February 2016 Archives
Safety features to reduce rear-end crashes
California drivers might be interested in learning about the latest findings from a study that indicates that front crash prevention systems can actually reduce the number of rear-end collisions. Thought not available as a standard feature on most vehicles yet, these systems might be an indication that roads can be safer if the right technology is installed in vehicles.
Software is driver in self-driving cars, NHTSA says
Although California regulators have asked that self-driving cars have a licensed driver on board and a steering wheel, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration may be prepared to waive these and other safety regulations. In a Feb. 4 letter, the NHTSA told Google that for purposes of federal law, the software responsible for the decision-making in autonomous cars could be considered the driver.
Multiple SoCal counties show high pedestrian death rates
Using data it collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, the Auto Insurance Center, or AIC, revealed that in 2014, more pedestrian deaths occurred in Los Angeles County than any other US county. With counties like San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside ranking fourth, sixth and fourteenth respectively, Southern California had a notably high number of pedestrian fatalities overall.
California police chase results in highway closure
A vehicle fleeing a police officer in Gilroy crashed through a fence on East Ninth Street and caused a four-vehicle crash on southbound U.S. Highway 101 on Jan. 30, 2016. The police report stated that an officer had first spotted the vehicle speeding on Chestnut Street and then attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle evaded police at high speed and hit a tree in a parking lot before driving off.