July 4th, 2010 → 1:20 am @ admin
Is any text message worth dying over?
Sixteen-year-old Kayla Preuss died of head injuries when she lost control of her car and slammed into the center median. Phone records show Preuss was texting just before the accident.
According to a recent survey, 46% of 16- and 17-year-olds admit to text messaging while driving. That’s a frightening statistic, considering AAA found that the risk for a car accident increases by 50% for those who text while driving. Currently, six states have jurisdiction-wide bans on driving while talking on a handheld cell phone, which includes text messaging, according to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety. Overall, 18 other states have a texting ban–and many other states have introduced legislation to ban this dangerous practice. In fact, a recent survey found 89% of Americans want texting while driving outlawed.
Here are just a few others who’ve died as a result of texting and driving:
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Bailey Goodman, 17, was killed along with four of her fellow cheerleaders when she swerved into oncoming traffic, hit a tractor-trailer and her SUV burst into flames. Five days earlier, the five teenagers had graduated from high school. Two minutes before the crash was reported, her phone was used to send a text greeting to a friend. |
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Ashley D. Miller, 18, veered into oncoming traffic and hit another car head-on while she was texting. She and the other driver, a 40-year-old mother of 1, were killed instantly. |
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Dana Trammell, 17, was texting someone on her way to her first day of school of senior year when she crashed and was thrown from her vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. |
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Chelsea Ann Bragg, 16, was killed in a rollover crash after texting while driving. She veered off the shoulder of the road and then lost control of the car, causing it to roll twice. She was pronounced dead at the scene. |
- 17-year-old Vanna Francis and 15-year-old Ronnie Scroggins drowned when a car carrying seven teenagers drove off the road and into a river. The 20-year-old driver admitted she was texting on her cell phone when the car plunged into the water, and was later arrested.
- 13-year-old Earman Machado was killed Dec. 27, 2007, when a car–driven by Craig P. Bigos, a 31-year-old father of four, who was text messaging–swerved onto the side of the street and struck the boy on his bike. Bigos has been charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and driving without a license.
- 18-year-old Makayla Lynn Belew was killed when a text-messaging driver hit her as she walked along the side of the road and then drove away from the scene. A year later, Larry Chad Smithey, 28, was arrested for the crime.
- 17-year-old Patrick Sims was replying to a text message when he drifted into the bicycle lane and struck and killed cyclist Jim Price, 63. He was charged with careless driving resulting in death.
July 2nd, 2010 → 10:31 pm @ admin
Below you will find a Press Release for DashTrac a very effective GPS unit and the easiest to install (DIY).
Thanks,
dashtrac
DashTrac Uses GPS to Help Parents Extend Driver’s Education
Press Release distribution staff
(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 26, 2010 ) Press Release Distribution Service – http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php
TAMPA, FL – Actsoft Inc., makers of GPS and wireless enterprise software solutions, introduced DashTracTM, a small tracking device that enables parents or guardians of teen drivers to monitor driving behavior remotely.
Most cars and light trucks manufactured after 1996 are equipped with an OBD port located just under the dashboard on the vehicle’s driver side. The Dashtrac unit plugs easily into that port, giving parents the ability to accurately track the location and behavior of any vehicle equipped with the device, directly from their personal computer.
DashTrac itself is no bigger than a box of matches and can be installed in less than ten seconds. Test customer Jamie Parries was impressed. “As a parent I am amazed. I know where my car is at all times and even get reports for fast starts and hard braking. It’s like being invisible in the passenger seat. A nice surprise was the discount I got on my auto insurance, which essentially pays for the unit.”
Once installed, a user-friendly web interface accurately displays the vehicle’s location, speed and direction of travel. It also reports poor driving behaviors that dramatically increase a teen’s chance of infractions or accidents. Parents and guardians of inexperienced drivers can use it for continued coaching after the teen is legal to drive solo.
The device and technology have a number of relevant applications throughout multiple markets. When considered an enhancement to driver’s education, Dashtrac is a powerful coaching tool that provides additional oversight into driver behavior.
2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics reveal:
· Nine teens, ages 16 to 19, died every day from motor vehicle injuries.
· Approximately 3,500 teens in the United States aged 15–19 were killed.
· More than 350,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes.
· Car accidents are the leading cause of death in teens.
“Dashtrac combines ease of installation, affordability and peace of mind,” states Tom Mitchell, Founder and CEO of Actsoft. “As the father of twin teenage girls, I can’t imagine a parent that wouldn’t be elated to have the option to continue to instruct their children after they are driving on their own. This device will be a great accountability tool for my girls and will provide a safety aspect that gives me comfort.”
For more information about DashTrac visit www.Dashtrac.com or call 1-888-732-6638.
About Actsoft Inc.
Actsoft Inc. is a leading developer of mobile applications for today’s business. Their products include Comet EZ, Comet Tracker, Comet Mobile Worker, House Arrest Solution and DashTrac. Actsoft Inc. provides enterprise solutions to thousands of companies throughout the United States, Canada and many locations around the world. Founded in 1998, Actsoft, Inc. is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Most recently, Actsoft was the recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s 2009 Customer Service Excellence Award. For more information visit www.dashtrac.com or www.actsoft.com.
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Contact Information:
Actsoft Inc
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Tel: 1-888-732-6638.
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July 2nd, 2010 → 4:51 pm @ admin
Forty percent of young drivers text while driving
Published: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 10:35 AM EDT
Jared Leatzow
texting and driving
As the Michigan no text messaging and driving law takes effect July 1, some drivers will be fined for their favorite form of communication. However, many people believe it is a much-needed ban.
According to the National Safety Council, nearly 80 percent of all traffic accidents are caused by distractions on the road. The safety council also reports 40 percent of teenagers and young adults admitted to texting while driving.
With the new law, there will be fines for people caught texting and driving. For first-time offenders, the fine is $100. For all offenses afterwards, a person will be fined $200.
Fenton Police Chief Rick Aro said that previously the action could be ticketed under the careless driving action law. Careless driving is a 3-point violation. He believes that the idea of being fined will help to keep some people from texting and driving, but it will be a bit more difficult to enforce, as compared to speeding and running a red light.
“This (texting violation) will probably be written the most when there is an accident and a witness sees them doing it,” said Aro.
Aro said he believes texting is more distracting than talking on a cell phone or listening to loud music, because it keeps a person’s eyes off the road.
For parent Marianne Solomon, texting while driving is a big concern. With a daughter about to enter driver’s training and a son who is about to get his license, Solomon is unsure if she is comfortable enough to let her daughter continue driver’s education when she already has obsessive texting behavior.
“My daughter already texts a lot,” said Solomon. “So, it is a concern to me that there is likelihood for her to text and drive.”
Solomon said taking away her daughter’s cell phone is not an option, because if she ever is in danger she may need the phone to call someone for help. “I’m a nurse and I also work in the ER,” said Solomon. “Most of the accidents caused by new drivers are from distractions: loud radio, phone, text and other things.”
A big concern for Solomon is not only the possibility of her children texting while driving, but all of the other people driving that may be doing it, as well. She believes that these people also pose a risk to other drivers.
Solomon, like Aro, believes it will be one of the more difficult violations to enforce.
“The whole texting thing is a real issue,” said Solomon. “I don’t know how they will enforce it. They (police) will probably have to see you doing it.”
Co-owner of the Right Away Driving School in Linden, Todd Penoyer, said that texting is dangerous and the subject is covered in driver’s training courses.
“With today’s youth, we try to stress upon them to try to avoid distractions,” said Penoyer. “We try to have them turn their phones right off when they get in a car.”
Penoyer said talking on a cell phone is comparable to driving while drunk and driving while texting is even worse. He also said that a person is four times more likely to get in a car crash when using a cell phone.
June 25th, 2010 → 9:41 pm @ admin
Gov. considers safe driving bill
Bill would put a ban on texting while driving
Updated: Friday, 25 Jun 2010, 11:51 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 25 Jun 2010, 11:45 PM EDT
Julie Tremmel
BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A bill that could ban texting and driving is one step away from becoming state law.
Most people aren’t exceptionally proud to admit they engage in the practice, but if that law against it passes and you don’t change your ways, it could cost you in more ways than one.
The safe driving bill is now on Governor Deval Patrick’s desk. If passed, the biggest change you’d see will be a ban on texting and driving in Massachusetts. If you’re caught doing it, it will cost you $100 for a first offense, $250 for second offense and $500 for all subsequent violations. You could eventually have your license suspended, also.
Pat Pierce of Southampton likes the idea. She says, “I totally agree with it because I’m totally sick of seeing people driving and not paying attention to what they’re doing. I’ve almost gotten hit by people on their phone and texting and putting makeup on and whatever.”
Teens would feel and even bigger pinch if the law is passed. They could lose their learner’s permit if caught texting. But a bigger change is on the way. Those 18 and under would not be allowed to talk on their phones, either.
18-year old Brian Pfister of Holyoke was not happy with the news. Pfister said, “You can use a bluetooth or hands free things and be able to talk, but texting requires you to look down, and take your eye off the road.”
While most of the people 22News spoke with say that they wouldn’t dream of texting and driving, and support a ban, others are more candid in their response. They admit they text and drive often, and they’re not afraid to say, they’ll find a way around it if the state outlaws texting.
Conan McParland of Easthampton said, “I would do nothing different. I have really dark tinted windows, so nobody can tell what I’m doing anyways, so I text and drive all the time. I try to do it at stoplights and stuff, but you know everybody does it, probably not on the highway, but I definitely text and drive all the time.”
Also included in the safe driving bill is a provision that older drivers be required to pass vision tests every five years.
June 25th, 2010 → 9:31 pm @ admin
The INSURANCE INFORMATION NETWORK OF CALIFORNIA want parents and their children to think twice about buying a car as a graduation gift or present. The IINC suggests using information provided by the website Insure.com as a guide:
1. Pick a Safe Car:
Teens are not experienced drivers, which elevates their crash rate. According to insurance experts say young novice drivers are at significant risk on the road because they lack both the judgment that comes with maturity and the skill that comes with experience. Putting teens behind the wheel of a high-performance sports car or a large sports utility vehicle is a bad idea. Sports cars tempt teens to put the pedal to the metal. SUVs, while they can be appealing to a 16-year-old driver because they have plenty room for friends, have a much higher probability of rolling over in an accident because of their higher center of gravity, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).
The IIHS and III recommend choosing a midsize car with updated safety features and avoiding sports cars or high-performance vehicles that encourage speeding. According to IIHS, fatal crashes involving young drivers are typically one-vehicle crashes and are often due to driver error and/or speeding.
Affordable and safe choices for midsize cars include the Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat. Even slightly smaller cars, like the Ford Focus or Honda Civic, are recommended by experts for beginning drivers. But be wary of certain small cars that offer less protection for occupants.
The perfect car for a teen is one that provides the greatest amount of safety. Insurance experts recommend choosing a vehicle that is easy and comfortable for the teen to drive. The child should feel comfortable in the seat and be able to reach all the features with ease. Your teen should also be able to handle the car under adverse conditions.
2. New or Used?:
If you can afford to buy your teen a new car, you’ll garner the latest protection features such as air bags, antilock breaks and electronic stability control (technology introduced in the ’90s that improves the safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids). Of course, you can also expect higher collision insurance premiums on a new car. But you don’t need to buy your teen a new car for it to be safe. Insurance experts say that most cars made in the ’90s and after come equipped with the necessary safety features. So if you can’t afford a new vehicle, an older model in good working condition is a fine choice as well.
3. Check the Car’s Crash Test Results:
Whether you choose a new or used car, it’s a good idea to check its car crash ratings. Not all new cars perform the same in crash tests. Insure.com’s Car Crash Performance Tool contains information about vehicles that have been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and IIHS. The tool has safety ratings for car model years 1990 to 2009. Among other things, the cars were tested for their frontal impact, side impact and rollover performance. In addition, IIHS names top safety picks (http://www.iihs.org/ratings) for new models annually. Cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans are categorized by size (large, small and midsize). The institute rates vehicles based on high-speed frontal and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.
4. Evaluate Your Car Insurance Options:
Consider the cost of insurance before you purchase a car for your teen. But prepare yourself for premiums that will increase no matter what you do. Insurance experts report that when a teen is added to your insurance, you’re going to see a huge increase – by as much as 100 percent and a boy is usually a bit more expensive than a girl, but that’s starting to change.
Insurance experts say keep in mind that safer cars are generally less expensive to insure because they have a lower claims history. Many car insurance companies offer discounts for having air bags or factory-installed mechanical seat belts, antilock brakes and antitheft devices such as alarms. But shop around. Insurance companies differ dramatically in how they price policies for young drivers.
5. Employ a Money Saving Strategy:
If you plan to add your teen to your existing car insurance policy (which is less expensive than placing a teen on his own policy), you should qualify for a multi-car discount by having more than one car covered by the same insurance company. If your teen earns good grades at school, ask your insurer about a “good student” discount. Many car insurance companies provide small discounts for students who maintain B averages or better. If your licensed child is under 21 and leaves for college more than 100 miles away, you can save a little because they won’t be driving your car year-round. Let your agent know and ask if your premium can be adjusted for lower teen use.
Also, find out how your insurance company assigns drivers to cars. Some insurers will assign the driver who is the most expensive to insure (your teen) to the car that is most expensive to insure – not necessarily the car that your teen will be driving. If possible, assign your teen to the least expensive car because it will save you money. According to III, some insurers will allow you to do this if the number of cars equals or exceeds the number of insured drivers on the policy. However, make sure that your teen drives only the assigned car – even in an emergency. While your child would be covered if involved in an accident while driving an unassigned vehicle, your insurance company could penalize you afterward. Some insurance companies could drop you. Others could charge you back premiums (based on the assumption that your child was driving the car regularly) dating back to the start of your policy period. Another factor to consider is liability limits. If you carry only the state minimum liability limits required, you are not well protected from lawsuits should your teen get into an accident. Granted, higher liability limits will increase the price of your car insurance policy. To offset the cost, insurance experts recommends increasing your deductible from the typical $250 to either $500 or $1,000 (you can save you anywhere from 10 to 20 percent on your premium).
6. Consider “Spying” For a Discount:
Insurance companies call it “monitoring.” Teens will likely accuse you of “spying” on them. In any case, some insurers will give you a discount on your car insurance premium if you agree to install a tracking device in your teen’s car. This monitors your child’s driving through a global positioning system (GPS) unit that is fastened to the dashboard. The GPS is connected to a Web site that allows you to track your teen’s driving. For example, if your child is driving over a certain speed limit or ventures too far from home or school, you can automatically receive an alert via e-mail or text message. It depends on the company, but you can save maybe 10 to 15 percent on your premium if you install it. If you don’t want to monitor your teen, consider enrolling him or her in a “safe driver program.” It’s a great way to save money on car insurance premiums while providing your teen with education about becoming a better driver. Not all insurance companies offer “safe driver programs” but it’s worth asking. If your teen completes the program, the insurance company generally offers a discount on your annual premium.
June 25th, 2010 → 9:26 pm @ admin
10 Safe Cars for Teens:
Most experts recommend avoiding small cars, SUVs and sports cars. Midsize cars (and some smaller cars) are recommended for new drivers. Insure.com compiled a list of cars recommended for teens by industry experts and those that perform well in crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
*Acura TL
*Chevrolet Impala
*Ford Focus
*Ford Fusion
*Honda Accord
*Honda Civic
*Nissan Sentra
*Toyota Corolla
*Volkswagen Jetta
*Volkswagen Passat
You can find many of the “10 Safe Cars for Teens” various new and used car dealerships including CarMax. Gayle was live at the following CarMax location: CarMax @ LAX
8611 La Cienega Boulevard
Inglewood, California 90301
(At La Cienega (I-405) and Manchester (Hwy 42) near L.A. International Airport)
Showroom Hours: Monday through Friday, 10am to 9pm / Saturday 10am-to-9pm / Sunday, 11am to 7pm
Service Department Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Phone: (310) 568-9272
Toll Free: (888) 646-9898
Fax: (310) 216-8358
Telephone Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9am to 9pm / Sunday 10am to 7pm
To find a CarMax dealership near you, visit the website: www.carmax.com
For more information, visit the website: Insure.com
For more information about the Insurance Information Network of California, contact;
Insurance Information Network of California (IINC)
900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1414
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213.624.4462
www.iinc.org
For more information about the Insurance Information Institute, visit the website: www.iii.org
June 25th, 2010 → 9:18 pm @ admin
Our state’s texting while driving ban takes effect in less than a week, but it seems, there are still questions.
“Can you get in trouble if you are parked?” Joe Bradley asked.
“Can you do it at stop lights?” Tara Dell said.
Sgt. Lisa Rish of the Michigan State Police offers some clarification.
“People shall not text or read while your phone is in your hand or on your lap,” Sgt. Rish said.
That means absolutely no texting, or emailing, inside your vehicle while it’s running. If the cops catch you, it’s a $100 fine, plus $200 every time after. Rish said starting Thursday, state troopers will be on the lookout.
“It will be like a seat belt law,” she said. “If we see you texting or reading a text, we will pull you over.”
But how will police actually enforce it?
Each agency News Ten called — including state police departments in other states that have a texting ban — said the same thing. The officer will have to see the violation first, then use their discretion if they choose to pull you over. As for proof? Officers may not take your phone without your consent.
“It’s perception,” Rish said. “If you get stopped and that’s not the case, we will go from there.”
News Ten asked drivers if this law will really make them change their habits.
“I will still try it,”MSU student Kyle Colton said. “I’m sure a lot of other people will too.”
“I don’t see people stopping,” Msu Student Tara Dell said. “Maybe law-conscious people will, but not young people who are used to doing it.”
But some like Joe Bradley, who know first-hand how dangerous texting and driving can be, hope people catch on sooner rather than later.
“It’s going to be against the law soon, you better get used to it,” Bradley said.
The Lansing Police Department said it will be handing out a training bulletin to its officers containing what kind of driving errors are often tied to texters
June 22nd, 2010 → 4:35 pm @ admin
Antioch teen survived Sundays crash
By Hilary Costa Contra Costa Times
A 16-year-old Antioch boy initially reported killed in a fiery auto accident Sunday is actually alive, according to the California Highway Patro and hospital officials The CHP reported Sunday that Sellem was severely injured in an accident that morning and had died while being transported to UCDMC via helicopter. On Tuesday CHP spokesman Tom Maguire said his agency had been incorrectly told by the hospital that Sellem had died Medical center spokeswoman Karen Finney could not immediately comment on how the miscommunication happened The car accident occurred about 10:35 a.m. Sunday when a blue 2005 Toyota Sienna minivan, with Sellem as a passenger, took the Port Chicago Highway exit from eastbound Highway 4, then struck and crashed through the offramp guardrail. The minivan went down an embankment to a transition road to southbound Highway 242, where it collided with a white Ford F-150 pickup truck. The van came to rest in the Highway 242 median and caught fire The van driver, 19-year-old Antioch resident Eric Tran, was treated for moderate burns. Sellem’s 17-year-old brother, who also goes by John was also a passenger in the van. He was treated at UCDMC for burns and is now home recovering, according to a family friend Reach Hilary Costa at 925-943-8013
June 21st, 2010 → 10:33 am @ admin
http://m.globegazette.com/news/local/article_a4066af6-7cdc-11df-8866-001cc4c002e0.html?print=1
June 13th, 2010 → 4:53 am @ admin
June 13, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ — As a result of today’s mobile technology, drivers have a number of distractions while driving. A New Jersey teen is blaming his GPS for a recent accident, claiming it instructed him to take an illegal turn that ultimately caused a four-car crash. The teen driver was heading westbound on a separated highway when his GPS directed him to turn left onto a crossing street. Turns are illegal at the intersection and the teen’s car struck another, ultimately causing four cars to collide.
Convenience or a Distraction?
News of this accident demonstrates how technology intended to make life more convenient, can do just the opposite by distracting us from the task at hand. When the task is driving, life and limb are at stake. Cell phones, navigation systems and even the car radio can distract us just long enough for an accident to occur.
In 2004, New Jersey enacted a law prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving without the use of a hands-free feature, becoming only the second state to do so. The law made driving while using a cell phone a secondary offense, meaning police could only issue a ticket for using a cell phone if they were stopping the driver for another reason.
In 2007, New Jersey modified the law to make it a primary offense. As a result, police can pull a driver over and issue a ticket as soon as the officer spots a driver using their cell phone. The only exceptions to the ban are emergency situations such as when the driver has reason to believe their safety is at risk or that a criminal act may be committed against them or another person.
The penalty for using a cell phone in New Jersey is $100, but no points will be added to the driver’s license. Using the phone to send or receive any kind of electronic message, including text messages and e-mails, is also a violation of the law.
Countless other serious accidents have been caused by drivers using new technology behind the wheel. Therefore, drivers in New Jersey and elsewhere need to be careful when using technology while driving.In addition, a distracted driver who causes an accident is most likely going to be liable for injuries or damages caused from the accident.
Article provided by The Epstein Law Firm, P.A.
Visit us at www.theepsteinlawfirm.com
