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Safety Features Available on Remote Car Starters

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

One of the most common reasons people get remote starters for their vehicles is the weather. In the winter, it’s so nice to get into a car that’s warmed up, and in summer it’s great when the car is cooled down before you get in. In Michigan, and many other states, we have both temperature extremes and find remote starters a welcome feature.

When you decide to purchase a remote starter for your car, there are several considerations. Some features are important for safety reasons and auto theft concerns. This list may help you make a more educated decision when evaluating which product is best for you.

  • Range of the Transmission: This enables you to start the car from a distance. Even if you are only planning to use the remote start first thing in the morning when the car is in your driveway, you may want to consider range and strength of the remote. Sometimes you may want to start the car when it’s parked further away, at the mall, the movies, or down the block from a friend’s home. You also may want to start it from inside the house. All of these are affected by the strength of the remote.
  • Safety Switch on the Hood: This is a very important safety feature and should be installed with every remote starter. It protects you from car theft by providing an emergency cutoff designed to prevent a remote start of the car if the hood is up.
  • Two-Way Remote Transmission: This safety feature offers convenience and security, by not only sending, but also receiving transmissions from the vehicle. When you press the button to remote start your car, it may be parked around the corner. The started sends a message to the remote providing you with a variety of information: if the car started, the interior temperature, if the doors are locked, the vehicle battery voltage, and more.
  • Security System: This is an option that may be worthwhile even if you have a car with a factory installed security system, because it can include a shock sensor that sounds an alarm when a window is broken or a cylinder is damaged. If you have the two-way system, it will also send an alert to the remote up to one mile from the vehicle.
  • Keyless Entry: Most newer cars have keyless entry, so adding it to your remote is an extra convenience, because it increases its range. This is very helpful, particularly in bad weather. For example, you dashed into work trying to stay dry during a rainstorm and then realized you didn’t remember to lock the car. If you are too far away for your key fob to lock it, your remote starter will do it and keep you dry.

There are many more features available, including a car finder, heated seat controls, window defogger, etc. It’s up to you, your lifestyle, preferred conveniences, and budget to choose the model best for your needs.

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Progress Toward Healthy Cars

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Automakers around the world are striving to improve the health and safety features throughout their vehicle fleets. Cars and SUVs are being made with front and side airbags, crash avoidance systems, backup cameras and sensors, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring, traction control, etc. All of these features are designed to reduce auto accidents and keep occupants safe.

Keeping people safe from the toxic chemicals used in vehicle manufacturing has also been a goal for several years. Inside air quality is improving as automakers phase out use of toxic chemicals throughout the interior; including seat cushions, dashboards, and steering wheels. Many of these compounds are known to cause liver damage, allergies, learning disabilities and cancer.

During the past several years, the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan has been testing and tracking the progress of automakers. Two of the more deadly compounds, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and BFR (brominated flame retardant) are being tracked closely and are found to have different levels depending on where the vehicle is manufactured.

Vehicles produced in the United States are marketed globally and manufacturers have not reduced the concentration of PVC and BFRs as quickly as other regions.  Healthystuff.org reports:

“The US has the weakest chemical regulatory system for chemicals in consumer products, and provides the fewest incentives for companies to phase-out hazardous chemicals.”

Vehicles assembled in Europe use the most PVC, more than double the amount of vehicles elsewhere. Europe, however, produces vehicles that are significantly lower in levels of BFR. Most probably, this is because European regulations include the “End of Life Vehicle Directive”. The goal of this directive is to make the dismantling and recycling of vehicles more environmentally safe, and it pushes producers to manufacture new vehicles that are more recyclable when they are no longer used.

The biggest improvement is coming from Asia. Vehicles assembled in Asia use far less PVC. In both Japan and Korea there is an average 50% reduction in the use of PVC. This change is being lead by Honda, which has almost eliminated the use of PVC. In the 2011/2012 models the Honda fleet is 83% PVC free in the auto interior. In its 2011 North American Environmental Report, Honda stated their goal:

“Honda’s goal is to reduce the use of materials containing chlorine to a less than 1% concentration in materials that can end up in the waste stream as shredder residue at the end of an automobile’s useful life.”

Many new vehicles are being manufactured with fewer toxins. As consumers we now have choices, and as the automakers continue to make changes we all benefit. To keep your family safe, always use seat belts and child safety seats. If you’re shopping for a new car keep in mind the interior air quality and find the models with the best reports.

For more safety tips: http://www.michigan-auto-accident.com/michigan-car-accident-legal-help-center/child-safety-in-cars.html?task=view

Resources: http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php

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Older Adults Can Learn to Be Safer Drivers

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Watching our parents and grandparents as they get older, we can see the changes in their abilities. Some people develop poor eyesight, others diminished mental abilities. Almost all of us just generally slow down. Even with these and other changes, aging doesn’t automatically mean the loss of independence.

If you worry about the driving skills of your elder loved ones, or even yourself, don’t despair. There are ways to improve driving skills for older adults. You don’t have to stop driving, or lose your independence.

Researchers from University of Massachusetts – Amherst recently published studies regarding older adults with unsafe driving habits. These habits can easily be reversed with a little retraining.

One study tested two groups of drivers: those over 70, and those from 25 to 55 years of age. An important habit for safe driving is to be able to effectively scan and evaluate the dangers of intersections. Results in this study indicate that the older drivers did not check intersections as thoroughly as the younger group, who scanned more often and for more time.

The second test proved the effectiveness of a simple training program to change bad habits into safer driving skills. In these three steps, the older drivers altered habits and learned to drive as well as the younger group of experienced drivers:

  • Step one: listen to a lecture about the dangers of driving at intersections and how to correctly scan when making turns.
  • Step two: view a video of their own driving while listening to someone evaluate them.
  • Step three: using a simulator, practice driving the correct way to enter and turn through an intersection.

Using this easy method, the older drivers learned better habits and drove as well as those in the younger group. The positive changes from the training were still evident 12 months later.

If you are worried about the older drivers in your family, encourage them to improve their skills through a driver retraining program.

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Traumatic Brain Injury Affects Millions in the United States

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) causes 20 times more disabilities than AIDS, breast cancer, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis combined.

  • In the U.S. an estimated 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year.
  • Every 21 seconds, someone will incur a traumatic brain injury.
  • Every 5 minutes, one person will die, and another will become permanently disabled, from a brain injury.
  • Every year, 52,000 people die from a TBI

What is TBI?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury as a head injury that disrupts normal brain function. It can be caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head, or a penetrating head injury. The injury can range from mild to severe, depending on symptoms. A mild TBI may show only a slight mental status changes for a short period of time, while a more severe TBI could present concussion or an unconscious episode for a longer period. Severe TBI can also produce amnesia.

How does TBI  occur?

  • Falls, often from great heights
  • Auto accidents
  • Being hit by a heavy or sharp object (i.e. baseball bat, golf club, bullet, knife).
  • Assault or abuse, such as vigorous shaking
  • Stroke, seizures or other medical problems


What are the symptom of TBI?Who is affected by TBI?
Falls are the leading cause of TBI. The rates are highest for infants to 4 years old and for adults 75 years and older. Car accident injuries are the leading cause of TBI-related deaths, with the highest risk group being adults from 20 to 24 years old.

A range of symptoms may occur, depending on the severity of the injury. Some of the more common symptoms that are almost immediately apparent include swelling of scalp, dizziness, headache, confusion, vomiting, amnesia, unconsciousness. The long-term consequences of a serious TBI include cognitive, psychological, and physical impairments.

Resources:
http://www.thinkfirst.org/Documents/FastFacts/BW/Traumatic%20Brain%20Injury.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/pdf/BlueBook_factsheet-a.pdf

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That New Car Smell Could be Toxic

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

When we consider air pollution, we usually think of billowing factory smoke stacks, or cities filled with the exhaust of buses and trucks. We don’t often think about air pollution inside. When we do hear the phrase “indoor air pollution,” we might think of smoke filled bars or maybe a maintenance garage filled with diesel fumes. But have you ever thought about the indoor air quality in your new car? Yep, that new car smell is toxic. It’s the smell of toxic chemicals out-gassing from the plastic, rubber, foam and many other interior car parts.

Researchers have found that high levels of toxins are present inside new cars for over 6 months. The studies revealed more than 275 chemicals and compounds including: Benzene, a known carcinogen; n-Hexane, a neurotoxin agent; and Xylene isomers, an agent toxic to fetal development. There were also high concentrations of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and other chemicals known to cause birth defects, liver toxicity, and cancer.

Environmental conditions inside a car can be very harsh. On a sunny day, the temperature can reach well over 150° F. These high temperatures increase the rate of out-gassing, causing an increase in the concentration of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In other words, even more gases come out of the synthetic material, dashboard, steering wheel, etc., and these fumes are harmful to human health.

The Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan conducts comprehensive testing of internal air quality in automobiles. Through its HealthyStuff.org project, it has rated 2011 and 2012 model vehicles.

Vehicle ratings

  • Test data on 204 new 2011-2012 model new vehicles. As part of a multi-year study, the database contains test results for 900 vehicles.
  • The overall best-rated vehicle is the 2012 Honda Civic (score 0.46) which achieved its ranking by being free of bromine-base flame retardants is all interior components, utilizing PVC-free interior fabrics and interior trim, and low levels of heavy metals and other metal allergens.
  • The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (score 3.17) was the overall worst-rated vehicle this year, containing bromine and antimony-based flame retardants in seating, the center console and seat base, chromium treated leather on several components and over 400 ppm lead in seating materials.


Image from:
http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php

Most Americans spend over 1.5 hours a day in their cars. As dangerous as auto accident are, the indoor air quality is equally important. These chemicals directly effect our health and the health of our families.

If you would like more information on the hazards of chemical out-gassing go to: http://www.callsam.com/blog/2011/08/26/is-your-child-sitting-in-a-toxic-car-seat/

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Driving Fatalities on the Rise for US Teens

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently reported a disturbing trend. In 2011, after 8 years of decline, we saw an increase of teenage fatalities from auto accidents. More teens, aged 16 and 17 years old, are now dying in car crashes than since 2003.

At this point, researchers are not certain about the reasons for the increase in teen auto accident deaths. Some of the possibilities are:

  • distracted driving — cell phone, radio, talking with friends
  • fatigue — sleep deprivation is a national issue for people of all ages especially teens
  • not using a seat belt — teens may not be buckling up
  • drinking and driving — always a deadly duo
  • inexperienced drivers — teens are new drivers and inexperience with speed is a deadly combination

The increase is not large, but it is still very important. Driving is one of the most dangerous activities for teens of any age. Even a slight increase of fatalities is not acceptable.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) states that in the United States, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens. Mile for mile, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.

Currently, NTSB is working hard to reverse this trend, by proposing new laws and restrictions on teenage drivers, implementing educational programs and promoting safe driver role models.

Every time you drive with a teen in the car, you are a role model for safe driving. Some things you can do to help teach good driving habits are:

  • Never talk or text on your cell phone.
  • Always wear a seat belt and insist all passengers do the same.
  • Make sure you have not had a drink, or that you are too tired to drive.
  • Drive the speed limit and be patient with other drivers, everyone just wants to arrive safely.

For more information on protecting yourself and your family after a car accident: http://callsam.com/michigan-personal-injury-cases/bad-accidents/car-accidents/automobile-injury-statistics

Resources:  http://www.nhtsa.gov/Teen-Drivers

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Pedestrian Safety Guidelines

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

Walking, running, jogging, and bicycling are growing in popularity in the U.S. These activities are all good for our own health and the health of our planet. We can get healthy and go green simply by using our feet, so let’s do it!

Many of us walk or bike to work, walk our kids to school, run with our dogs and walk, jog or bike just for fun or exercise. Whatever the reason is that we do these things, it’s great! They can be great fun and great for all of us. As the number of pedestrians increases, so will accidents if we are not careful. Let’s all remember to be safe, particularly when we are near roads or when sharing the roads with cars, trucks and motorcycles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 more than 4,000 pedestrians were killed in U.S. traffic accidents, and an estimated 59,000 were injured. To put that in perspective, that’s an average of one pedestrian killed every two hours, and another injured every nine minutes in traffic crashes.

Here are some facts from NHTSA and suggestions for preventing auto accidents involving pedestrians.

Pedestrian fatalities from 2009:

  • More than 90% percent of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in single vehicle crashes
  • 72% of pedestrian deaths happened in urban areas
  • 76% occurred when at non-intersections rather than at intersections
  • Almost 90% were during normal weather conditions, not in rain, snow or fog
  • Almost 70% of fatal pedestrian accidents happened at night
  • 20% of children between the ages of 5 and 9 killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians

How to be safe, as a driver or a pedestrian:

  • It’s safer to walk on a sidewalk than a street. If you have to walk in the street, walk so you are facing traffic.
  • It’s more difficult to see pedestrians in the dark.  If you are walking at night, carry a flashlight to increase your visibility, and wear reflective clothing.
  • Always try to cross the street at a designated crosswalk.
  • If you’re crossing at a light, wait for the pedestrian signal and then make sure to look right and left before crossing.
  • When a parked vehicle is blocking your view of the street, stop at the edge line of the vehicle and look around it before crossing.
  • As a driver, you are required to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians crossing streets in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

Resources: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811394.pdf

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Unsafe Driving Habits are Annoying Too!

Monday, March 19th, 2012

We have all done it, yelled at other drivers who were doing something we don’t like. Often it’s because they do something unsafe that startles or frightens us. You know — weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, reading a map, eating lunch, or so many other things we see people do everyday.

Dangerous and annoying driving isn’t limited to the highway. City driving has its hazards too, for instance, cars traveling in two lanes, drivers not stopping for pedestrians, or the always popular running of the yellow or red light.

Even parking lots are places where auto accidents happen, like fender-benders or minor scratches. Some common causes include taking two parking spaces, parking too close to another car, not returning shopping carts, or cutting off a waiting car to take a parking space.

Annoying motorists are everywhere. It’s so common that Consumer Reports 2012 Auto Issue posted results from their annual survey. Below are the results of the 895 Americans polled on 20 of the most common problems. The scale is 1 (not annoying) to 10 (extremely annoying).

These are all dangerous activities which can lead to car accidents and irritate people. You can prevent accidents by not doing any of these while driving. Be aware and be courteous.

Resources:
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/02/2012-annual-auto-issue-survey-reveals-top-gripes-among-drivers.html

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Air Bag Safety in Auto Accidents – FAQs

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Safety features are in all passenger vehicles, but have you ever given much thought to how they work? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about air bags, and how they are designed to protect drivers and passengers involved in an auto accident.

Does my car have air bags?
If you have a car, pickup truck, van or SUV that was built in the model year 1999 or later, than your vehicle has frontal air bags. The federal government has required automakers to include driver and passenger airbags as a standard feature in all passenger vehicles since 1999.

What do air bags do?
Frontal air bags for drivers and front seat passengers are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal car crashes. They are meant to prevent injury from the occupant hitting the interior of the car. They do not replace the need for seat belts, and are not designed for protection in rollover accidents or in side or rear impact collisions.

How have air bags changed?
Since 1999, two new generations of air bags have been put on the market. The second generation of frontal air bags are also known as “depowered” air bags. They are called this because the manufacturers reduced the power of inflation to lower the incidents of injuries and death from the force of the bag being inflated.
The newest generation is called the “advanced frontal air bag”. These are designed to be even more effective in saving lives than the depowered bags, while also reducing incidents of injuries and death to children and small adults. This third generation became available in some 2002 models, and has been standard equipment on all passenger vehicles since 2007.

What about side air bags?
There is no law mandating side airbags, but the vast majority of new passenger vehicles do come with side airbags as standard equipment. Side air bags are designed to offer protection during a side impact car crash, or a rollover auto accident. They protect your head and torso from the interior of the vehicle.
Side air bags can deploy from the seatback, door, or roof. Some vehicles have side air bags for the rear seat as well.

When do air bags deploy?
For best protection, an air bag needs to inflate very quickly during the early stage of an auto accident. A frontal air bag inflates within the first 50 milliseconds (0.05 seconds) in a frontal crash. A side-impact air bag inflates in a fraction of a second, within the first 20 milliseconds (0.02 seconds) of a side crash.

How do I protect myself from an air bag injury?

  1. Make sure you always use your seat belt.
  2. Always have children ride in the back seat, using appropriate seat belts and safety seats for their size and age.
  3. Use rear-facing infant safety seats in the back seat only.
  4. Drivers should move their seats back from the steering wheel to ensure their chest is at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that since 2009, more than 28,000 lives were saved in auto accidents from frontal airbags in passenger vehicles.

To read about auto-accident statistics:
http://www.callsam.com/michigan-personal-injury-cases/bad-accidents/car-accidents/automobile-injury-statistics

For safety tips:
http://www.michigan-auto-accident.com/michigan-car-accident-legal-help-center/safe-driving-tips-for-everyone.html?task=view

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Safety Guidelines for 15-Passenger Vans

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Many non-profit organizations, like churches, sports teams, and schools use 15-passenger vans to transport people and cargo. These vehicles handle quite differently than smaller passenger vans and are at a much higher risk of rollovers and crashes. In 2007, about 27% of fatal crashes involving15-passenger vans were rollover accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends special safety precautions for both drivers and passengers riding in the large vans:

DRIVERS: Because these vans handle very differently than passenger cars, especially when fully loaded, they should only be operated by trained, experienced drivers. A 15-passenger van is wider and longer, so it requires more space to maneuver. The driver will require additional reliance on side mirrors for changing lanes, and additional braking distances. To operate these vehicles the driver needs a valid driver’s license, but a commercial driver’s license is recommended.

Drivers always should reduce distractions as much as possible, by limiting conversation with passengers and never using a cell phone.

SPEED: Never exceed the posted speed limit and always drive at the speed that is safest for current driving conditions. Slow down if roads are wet or icy, because these vehicles do not respond well to abrupt steering maneuvers and require additional braking time. Sudden steering changes or over corrections can cause a rollover crash.

TIRE PRESSURE: Improperly inflated or worn tires can be especially dangerous, and reduce the driver’s ability to keep control of the van, which is the most important factor in reducing the chance of rollover. Tires with low air pressure tires can increase tire wear, and worn tires may cause the vehicle to slide sideways on wet or slippery pavement, also increasing the risk of rollover. Always inspect all the tires and check their pressure before each use.

CARGO and OCCUPANCY: Usually the cargo for a 15-passenger van is people, the passengers. Never allow more than 15 people to ride in the van and if possible, limit occupants to 10 people. When the van is not full, passengers should sit in seats that are in front of the rear axle. Any other cargo should go in front of the rear axle. Never pack cargo on the roof or tow anything behind these vans, to avoid overloading them.

SEAT BELTS: This is the time when everyone needs to wear seat belts at all times. Make certain that none are missing, broken or damaged. The sad truth is, if you are unbuckled in a 15-passenger van and you’re in a single-vehicle crash, you are about 3 times more likely to be killed as someone who buckles up.

NHTSA research shows these larger vans have a greater risk of rollover for three reasons: 1) when there is an inexperienced driver, 2) the tires are the wrong size or not inflated properly, 3) the cargo (including people) are not loaded correctly changing the center of gravity.

Resources: http://www.safercar.gov/staticfiles/safercar/Passenger%20Van%20Safety/vanfansheet.pdf

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