Distracted driving leads to car crashes in West Virginia, many of them fatal. In 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3,166 people who died in distracted driving crashes around the country. Avoiding distractions behind the wheel, then, is imperative for every driver, and there are a few steps to aid in doing this.
AAA: Older drivers distracted more by in-vehicle tech
The presence of in-vehicle technology can be distracting to drivers in West Virginia and across the U.S., and this is especially true for older motorists. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah shows that drivers between the ages of 55 and 75 take their eyes off the street for eight seconds more on average than drivers aged 21 to 36 when using in-vehicle tech.
Study shows women are more likely to suffer car crash injuries
The journal Traffic Injury Prevention has published a study, the results of which should interest women drivers in West Virginia. It turns out that, despite the use of three-point seatbelts and the more excellent protection afforded by newer model vehicles, women are at a higher risk for car crash injuries than men are. In front-end collisions, the most common car crash, women are 73% more likely to be injured.
Report lists best, worst cities for drivers in U.S.
In 2017, over 6,452,000 drivers throughout West Virginia and across the United States were involved in motor vehicle accidents. The data, which comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also details which cities in the country are the best and worst for car accidents.
July 4: the holiday with the most DUI fatalities
According to ValuePenguin, the Fourth of July is the deadliest of six major holidays when it comes to DUI fatalities. West Virginia residents will want to think twice about going on a long road trip during this holiday. A total of 1,192 people died in DUI-related crashes on this day between 2010 and 2017. Memorial Day came in second with 1,105 fatalities. This was followed by Labor Day, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
J.D. Power study shows how ADAS prevents collisions
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, when they are used by drivers who know they must be alert and actively engaged in driving, can be a great help in preventing collisions. West Virginia residents may be interested to hear the results of a J.D. Power study that dates back to 2018. In that study, over half of participants said that ADAS had helped them avoid a crash in the first 90 days of owning a new vehicle.
Rear car seat safety being neglected, says IIHS
West Virginia residents may want to know that in new vehicles, rear seat safety is lagging behind front seat safety. This is according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a Virginia-based safety organization that represents the insurance company. The IIHS has conducted a series of crash tests to raise awareness of this problem.
Consumer Reports harshly critical of Tesla's Autopilot system
More and more car buyers in West Virginia and around the country are choosing electric vehicles, and many of the sedans and SUVs they purchase come equipped with sophisticated electronic systems as well as electric motors and lithium batteries. Tesla's Autopilot feature is touted by the Palo Alto-based carmaker as the most advanced autonomous system currently available, but those claims were questioned recently by Consumer Reports magazine.
House bill calls for mandatory ignition interlock devices
Individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in West Virginia must enter the state's Alcohol Test and Lock Program. This involves fitting a device to their vehicles that checks their breath and prevents its operation when alcohol is detected. More than 25 states have passed similar drunk driving laws, but a bill introduced recently in the U.S. House of Representatives would go much further. The Abbas Stop Drunk Driving Act would require auto manufacturers to fit interlock devices to all new passenger vehicles offered for sale in America.
Fatal car crash risk goes up even in light rain
West Virginia motorists know that driving in heavy rain or snow can be dangerous, but what they may not know is that even driving in light rain can raise their risk for a fatal car crash. This was the conclusion of a study from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies. Researchers looked at 125,012 fatal car crashes that occurred between 2006 and 2011 in the lower 48 states, taking into account the number of cars on the road when calculating crash risk.
