Message to older bicyclists: you’re not 25 anymore
Everyone has an ego. And although that can be a good thing, it is likely to be a downside if you’re 45 or older and peddling your bicycle down the street like crazy. […]
What is the Office of Defects, and what does it do?
It seems to be the case that a federal office tasked with broad oversight of vehicle safety issues relating to both passenger and commercial vehicles and equipment could use a bit more oversight itself. Put another way: In response to the question of what it is precisely that the so-called Office of Defects Investigation does, the answer might reasonably seem to be that the ODI does very little, and that much of what it does focus upon is not done particularly well. […]
NHTSA slams automaker for defects, wrongdoing
Automakers sometimes receive the proverbial slap on the wrist from national safety regulators, with government agencies alleging acts of negligence or wrongdoing that result in admonitory warnings, threats of safety recalls and fines and additional responses that don’t exactly inspire fear or quick industry compliance. Fiat Chrysler could do with a bit of that right now, as the recently combined motor vehicle manufacturer is contemplating a just-inked settlement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that actually bites as well as barks. […]
On distracted driving, and what it means in California
You probably don’t think about the total number of text messages that are sent in the United States and its territories every month, but the figure is staggering. According to a study based on data as of Dec. 2013, roughly 153.3 billion texts are sent per month. That’s an incredible number. How many of those texts are sent while someone is behind the wheel of a motor vehicle? No one knows for sure, but its a significant number, given some other figures. The crazy thing is, distracted driving isn’t just limited to texting while driving. Cellphone use, in general, is a form of distracted driving. Using [...]
Faulty airbags responsible for 8 deaths, more than 100 injuries
It’s currently estimated that one in seven vehicles in the United States may be equipped with a faulty airbag. This statistic may be extremely shocking to those of our Los Angeles readers who have not been following the news regarding the recent recalls involving vehicles with Takata airbags. But for those who have been following the story, this statistic only further illustrates the need to hold auto manufacturers liable for their negligence. For those who do not know, a number of investigations into crashes over the last decade have uncovered a flaw in Takata’s airbags that cause them to explode violently in a driver’s face. In [...]
Will Google’s self-driving cars put an end to car accidents?
If you’ve been following our blog over the last year then you know we’ve talked before about Google’s self-driving car. What was once just a prototype being driven on a test track nearly a year ago has now been released on actual roads here in California and most recently near Austin, Texas. But just as it did when it was first created, the vehicle is still raising a number of questions, including the one we’re asking in today’s post title: Will Google’s self-driving cars put an end to car accidents? […]
A Lyft’s not worth it if you’re in a crash — new rules in effect
Ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber seem to grow ever more popular. It’s easy to arrange a ride, the cars and drivers are nice, and you feel like you’re part of a cooperative economy. Plus, Uber and Lyft are cheaper and faster than taxicabs. Why take a taxi? It seems like taxicab companies have a monopoly on the business of driving small groups of people around for money, doesn’t it? Well, in a sense, that’s true — and, historically, there are good reasons for that. Most important among those reasons is safety: Taxi drivers have to pass a detailed driving history check, resolve all outstanding tickets, [...]
Can a car accident lead to PTSD?
There are a lot of injuries that are commonly associated with car accidents. From bruise and broken bones to spinal cord and head injuries, there are few injuries that can’t be suffered after being struck by another vehicle. Did you know though that a person may also suffer an injury to their psyche after a serious crash? If you’re like some of our Los Angeles readers, you probably didn’t think this could happen. But according to experts at the National Institute of Mental Health, car accidents can lead to PTSD, a very serious mental health condition that does not go away easily. […]
NTSB pushing for collision avoidance technology – Part II
During our last post, we began a discussion about the National Transportation Safety Board and collision avoidance technology. We noted that the NTSB recently released an extensive report regarding this new technology. In the report, the agency essentially calls for auto manufacturers to install this technology in all new light and commercial vehicle models. Although the auto industry has avoided widespread installation of this technology due to its costs, the NTSB chairman has insisted that if consumers do not pay more for seat belts, they should not have to pay more for collision avoidance technology. According to the agency, widespread installation of this technology could prevent [...]
NTSB pushing for collision avoidance technology – Part I
There was a time when seat belts were not automatically installed in vehicles. Over time, as the public began to understand that seat belts save lives, seat belts became more common. Eventually, installation of these safety devices became mandatory for auto manufacturers. As the seat belt example illustrates, the auto industry does not always embrace safety technology of its own accord. Oftentimes, public awareness and regulatory pressure serve as necessary catalysts in order to inspire the auto industry to keep motorists and passengers safe. It seems that this trend is set to continue regarding the matter of collision avoidance technology. […]
