In the last two years, there have been five fatal accidents involving runaway Toyota or Lexus vehicles made by Toyota Motor Corp. In addition to those, there have been hundreds of other incidences of runaway Toyota and Lexus vehicles that didn’t end fatally. What’s going on?
Toyota blamed the incidents on the vehicles’ floor mats, claiming that if they are not properly installed, they can jam the accelerator open, causing the vehicles to accelerate suddenly, and leaving drivers in the seat of an out of control vehicle. Since the most recent fatal crash in August (which killed four), Toyota has asked all Toyota and Lexus drivers to remove their floor mats as an interim precaution. The floor mats are held in place by clips, which can easily come loose, causing the sudden accelerations. As a result, Toyota has issued the largest recall in the company’s history. The floor mat recall affects 3.8 million vehicles from models dating as far back as 2004.
It seems Toyota may still have a few problems, despite the recall. Auto safety experts say that Toyota’s complex computerized engine control system doesn’t provide a sure-fire way to bring the car to a stop if a sudden acceleration happens, regardless of the cause. Toyota has considered remedying this by programming the engine’s computer to cut off all power when the gas and brake pedals are depressed simultaneously. Another possibility is redesigning the accelerator pedal and the floor mats to make it more difficult for the mat to lodge the accelerator open.
In the meantime, what should a driver do if he or she finds her Toyota or Lexus (or any car) suddenly accelerating to dangerous speeds?
Try applying the brakes: The obvious instinct is to try to apply the brakes. In some situations this may work, but because of the design of newer braking systems, it might not. The brake failure happens because modern power-assisted brakes draw their power from a vacuum in the engine. If the throttle is fully open and the car is in full on acceleration mode, the vacuum pressure drops, leaving the brakes without power, and the driver without brakes. Without the power assist, it can take 225 pounds of pressure on the brake pedal to get a car to stop. Most drivers can’t get that kind of force on the pedal in the seated driving position.
Shift into neutral: Many people who have grown up driving automatic cars don’t know what “being in neutral” does to an engine, and maybe that’s a driver education issue. But if you find your car suddenly accelerating, throwing the vehicle in neutral will slow you down
Shut off the engine: Shutting off the engine will cut power. Without the engine running, it doesn’t matter how much gas is getting to the engine. No fuel will be combusted, and the car will slow to a stop.
All of these solutions require quick thinking on the part of the driver. The driver has to pay attention to traffic and steer to avoid an accident while simultaneously shifting or turning off the engine. And in higher end models (such as some of the Lexus models), these things are easier said than done. Some models have push button ignitions. To shut these off, the driver must hold the button down for more than three seconds–time that the driver doesn’t have if the car is rocketing through traffic at 120 miles per hour.
The best thing to do is remove your floor mats if they’ve been recalled, and to read your vehicle’s user manual. Most drivers don’t know how to do an emergency stop in their vehicles, but if you find yourself in a runaway car, the information could save your life.
Most everyone has fallen asleep as a passenger on a long car trip. If the sandman catches you unaware and with an upright seat, the result is often a stiff neck, stiff back, or stiff everything. So it’s easy to see why reclining your seat if you’re feeling sleepy would make for a more comfortable nap. You’re bound to doze off anyway, so why not maximize your comfort before you fall asleep?
As it turns out, there’s a very good reason not to recline your seat–doing so can dramatically increase your risk of serious injury or death in a vehicle accident. Though many assume that they are protected as long as their seat belt is buckled, this is a serious misunderstanding. When the seat is reclined, only the lap belt portion of the safety belt is in the correct place. The shoulder strap remains in place while the passenger’s torso reclines back with the seat. In the event of an accident, the passenger will likely be slammed forcefully into the shoulder strap, causing injuries that would not have occurred if the passenger had been upright.
If the passenger is not slammed into the should strap, the passenger could be pushed underneath the shoulder strap–something that is even more dangerous. If this happens, then only the lap belt functions to hold the passenger in the seat, and this is usually not enough to keep the passenger from flying forward into the windshield or from being ejected from the vehicle. There’s a reason that lap belt-only seatbelts are no longer used in vehicles.
Though there are statistics on the dangers of reclined seats, car companies continue to build vehicles with reclining seats. It is up to consumers to be aware of the dangers, and to not allow passengers in their vehicles to recline while the car is in use. Of course, if the vehicle is pulled over at a rest stop because the driver and passengers need a break from the road, then it’s perfectly safe, as well as comfortable to lay back and relax.
There is a bill awaiting signature on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk that will require all judges to impose the same sentence on all convicted drunk drivers. That sentence would require all drunk drivers to install ignition-interlock devices in their vehicles. If the Governor signs the bill, it will go into a trial period in July 2010 in just four counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Tulare. It would then go statewide in 2016.
The measure has been questioned by some. What amount of blood alcohol content will allow the vehicle to start? And what prevents someone sober from blowing into the ignition to get the car started for a drunk friend?
The ignition-interlock devices are incredibly sensitive, and can pick up any measurable amount of alcohol in one’s system–even from as little as one drink, so it does not necessarily allow drivers to be just under the .08 blood alcohol content maximum. To prevent a sober friend from blowing into the device and then letting the drunk driver drive away, many models of the system require random samples for the duration of the time that the engine is running. That way the driver must be the one who is able to provide a sober breath. If a sober sample is not provided, the car will start honking, and alarms will go off. The car will not just shut off, because that would also pose a danger to those on the road, but it will be mighty annoying to the driver and any passengers.
Participants in interlock programs are 15 percent to 69 percent less likely than other offenders to be rearrested for drunken driving. Though the device is proven to deter drunk driving and is offered to judges a sentencing option in nearly every state, it is often not imposed by judges. This could be because many judges aren’t aware of it as an option, or because enforcing this sentence is more difficult than simply collecting a fine. Whatever the reason, the California law hopes to increase the use of these devices, and the safety of our streets, by making the igntion-interlock device mandatory for convicted drunk drivers.
Motorists have to share the road with many people under many circumstances. Keeping in mind the phrase “share the road” is important under all situations. When drivers forget this simple rule, it can lead to aggressive and entitled behavior. Keeping a cool head and a generous demeanor keeps more people safe on the road.
Everyone should treat everyone else with the same respect that they would show their grandmothers, with patience, and with a basic understanding that if someone is in your way, they aren’t doing it to annoy you. It is likely that they aren’t even thinking about you. Just like you are not thinking about being in the way of the person behind you.
Bicyclists are in one of the most vulnerable positions when out on the road. For some reason, aggressive drivers see bicyclists as easy targets, so they will do harmful and potentially fatal things to them like yelling, throw objects, slapping them, or trying to push them off of the road. Motorists should remember that bicycles don’t have a crumple zone around them.
Besides the basics (referred to in the video), here are some safety tips for motorists:
Give bicyclists extra room in inclement weather.
Do not pass bicyclists when you are about to make a right turn.
Be extra aware of the cyclist after you pass them and decide to move into their lane.. If the person is riding faster than you think, you might not have completely passed them.
Yield to oncoming bicyclists just as you would yield to oncoming motorists. The vehicle code should be followed by both the motorist and cyclist.
Look for bicyclists who may be approaching before opening your car door.
Be extra careful around kids on bikes.
Don’t honk your horn, yell or whistle when driving by a cyclist. Scaring them could cause and accident.
Share the road.
Be kind to the people you encounter. You never know who might be able to reciprocate at a later time.
Tennessee recently organized a contest charging wannabe film directors to come up with a 30 PSA on work zone safety. Why? Because roughly 1,000 people die and 48,000 people are injured annually in work-zone related injuries.
Those are big numbers. Of course, not all of them are caused by people driving through construction zones - some are accidents that occur within the interior of the zone. However, four of every five fatalities in work zones are motorists. To mitigate the risks for both workers and motorists alike, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have a comprehensive plan for keeping people safe. This plan includes education for the driving population, education for the labor population, keeping workers visible, speed management and general awareness.
Work zones are dangerous for many reasons. Machinery is present (machines that have extensive blind spots); construction causes dips in the road and breaks in the pavement that can cause steering challenges and car damage; workers are present in unexpected places; each day the roadway changes in unexpected ways, and on and on. That is why driving slowly and cautiously is important - even when running late or during off hours when workers are not usually present. People traveling through work zones at too great a speed is a big reason for accidents.
The FHWA along with the American Traffic Safety Services Association are organizing the 10th annual National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW), which will be observed April 6-10, 2009. During this week legislators and activists alike converge to talk about how to make construction zones safer for everyone. Getting the word out to slow down in the “Cone Zone” is important for everyone who ever works in or drives through a construction zone or knows someone who does.
Tennessee’s road work awareness video contest produced many entries, both humorous and earnest. Here are a few of the videos submitted.
As the baby boomer generation moves into their twilight years, both families and governments alike have to put into place plans and actions to keep the growing number of elderly drivers, and the pedestrians and traffic around them, safe.
A series of articles written by Dale Buss explore the difficult conversations that have to occur between family members and also what infrastructure that the government can install and provide to make roadways more elderly-friendly.
Driving, especially in the United States, comes with so much baggage. From the time that teenagers become old enough to get their license, driving equals freedom. Most cities and towns are built on car cultures and losing the privilege to drive equals losing independence. But the truth is, many older citizens become unable to drive safely. Removing them from behind the wheel can become a small battle for the people who love them.
Walking may still be a possibility, but many suburban and rural people are not used to walking to appointments, and even if they are, walking long distances becomes an impossibility. Even if the distance is not so great to, say, the local grocery or medical center, walking may still be out of the question. So people are left with mass transit, which many communities just do not have. The other option is asking others for rides. This option is difficult if the senior has few friends and family members. Senior service providers sometimes have van systems to aid with senior. A good example of this is the Omnibus Program in Littleton, CO, a suburb of Denver.
Dale Buss’s articles explore how to make advance plans on giving up the keys to the car. Just like any of us, if a senior comes up with the plan themselves, then they are more likely to stick with it once the circumstances point to unsafe driving.
Other topics explored are infrastructure planning. In communities with high numbers of elderly drivers, making changes to street signs and intersections can decrease the accident rate as well as reduce confusion for the elderly driver. Because it is true that there isn’t a date when a person loses the ability to drive; it is different for each person.
Driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day. There is no arguing that. More accidents happen during from dusk until dawn than during daylight hours. Because of the congressional legislation requirements of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put a lot of money toward trying to reduce those numbers.
Headlights likely have something to do with nighttime accidents. Anyone who has driven at night has played the high beam game:: high beams on, oncoming car, dim lights, car passes, high beams on. Repeat. Option two: oncoming driver forgets to dim their lights, or they are in a high-riding vehicle with powerful head lamps, and driver is temporarily blinded. Older drivers can have an especially hard time with oncoming headlights, because their dialated eyes take longer readjust to the dark.
Michael Hill from the Associated Press reports about what came from the NHTSA funding. The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC) was charged with reducing or eliminating this problem and now believe they have developed a technology that dims the headlights.
There are several factors that the LRC had to consider: headlight glare to oncoming traffic, speeds at which low beams are dangerous (because they don’t illuminate the road ahead well enough), dimming lights too much for safety, etc.
This research took all of that into consideration. What came of it is innovative, and will likely change how every headlight operates in the future. New headlights will sense oncoming traffic. If the vehicles are in the path of the beam, the beam will dim, but only the part that is hitting the oncoming vehicle.
Just take the process by which you look up in sunlight. You look up, but put your hand in front of the glare of the sun, the sunbeams are all around you, but not hitting your eys. Brilliant.
Carrying cargo can be a daunting task. You have to be sure that your cargo is secure, alter the way you drive and be more aware of your speed and brake time. But by carrying more weight and possibly objects that can slip and cause serious damage to others on the road, a driver is responsible for making sure everything is in order before getting onto the road. Securing cargo and learning proper towing techniques is a must for a safe driver.
Strapping down and hauling cargo -
Each state has laws that were written keep the roadways clear of debris coming from the vehicles on the road. However, with a moment of planning, a driver can take some common sense steps to safe hauling.
Throw a tarp over the cargo in the back of a truck and secure it with rope or other tie.
If objects in the truck bed (or the objects strapped to the top of a car) extend past the bumper, then attach a red flag to the cargo. This warns other drivers to stay an extra distance back.
Drive slower than usual
Allow more room between vehicles and more time to stop the vehicle.
Towing -
Driving while towing a trailer or other vehicle requires thought. Some things work opposite than what you would think they would work, and an unprepared driver can cause damage to themselves and others.
Some of the tips for trailer hauling are the same as above; such as driving slower and keeping a lot of room between vehicles, but here are some additional tips. The best thing to do, however, is to
Share the road. If you have a parade behind you, pull into a passing lane or pull over to let people by.
Don’t be herky jerky while steering. The trailer can shift and become out of control. Drive as smoothly as possible.
Don’t brake quickly. Keep an eye on what is happening well ahead of you. Anticipate traffic lights.
Make turns carefully. Trailers cut the corners at a different angle than the pulling vehicle. The trailer can run into the hillside, vehicles in other lanes or curbs if the corner is taken too close.
Try to always pull into a space that you can pull out of in drive. Trailers are difficult to maneuver in reverse, especially for beginners.
Know your size. Allow for plenty of extra room when changing lanes or merging.
Use your mirrors frequently to check traffic conditions beside and behind you.
Trailers can act like sails, be careful when driving in wind.
Towing a trailer will guzzle more gas, always keep an eye on your gas gauge.
Plan out your course of action. Be safe when hauling or towing.
Across the board automotive safety experts believe that Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is one of the best safety inventions since the seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approximates that since 1975 when seatbelts were invented, they have saved at least 200K lives and have prevented countless injuries. The development of ESC may eventually surpass those statistics. Rollovers and crashes where the driver is out of control count for a high percentage of vehicle fatalities.
What is Electronic Stability Control? The technology of ESC (also known by various other names, Electronic Stability Program, Vehicle Stability Control, Dynamic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Enhancement, among many others) prevents vehicles from going out of control or rolling over by an automatic braking of individual wheels. Excellent. A driver might maneuver the car in a way that is correct in a normal situation, but then when rounding a curve too quickly or traveling at too high a speed, the driver loses control, ESC senses the problem and corrects it automatically. Often without the driver even knowing what happened.
By 2012 the federal government has mandated that ESC come standard in all vehicles. Right now many models have it standard and many others have it available as an upgrade. In a San Jose Mercury News report from January 2009, Matt Nauman reports that people were choosing the Hyundai Sonata over the Toyota Camry because ESC came standard and only as an upgrade for the Camry.
Combined with anti-lock brakes and traction control, Electronic Stability Control begins to give vehicles that comprehensive, futuristic feel. Cars are now parallel parking themselves and there are myriad inventions that automate the driving experience.
The day when everything about vehicles are automated so traffic jams are eliminated, that will be the day of great innovation, oh and how about making a snackette as well?
If a pedestrian goes up against a vehicle, the vehicle is always going to win. It is a weight/size ratio thing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has posted the 2007 Pedestrian Traffic Safety Fact Sheet figures. Overall pedestrian accidents are down (the fact sheet gives figures from 1997-2007). That is good news, but there are still thousands of incidents each year that have proved fatal. Evenings and weekends are especially dangerous, and children and the elderly most affected. Males are hit more often than women. All interesting facts, but the most important thing for both drivers and pedestrians to remember is to be safe and stay alert to stay alive. Here are some tips and reminders to drivers:
Pedestrians have the right-of-way. Even if you think the pedestrian is doing something irresponsible, or annoying, slow down and/or stop for a person on foot.
Be aware of elderly people, who are the most often hit and killed. They might be scared and unaware, so be on the lookout.
Before turning onto a new road or passing through a crosswalk, look for pedestrians. Turning and yeilding are often the times when pedestrians are hit.
Keeps your eyes and attention on the road. Many pedestrians are hit by people changing the radio, talking on the phone, texting, or people who are otherwise distracted.
Keep mind of the time, most child fatalities or injuries happen after school between 3 and 7pm.
Some tips and reminders to pedestrians:
The car is bigger than you. Use caution before stepping out into the road. Even if you do have the right-of-way, that doesn’t mean that the driver sees you. They could be distracted or could just not see you.
Use a crosswalk if it is available.
Look thoroughly both ways BEFORE making your first steps into the roadway.
Walk on the sidewalk when available, and if there isn’t one, then walk on the side facing traffic.
Be extra careful at night. A pedestrian is difficult to see, so wear reflective clothing.
During rainstorms streetlights and headlights reflect light onto the windshield and make it difficult to see pedestrians.
