Your Chances of Hitting a Deer in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Drivers’ Chances of Hitting a Deer Increase This Year

For the second year in a row, PA is the #3 state in the U.S. for deer collisions. Pennsylvania drivers’ chances of hitting a deer? 1 in 63. That’s up 6% from last year.

The annual report from State Farm looks at auto insurance claims data and Federal Highway Administration data to calculate drivers’ risk of a car accident involving a deer, elk, or moose in the road. It will come as no surprise to Pennsylvania drivers that PA has topped the list for years.

Additional risk factors

October marks the beginning of deer mating season, which continues through December. During this time, the risk of hitting a deer doubles.

The hours around dawn and dusk are the most dangerous times of day for deer collisions. […]

Apple’s iOS 11 Includes “Do Not Disturb While Driving”

New iPhone feature “Do Not Disturb” helps you be a better driver

This week at the Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, Apple introduced its new operating system, iOS 11, available this fall. Among the many new features, there’s one we’re particularly excited about. The “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature can detect when you’re driving, and silence notifications and disable certain apps that may tempt you to look at your phone.

Here’s how it works

When the phone is connected to your car via Bluetooth or a cable, it detects that the car is moving, turning on the feature will mute notifications, texts, and updates and lock your phone screen to deter you from using unnecessary apps behind the wheel. If you still have anxiety about letting calls and messages go unanswered, you can set up an auto-reply for your favorite contacts. […]

Tips and Reminders for Summer Driving

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer driving and road trip season. 

As you plan your summer travels, bear in mind that the summer is the most dangerous time of year to drive. Teenagers face an increased crash risk in the summer months, also known as the “100 deadliest days” beginning after prom and graduation. The overall highway fatality rate peaks in the summer as well. We’ve gathered some essential safety tips and reminders to help keep your summer travels accident-free.

Summer months are the most dangerous for driving

A study by Michelin revealed that most drivers worry less about car accidents in the warmer months. In winter, adverse weather conditions draw our attention to the possibility of a crash. But in the summer, clear road conditions and pleasant weather can lull drivers into a false sense of security. […]

Drugged driving a greater concern than drunk driving

Opioid addiction, drug use, and reliance on pain medication have come into the national and local spotlight as they claim more and more lives. A new study has illuminated another side of this issue: drugged driving is on the rise.

“The number of American drivers killed in car crashes in which drugs were detected has eclipsed those killed in crashes where only alcohol was found.”

The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility found that 43% drivers killed in crashes tested positive for drugs, illegal and prescription, compared to 37% who tested positive for just alcohol.

Drugged driving is more complicated than drunk driving

The data in this study is imperfect.  The study only reflects drivers who were tested; not all drivers in all states get tested after a fatal crash; […]

Study: US drivers use a smartphone behind the wheel 90% of the time

Largest distracted driving study shows American drivers use a smartphone nearly every trip

A new report from ZenDrive found nearly 9 in 10 drivers used their phones while driving. It’s a startling statistic, but not hard to believe.

ZenDrive is a driving data and analytics company that uses smartphone sensors to collect information about driving behavior and safety. Theirs is the largest distracted driving behavior study to date.  They analyzed 3 million drivers over 3 months, for more than 5 billion miles. Instead of relying on self-reporting, ZenDrive tapped into phones’ sensors to determine usage. They found that in 88% of the trips analyzed, the driver used a smartphone. 

The study also ranks U.S. states by their level of distraction, mile for mile. With 1 being the least distracted and 51 being the most, Pennsylvania came in at #33. […]