Feds Urge Smartphone Makers to Help Fight Distracted Driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) faces an uphill battle against distracted driving. Deadly car accidents are on the rise, and electronic distractions – apps, social media, and texting behind the wheel – are to blame.

Car accident fatalities are at their highest since 2009, and 2016 has seen a nearly 10% jump over last year.  Insurance companies and safety experts point to driver distraction as the most likely culprit.  And it’s easy to see why. In a world where we are almost never disconnected from our phones, many smartphone apps are practically designed for use while driving. To see what an epidemic distracted driving has become, simply look to your left or right when stuck at a traffic light, observes Nick Kurczewski at Cars.com. You will more than likely see one of your fellow drivers looking down at their phone. […]

Signs your teenager isn’t ready to drive unsupervised

Just because they passed the test doesn’t always mean teen drivers are ready to take on the open road.

In fact, many state laws place limitations on newly licensed drivers under the age of 18. And for good reason: young, inexperienced teen drivers are the age group most likely to be in a car crash.

Pennsylvania Teen Driver Laws

In Pennsylvania, the law prohibits junior license holders from driving between 11 pm and 5 am hours without a parent or guardian (fatal nighttime crash rates for new drivers are double the rate of daytime fatalities). And, during the first 6 months of holding a junior driver’s license, a teen may not drive with more than 1 unrelated passenger under age 18, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. After the first 6 months, teens may not drive with more than three unrelated passengers, […]

October Car Care Tips: Part 2

October is AAA Car Care Month. Earlier this month, we shared some tips on how to keep your vehicle in good working condition. We covered some of the basics, like checking your tires, battery charge, oil, and windshield wiper blades.

But those aren’t the only things you’ll want to check, especially as the temperature drops and winter is just around the corner. We’ve got four more car care tips to help keep your car or truck safe on the road.

Four (More) Seasonal Car Care Tips

Engine – The coming cold weather will make any existing engine issues worse, so this is a good time to have a good mechanic check any drivability problems. Replace air filters as needed, and pay attention to any warning lights. If the “check engine” light comes on, there may be a problem with the exhaust emissions.   […]

October is Car Care Month – Give Your Vehicle a Check-Up

Safe driving begins with a well-maintained car. October is Car Care Month at AAA, and the change in seasons is a perfect time to make sure your vehicle is in good shape.

Four Things to Check During Car Care Month

Tires – Worn out or improperly inflated tires can spell danger on the road. The change in temperature that comes with the changing seasons can affect your tire pressure, so make sure all four tires are at the proper level. The roads can also be more slick during the fall; wet leaves on the road can be as bad as ice. Worn tires have less traction, so check your tire tread with a quarter. Hint: If George Washington’s entire head is visible, you should get new tires. Get more tire tips here.

Oil – Your car works hard all summer, […]

Fatal Car Crashes Rise Sharply in 2016

Fatal car crashes are soaring, and the government is scrambling to come up with a way to bring these numbers down.

Nearly 18,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents so far this year, an increase of more than 10% over the same period in 2015. From 2014 to 2015, traffic deaths jumped more than 7%, the largest year-over-year increase since the 1960s. This year’s surge will likely surpass that record.

It’s true that Americans are driving more miles than they did last year (3.3% more), but not enough to account for the increase in crashes.

Road to Zero Fatal Car Crashes

A number of safety groups have come together to form Road to Zero, a coalition aimed at lowering the number of traffic deaths to zero by the year 2046. Their goal is inspired by Swedish policies begun in 1997 that brought crashes down 50% in less than 15 years. […]