May 2018 Archives
Drowsy driving just as dangerous as DUI
Drivers in California may know that intoxicated driving is unsafe, but they may not be aware that drowsy driving is similar to intoxicated driving in its effects. Drowsy driving is a widespread issue: 60 percent of adults in the U.S. claim to have done it at least once with a third of those even admitting that they fell asleep behind the wheel.
Tesla CEO criticizes media coverage of semi-autonomous car crash
Drivers in California may be interested in the recent spate of accidents involving self-driving vehicles, especially those that operate on Tesla's Autopilot program. In May, a Utah driver collided with a fire truck even though the Autopilot on her Tesla Model S was engaged. She said she was looking down at her phone when the crash took place.
The link between SUVs and pedestrian fatalities
California residents likely appreciate the efforts being made locally and around the country to minimize, if not completely eliminate, pedestrian deaths. In spite of these efforts, the number of pedestrians killed on American streets is steadily rising. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, since 2009, there's been a 46 percent increase in the number of pedestrian deaths. This leads many to wonder why there has been such a dramatic spike.
Startup aims to combat trucker fatigue
Drivers in California aren't the only ones who get anxious around commercial trucks. Over the course of an eight-day workweek, the average trucker puts in about 70 hours, and the resulting fatigue puts them at a higher risk for an accident. Fatigued driving accounts for an estimated 100,000 truck crashes every year. However, a startup founded three years ago in Oklahoma may soon develop software that will help reduce this number and, along with it, the apprehension that other motorists feel around large trucks.