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.
Car company aims to fight drunk driving with tech
Many people in West Virginia have been the victim of a drunk driver or know someone who was. Drunk driving presents a serious threat on American roadways and has spawned a series of initiatives to tackle the problem, from public awareness advertisements to intensified police activity and sobriety checkpoints. Still, in 2017, 10,874 people were killed in crashes linked to drunk driving, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Many more people were seriously injured or permanently disabled.
Steps after a divorce
Couples in West Virginia who are going through a divorce are likely to find the experience exhausting. It's understandable to look forward to when the process is over. However, once the divorce is finalized, there are still some actions that they may have to take.
Risk Institute provides insight into distracted driving trends
The National Safety Council has designated April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In that regard, The Risk Institute at The Ohio State University has released some data on the growing trend of distracted driving that should be of interest to West Virginia residents.
Driving while tired can lead to serious accidents
Most West Virginia residents readily accept that sleep deprivation has a negative effect on mood, attitude and efficiency. People often comment that when they are tired, they are grumpy and find it difficult to concentrate. Unfortunately, many people do not appreciate how seriously fatigue can affect their driving abilities.
Daylight saving time may boost car crash risk
Changing clocks ahead each year can mean more for people living in West Virginia than simply missing out on an hour of sleep. The American Automobile Association (AAA) points out that missing a few hours of sleep or more nearly doubles a driver's risk of experiencing a crash. The motor club association further asserts motorists need a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night to drive safely, which is why they urge drivers to give themselves time to adjust to daylight saving time before getting back behind the wheel.
Cellphone bans result in fewer distracted driving deaths
West Virginia has strict laws regarding cellphone use by drivers. As a result, the state is among those with significantly fewer distracted driving deaths, according to a study by ValuePenguin.com.
Drugs are a factor in a growing number of car crashes
While many people are already concerned about the effects of the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and around the country, studies indicate that those effects could extend to car accidents. According to one nationwide study, drivers in fatal two-car collisions held to be at fault for crashes were nearly twice as likely to test positive for opioids as those that were found not at fault. Regardless of the presence of opioids, other drugs, or alcohol, the most common cause of these fatal crashes was one driver veering out of his or her lane.
