Archive for June, 2009
Cars Cell Phones A Deadly Equation
Wireless communication has dramatically improved daily life but mobile phone technology also has a dramatic downside: the proliferation of cell phone use by drivers has made the roads considerably more dangerous.
Cell Phones are a Leading Cause of Driver Distraction
A joint study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in April 2006 concluded that nearly 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of nearcrashes occur within three seconds of some kind of driver distraction. Dialing a cell phone ranked among the most dangerous distractions tripling the risk of being involved in an auto accident. Unlike the danger presented by dialing the study found that talking on a cell phone was less dangerous than drowsiness or reaching for a falling object. However the prevalence of cell phone use by drivers makes it the one of the most common and therefore most dangerous factors in car and truck crashes. According to the NHTSA there are over 10 million U.S. drivers talking on cellular phones at any given moment an alarming figure given the link between cell phones and distracted driving.
Cell Phones Bans on the Rise
In response to the increasing evidence linking cellular phone use and auto accidents a number of states have started to ban their use on the roads. States with legislation restricting cell phone use while driving include New York New Jersey Washington D.C. and Connecticut. In 2008 California will join the ranks of states banning handheld phone use by drivers. In addition according to the National Conference of State Legislatures 14 states have banned mobile phone use by minors as of November 2006.
HandsFree is No Safety Guarantee
Many drivers have switched to handsfree mobile phone devices in an effort to cut down on their risk of being involved in car accidents. However recent evidence suggests that even a handsfree cell phone presents a danger on the road. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study conducted in Perth Australia in 2005 switching from handheld cell phones to handsfree devices does not reduce the risk of car crashes. Another study conducted by the University of Utah and published in the summer of 2006 the issue of human factors also concludes that handsfree cellular phones carry the same risk as handheld phones. Evidence on handsfree phones continue to indicate that talking on the phone is a dangerous distraction reducing driver alertness and reaction time regardless of the type of cell phone being used.
In the event that you are involved in a car or truck accident in which a cellular phone has played a part contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney right away. Your auto accident lawyer can help you file a suit if appropriate and possibly recover damages to which you may be entitled.
About the writer: To learn more about cell phone law visit http://www.LegalView.com. Here readers can learn about topics such as mesothelioma treatments and prescription drug recalls such as the Singulair recall which can be found at http://singulair.legalview.com/.
Triguard Corvette Car Covers: The Triple-Way Car Protection
Let us take it simple: more expensive and appealing the car harder to maintain it. If you are a proud owner of Corvette car probably you know how tough its to protect your dream car. If you are one of those who are looking for reliable and effective protection custom made corvette car covers such as Triguard could be the right solution.
There are several factors you need consider before you decide on a particular car covers. There are several manmade as well as natural factors that cause harm to the exteriors of your Corvette. Depending on the uses the needs also differ. For instance if you store your car outside under the extreme sun you need one that prevents UV rays and heat. On the other hand in order to protect your car from snow or storm you have to get strong car covers so on
There are separate car covers for indoor and outdoor purposes as well. Most of the people store their car either indoors or under relatively mild atmosphere. If you want all weather car covers that are very effective in protecting your corvette in light weather conditions custom made Triguard car covers are the best. Made of three layers namely two outer layers of Spunbond material and one middle layer of Melt blown polypropylene the custom fit corvette car covers are very effective in preventing hazards. The Melt blown polypropylene is excellent water resistant.
Along with water resistance the Triguard car covers have superior heat and UV resistance properties as well. The enhanced breathability also protects your Corvette from rust damage.
With customized fitting the Triguard car covers embrace the complex body and design of Corvette and cover all the contours. The complete covering is essential to prevent heat sun dust rain water and several other elements. All these factors make Triguard car covers the most reliable and cost effective car covers available.
About the writer: Tim Berry is professional writer with covers4auto. He writes extensively on car covers seat covers and other car accessories. For more details visit waterproof car covers.
Car Parking Is An Essential Survival Skill
I was thrilled when the Daily Mail reported that Heathrow is to become the world’s first airport to install technology that will guide drivers to empty slots and also show them where they had parked when leaving. The technology reportedly allows you to find your vehicle simply by inserting your parking ticket into a machine that has a 32in screen displaying a 3D map. This would certainly help people stop running all over the car park looking for their cars. I am sure it has happened to you. You walk into the car park lot and head in the wrong direction. Then you realise the mistake feeling silly you head back right to where you came from.
Technology giant Siemens partnered with the British firm Highlight Parking Systems Limited are the driving force behind this novel project. In a way the technology is not entirely new. Siemens is known for its advanced Siemens Traffic Solutions which are integrations of various technologies and services for modern traffic management and mobility in urban settings. Siemens sophisticated parking solutions solve the problem of finding car parks and securing smooth urban traffic flow.
I said this development is new yet not too novel because it is part of the Siemens’ pioneered parking technology. Siemens intelligent transportation systems prevent avoidable traffic shift unavoidable traffic and conserve the environment. These systems include: Dynamic parking guidance systems LCD displays and prism billboards rapidly direct drivers to free parking spaces in the city significantly reducing innercity traffic Car park systems the modular SiPark guidance system ensures smooth traffic flow in car parks and on parking lots using ultrasonic sensors and arrow displays.
I have been reflecting on this development the whole week asking myself why anybody would invest so much money in such a venture. Of course it occurred to me that we take many things for granted because they look so natural to us. Thinking about it a good parking space is difficult to find. It needs to be isolated but at the same time you don’t want your car to stand out. It needs to be in a well lit area and near other cars but away from the prying eyes of criminals. You might be tempted by cheap rates or convenient proximity to park in places that are ignored by law enforcement and ticket personnel but you must assess the risk involved.
Better to pay than be sorry if your car is vandalised. Unless you know the history of a place you might wrongly think that your chosen space offers no particular temptations to criminals. Some cars are poor at retaining their alluring paint work.
So how do you choose where to park? Parking has become a major issue in human development. This is true for both individuals and companies. Businesses are hesitant to locate within certain areas of the downtown because of limited parking for their employees customers and clients. Customers and shoppers prefer going shopping in places where they are guaranteed a parking space. In some cities Commercial developers are hesitant to purchase and improve a property. These properties can be in prime locations but a lack of parking can potentially reduce their value. This is due to concern by wouldbe tenants that they might have problems finding convenient parking.
I have digressed from my original story. Going back to this technological development there are a few things to say. So how will the system work? It is touted that when a driver arrives at the car park barrier a numberplate recognition system takes the registration and automatically prints it on the ticket. At the start of your trip the same technology will also lead you to the nearest empty space again displayed on a screen map to save time and carbon emissions. These Siemens Pay and display machines accept cash cards as well as coins and enable constant control of the unit status.
So ideally your parking spot should be shaded from the sun. Just as you want to park easily and safely you also want to leave quickly and as hasslefree as possible. Therefore the quality you should look for in a parking place is flexibility. In terms of actual parking spaces there is a problem because cars have got bigger but car park spaces don’t seem to. This demands some problem solving skills. Actually choosing the right parking place is an essential survival skill.
About the writer: Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Heathrow Airport Hotels and Heathrow Airport Parking.
