Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Safety Archives

August 13, 2008

Volvo for Life and the Weavers

The Weaver family should be on a survival TV show: their son went off the road and and down a steep slope - and survived. His wife's car flipped over - but she was unhurt. A tree fell on the front of his own car - but it was still drivable.

"We would like to thank Volvo for helping to protect our lives," says Richard Weaver of Kentucky.

Continue reading "Volvo for Life and the Weavers"

August 13, 2008

Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist

Stuttgart - Accident researchers at Mercedes-Benz are acutely aware of the danger in nodding off at the wheel (the "one-second nap"). In the view of these specialists, long holiday journeys without intermediate breaks involve a high risk of overtiredness, whose signs drivers often fail to notice in time.

For this reason Mercedes-Benz has developed the innovative driver support system Attention Assist. This is able to recognise driver fatigue at an early stage, and warn the driver that a break is called for soon. The system will enter series production in spring 2009.

Continue reading "Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist"

Audi Q7 earns IIHS Top Safety Pick award for 2008

HERNDON, Va. -- The Audi Q7, a luxury performance SUV, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award for 2008.

The 2008 Q7 received a "good" rating in all three crash tests: side impact, offset frontal and rear impact seat tests. In addition to the Q7, three Audi car models -- the A3, A4 and A6 -- have also been recognized as Top Safety Picks in 2008, earning Audi the most Top Safety Pick designations for 2008 models of any luxury automaker this year.

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August 10, 2008

Nissan previews collision-free technology

TOKYO -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has unveiled an All-Around Collision Free prototype incorporating two all-new technologies - Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP). Incorporating the available Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems, this latest prototype vehicle further extends Nissan's "Safety Shield" concept to help protect the vehicle and its occupants from potential risks coming from multiple directions.

Continue reading "Nissan previews collision-free technology"

August 9, 2008

Auto Dealers Take Child Passenger Safety Message to Public Television

MCLEAN, Va. -- The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is promoting September as Child Passenger Safety Month. And to further amplify its child safety messages, NADA is teaming up with SeeMore's Playhouse(TM), a children's public television series that reaches an audience of 60 million homes.

Since NADA's national child passenger safety campaign was launched six years ago, auto dealers have inspected more than one million child safety seats and discovered that nine out of 10 seats are improperly installed or need repair.

Continue reading "Auto Dealers Take Child Passenger Safety Message to Public Television"

August 7, 2008

2009 Ford Edge sports industry-first Blind Spot Mirror

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford is moving quickly to address driver demands for increased visibility with an industry-first innovation, the Blind Spot Mirror, pulling ahead the feature's introduction by one year to launch this fall as standard equipment on the 2009 Ford Edge.

"Ford is committed to delivering innovative features that provide a better driving experience for the customer," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "The Blind Spot Mirror is the latest example of our strategy to move fast and to be industry leaders in enhancing the ownership experience."

Continue reading "2009 Ford Edge sports industry-first Blind Spot Mirror"

August 6, 2008

Ford Flex earns top 5-star crash ratings

DEARBORN, Mich. -- The 2009 Ford Flex has earned five-star frontal- and side-impact crashworthiness ratings, the highest possible scores, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests.

The results for Ford's newest full-size crossover are better than the Toyota Highlander's and include class-leading four-star rollover ratings for both the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions.

Continue reading "Ford Flex earns top 5-star crash ratings"

AAA Urges Motorists to Stay Alert as Kids Head Back to School

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Fifty-six million children across the country begin heading back to school this month, and AAA is urging motorists to slow down and stay alert in neighborhoods and school zones with its 75th annual School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign.

AAA's School's Open - Drive Carefully campaign hopes to curb a trend of unsafe driving behavior in school zones and neighborhoods that can result in children's injury and sometimes death.

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August 5, 2008

States Hands-Free Law Boosts Bluetooth Sales

SAN FRANCISCO -- Since July 1 when the California and Washington hands-free driving legislation became effective, Parrot has seen a three-fold increase in sales of its hands-free car kits.

Parrot, the world's largest manufacturer of Bluetooth car kits attributes the increase to an aggressive advertising and public relations campaign it launched two months prior to the law taking effect.

Continue reading "States Hands-Free Law Boosts Bluetooth Sales"

August 1, 2008

One in Three Text Message While Behind Wheel

MINNEAPOLIS -- How many Twin Cities drivers are driving with one hand on the wheel and the other preoccupied with a cell phone, iPod, BlackBerry or hamburger?

According to a new "Twin Cities Driving Behavior" Survey commissioned by AAA Minneapolis, 77 percent of drivers ages 18-34 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area snack while they drive, 70 percent talk on cell phones and one in three young adults actually text message while behind the wheel.

Continue reading "One in Three Text Message While Behind Wheel"

July 30, 2008

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" to Those Affected by Southern California Earthquake

DETROIT - OnStar reminds its subscribers in Southern California that a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles will put them in contact with the help they need. OnStar's Crisis Assist capabilities include specially trained Crisis Advisors who will help with:

Continue reading "OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" to Those Affected by Southern California Earthquake"

July 28, 2008

Honda Interactive Crash Test Demo Invites Viewers to "See What We See"

TORRANCE, Calif. -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has launched a unique online video experience of a vehicle crash test that invites viewers to witness the crash impact and explore it from different camera angles and at various motion speeds.

The crash test demo is part of Honda's "Power of Dreams" corporate ad campaign (http://www.dreams.honda.com) which invites consumers to view the world from inside Honda's vantage point.

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Effective Use of Your Vehicle's Antilock Brakes Delivers Maximum Safety

BROADVIEW, Ill. -- In 1978, it was an innovation. Today, within a short span of 30 years, the electronically controlled antilock braking system, or ABS, has become a standard safety item on most modern vehicles.

"These safety benefits are most apparent when ABS is used effectively to make an emergency stop," says Rob Backode, Group Product Manager for Bosch Braking Systems.

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Saving Lives by Banning Deadly Tires

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. -- The following is by Bob Moore of the Moore Foundation:

Six years ago -- July 31st to be exact -- I received the phone call every parent dreads. My ex-wife was on the line, "A policeman came to the house tonight, and he told me Andy was in a car accident in Canada." Her voice cracking, she added, "He died!"

Continue reading "Saving Lives by Banning Deadly Tires"

July 25, 2008

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly

DETROIT - OnStar reminds its subscribers in Southeast Texas that a simple push of the OnStar button in GM vehicles will put them in contact with specially-trained Crisis Advisors.

OnStar's Crisis Assist capabilities include specially trained Crisis Advisors, who will help with:

Continue reading "OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly"

July 24, 2008

Child Safety Seats: Choosing and Using Them Right

WASHINGTON -- Did you know that a seat belt alone is not enough to protect your young child in a car crash?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that child safety seats reduce the risk of being killed in a car crash by 71 percent for an infant and by 54 percent for a toddler. This is why all 50 states have laws that require the use of child safety restraints.

Continue reading "Child Safety Seats: Choosing and Using Them Right"

July 23, 2008

Nissan recalls Sentras due to brake problems

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling nearly 170,000 Sentra sedans in the United States to address a brake cylinder that could leak fluid.

The recall involves 2007-2008 Sentras, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported on its Web site. Nissan plans to notify owners beginning Wednesday.

Nissan said in a letter to NHTSA that an irregularity in some of the cylinders could lead to a gap that could allow fluid to leak into the brake booster assembly.

Red Light Camera Locations Have Nowhere to Hide

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Njection.com has added several new features allowing visitors to view where Red Light Cameras, Speed Detection Cameras and Speed Traps are located anywhere in the world.

Njection.com uses Microsoft Virtual Earth Map Controls to display the location of Speed Traps and Red Light Cameras worldwide. Users with an Internet connection can view, contribute and rate where these speed traps are located.

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July 19, 2008

Volvo aims for zero accidents

At the Volvo Car Corporation, the vision is to design cars that should not crash. In the shorter perspective the aim is that by 2020 no-one should be killed or injured in a Volvo.

"We don't accept that people lose their lives in airplane accidents, so why should we regard car accidents as inevitable?" says Jan Ivarsson, head of Safety Strategy at the Volvo Car Corporation.

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July 15, 2008

Hypermilers refute safety concern

CHICAGO -- Anticipating the present fuel crisis and troubled by the political and environmental consequences of the US' huge consumption of oil, a group formed three years ago to find ways to increase the fuel efficiency of existing vehicles in the US.

The founder, Wayne Gerdes, coined the term "hypermiling": exceeding the EPA's MPG standards. He established CleanMPG.com as a forum to discuss and improve fuel conservation methods, and to educate others about these methods.

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July 12, 2008

Ford speeds active safety research

DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Company is strengthening its commitment to active safety with plans to offer more new product features and technologies that consumers increasingly want as well as ramping up research and development into next-generation accident avoidance safety technologies.

In the next year, Ford will introduce three new active technologies including Adaptive Cruise Control, BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert and a third to be named later in 2008.

Continue reading "Ford speeds active safety research"

July 11, 2008

Ford's New Smart Intersection 'Talks' to Cars to Help Reduce Collisions

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Company researchers today unveiled one of the first privately funded "smart intersections" in North America, a key step toward leveraging GPS technology and wireless infrastructure-to-vehicle communications to reduce traffic accidents and ease congestion.

The smart intersection, established near Ford's Research & Innovation Center in Dearborn, communicates with specially equipped test vehicles to warn drivers of potentially dangerous traffic situations, such as when a vehicle is about to run through a red light.

Continue reading "Ford's New Smart Intersection 'Talks' to Cars to Help Reduce Collisions"

July 9, 2008

20% of DUIs happen after a night out

MAIDENHEAD, England -- Nearly 1 in 5 convicted drink-drivers are caught the morning after drinking.

If you drank 4 pints of beer or 3 large glasses of wine during a night out it could take as long as 12 hours for the alcohol to leave your system.

If you stopped drinking at midnight you could still be over the drink drive limit at 10 am.

Continue reading "20% of DUIs happen after a night out"

Ford launches driving skills program in Aisa

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Ford Motor Company is launching its successful "Driving Skills for Life" program this year in select Asia markets, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

In cooperation with the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and government agencies in the four ASEAN countries, the program will teach practical skills and training for safe and fuel-efficient driving.

Continue reading "Ford launches driving skills program in Aisa"

Vehicle Theft Continuing to Decline

DES PLAINES, Ill. -- Hot Wheels 2008, the National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) companion study to its annual Hot Spots auto theft report examines data reported to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and determines the vehicle make, model, and model year most reported stolen in 2007. See the full report at www.nicb.org.

For 2007, the most stolen vehicles* in the nation were:

Continue reading "Vehicle Theft Continuing to Decline"

Summer's Here, and So Are New Teen Drivers

BOSTON -- A new poll of teens by Liberty Mutual Insurance reveals that the summer months are more popular than any other season for young drivers ages 16-18 to obtain their learner's permit (35 percent) and take their driver's test (33 percent).

To help parents and new teen drivers develop safe and responsible driving habits, Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) today launched an interactive teen driving resource at http://www.libertymutualteendriving.com/ with extensive materials such as a defensive driving course, sample driver's licensing exam questions from every state, a parent/teen safe driving contract, and a crash safety kit.

Continue reading "Summer's Here, and So Are New Teen Drivers"

July 8, 2008

Car Thieves Tempted as Summer Months Begin

LIVONIA, Mich. -- H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) warns Michigan residents to stay alert this summer as carelessness among car owners often increases as warm weather sets in, providing thieves with easy access to personal property and vehicles.

July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and the Auto Theft Prevention Authority reports that August is the highest month for auto theft in Michigan.

Continue reading "Car Thieves Tempted as Summer Months Begin"

June 28, 2008

AAA Advises Hypermilers to Avoid Dangerous Techniques

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Some motorists have gone to extreme measures to conserve fuel while driving by 'hypermiling' -- trying to exceed the EPA estimated fuel efficiency of a vehicle by drastically modifying driving and maintenance habits.

As record-high fuel prices continue to stress household budgets, many motorists are looking for ways to improve their vehicle's fuel economy -- sometimes to the point of putting their lives in danger.

Continue reading "AAA Advises Hypermilers to Avoid Dangerous Techniques"

MADD's National President to Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving

TAMPA, Fla. -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) leadership will join approximately 500 local supporters on Saturday, June 28, at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo to participate in Walk Like MADD, a 5K non-competitive walk that encourages the community to support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 959 people were killed in Florida in traffic crashes involving a driver or a motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher in 2006.

Continue reading "MADD's National President to Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving"

June 22, 2008

MADD Applauds Alaska for Lifesaving DUI Bill

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Governor Sarah Palin (R) on Monday signed into law a measure that will save countless lives by requiring all convicted drunk drivers to install an alcohol ignition interlock device in their vehicles. H.B. 19, which passed both the Senate and the House unanimously, will make it more difficult for convicted drunk drivers to repeat this deadly crime.

When this law goes into effect on January 1, 2009, Alaska will join seven other states furthering MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving by requiring alcohol ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers, including New Mexico, Arizona, Illinois, Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska and Colorado.

Continue reading "MADD Applauds Alaska for Lifesaving DUI Bill"

Texas Drivers Running on Empty

IRVING, Texas -- The number of Texans running out of gas on the highway skyrocketed 53 percent in the first five months of 2008 compared to the same time last year, according to the Allstate Motor Club.

From January through May of 2008, Texans called the Motor Club for fuel delivery 506 times. Allstate Motor Club set a Texas record in May with 140 out-of-gas calls across the state.

Continue reading "Texas Drivers Running on Empty"

Country Star Julie Roberts Joins Mothers Against Drunk Driving to Walk Like MADD

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) leadership will join Mercury Nashville recording artist, Julie Roberts and 800 local supporters on Saturday, June 21 at Centennial Park to participate in Walk Like MADD, a 5K non-competitive walk that encourages the community to support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

The walk comes at a time when nearly a third of all fatal crashes on Tennessee's roadways involve a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

Continue reading "Country Star Julie Roberts Joins Mothers Against Drunk Driving to Walk Like MADD"

June 19, 2008

Alarming Increase in Motorcycle Rider Deaths

WASHINGTON -- Friday marks the official start of summer, and millions of Americans will hit the roads to head to their summer vacations.

Unfortunately, for too many motorcyclists, this may also mark the beginning of another deadly summer. The Governors Highway Safety Association's (GHSA) new report, Survey of the States: Motorcycle Safety Programs, examines the dramatic increase in motorcycle rider deaths and looks at programs states have undertaken to keep motorcyclists safe.

Continue reading "Alarming Increase in Motorcycle Rider Deaths"

Nebraska DMV Approves DriversEd.Com

OAKLAND, Calif. -- As an approved DMV provider of online drivers ed in Nebraska, DriversEd.com is making their web-based drivers education instruction available through the DriversEd.com Drivers Safety Course.

"Partnering with DriversEd.com brings students the convenience of taking the classroom portion of their drivers education all online, at their own pace," says William Saxton, owner of Road Ready Driver Training based in Lincoln. "This affiliation combines their academic know-how with our hands-on, behind-the-wheel training."

Continue reading "Nebraska DMV Approves DriversEd.Com"

June 18, 2008

LoJack Helps Las Vegas Cops Break Up Motorcycle Theft Rings

WESTWOOD, Mass. -- In less than 48 hours, LoJack Corporation's LoJack For Motorcycles was instrumental in helping Las Vegas police and the Southern Nevada Auto Theft Task Force break up two theft rings June 14-16.

The operations led to the recovery of four Honda CBR motorcycles, a Yamaha ATV and the arrest of 10 suspects. The LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System once again proved its effectiveness in recovering stolen assets and helped police apprehend the criminals behind these crimes.

Continue reading "LoJack Helps Las Vegas Cops Break Up Motorcycle Theft Rings"

Car Buyer's Notebook

Recent Stories

Topics

August 13, 2008

Volvo for Life and the Weavers

August 13, 2008

Mercedes-Benz to introduce Attention Assist

Audi Q7 earns IIHS Top Safety Pick award for 2008

August 10, 2008

Nissan previews collision-free technology

August 9, 2008

Auto Dealers Take Child Passenger Safety Message to Public Television

August 7, 2008

2009 Ford Edge sports industry-first Blind Spot Mirror

August 6, 2008

Ford Flex earns top 5-star crash ratings

AAA Urges Motorists to Stay Alert as Kids Head Back to School

August 5, 2008

States Hands-Free Law Boosts Bluetooth Sales

August 1, 2008

One in Three Text Message While Behind Wheel

July 30, 2008

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" to Those Affected by Southern California Earthquake

July 28, 2008

Honda Interactive Crash Test Demo Invites Viewers to "See What We See"

Effective Use of Your Vehicle's Antilock Brakes Delivers Maximum Safety

Saving Lives by Banning Deadly Tires

July 25, 2008

OnStar Opens "Crisis Assist" Emergency Services to Those Affected by Dolly

July 24, 2008

Child Safety Seats: Choosing and Using Them Right

July 23, 2008

Nissan recalls Sentras due to brake problems

Red Light Camera Locations Have Nowhere to Hide

July 19, 2008

Volvo aims for zero accidents

July 15, 2008

Hypermilers refute safety concern

July 12, 2008

Ford speeds active safety research

July 11, 2008

Ford's New Smart Intersection 'Talks' to Cars to Help Reduce Collisions

July 9, 2008

20% of DUIs happen after a night out

Ford launches driving skills program in Aisa

Vehicle Theft Continuing to Decline

Summer's Here, and So Are New Teen Drivers

July 8, 2008

Car Thieves Tempted as Summer Months Begin

June 28, 2008

AAA Advises Hypermilers to Avoid Dangerous Techniques

MADD's National President to Walk Like MADD to Eliminate Drunk Driving

June 22, 2008

MADD Applauds Alaska for Lifesaving DUI Bill

Texas Drivers Running on Empty

Country Star Julie Roberts Joins Mothers Against Drunk Driving to Walk Like MADD

June 19, 2008

Alarming Increase in Motorcycle Rider Deaths

Nebraska DMV Approves DriversEd.Com

June 18, 2008

LoJack Helps Las Vegas Cops Break Up Motorcycle Theft Rings

Portable Nav Systems Remove Stress, Adds Safety