, immediately apply the emergency brake. Owners should review their vehicle owner’s manual for proper operation of the emergency brake. In some cases, brake cables and connections can become corroded and weaken if the emergency braking system is not frequently applied. You should have your emergency brakes checked for proper operation and use them on a regular basis to keep them in good working order.

Shift to Neutral - If unable to shift to neutral, turn the key to the Off or ACC position.

Turn the engine to the Off or Accessories (ACC) position - Most Toyotas are programmed to prevent accidental shut off of the engine while the vehicle is in motion.

• If your vehicle is equipped with a standard key type ignition, turn the key mid-way to the off/accessories position.


• If your vehicle is equipped with a power button, you must press and hold the button for more than 3 seconds before the engine will shut off. Do not push repeatedly on the button; it must be pressed firmly for more than 3 seconds. In vehicles with an electronic transmission system (such as the Prius), once the engine shuts off the transmission will shift to neutral and the control will shift to ACC.

DO NOT TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION OR REMOVE THE KEY! Turning the key all the way to the off position or removing it will lock the steering wheel.

Exit the vehicle - Once you bring the car to a complete stop, all vehicle occupants should immediately exit the vehicle and move to a safe location away from the vehicle. The hot brakes could cause a vehicle fire.

For more information on the Toyota recall, monitor the following web sites:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&itemID=279f2449f4604210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&pressReleaseYearSelect=2009

Toyota.com: http://pressroom.toyota.com/pr/tms/toyota/toyota-consumer-safety-advisory-102572.aspx

Labels: driver safey, emergency brake, runaway acceleration, runaway engine