Articles Posted in Driver Safety

It’s a dubious honor, but Massachusetts recently made #10 on Driverside.com’s list of Top 10 Speediest States. The list compares the number of tickets to the state’s population to ensure that even small states received equal consideration.

According to the list, law enforcement officials doled out over 300,000 tickets to Massachusetts drivers last year with Delaware and South Carolina close behind. The District of Columbia snagged the top spot with 434,301 tickets. Interesting, DC only has just over a half million residents, so it works out to roughly 78.5% of the population. Our guess is that some of those tickets went to commuters or tourists from neighboring states.

Since speed is a factor in many car accidents resulting in death or serious injury, we urge you to exercise caution and obey speed limits on the roads.

Source: Top 10 Speediest States, DriverSide.com, April 2, 2010 Continue reading

Since Toyota recalled more than 8 million vehicles last October, drivers have flocked to Toyota dealers to have their cars fixed. However, at least 15 drivers who supposedly had their sticky gas pedals or floor mats fixed have complained that their vehicles sped up by themselves.

According to a Massachusetts-based car safety and advocacy organization, Toyota’s issues may extend beyond sticky pedals or floor mat issues. In fact, some experts believe the problem may be electronic in nature and they say Toyota has not examined this possible cause.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 52 people have died in car crashes associated with Toyota’s acceleration issues. The agency is investigating Toyota’s safety issues and said it wants to hear from more drivers, if they are experiencing similar problems.

Source: Drivers complain that Toyota’s fixes didn’t work, Associated Press, March 3, 2010 Continue reading

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Senate approved legislation that will ban text messaging behind the wheel and require cognitive and physical screenings for older drivers in Massachusetts. Drivers between the ages of 75 and 80 will have to pass the tests to renew their licenses, and drivers over 80 will have to pass the tests every three years. Though the bill initially required drivers to get tested at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, legislators opted to create a form and allow doctors to perform the tests. This legislation comes in response to several fatal car crashes involving older drivers.

The House had approved a plan that would have require drivers to use hands-free cell phone models with voice-activated dialing and would make text messaging a secondary offense, but that plan was rejected by the Senate. Instead, the Senate agreed to make text messaging a primary offense. Police will be allowed to stop and city Massachusetts drivers caught text messaging on the road.

Legislators are also considering a bill that would prohibit school bus drivers from using cell phones and another bill that would allow health care providers to report the names of patients they could be an endangerment to themselves and others on the road.

Source: Senate approves elderly driving bill, texting ban, Boston Herald, March 2, 2010 Continue reading

On Tuesday, the Massachusetts Senate will formally debate a bill that would ban text-messaging while driving. That same bill would require Massachusetts drivers age 75 and older to pass cognitive and physical screenings every three years. The bill comes after several auto accidents that involved older drivers or text-messaging behind the wheel.

Several of the bill’s provisions, including the text-messaging ban, have already been green-lighted by the House. While some have proposed legislation that would require drivers to use hands-free devices while talking on a mobile phone, that requirement is not part of the Senate bill.

Once the Senate reaches a decision, the bills would be merged in a conference committee. A final debate and vote will follow.

Source: Mass. Senate set to debate driver texting ban, Boston Herald, February 27, 2010 Continue reading

On Wednesday, Toyota announced a deal that will help the more than 500,000 owners of recalled vehicles in New York state. The recall was prompted by a car accident last year that killed a highway patrol officer and three of his family members when the accelerator pedal got stuck and the vehicle hurtled ahead at more than 100 mph. The carmaker has since recalled more than 8.5 million cars worldwide due to issues like unintended acceleration and brake issues.

In light of the recall, Toyota has promised to pick and return vehicles scheduled for repair in New York state. They will also provide alternative transportation while owners are “unable or unwilling” to drive their cars, and arrange to transport owners to their dealerships or workplaces. These special arrangements will be provide to drivers at no cost.

At least four other states, including Massachusetts, have contacted Toyota to request similar arrangements.

Sources: Toyota recall pact with NY sought by other states, Reuters, February 24, 2010
New details in crash that prompted Toyota recall, LA Times, October 25, 2009 Continue reading

Legislators here in Massachusetts recently passed a bill that would ban drivers from texting messaging while on the road. The bill will be passed along to the Senate. But an article in the Boston Globe points out that enforcing this ban could be tricky. Since the ban would not outlaw dialing phone numbers, how could police officers really know if a driver is texting or dialing? And if you plug an iPod into your car’s stereo system, could you get nabbed for messing with your music rather than texting?

The technology is no new that these questions are tough to answer.

In fact, a spokesman for the Governor Highway Safety Association admitted that they don’t yet have a good way to enforce texting bans. It’s much easier for officers to spot a driver talking on a cell phone than texting on a cell phone, because texting can be done covertly under the window. However, advocates for the bill are quick to point out that distracted driving is a major factor in countless car accidents, causing numerous fatalities and serious injuries.

Source: Texting bans raise questions of enforcement, Boston Globe, February 7, 2010 Continue reading

Here in Massachusetts, the debate over drivers and cell phones continues. Earlier today, the House debated a bill that would ban text messaging while driving. It would also ban junior drivers from using cell phones at all and require drivers over the age of 75 to renew their license in person every five years. Currently, they must renew their license every ten years. These new rules were prompted by several high-profile car crashes last year involving older drivers.

During the early part of the bill, members voted 93-66 to make the bill even tougher, requiring all Massachusetts drivers to use hands-free devices when they make cell phone calls. Though the House has previously voted to require hands-free devices in 2008, the law was later killed by the Senate.

Members of the House hope that the bill would reduce the risk of auto accidents in Massachusetts. Assuming the legislation passes today, it will continue to the Senate.

Source: House bill would require drivers making calls to go hands-free, Boston Globe, February 4, 2010 Continue reading