The National Safety Commission Alerts
Safety is No Accident
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Important Features of a Safe Vehicle
Buyers in the market for a new or used car usually have several factors in mind that will determine the type of car they want. Normally price is the main factor followed by body type, available options, mileage ratings and vehicle safety performance. With a little bit of research you can check out safety ratings and available options that add to the vehicle’s safety performance to help you make the smartest decision.
Every year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) makes headlines with their annual list of best and worst vehicles based on crash tests conducted on new model vehicles of all sizes and body types. The IIHS conducts crash tests to determine a vehicle’s safety rating based on different types of crashes. According to the IIHS front and side impact crashes produce the most fatal injuries while rear end crashes, though not normally fatal, are responsible for most neck and spine injuries requiring long term care. Safety ratings are based on the ability of the passenger compartment to maintain structural integrity, thus preventing major harm to the vehicle occupants (represented by crash test dummies). Another thing they look at is how well the passenger seats and head restraints perform to prevent spinal injuries in rear end collisions. Each vehicle and seat tested is rated on a scale of: Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor. The good news is that, overall, vehicle safety is improving year by year.
The IIHS also looks at optional safety equipment such as side curtain air bags and electronic stability control (ESC). ESC is a computerized control system that helps to maintain vehicle stability and prevents vehicle rollovers due to loss of control at high speeds. ESC will be required standard equipment on all new vehicles beginning in 2012. If these items were standard equipment in a vehicle, their performance was tested. If the equipment was not standard, then the tests were conducted without them. The vehicles with these items listed as standard equipment rated much better than vehicles without.
The IIHS has also evaluated new crash avoidance technology that is not normally standard equipment but is available on some makes and models. The new crash avoidance technology includes such items as:
• Forward collision warning with automatic braking – This technology normally uses radar to detect if a vehicle is approaching too closely to a vehicle or object ahead. Depending on the system, it may sound a warning, tighten up the seat belts and apply the brakes. According to the IIHS, this type of crash accounts for up to 40% of the 6 million crashes reported each year.
• Emergency brake assistance – This technology takes anti-lock braking to a new level. It senses “panic braking” by a driver and readies the brake for activation and applies extra pressure. The IIHS said that more than 400,000 of these types of crashes happened every year between 2002 and 2006 resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.
• Lane departure warning – This system can detect an unintentional lane departure (if the turn signal is not activated) and either vibrates the steering wheel, activates an alarm and in some cases applies the brakes to keep the vehicle within the lane. Lane departure collisions between 2002 and 2006 numbered almost 500,000 per year with more than 10,000 deaths.
• Adaptive headlights – These headlights pivot in the direction that a driver is turning allowing them to see objects around a bend sooner.
• Blind spot detectors – Mounted on the rear view mirrors, this device signals a driver either by a light, audible tone, or both that another vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot. It is normally activated when the driver activates a turn signal.
The IIHS feels that the first three items on this list could contribute tremendously to crash avoidance but they feel the last two items may not be very effective. In the case of the adaptive headlights, research has shown that drivers on dark curving roads feel they can go faster when the road is equipped with reflectors or other road markers. The adaptive headlights may provide a false sense of security prompting some drivers to drive even faster. The blind spot detectors are mounted on the rear view mirrors and it is felt that many drivers may ignore them or, in heavy traffic, shut out the constant warnings of vehicles in the blind spot. To view the IIHS report on crash avoidance systems and the auto manufacturers that sell the systems as optional equipment, go to: http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4303.pdf
If you are considering the purchase of a new or used vehicle, you can visit the IIHS Vehicle Ratings website, type in your make and model and look at vehicle safety ratings going back as far as 1994 for some models.
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for ages 3 – 33 and young drivers from age 15 – 20 are especially vulnerable. When choosing a car for a teen driver, vehicle safety should be the main determining factor. If you are torn between the choices of two vehicles, choosing on the side of safety could be the wisest decision you ever made.
Every year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) makes headlines with their annual list of best and worst vehicles based on crash tests conducted on new model vehicles of all sizes and body types. The IIHS conducts crash tests to determine a vehicle’s safety rating based on different types of crashes. According to the IIHS front and side impact crashes produce the most fatal injuries while rear end crashes, though not normally fatal, are responsible for most neck and spine injuries requiring long term care. Safety ratings are based on the ability of the passenger compartment to maintain structural integrity, thus preventing major harm to the vehicle occupants (represented by crash test dummies). Another thing they look at is how well the passenger seats and head restraints perform to prevent spinal injuries in rear end collisions. Each vehicle and seat tested is rated on a scale of: Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor. The good news is that, overall, vehicle safety is improving year by year.
The IIHS also looks at optional safety equipment such as side curtain air bags and electronic stability control (ESC). ESC is a computerized control system that helps to maintain vehicle stability and prevents vehicle rollovers due to loss of control at high speeds. ESC will be required standard equipment on all new vehicles beginning in 2012. If these items were standard equipment in a vehicle, their performance was tested. If the equipment was not standard, then the tests were conducted without them. The vehicles with these items listed as standard equipment rated much better than vehicles without.
The IIHS has also evaluated new crash avoidance technology that is not normally standard equipment but is available on some makes and models. The new crash avoidance technology includes such items as:
• Forward collision warning with automatic braking – This technology normally uses radar to detect if a vehicle is approaching too closely to a vehicle or object ahead. Depending on the system, it may sound a warning, tighten up the seat belts and apply the brakes. According to the IIHS, this type of crash accounts for up to 40% of the 6 million crashes reported each year.
• Emergency brake assistance – This technology takes anti-lock braking to a new level. It senses “panic braking” by a driver and readies the brake for activation and applies extra pressure. The IIHS said that more than 400,000 of these types of crashes happened every year between 2002 and 2006 resulting in more than 3,000 deaths.
• Lane departure warning – This system can detect an unintentional lane departure (if the turn signal is not activated) and either vibrates the steering wheel, activates an alarm and in some cases applies the brakes to keep the vehicle within the lane. Lane departure collisions between 2002 and 2006 numbered almost 500,000 per year with more than 10,000 deaths.
• Adaptive headlights – These headlights pivot in the direction that a driver is turning allowing them to see objects around a bend sooner.
• Blind spot detectors – Mounted on the rear view mirrors, this device signals a driver either by a light, audible tone, or both that another vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot. It is normally activated when the driver activates a turn signal.
The IIHS feels that the first three items on this list could contribute tremendously to crash avoidance but they feel the last two items may not be very effective. In the case of the adaptive headlights, research has shown that drivers on dark curving roads feel they can go faster when the road is equipped with reflectors or other road markers. The adaptive headlights may provide a false sense of security prompting some drivers to drive even faster. The blind spot detectors are mounted on the rear view mirrors and it is felt that many drivers may ignore them or, in heavy traffic, shut out the constant warnings of vehicles in the blind spot. To view the IIHS report on crash avoidance systems and the auto manufacturers that sell the systems as optional equipment, go to: http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4303.pdf
If you are considering the purchase of a new or used vehicle, you can visit the IIHS Vehicle Ratings website, type in your make and model and look at vehicle safety ratings going back as far as 1994 for some models.
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for ages 3 – 33 and young drivers from age 15 – 20 are especially vulnerable. When choosing a car for a teen driver, vehicle safety should be the main determining factor. If you are torn between the choices of two vehicles, choosing on the side of safety could be the wisest decision you ever made.
Labels: air bags, crash avoidance, safe, vehicle
Friday, November 21, 2008
Driving Back Home to Unfamiliar Territory
It’s holiday travel season again and many of us will be traveling to what was once very familiar territory but, which now, may be totally foreign to us. This holiday season, I’ll be driving through my home town of Atlanta, a city that is no longer familiar to me. Atlanta is changing so rapidly that I can no longer count on past knowledge to find my way around. The Atlanta of my youth was easy to get around in and the natives took great pride in their courtesy to other drivers. That city was replaced by an alien world that more closely resembles a crowded NASCAR track.
When I leave Florida, I will be leaving a driving environment made up of relatively flat straight roads and warm weather for an environment made up of hilly, curving roads and temperatures low enough to cause bridges to ice over.
If you are driving back “home” to a different driving environment, you may want to take a few moments to consider the differences in the driving environment and preparations are needed. You can start by asking yourself some simple questions:
• Will the weather be different where I am going?
If you are driving from warm to cold, you may want to pack blankets, extra food, and heavy jackets in case the roads close, a bad collision brings traffic to a halt, or you experience a break down or flat tire. Do you have experience driving in snow and ice? If not, you will want to be extra careful and slow down. Review your skid procedures and remember, always turn the wheel in the direction of the skid, keep your foot off the brake until you have recovered, and then slow down gently.
• Will the driving environment be different?
If you are going from mountainous and curvy to straight and flat, you need to be aware of “driver’s hypnosis” caused by driving on long, straight, boring roads. You can easily fall asleep if you don’t take frequent rest periods and take action to keep your mind alert. Just make sure the actions you take to stay alert don’t take your mind off the important task of watching the road.
If you are going from flat to mountainous, remember that you can’t drive at the same speeds you are used to. Anticipate an obstruction around the next curve or hill; on two-lane roads, watch for cars that may pass illegally. If you are going slower than other traffic, pull over to let them pass; if you are going faster, maybe they know something you don’t know. Slow down!
• Am I driving from a small town to a big city (or vice versa)?
If, you are driving through a large city, prepare for an intense driving environment. Take a rest stop on the outskirts of the city, study a map to familiarize yourself with your route and be prepared to drive straight through.
If you are driving to a small town, don’t take your big city driving behaviors with you. Rural environments are more laid back and drivers may not be in a hurry. Be patient when you are stuck behind a slower driver. Remember, you may encounter slow moving farm equipment and even animal drawn vehicles which have the same right to the road that you do.
• Have there been many changes since my last visit?
Construction zones may be frequent. That old familiar exit may have been remodeled or closed. You can go on-line to the state department of transportation to check for any changes, construction zones, and road closures on your route. Pay attention to signs. The speed limit on your old road may have changed; a new traffic light may have been added since your last visit.
• Is the car ready?
Is your coolant going to be able to handle the changes in temperature? Does your windshield wiper have alcohol based fluid? Are your tires in good shape and properly inflated? Get an oil change and have all your fluids checked before you leave. Will you need tire chains in case of snow? Does your defroster work? Make sure you have an ice scraper and don’t drive with any ice or snow covering any part of your windows or mirrors. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone and pay attention to mileage markers in case you need to call for help.
• Am I giving myself enough time?
Be sure to drive during the time you would normally be awake to avoid Driving While Drowsy. Take a break every two hours or 100 miles. Remember that speed kills and doesn’t really get you there that much faster. Speeding can also be expensive (a speeding ticket in Virginia, for instance can cost more than $1,000.) Remember that congested roads create frustrated drivers who tend to make more mistakes.
• And the biggest safety tip of all?
Make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.
Here’s wishing you a safe and happy holiday period.
When I leave Florida, I will be leaving a driving environment made up of relatively flat straight roads and warm weather for an environment made up of hilly, curving roads and temperatures low enough to cause bridges to ice over.
If you are driving back “home” to a different driving environment, you may want to take a few moments to consider the differences in the driving environment and preparations are needed. You can start by asking yourself some simple questions:
• Will the weather be different where I am going?
If you are driving from warm to cold, you may want to pack blankets, extra food, and heavy jackets in case the roads close, a bad collision brings traffic to a halt, or you experience a break down or flat tire. Do you have experience driving in snow and ice? If not, you will want to be extra careful and slow down. Review your skid procedures and remember, always turn the wheel in the direction of the skid, keep your foot off the brake until you have recovered, and then slow down gently.
• Will the driving environment be different?
If you are going from mountainous and curvy to straight and flat, you need to be aware of “driver’s hypnosis” caused by driving on long, straight, boring roads. You can easily fall asleep if you don’t take frequent rest periods and take action to keep your mind alert. Just make sure the actions you take to stay alert don’t take your mind off the important task of watching the road.
If you are going from flat to mountainous, remember that you can’t drive at the same speeds you are used to. Anticipate an obstruction around the next curve or hill; on two-lane roads, watch for cars that may pass illegally. If you are going slower than other traffic, pull over to let them pass; if you are going faster, maybe they know something you don’t know. Slow down!
• Am I driving from a small town to a big city (or vice versa)?
If, you are driving through a large city, prepare for an intense driving environment. Take a rest stop on the outskirts of the city, study a map to familiarize yourself with your route and be prepared to drive straight through.
If you are driving to a small town, don’t take your big city driving behaviors with you. Rural environments are more laid back and drivers may not be in a hurry. Be patient when you are stuck behind a slower driver. Remember, you may encounter slow moving farm equipment and even animal drawn vehicles which have the same right to the road that you do.
• Have there been many changes since my last visit?
Construction zones may be frequent. That old familiar exit may have been remodeled or closed. You can go on-line to the state department of transportation to check for any changes, construction zones, and road closures on your route. Pay attention to signs. The speed limit on your old road may have changed; a new traffic light may have been added since your last visit.
• Is the car ready?
Is your coolant going to be able to handle the changes in temperature? Does your windshield wiper have alcohol based fluid? Are your tires in good shape and properly inflated? Get an oil change and have all your fluids checked before you leave. Will you need tire chains in case of snow? Does your defroster work? Make sure you have an ice scraper and don’t drive with any ice or snow covering any part of your windows or mirrors. Make sure you have a fully charged cell phone and pay attention to mileage markers in case you need to call for help.
• Am I giving myself enough time?
Be sure to drive during the time you would normally be awake to avoid Driving While Drowsy. Take a break every two hours or 100 miles. Remember that speed kills and doesn’t really get you there that much faster. Speeding can also be expensive (a speeding ticket in Virginia, for instance can cost more than $1,000.) Remember that congested roads create frustrated drivers who tend to make more mistakes.
• And the biggest safety tip of all?
Make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
To learn more about driver safety and education please visit our Driver Safety Alerts at http://www.nationalsafetycommission.com.
Here’s wishing you a safe and happy holiday period.
Labels: driving, holiday, safe, travel
