ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers are the first line of defense against costly damage in everyday low-speed crashes. Bumpers on cars are designed to match up with each other in collisions, but a long-standing gap in federal regulations exempts SUVs from the same rules. New Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests demonstrate the results: SUV bumpers that don't line up with those on cars can lead to huge repair bills in what should be minor collisions in stop-and-go traffic.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Huge Cost Of Mismatched Bumpers
ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers are the first line of defense against costly damage in everyday low-speed crashes. Bumpers on cars are designed to match up with each other in collisions, but a long-standing gap in federal regulations exempts SUVs from the same rules. New Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests demonstrate the results: SUV bumpers that don't line up with those on cars can lead to huge repair bills in what should be minor collisions in stop-and-go traffic.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
How Roundabouts Work
Traffic congestion and motor vehicle crashes are widespread problems, especially in urban areas. Roundabouts, used in place of stop signs and traffic signals, are a type of circular intersection that can significantly improve traffic flow and safety. Where roundabouts have been installed, motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 40 percent, and those involving injuries have been reduced by about 80 percent. Crash reductions are accompanied by significant improvements in traffic flow, thus reducing vehicle delays, fuel consumption, and air pollution.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
New Crash Tests: Small Cars Improve
New crash tests: small cars improve and the top performers also are fuel sippers
Saturday, January 21, 2012
How Airbags Save Lives
Safety is a concern for all drivers. Since the late 1980's, airbags have proven to reduce the risk of severe injuries and death in vehicle collisions. Today, airbags are standard in vehicles and their technology continues to evolve to provide improved safety on the road.
The airbags that most drivers are familiar with are the front driver and passenger airbags. These airbags are built into the steering wheel and the dash of the vehicle. When a car is in a crash, sensors within the vehicle communicate with the airbag telling it to inflate. Gas is then released to fill the airbag in about one twentieth of a second. The bag provides a cushion for the driver or passenger to collide with as opposed to the windshield. In newer vehicles, the amount of air that the bag fills with depends on the severity of the crash. This can ensure that the victim is met with the proper amount of protection and a reduced risk of injury.
Side airbags are another common type of airbag in a vehicle. These airbags are designed to protect the head and chest of those involved in a side impact crash. They can be hidden in the roof, door or seat of a vehicle. Unlike front airbags, side airbags are not required by law to be in a vehicle. However, studies show that close to 1,000 lives each year would be saved and about 1,000 serious injuries could be prevented if every car in the U.S. was equipped with a side head airbag.
New innovations in airbags continue to be tested and developed by the auto industry. Recent introductions include knee airbags. These are made to protect the lower body of the driver and to also prevent them from sliding down during a crash. Rear curtain and rear center airbags have also been introduced to further protect back seat passengers from side impact collisions.
Airbags, like all safety features, are not without their faults. Children are at a great risk of injury from airbags. For this reason, they should never be placed in the front seat. Children and infants should be placed in the back seat in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible. There are also increased risks for drivers and passengers that sit less than ten inches from the airbag as the force of the bag can cause injury when very close. Constant innovations, such as switches to turn certain airbags off, will hopefully make some of these concerns obsolete.
Simply put, airbags save lives in an auto accident. Since their introduction, it has been estimated that airbags have reduced crash fatalities by 30% and severe injuries by about 29%. When airbags are combined with seat belts, the percentage rises even higher. As the number of cars on the road continues to increase, safety is a major concern. Features such as airbags, when used properly, can help to protect passengers and drivers on the road.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6202638
If your vehicle has been damaged in a car accident come see the experts at Corby's Collision. When you do business with us you will not only deal with our qualified and professional staff but, also with Paul himself. He is an Owner/Operator and likes to be "hands on" with everything that goes in and out of the shop.
707-448-1696
The airbags that most drivers are familiar with are the front driver and passenger airbags. These airbags are built into the steering wheel and the dash of the vehicle. When a car is in a crash, sensors within the vehicle communicate with the airbag telling it to inflate. Gas is then released to fill the airbag in about one twentieth of a second. The bag provides a cushion for the driver or passenger to collide with as opposed to the windshield. In newer vehicles, the amount of air that the bag fills with depends on the severity of the crash. This can ensure that the victim is met with the proper amount of protection and a reduced risk of injury.
Side airbags are another common type of airbag in a vehicle. These airbags are designed to protect the head and chest of those involved in a side impact crash. They can be hidden in the roof, door or seat of a vehicle. Unlike front airbags, side airbags are not required by law to be in a vehicle. However, studies show that close to 1,000 lives each year would be saved and about 1,000 serious injuries could be prevented if every car in the U.S. was equipped with a side head airbag.
New innovations in airbags continue to be tested and developed by the auto industry. Recent introductions include knee airbags. These are made to protect the lower body of the driver and to also prevent them from sliding down during a crash. Rear curtain and rear center airbags have also been introduced to further protect back seat passengers from side impact collisions.
Airbags, like all safety features, are not without their faults. Children are at a great risk of injury from airbags. For this reason, they should never be placed in the front seat. Children and infants should be placed in the back seat in a rear facing car seat for as long as possible. There are also increased risks for drivers and passengers that sit less than ten inches from the airbag as the force of the bag can cause injury when very close. Constant innovations, such as switches to turn certain airbags off, will hopefully make some of these concerns obsolete.
Simply put, airbags save lives in an auto accident. Since their introduction, it has been estimated that airbags have reduced crash fatalities by 30% and severe injuries by about 29%. When airbags are combined with seat belts, the percentage rises even higher. As the number of cars on the road continues to increase, safety is a major concern. Features such as airbags, when used properly, can help to protect passengers and drivers on the road.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6202638
If your vehicle has been damaged in a car accident come see the experts at Corby's Collision. When you do business with us you will not only deal with our qualified and professional staff but, also with Paul himself. He is an Owner/Operator and likes to be "hands on" with everything that goes in and out of the shop.
707-448-1696
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
50 Years of the Safety Belt
On August 13, 2009, Volvo Cars celebrated the 50th anniversary of the standard-fit three point safety belts, which appeared for the first time on a Volvo PV544 delivered Thursday August 13, 1959 to a Volvo dealer in the Swedish town of Kristianstad. Over the next 50 years, the V-shaped three-point safety belt saved well over one million lives. The modern safety belt is the cornerstone of the car's interior safety system, working alongside additional features such as airbags, belt pre-tensioners and force limiters.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
From 0 to 300 km/h to 0
From 0 to 300 and back to 0. The venue of this event: one of the world's largest vehicle testing sites. In Papenburg, Germany. The participants: Bugatti, Porsche, Lamborghini, Mercedes SLS, BMW and more. A Who's Who of the supercar sector. And the conclusion after this breathtaking event: Speed isn't the only part of driving that's fun.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Best Cars for Teens from Consumer Reports
The number one killer among young drivers is car crashes. So when car shopping for your teen, safety is the top priority. But a bigger vehicle isn't necessary better. For more information on safe driving go to http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-safety/resour...
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Tires Buying Guide
You cannot tell by a tire's appearance if it's good. Consumer Reports conducts extensive tire tests to help you buy the right ones for your car. Learn more about tires and car care on our website: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/tires-auto-parts/tires/index.htm?EXTK...
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Hunter's Why Do My Balanced Wheels Still Shake?
Hunter Engineering Company presents Why Do My Balanced Wheels Still Shake?
Monday, January 2, 2012
Which Age Group Causes The Most Car Accidents?
According to statistics collected over the last decade, two age groups cause the most car accidents: teen drivers and the elderly. There are a number of reasons for these statistics, but the reality is that car accidents are a part of everyday life, and that even though someone might be a member of these demographic groups it does not automatically mean that they are going to be in a crash.
Teen drivers
Driving represents a lot of things to teens. Freedom, empowerment for the first time in their lives and status as drivers makes putting teens behind the wheel a dangerous prospect. Teen drivers cause car accidents because they are full of youthful exuberance, and they lack the experience of more seasoned drivers, and they are prone to taking risks because they feel they are invincible.
Furthermore, teen drivers also drive cars that are not the safest on the road, such as smaller vehicles that have more blind spots, or do not have the safety and accident avoidance features that many other cars have. Also, teens engage in riskier behaviors, such as racing, drinking and driving, and overloading their cars with too many people, all of which can contribute to causing an accident.
Unfortunately, the combination of inexperience and propensity for risk taking means that teen drivers are among the most dangerous, and the statistics bear this out. That's why insurance companies generally charge more for the policies of teen drivers, because the companies understand the risks of teens on the road and adjust their premiums accordingly.
Elderly drivers
On the flip side of the accident-causing spectrum, elderly drivers are also an age group that causes the many car accidents. Though they may have decades of driving experience, safe cars and a risk-avoidance mentality, these very factors can actually contribute to causing accidents. Throw in diminished reaction times, failing vision and hearing, and a sense of entitlement and elderly drivers can be just as dangerous as the newly-minted 16 year old out on the road for the first time.
As the body ages, the mind and reflexes slow down. Hand-eye coordination decreases significantly, and it is a lot harder for older people to respond rapidly to conditions on the road or other drivers in dangerous situations. Then accidents occur.
Older drivers tend to think of themselves as perfectly safe drivers, obeying the rules of the road while the world around them takes dangerous risks. While this is partially true, elderly drivers make can make judgment errors about the flow of traffic and distances between vehicles much easier than younger drivers. If this happens and there is no way to fix this incorrect perception of reality, older drivers can make assumptions that cause accidents.
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of everyone on the road to be as safe a driver as they possibly can. Young drivers need to learn that they are not invincible, and older drivers need to realize that their skills and perception have likely decreased over time, and need to make adjustments to accommodate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4339406
Teen drivers
Driving represents a lot of things to teens. Freedom, empowerment for the first time in their lives and status as drivers makes putting teens behind the wheel a dangerous prospect. Teen drivers cause car accidents because they are full of youthful exuberance, and they lack the experience of more seasoned drivers, and they are prone to taking risks because they feel they are invincible.
Furthermore, teen drivers also drive cars that are not the safest on the road, such as smaller vehicles that have more blind spots, or do not have the safety and accident avoidance features that many other cars have. Also, teens engage in riskier behaviors, such as racing, drinking and driving, and overloading their cars with too many people, all of which can contribute to causing an accident.
Unfortunately, the combination of inexperience and propensity for risk taking means that teen drivers are among the most dangerous, and the statistics bear this out. That's why insurance companies generally charge more for the policies of teen drivers, because the companies understand the risks of teens on the road and adjust their premiums accordingly.
Elderly drivers
On the flip side of the accident-causing spectrum, elderly drivers are also an age group that causes the many car accidents. Though they may have decades of driving experience, safe cars and a risk-avoidance mentality, these very factors can actually contribute to causing accidents. Throw in diminished reaction times, failing vision and hearing, and a sense of entitlement and elderly drivers can be just as dangerous as the newly-minted 16 year old out on the road for the first time.
As the body ages, the mind and reflexes slow down. Hand-eye coordination decreases significantly, and it is a lot harder for older people to respond rapidly to conditions on the road or other drivers in dangerous situations. Then accidents occur.
Older drivers tend to think of themselves as perfectly safe drivers, obeying the rules of the road while the world around them takes dangerous risks. While this is partially true, elderly drivers make can make judgment errors about the flow of traffic and distances between vehicles much easier than younger drivers. If this happens and there is no way to fix this incorrect perception of reality, older drivers can make assumptions that cause accidents.
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of everyone on the road to be as safe a driver as they possibly can. Young drivers need to learn that they are not invincible, and older drivers need to realize that their skills and perception have likely decreased over time, and need to make adjustments to accommodate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4339406
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