Self-driving cars may be here sooner than expected

The future of self-driving cars may arrive sooner than expected.

Ford said last week that the company plans to mass-produce fully autonomous vehicles by 2021.

Other automakers and tech companies have begun testing self-driving cars  that provide a level of autonomy, within limits, while still allowing the driver to take over if necessary. These kinds of vehicles are equipped with an “autopilot” mode, or crash-avoidance technology.

The cars Ford expects to introduce in the next five years, however,  will be truly driverless, and will have no steering wheel, gas pedal, or brake pedal.

Self-Driving Cars and Safety

Ford proposes that these vehicles will revolutionize transportation and improve safety on the road. Critics of self-driving cars are concerned that there are factors that an autonomous vehicle simply cannot predict or respond to, and that the technology may be vulnerable to glitches or hacking. […]

How effective are night driving restrictions for teens?

Most nighttime accidents among teens occur before midnight, a new study shows. This means that night driving restrictions on teens that prohibit driving after midnight may be ineffective.

Driving in the dark increases crash risk for all drivers.  Young and inexperienced drivers face an even greater risk; one-third of fatal teen car crashes happen at night. That’s why every state in the U.S. (except VT) has laws restricting how late newly licensed teen drivers can be on the road unsupervised. In 23 states and the District of Columbia, the ban goes into effect at midnight or later. New research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that this is too late.

Ruth Shuts, a researcher at the CDC, suggests 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. might be a more appropriate curfew for unsupervised newly licensed drivers. […]

Drivers Beware – Pokemon Go is Driving People to Distraction

Pokemon Go is taking over.

If you haven’t already heard, Pokemon Go is an enormously popular new augmented reality gaming app that uses players’ GPS and smartphone camera to allow users to explore their real-life environments to capture virtual creatures.  Launched about a week ago, it has already been downloaded by 7.5 million people. It surpassed Tinder as the #1 most downloaded app on iTunes,  and is getting more usage time than SnapChat, WhatsApp, and even Instagram.

If distracted driving wasn’t enough of a problem already…

The game has been praised for getting people outside, moving around, and interacting with other users in real life. However, the game can be highly distracting. There have already been reports of people falling, walking into walls, and being robbed while trying to catch Pokemon. Safety officials have issued warnings, urging players to “look up once in a while.” […]

The 4th of July Ranks #1 for Deadly Crashes – Travel Safely!

July 4th statistics show a drastic increase in fatal car accident probability

No matter what your 4th of July plans include, take extra care over the holiday weekend!

The 4th of July ranks #1 in an IIHS study of deadly crashes per day between 2010-2014 (see below for the list of the top 10 deadliest days). Millions of travelers on the road increase the risk for a car accident, especially because many of those travelers will be navigating unfamiliar areas. This year, AAA forecasts that a record number of Americans will travel by car over the holiday.

And, it’s not just drivers who face a higher risk on the road – Independence Day is the deadliest day of the year for motorcyclists as well. The chance of a motorcycle crash doubles on July 4, […]

Summer Car Care Tips

Just as in winter, driving in the summer has its own set of potential problems. Summer heat, long road trips, and stop-and-go traffic can be tough on your car or truck.

To help avoid getting into a car accident or getting stranded in the heat, follow these easy summer car care tips.

1. Check your fluids, including oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid. Coolant (or antifreeze) is especially important to be aware of during the summer months, as overheating is one of the top causes of summer breakdowns. Because many people do more traveling during the summer, it may be necessary to get your oil and filter changed more often. A good rule of thumb is every 3,000 miles. If your fluids aren’t checked and filled regularly, you could end up broken down on the highway in the heat.

2. […]