The cost of teen driving is astronomical in all aspects. A recent report by AAA says that car accidents involving drivers aged 15-17 cost more than $34 billion in medical expenses, property damage, and related costs in 2006. Of that $34 billion, $9.8 billion was related to fatal crashes, and $20.5 billion had to do with non-fatal crashes. The same study found that this age group was involved in approximately 974,000 crashes that injured over 406,400 people and killed 2,541. Also, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention claims that motor vehicle deaths are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, making up 36% of all deaths for this age group.

So what can we do about the problem? Most driver’s education programs aren’t comprehensive enough to fully educate teens about the dangers of driving. But the Mid-Ohio School in Lexington, Ohio, has offered an intense Honda Teen Defensive Driving Program for over fifteen years. Teens are taught how to avoid accidents by practicing emergency driving situations like wet braking techniques and emergency lane-changes in a controlled environment. If you don’t live in Ohio, Tire Rack’s Street Survival program takes place in 50 cities and is open to permitted and licensed drivers ages 16 to 21. The program teaches teens how to become more aware of traffic problems and to better anticipate other driver’s actions.

Car insurance companies have also begun trying to make driving safer for teens. State Farm offers a program that requires drivers under 19 to sign a parent-teen driving contract, and people over 19 to sign a safe-driving pledge. AAA also offers parent-teen driving contracts and supports a graduated driver licensing (GDL) system where teens begin driving under a three-stage system. This will hopefully continue being a significant method of reducing injuries and deaths from driving. A study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety showed that the GDL system in California has led to a 23% overall reduction in the crash-involvement rate of 16-year-old drivers, and a 38% decrease in crash rates with teenage passengers. These statistics are encouraging and are more support for the idea that GDL systems are effective.

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We’ve all been in horrible traffic on the highway where you’re completely stopped for awhile, can take your foot off the brake to travel 10-15 mph for a few yards, and then totally stop again. Personally, I’ve always wondered why it is indeed “stop-and-go” traffic instead of everyone just moving along at a constant, average speed.

A man named William Beaty in Seattle had the same thoughts, and did an experiment when driving in stop-and-go traffic one day. He began hitting the usual “waves” of stopped traffic, and instead of filing in line with the other cars only to stop a short distance ahead, he decided to hang back and move at the average speed of traffic. He left a huge gap in front of his car and arrived at the next clump of stopped cars as the brakelights were being turned off. Beaty kept up this behavior for about thirty minutes, continuing to leave a large space in front of him and driving at a constant speed.

As he looked in the rearview mirror, he was shocked to see that in the lane behind him for miles, there was a total uniform distribution of the cars. However, in the lanes beside him, there were the usual stop-and-go waves of cars. Everyone ahead of him was also caught in the stop/go cycle, but behind him cars were able to drive at a smooth 30-35 mph. By driving at the average speed of the traffic around him, he had erased miles of stop-and-go traffic.

The next time you’re driving in heavy traffic, remember Beaty’s actions, and apply them to your own driving. According to him, traffic patterns are in our own hands.

A single solitary driver, if they stop “competing” and instead adopt some unusual driving habits, can actually wipe away some of the frustrating traffic patterns on the highway.

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Roundabouts. Why are these calming traffic circles so scary and unfamiliar to some people when in reality, they are statistically much safer than traditional intersections? The answer probably lies in the fact that up until the last few years, roundabouts have been a relatively scarce occurrence in most parts of the U.S. However, in North Carolina alone, over 60 roundabouts have been built in the past decade, and the DOT state congestion management engineer says the state could see 600 more in the next ten years. With similar projects being launched in states all over the country, drivers would be wise to familiarize themselves with the rules of roundabouts.

A roundabout is a kind of road junction where traffic flows one way around a central island. Drivers entering the circle must yield to drivers already in the circle, and speeds are slow, around 25 mph or less depending on the size of the roundabout. Different-sized roundabouts can be used on different types of roads; freeway interchanges, T-intersections, and four-way or multi-leg intersections are great places for roundabouts.

How safe are roundabouts? A study of a sampling of roundabouts in the U.S. found that compared to the intersections they replaced, roundabouts resulted in 40% fewer vehicle collisions, 80% fewer injuries and 90% fewer serious injuries and fatalities. Additionally, roundabouts are cheaper to build than intersections with traffic lights, they require almost no maintenance, there is no threat from power outages, and trees, fountains, or statues can be placed in the central island. Another obvious added benefit of roundabouts is that there’s less time wasted waiting for green lights, and as a result, less gasoline is used which puts less pollution into the air. So the next time you’re driving throughout the southeast and you encounter a roundabout, proceed slowly, yield to cars already in the circle, and be thankful for the time and gas you’re saving.

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Though gas prices where I live in Raleigh have dropped almost 40 cents over the past month, the era of higher prices is most likely here to stay. Nevertheless, there are numerous things drivers can do to save gas and maximize their miles per gallon. Two of the biggest changes drivers can make relate to how they drive: traveling at lower (or the posted) speeds, and accelerating and braking smoother.

Driving on the interstate can often be a harrowing experience, but I’ve actually noticed less of a frenzied pace on I-40 than I used to. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I think more and more drivers are realizing that reducing their speed just a little can translate into big savings at the pump. According to a CNN Money article, gas mileage for most cars decreases exponentially over 60 mph. For every 10 mph faster, fuel economy is reduced by 4 mpg. So if your SUV only gets 24 mpg on the highway to begin with, remember that it could be as little as 20 mpg if you’re going 70 or higher.

Aggressive driving, like accelerating and braking faster than necessary, can also waste gas and money. If your light turns green, but you see the light a block away is red, why peel away only to have to slow down again? Fueleconomy.gov reports that aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by about 5% around town; a Consumer Reports study said that starting and stopping rapidly lowered a Toyota Camry’s mileage by 2-3 mpg. While you don’t need to crawl away from traffic lights or stop signs, a smart move would be to look down the road to anticipate potential slowdowns. So whether you’re driving around town or taking a road trip, there are actions you can take to squeeze more miles out of your gas tank. Driving a little slower and less aggressively will go a long way.

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Tags: Auto News, General Auto, travel by Melissa - 2 Comments »

The next time a car near you doesn’t seem to be able to stay in their lane, you may want to glance over and make sure both of their hands are on the wheel instead of on their cell phone or Blackberry. The newest distraction to hit the roadways isn’t simply talking on the phone while driving, but text messaging.

I hope you’re thinking, “text messaging? But that takes two hands!” However, a recent study by FindLaw.com shows that texting while driving may be more common than you’d think. The survey found that 48% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 and over a quarter of drivers 25 to 34 admitted to texting or emailing while behind the wheel. Interestingly, texting while driving correlates to age; older individuals are less likely to text while driving than younger, more tech-savvy people. And since some states have enacted bans against speaking on cell phones, people may turn to texting because it is still legal in most places, though possibly more dangerous since it usually involves two hands. However, that may change soon. Four states - Minnesota, Alaska, New Jersey, and Washington - have already banned texting while driving, and legislation is under consideration in thirteen more states.

Whether or not text messaging while driving is legal in your state or not, it’s one of the most distracting things someone can do while driving and has been the cause of several crashes and deaths around the country. Even though it only takes a few seconds to type out a message, seconds are precious time while behind the wheel of a car. So the next time you get a text or email while driving, remember that the possible consequences of responding right away far outweigh the consequences of waiting until you’re in a safer situation to respond.

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How many miles-per-gallon does your vehicle get? If your answer was “not enough,” try to be patient - U.S. and foreign automakers will, over the next decade, be required to make more fuel-efficient vehicles. For the first time since 1975, Congress has passed a law requiring a change in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE). The nation’s fleet of cars and trucks today are required to average 25 mpg, but by 2015 that standard will be raised to 31.6 mpg with an ultimate goal of 35 mpg by 2020, a 40% increase over the next 12 years.

While 2020 might seem like a long way off in today’s world of high gas prices, the auto industry has a lot of work cut out for them. Only 2 cars today average 35 mpg - the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. Others, like the Honda Civic, Honda Fit, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Toyota Yaris come close, but American car companies in particular will have to get their concepts out of the auto shows and onto the roads.

These changes in fuel-efficiency standards will cut our demand on foreign oil, and also reduce the amount of harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. How much will the new law save? Estimates say that the new standards should save 55 billion gallons of oil over the life of new vehicles built between 2011 and 2015. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 192 million metric tons per year, which is the same as removing 27 million cars from the road. Drivers will save $700-$1,000 per year in gas costs, and oil demand will decrease by 1.1 million barrels a day when the new cars and trucks are on the road.

So if you’re stuck with an SUV that gets 15 mpg, at least take heart knowing that in about 10 years, there will be plenty of other, more fuel-efficient options to choose from.

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We’ve all been there. You’re driving on the highway, and up ahead either your lane is ending or you need to switch lanes because the road splits. To make matters worse, this situation has somehow slowed traffic to a crawl. Do you anticipate what’s coming and move over with plenty of time, even while knowing you’ll have to sit and wait while other people zoom past you to cut in late… or are you one of the drivers who zips ahead and cuts everyone off to save a few minutes?

In his new book, “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What it Says About Us),” author Tom Vanderbilt investigates our patterns and behaviors on the roadways. Having always been an “early merger,” one day while driving Vanderbilt impulsively drove ahead in the ending lane and merged in at the last minute. Afterwards, his action bothered him so much that he posted a question on the internet about merging behaviors. Stunned by the amount of passionate responses he received, he began researching the psychology of driving behaviors and eventually organized all his research to write the book.

So which is better - merging early or late? Supporters of late merging claim that it uses full capacity of the road, while early mergers think that late mergers are cutting in line. According to “Traffic,” studies have shown that late merging can improve traffic flow by 15% when vehicle volume is heavy.

Whether you’re a late or early merger, the most important thing to remember is to be aware of your surroundings when driving and anticipate problems before they arise. There will always be someone who cuts in at the last minute - giving yourself enough room between you and the car in front of you can be a key factor in preventing an accident.

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So here’s a little story for you. My sister was on her break from work the other day and decided to swing through a well-known gas station to fill up her tank. Her car only requires regular fuel and so when she went to begin pumping, imagine her surprised when no gas came out. Yes, that’s right. The gas station was completely out of regular gas. As odd as that sounds, the station rectified the situation by allowing customer to fill up using premium gas for the same price of regular. Now, my sister being the clever girl she is decided this would be the perfect opportunity to test out the theory of whether or not premium gas really is better for your car. After keeping a thorough records of her mileage for that week she deciphered that her car, which is a 2009 Toyota Corolla, got 36 extra miles out of that tank of gas, meaning that she was able to pull a better mileage per hour ratio.

Although this may sound like the answer lies within her proof, let’s take a closer look. Premium gas is normally a good 10 to 20 cents higher priced than regular gas because it is slated not necessarily as being better, but just being of a higher quality. Many consumers believe that using premium gas allows your car to run longer without routine maintenance, and gives it better gas mileage but are these beliefs true? Well in looking at my sister’s car, the answer is no. Basically because premium gas is priced higher it may seem like you are getting more for your money, but that is not the case. The reality is that you are actually breaking even because even though you’re getting a few extra miles to the gallon, you’ve technically paid more for that tank of gas to begin with. And so it appears as though the premium vs. regular gas myth has been busted.

Studies have shown that the difference in quality between 87 and 93 fuel is so very slight that unless your car requires the higher grade, you’re just as well off filling up with the lesser fuel. So the moral to the story is if possible, always go with the cheapest option because “bigger” doesn’t always mean better.

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Tags: General Auto by Ashley - 2 Comments »

Do you remember back when you were a kid, sitting in the driver’s seat of your parent’s car and pretending that those dials were controls and the steering wheel was the joystick to your very own airplane? Well, maybe that was just me, but little did I know at the time, that a car functioning as a flying machine was actually a plausible concept, and believe it or not, it’s closer to realization than you may think.

According to a recent article, the great minds at NASA are at it again with a new computer system that is designed to let millions of people fly wherever they please in their own vehicles. How great would it be to bring your kid back to school in a flying car, or arrive at work on the rooftop of your building? “The Highway in the Sky” as it is known will function just like a video game. Drivers (well, pilots in this case) basically just watch a computer screen that is displaying the exterior environment. They then must keep their car within the parameters set by the computer and the computer will then automatically guide them to their destination. The $130 million dollar project will not only be a breakthrough in the automobile world but is also meant to help actual airline pilots fly during bad weather. NASA is also planning on using positioning tracking systems to watch over the flying vehicles and keep them from running into each other.

Believe it or not, “the highway in the sky” is not the first invention to help push cars towards flight. Paul Moller of Davis California has attempted to build a real flying car. The Skycar is built with four rotary engines that when lit up propel the car into the sky, and is designed to cruise at 300 mph. Although still in the prototype phase, the concept is indeed very promising.

So when should drivers look forward to this futuristic breakthrough in transportation? Most likely, cars will be staying on the ground for another 10 years or so but Woody Norris, inventor of the AirScooter, which is a fully functioning flying vehicle similar to a motorcycle, believes that we are certainly in for a pleasant surprise in the future.

“This stuff that we’re surrounded by, that we think is so cool is caveman. The good stuff is coming. The really good stuff is coming.”

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In the past few weeks gas prices have thankfully begun to decline, but the damage continues to wreak havoc on our wallets when filling up at the pump. This has recently begun to challenge automakers to try and create more fuel-efficient vehicles for people to drive, and Volkswagen has stepped up the plate in a big way and hit the challenge right out of the park.

It’s been dubbed the super-thrifty One-Liter Car because that is how much fuel the car requires to go 100 kilometers, or about 62.14 miles. The amazing bullet-shaped concept car has been tested and reportedly gets a miraculous 235 miles per gallon. Could this be the reason that Volkswagen has bumped up the car’s production by two years to have it available in 2010 instead of 2012? Possibly. Or it could just be the fact that the automakers are excited to introduce this new concept to the world. The one-liter car has not only made great leeway in the areas of fuel-efficiency but it has also defied the weight traditionally held by an average sized car. Thanks to its highly aerodynamic design, coming in at 11.4 feet long, 4.1 feet wide, and 3.3 feet tall, this new concept car only weighs an astounding 660 pounds. Engineers used an extensive amount of magnesium, titanium, and aluminum in order to reach this weight, which is actually one-third of the Toyota Echo. So despite being a dream car in terms of fuel-efficiency, it makes me wonder whether a car this small in size and weight can be safe for consumers to drive?

According to Volkswagen representatives, the car is fully equipped with safety measures such as anti-lock breaks, stability control and airbags and is as safe to drive as the GT sports car that is meant for high speed racing. So I guess my concerns are null and void because it seems as though Volkswagen has conceptualized the perfect balance between safety and efficiency. And if you’re worried whether or not this gas saving vehicle will drain your wallet in price, don’t be. The sticker price is estimated to be between $31,750 and $47,622, which isn’t too bad considering how much money you’ll be saving at the pumps.

So what do you think? Have gas prices finally met their match?

Check out some of these links for more automotive information:

• Straight to the Top Productions
• Coach and Motor Repair Services
• Automotive News
• Magnolia Detroit Automotive Resources
• Car Loan Information
• Auto Loans
• Auto Tuning
• Latest Auto News
• Auto & Car

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