It started out in the movies, really. Years ago, when the mobile market was booming, people started finding out that they can talk/text while they were at the cinema. These kinds of people not only miss out on what's happening on-screen, but they also caused noise, distraction and generally everything that kills off the magic in a movie. Theaters ask everyone to turn off their phones or put them in silent mode before a movie starts, but even now, you could sometimes still see the glow from a mobile screen somewhere in the dark. Imagine that, while driving.

The growth in the number of distracted driving laws in the last few years is surprising. Are we that important, that impatient, that much in demand that we simply can't put our phones down even when we're absolutely supposed to?

Are we a generation that cannot wait? With information literally at our fingertips at all times, it's kind of hard to let go even for just a second. Like most innovations, there is an equal amount of potential good and potential harm.

A simple site, http://prevent-distracted-driving.org/, is asking people to sign a pledge. The pledge is simple, by visiting their pledge form site: http://prevent-distracted-driving.org/pledge-form/, people could put in the ways they can prevent distracted driving along with their state.

Their site is also constantly updated with news on distracted driving bans, new technology on preventing distracted driving and accidents that involve distracted driving.

Their mission is simple: promote awareness and prevention of distracted driving by organizing a community of concerned citizens who will share and promote the cause.

Though it is started by a personal injury law firm, their site clearly claims that it does not intend to provide legal advice --- nor are they looking to start attorney-client relationships. It shows that they themselves are merely concerned individuals, doing what they can to prevent distracted driving.

Labels: distracted driving bans, distracted driving laws, prevent distracted driving

A DUI carries a weight that can haunt a driver for a lifetime but there are a lot of choices available to avoid a DUI. Here are some tips to follow for those of us who care the safety of our friends and family.

Don't bring a car – Simple. If you're going to be out with a couple of friends and you know that you'll be drinking, split the fare for a cab to get to and from home. The cost of a cab is nothing compared to the cost of a DUI.

Designated driver – Take turns with your friends on being a designated driver for the evening. There’s no better way to show your friendship than by making a tiny sacrifice to get them all home safely. Let the establishment where you are dining or drinking know who the designated driver is. Many establishments will provide free incentives for the designated driver such as free soft drinks and, sometimes, even a free appetizer. They want to encourage designated driving too.

Sober rover services – With a little research, it's easy to find out if your location has an available sober rover service. These can either be a chauffeur service that can be hired for the night, or a service that may be called to drop by and deliver the client and their vehicle home.

Mobile apps – Distracted driving apps and devices have another function other than checking if a driver is using a mobile phone while driving --- it can also be used to set hotspots, or areas not to drive to, like bars. A good idea is to set trusted friends or family members as administrators for the mobile app, so that they would be notified where a driver is, or shouldn't be.

Pay for parking, get driven home – Leaving a car overnight at a car park may cost a little extra but it's nowhere near as expensive as DUI. Call a sober friend or a cab to come pick you up.

Collect keys at the door – When hosting a party, collect your guest’s car keys at the door. Make sure all your guests know the policy when they come in your door. Later on, a guest who has been drinking may become a little angry when you refuse to return the keys but a little spat among friends is better than living with the burden of that friend’s death.

Ignition interlock device – If installed in a car, these devices will prevent the car from being started if alcohol is detected in the driver's system; guaranteeing that there will be no DUI. The research is underway and, if Congress has its way, we may see alcohol interlock devices installed on all new cars within ten years.

Learn more about how to prevent teens from underage drinking and driving.

Labels: drunk driving, DUI, prevent distracted driving

When searching for that perfect Christmas gift for a loved one, why not show how much you really care about them by giving a gift that can make their driving safer and could possibly save their life or the lives of others. There are a lot of gadgets on the market now that can help make driving safer and easier, and most are surprisingly low priced.

Rearview Cameras

According to the web site Kids and Cars.org, two children are killed and more than six children are injured every week when they run behind a car that is backing up. Blind spots behind a car can reach from 11 feet behind a small sedan up to 18 to 28 feet for minivans and pickup trucks. The problem is so bad that the Department of Transportation has issued new rules that all new vehicles must be equipped with back-up cameras starting in 2014 but you don’t have to wait until then.

Back-up cameras are available on the market at auto parts and electronic retail stores and they are surprisingly inexpensive. A rearview camera system with camera, monitor, and connecting hardware can be found for as little as $100.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

GPS devices aren't new but they are very handy when a driver is traveling in unfamiliar territory. If you want to give a GPS system as a gift, make sure that the one you purchase is voice activated. If there is any manual input required for the system, make sure the one you get doesn't allow data to be entered when the car is in motion. Trying to input data manually into a GPS is very distracting, removing a driver's eyes and concentration away from the road and that can easily lead to a collision.

Seat Belts and Child Seats

• Child Safety Seats and Booster seats

Nothing is more important for the safety of a child than a properly installed child safety seat or booster seat that is age appropriate for the child. One major problem that has contributed to a lot of unnecessary deaths and injuries is the fact that too many children are being graduated from child safety seats to seat belts before they are big enough to wear a seat belt. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that children should remain in booster seats until they are at least 4’9” tall. For the average child, that is anywhere from nine to eleven years of age. For information on the safest child safety and booster seats, visit the IIHS website at: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/boosters/default.html


• Seat belt snuggers

One problem with seat belts is that they can become loose as an occupant or a child in a booster seat moves around. There are two different types of seat belt snuggers on the market that eliminate that problem for both adults and children. For adults, there is the CG Lock which snugs a seat belt and provides more stability for the seat occupant. It can also be used on child safety and booster seats.

SeatSnug is specifically designed for child safety seats and booster seats. Even after buckling the seat belt and cinching it tight, a child's movements can cause the belt to come loose. SeatSnug is designed to prevent that.

Both of these products are available for under $50.


• Shoulder harness adjusters

Seat belts are the primary life saving device in the car but too often they go unused because they are uncomfortable or do not fit well. The problem is most acute for smaller drivers who find an ill-fitting shoulder harness chafing against their neck. That problem can be easily solved with shoulder harness adjusters that are readily available at auto parts stores for a very low price

Learn more about the proper driving posture to prevent collisions and injuries.

Teen drivers

Teen drivers, with an "It'll never happen to me." attitude and a lack of driving experience face a lot of dangers on the road. While parents can't watch them every second, there are some devices that can prevent the teen from taking unnecessary chances and can monitor their driving habits. The teen may not appreciate it but they can give parents some peace of mind.

Teen Driver Safety Devices

• Trip monitors

These devices, available for less than $90, plug into the car’s onboard diagnostic port and provide a visual display on a key-chain monitor that reports a teen’s top speed, hard braking, and number of miles driven. The monitor is tamper proof and can be reset, by the parent, before the next trip.


• Cell phone/texting killers

These devices, available as a key-chain fob or as an app on the teen’s phone prevent the teen from using a cell phone or from texting while the vehicle is in motion.

Breathalyzers
A variety of personal breathalyzers are available on the market for less than $100. When you are having a hard time convincing a loved one that they have had too much to drink and drive, these devices come give an unbiased evaluation of how much the person has had to drink.

Technology to Prevent Drunk Driving

Closed-Hood Car Jump Starter

When a battery dies, this device allows re-charging a dead battery by connecting a cable to the cigarette lighter or accessories charger on each vehicle, eliminating the need to open the hood and connect battery cables and avoiding the possibility of electrocution.

Auto Association Gift memberships

Memberships in auto associations are available through various insurance and credit card companies. When a vehicle breaks down on the road, membership in an auto association eliminates a lot of worry.

Pet restraints

For your favorite pet, pet restraints are a great auto safety device. You also don’t want them becoming a missile in the event of a collision. There are pet harnesses for all sizes of animals that easily attach to the seat belt mechanism. A restrained pet is a safe pet.

Labels: back-up cameras, cell phone, child safety, gps, holiday driving safety, prevent distracted driving, rearview cameras, seat belt safety, texting and driving, trip monitors

While driving in your car, you might think that if you talk on your cell phone or text a message that these are the only ways to be distracted; however, many other activities that take your eyes off the road or your attention from the windows or mirrors can also be the cause of a crash. Having your pet jump from the back to the front or sit on your lap can also be a problem.

Just like a child, your pet should be safe in the car. The back seat in the middle is considered the safest place in your car. If someone or something is sitting in your back seat and there is an incident or you have to stop short they could fly into the front and get injured as well as injuring you.

Although, a carrier is sometimes suggested for your pet, it should be tied down so that it does not lift out of its place to injure someone or your pet that is inside the cage or carrier.

Pet Safety Belts are the answer to car travel. There are restraints that use the car safety belt hooks and that offer the pet some mobility yet prevent distraction, protect passengers from injury, and reduce any possible injury to the pet. In addition, you as the driver will have better control and more comfort knowing that everyone in your car is safe. If a crash should occur, rescue workers appreciate the fact that an upset animal is properly restrained so that they can aid everyone in the vehicle.

If you are planning a vacation that involves a long car trip the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has some tips for taking your pet with you.

• Take a well-ventilated carrier that is big enough for your pet to move around. Let your animal friend get used to it in the comfort of your home before you leave.


• Take your pet on short drives to get used to their vehicle restraint or carrier/crate.


• Your pet’s travel feeding schedule should start with a light meal 3 to 4 hours prior to departure. Don’t feed them in a moving vehicle.


• Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle. On a hot day, a parked vehicle can become a very hot and heatstroke can develop.


• A pet's traveling kit should include travel papers, food, bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication, a pet first-aid kit, a favorite toy and a blanket or pillow.


• Make sure your pet has a microchip for identification and wears a collar with tag imprinted with your home address, also a temporary tag with the destination phone number and any other pertinent information.


• Pets should be fitted with flat collars. Choke collars should not be used.
  
• Do not allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. They could be injured by flying objects.


• If you will be traveling across state lines, be sure to bring along their rabies vaccination record, just in case it is needed.


• Bring your own water. Take along a jug with the water that your pet is used to, or take along bottled water. Using water from the tap from different areas might cause some stomach problems.

Taking some precautions and planning in advance will help make your car trips fun for everyone.

Of course, it is important to remember - SAFETY FIRST.

Labels: car travel, distracted driving, pet safety belts, prevent distracted driving, traveling with pets, vehicle safety