On my way home, again.

I'm typing this on an airplane on my way home to Los Angeles, marveling over where my travels have taken me within the last week:

More than 8000 miles on three airlines (Northwest, American, Frontier), six different airports (Los Angeles 4x, Chicago Midway 2x, Las Vegas McCarren, Denver 2x, Chicago OHare, and Detroit 2x), and a total of eight separate planes (On Friday, I identified each animal emblazoned on the tails of my four Frontier flights; I've since forgotten their cute names, but the animals were a wolf, a rabbit, an elk, and a moose). Needless to say, I'm a little travel weary.

My job as an automotive journalist and blogger has provided many opportunities to travel; auto shows, vehicle product reveals, and educational conferences take me away from home about once a month. This week, I had two short trips bookended around Mother's Day: The first was the "Marketing 2 Women" conference in Chicago, and the second was an overnighter to Detroit to co-star in a short Prestone video in which I offer female friendly advice to help moms get their cars and families ready for summer road trips.

While the opportunities are exciting enough on their own, Monday's flight brought a whole new adventure to traveling.

Man Goes for Joyride in a Tux

When you think of the perils of drunk driving, you’re usually thinking of someone driving a car or truck, aren’t you? So did I, until I saw that a man got a ticket for driving drunk on a lawnmower.

Yes, that’s right. A lawnmower. A New York man decided to take his lawnmower out for a spin. At 1 a.m.  The police got reports of a drunk person and responded to find a tuxedo-clad man on a mower.

They ticketed him for felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation. The article didn’t indicate if he was driving in the street, but that must be what prompted the unlicensed operation fine. The DWI is a felony because the man had a previous DWI conviction.

Safety Tips for Women Driving Alone

According to Shell oil, two violent crimes are committed in the U.S. every minute of every day. Women driving alone can be particularly vulnerable, though there are many things you can do to keep yourself safer, both inside your car and out.

We found an informative brochure from Shell Oil with many helpful tips to guide women towards safer behaviors when alone behind the wheel. Written in conjunction with the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) and the National Crime Prevention Council (www.weprevent.org), many of the free booklet's tips are simply common-sense reminders to help you be more aware of potentially dangerous situations.

First off: An especially good habit is always to be sure you have your keys in your hand before you approach your car.

California Wireless Laws - What Happens After July 1st

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has written a Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQ) document to field questions about the new wireless telephone laws that go into effect on July 1, 2008. Let's take a look at some of the information they have provided.

There are two laws going into effect on July 1. The first addresses drivers over the age of 18. These drivers can use a hands-free device to operate their phone while driving. There is a provision for emergencies, so you can use your phone to summon help, even if you don't have a wireless device. The second refers to younger drivers. Motorists under 18 may not use their phones at all when driving. Passengers are exempt from the requirements to use hands-free devices.

If you're convicted on a violation, the first offense is $20 and subsequent convictions are $50. It's a reportable offense, but you will not receive DMV violation points. It will, however, show on your driving record.

There is no grace period for the law, so have your wireless device in use by July 1. In fact, it's best to get into the habit now so you don't have to worry if you forget when the law takes effect.

Maryland May Raise Carseat Age to Eight; Should Cars Include Built-In Harnesses?

Maryland may require children to be in car seats an extra two years under a bill put in front of the state House and Senate. Currently the law requires a booster up to age six. The new law would extend it to eight years.

The bill follows national recommendations about how old kids should be before going without a booster seat. Maryland was first in the Mid-Atlantic to pass a booster seat law, but the bill’s sponsor says they are now among those with the weakest laws.

This raises an interesting question. How old should children be before they can sit in a car without a booster? Is eight old enough? What about an unusually tall child — should he or she still use a booster?

Ford Syncs Up With California Laws

As California prepares to go "hands-free" this summer, Ford is ready to help the 29.7 million cell phone subscribers in California with its state-of-the-art Sync in-car communications and entertainment system, developed with Microsoft. California drivers don't have to buy a new bluetooth handsfree headset to comply with the law if they already own a Sync-equipped Ford vehicle.

Ford Sync provides consumers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players - Apple iPods, Microsoft Zunes, and other MP3 players - and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the vehicle's steering wheel or radio controls.

"Americans, on average, commute 30 minutes each way every day, and in California, commute times are longer," said Hal Dewsnap, Los Angeles regional manager Ford, Lincoln Mercury. "Sync  helps people stay connected while minimizing distractions during their commute by keeping their hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road ahead."

New Study Says SUVs Need Stronger Roofs

Do you feel safe in the event your SUV rolls over? When you look for a vehicle, do you think about roof strength as a safety issue? The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does. In a recent report the Institute concludes that more than 200 deaths in 2006 could have been prevented with strong SUV roofs.

Some automakers have insisted there’s no connection between roof strength and passenger safety. Wouldn’t basic physics make it fairly obvious that a stronger roof would be less likely to crush in a rollover accident? That seems pretty obvious to me. But there was no direct link until now.

Interestingly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hasn’t changed roof strength standards since 1971. That’s right, it’s been almost 40 years since the NHTSA updated their standards. With the proliferation of SUVs — and their propensity for rollovers — isn’t it time the NHTSA steps up? They estimate their planned updates will only save 13-44 lives a year. Well, then maybe they need to update a little further?

Fewer Drivers are Licensed at 16

When I was in high school, we all took our driver’s test the day we turned 16. None of us wanted to wait a day longer than necessary to get that taste of freedom. It was a major rite of passage for all of us. But in the last decade, the number of 16-year-olds who get a driver’s license has dropped from half to less than one-third, according to Federal Highway Administration statistics.

The reasons vary, but higher insurance costs and fewer school-run driver education programs are big contributors. In California, teens need instruction and practice hours in order to get a license before 18. And forget school driver’s ed. You must pay for (expensive) private instruction. Insurance costs are almost prohibitive, too, costing up to 100 percent more to add a teen driver.

Laws that delay a full license until teens get experience driving with a parent are also slowing the number of 16-year-olds with licenses. But those laws, according to studies, reduce fatalities for young drivers. 

Teen Drivers and Safety - Reseach Shows Car Crash Deaths Increase at Age 12

Recent research shows that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for older children and teens in the United States. Resulting in more deaths for this age group than the next three causes combined, motor vehicle crashes are considered the most serious health threat for older children and teens. (According to a study released this month in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.)

Researchers examined 45,560 crashes involving 8- to 17-year-old passengers. Between 2000 and 2005, 9,807 passengers in this age group died in crashes.

"We saw a clear tipping point between ages 12 and 14, where child passengers became much more likely to die in a crash than their younger counterparts," says Flaura Koplin-Winston, M.D., Ph.D., founder and co-scientific director of the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. "Long before these children ever receive a learner's permit, they begin to exhibit a pattern that looks more like the high fatality rates we see for teen drivers."

With passengers between ages 12 - 16 dying at a higher rate than younger children, it is necessary for adults to intervene long before a teenager receives their learner's permit. In the United States, one in four crash fatalities involve someone aged 16 to 24 years old. With the risk increasing with each teenage year, now is the time for someone to step in. Helping to bring these staggering findings to the public are The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance.

Give Your Teen Driving Skills for Life

It’s getting harder to get our teens’ attention. With so many things competing — school, homework, friends, the internet — it can be tough to get them to listen to you talk about driver safety. But maybe they’ll learn from a fun, interactive web site. Driving Skills for Life aims to help young drivers improve skills in four areas: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management, and speed management. This web-based program is designed to teach teens how to be better, safer drivers.

In addition to the online training for teens, the site offers tips for parents to help their teens. Educators can download lesson plans for the classroom. And the printed materials are free!

Volvo Recalls 82,000 cars

Volvo, a part of the Ford Motor Company, recalled 82,000 cars worldwide due to a fuel pump electronic module problem. These modules, which monitor the fuel pump, could corrode from water or salt due to rain and (trying to melt) snow.

The problem could occur in the S40 and V50 models from 2004-2006. Volvo representatives stated that the recall was only for corrosive markets where there’s a lot of rain or salt due to snow.

Volvo has had three other major recalls recently. In November, the automaker recalled 56,000 cars for problems with airbags and engines. And in December, Volvo recalled 125,000 trucks in North America for short circuits in the lighting system that could cause fires, and another 49,500 cars worldwide for diesel filter technical problems.

A lot of families like to buy Volvo for their reputation of safety. One way to keep safe in these vehicles is to pay attention to recalls and get take care of them as quickly as possible.

[Via AFP/Google]

By Becky Scott
Contributing Editor

NHTSA Releases New Car Seat Safety Ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released new car seat ease-of-use ratings. A new five-star ratings system will help parents evaluate car seat features before they buy.

Safety isn’t a factor in the ratings because all seats rated by the NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards and crash performance standards. The seats are rated in four categories:
 

Keeping New Drivers Safe on the Road

Teen drivers need a lot of practice — and other drivers on the road need to watch out for them. So how do we let others know our teen is behind the wheel? Enter RookieDriver.net.

RookieDriver.net offers removable magnets for your car that let others know there’s an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Rather than have an “uncool” Student Driver magnet, your teen can have a “Rookie Driver” or “New Driver” magnet designed by another teen to look and sound cool.

We lost an average of 15.5 teen drivers per day over the last 4 years due to teen crash fatalities, an “epidemic that faces our nation,” says RookieDriver.net co-founder Connie Fortenbacher. She suggests that parents enroll their teens in the best driver’s ed program in their community. But that’s just the beginning. A driver’s education program, while good, isn’t enough. Parents should actively involve themselves in helping their teens become safe drivers by riding with their kids.

Evenflo Recalls One Million Discovery Infant Car Seats

VANDALIA, Ohio — Evenflo, a car safety seat manufacturer, issued a voluntary safety recall of one million Discovery Infant Car Seats after tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Evenflo. The tests showed that the car seat had the potential to separate from its base in high impact side collisions. To prevent potential problems, Evenflo will provide current owners a free supplemental dual-hook fastener that keeps the seat attached to the base in case of such collisions. The recalled model numbers are 390, 391, 534, and 552 and were manufactured beginning April 2005.

If you believe you have one of these infant car seats, check the bottom of the seat for the model number and manufacture date. To order the supplemental fastener, call Evenflo at 800-356-2229 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST or go to www.evenflo.com/discovery. You won’t be charged shipping and the parts should arrive in about 3-4 weeks. Evenflo assures customers that they can continue to use their Discovery infant car seat and there’s no need to return it to a store.

Back By Popular Demand: 2008 Bridgestone Safety Scholars Video Contest For Teens

What do robots with road rage and text-messaging nutcracker dolls have in common?  They were the stars of the teen-created winning videos of the 2007 Safety Scholars Video Contest sponsored by Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC.

The company is again turning to America's teens for solutions presented in a creative format to help make roads safer for everyone. Bridgestone Firestone has just launched the 2008 Safety Scholars Video Contest, which now includes a chance for young filmmakers to have their auto safety videos broadcast as a public service commercial.  The contest will award three $5,000 college scholarships for the most compelling and effective videos that drive home life-saving messages on auto and tire safety.  The top 10 filmmakers will also receive a new set of Bridgestone tires.

"Because car crashes claim the lives of more 16- to 21-year-olds than any other cause, we feel safety education is a priority," said Christine Karbowiak, Vice President of Public Affairs, Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.  "After challenging young people last year to create their own videos about auto and tire safety, we were blown away by the talent, skill and passion of our nation's youth. We are proud to continue Safety Scholars as a contest for teens created by teens."

Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act Passes Senate

A collective cheer went up on Valentine’s Day as the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 (H.R. 1216) was unanimously passed in the U.S. Senate. The bill addresses three of the most serious causes of injuries and fatalities to children in and around vehicles: getting caught in an automatically closing power window, being struck by a backing vehicle because of a blind zone, and placing a vehicle in gear that results in an uncontrolled roll away.

The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue new safety standards within specific time periods that will lead to the installation of safety technologies as standard equipment in all vehicles. These safety features are already available as standard equipment, upgrades, or optional in many vehicles. But this would level the playing field. The bill also requires DOT to establish a database of non-crash incidents, currently not tracked, and develop a program to provide the public with safety information regarding non-traffic dangers to young children.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

People often ask for a few tips to help navigate though winter’s weather.  As we all know how unpredictable the weather can be, preparation is the key to help ensure safe travels. 

The first and foremost tip I give motorists is to use additional caution to be aware of the other drivers that are on the road and properly alter your driving habits when in poor-weather conditions.  Drivers should maintain sufficient distance from the vehicles in front of them as winter-road conditions often result in longer stopping distances – allow at least three seconds distance between cars and avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking, and accelerating. 

With the usual increase in precipitation, road grime is more likely to accumulate on the windshield.  A good habit to adopt is to clean the windshield with every fill up, and regularly check the washer-fluid level to make sure there is an adequate amount remaining in the reservoir.  To ensure clear visibility while on the roads, motorists should make it a habit to check their wiper blades every oil change for any nicks or tears in the rubber and change them twice a year.  To remind motorists of this bi-annual task, Rain-X launches its third annual Seemore Safety Campaign on February 2, 2008.

What in Your Trunk?

Greg Grimer of Voices in Business a new media firm specializing in sponsor-lead thought leadership productions, shared these great car travel safety tips with me recently:

Things to carry in your trunk
*Duct Tape.  Buy a good quality brand from a hardware store.  Worth it’s weight in gold.
*Small aerosol can of WD40
*Can of de-icer (if you live in a cold climate).
*Good quality jump leads at least 20 feet long and/or emergency battery booster.
*A old hand towel or half a bath towel.
*A sheet of clear tough polyethylene, saved from some packaging perhaps.
*A box cutter with at least one new spare blade.
*A can of emergency tire repair.
*A jack, wheel brace and most importantly the special key for security wheel nuts if you have locking nuts on your wheels.  Keep this taped somewhere secure and visible because even AAA cannot change your wheel at the roadside without it.
*Plastic cable ties of various sizes.  6 small, medium and large.
*2 gallons of potable water in a good container that seals well. Rainwater or soft water is ideal since you can use it in the cooling system or drink it in an emergency.  Add two drops of household bleach to every gallon to keep it sterile.  If you live somewhere it freezes in the winter then don’t fill the container to the brim, fill it to 90% full squeeze the sides of the container so that most of the air is squeezed out and put the top on.  You can drink this water safely for up to a year in an emergency situation.  During the winter, if you have the space, store the bottled water in the main passenger cabin of your car.  You cannot drink or pour frozen water and the cabin is usually warm enough that it is liquid when you need it.
*A warm wool or similar blanket/throw at least 6 foot by 6 foot.  (Can double up as a picnic or beach blanket)
*A Mylar Space Blanket.  Reflects your body heat back towards you.  With this inside the wool blanket you will be as warm as toast if you do get stuck and have to wait for rescue.
*Sheet of strong clear plastic 3 x 4 foot.
*Safety Glasses.
*Disposable gloves.  Grab some free plastic ones from the gas station Diesel pump.
 

Keep Your Teens Safe at Prom

It won’t be long until Prom season is upon us. Boys and girls dressed in their finery will head to dinner and then dancing. Mom’s worrying will start before they leave the house. Will they be safe? What if there’s drinking? How will they get home?

To protect your teen and make the night memorable, you might think about hiring a chauffeured car. And if you share the costs with some other parents, the price can be reasonable.

The National Limousine Association provides these five tips when you hire a transportation service for your teenager’s big night:

High-Tech Alerts Sound the Alarm on Drowsy Drivers

There is a short period of time after my first child was born that I absolutely do not remember driving to and from work. The night-time nursing interruptions, coupled with a 40-mile commute often induced an early morning state of autopilot that was more like a driving coma. More than once, I snapped back to attention to realize I was miles past my exit and was heading into another city.

I knew that driving while super sleepy was not a good thing, but I was a working mom, and I just had to get there... Sometimes, it's simply impossible to avoid a tired trip. You may be shocked to know that, according to a blog at SheKnows.com, an estimated 7.5 million drivers nod off behind the wheel in any given month! In fact, statistics show 37% of all drivers admit that they have dozed off while driving.

Driving MBA -- Senior Driving Safety Podcast - After55Blog.com Featured

When is it time for a senior to assess their driving skills? How do you tell Mom it might be time to drive only during daylight hours? How important is driving to maintaining a senior’s independence? How do you objectively assess anyone’s driving skills?

The After55Blog.com spoke to Maria Wojtczek of Driving MBA, a full service driver training faciltiy located in Scottsdale, AZ about how to answer these questions. Driving MBA has developed a unique senior driving assessment program that helps seniors and their families evaluate anyone’s driving skills. Driving MBA creates a virtual driver’s test that evaluates a persons skills during different hours of the day, different weather conditions and with different road hazards just to name a few of the road tests.

To listen, click the PLAY button below:

  Senior Driving Safety [14:32m]: Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download

Filed under: After 55 Radio Podcasts,  Life After 55

Mean Mom Sells Son’s Car When She Finds Alcohol

A Des Moines mom calls herself the “meanest mom on the planet.” When Jane Hambleton found alcohol in her son’s car — breaking one of two rules set when she bought the car — she decided to sell the car. So she put an ad in the paper. But not only did she put an ad in the paper, she told every reader of The Des Moines Register exactly what her son did.

The ad said: "OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don't love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet."

Don't Leave Your Child Behind

You’re in a hurry, late for an appointment and you still need to drop your child by the babysitter’s. You stop at the store, the gas station, or a friend’s house and jump out for “just a minute.” It’s cold outside, so you leave the car running, your sleeping child inside. He should be fine, right?

Wrong. It’s a common story on the news, and just happened a few days ago in a Missouri city. A dad left his 3-year old boy in the car in Springfield while he went inside a friend’s house. But while he was away, someone drove off with his car, the sleeping boy still inside. Fortunately, the child later knocked on a nearby door and was safely reunited with his parents.

Safety Solutions for The Blind-Sided Driver

Everybody knows there are blind spots around the vehicle where the driver can not see; unfortunately, many people don't realize how big the blind spot behind their vehicle actually is. Did you know that rear blind spots can stretch as far as 75 feet behind some larger vehicles, or that as many as 20 young children could be standing behind the average SUV and still be invisible to a driver's rearview mirrors? 

Kids and Cars (www.KidsAndCars.org) is a non-profit consumer organization that works tirelessly to make it safer for children to be in and around cars.  Their research notes that more than 742 children were involved in accidents in and around cars in 2006; 219 resulted in fatalities. There were already 84 deaths as of May 18, 2007, and a significant percentage of these fatalities involved children who were killed when a driver -- unable to see them in the driver's blind spot -- backed over them. Unfortunately, very often that driver was a family member.

Too many children are falling needless victim to a tragedy that could easily be averted.  On May 24, 2007, The Today Show aired a very informative segment entitled "Kids and the Risks of Reversing,"  which shares several tragic backover stories, demonstrates how large these rear blindspots can be,  and identifies several aftermarket products currently on the market that can help improve rearward visibility on any vehicle.

How to Travel with an Infant

Every holiday season my husband and I drive to my parents’ house, from California to Missouri. We usually drive straight through, only stopping for quick breaks, food, and gas. But this year, our son (born on Thanksgiving) came with us. The logistics of traveling with an infant make the trip a lot more complicated than normal, especially since this is an extended trip. The following tips can make your trip a little smoother.

Make sure you have the basics on hand inside your vehicle. Keep diapers, wipes, burp cloths, blankets, and extra clothes close at hand. When the baby’s crying you don’t want to search through suitcases or a packed trunk to find the essentials. We frequently stopped for gas and changed diapers right in the cab. A fully-stocked diaper bag (including a changing pad) helped tremendously.

If you’re going on a longer trip (more than a week), don’t forget your bigger essentials: a crib or travel crib, even more clothes and blankets, and a stroller. Other items you may need include a baby swing or bouncy, bottles, and even baby’s personal care items. Fortunately, any smaller items can just be bought locally, so we concentrated more on remembering the big items.

Hot Holiday Gift Could Attract Thieves

So you want a portable global positioning system (GPS) for Christmas. It’s a hot-selling item this year, with retailers like Garmin and TomTom competing for your dollars. For directionally-challenged consumers, these items are a must-have. Whether you get lost near home or want reassurance when you’re traveling in an unfamiliar area, portable GPS units are a relatively inexpensive high-tech helper.

But thieves are also eyeing your new toy. Dash-mounted GPS units are easy pickings for those bent on crime. A quick smash and grab is all it takes and you’re replacing a window and your recent purchase.