The BOLT Driven to Distraction Infographic explains through images the dangers of distractions while you are driving. Every time you get behind the wheel, you are faced with many potential distractions from the radio, to your passengers, your cellphone, to your fast food. All of these distractions can add up to disaster in a split second. In 2009, from driver distractions nearly 5,500 people were killed, and another 448,000 were injured. Presented as an infographic (created for BOLT by Infographic World) to help you more easily visualize and retain this important information on the dangers and risks of driving while distracted!



Via: Bolt Insurance

Labels: avoid distracted driving, distracted driving

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants tougher penalties for texting at the wheel.

The governor announced last Friday that he would introduce a bill that would turn distracted driving into a primary offense, which would allow law enforcement to pull over motorists seen typing on their phones while behind the wheel.

Currently, New York motorists don't have much to worry about when it comes to texting at the wheel. It is currently considered a secondary offense: a driver must be doing something else wrong for law enforcement to pull them over.

The fine would stay the same at $150, but the governor also wants to add 3 points instead of 2 for drivers caught texting while driving. This would really impact insurance payments for drivers who are caught texting.

The message is simple: distracted driving is a serious issue. The tactic may be scaring motorists into not doing something illegal, but it might just work.

For motorists, the message is even simpler: pay a hefty fine and deal with those 3 points on their driving record, or obey the law and potentially save lives?

Officers have noted that around 3,200 tickets have been issued last year, but it is only a small fraction of what might have been issued, had texting behind the wheel been a primary offense.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, texting and driving, texting behind the wheel, uniform traffic ticket

Transportation Alternatives in New York will be hosting the Stop Speeding Summit this Friday, November 19, 2010. Speeding was, in New York City, a major factor in more than 2,900 motor vehicle crashes in 2008. Speeding has been attributed with having caused more crashes than distracted driving and drunk driving combined. New York may come out tops when it comes to teen driving safety, and it's just great that the authorities are finding ways still, to address driving safety concerns.

The Stop Speeding Summit will address how driving at unsafe speeds affects New Yorkers' lives --- from the health of children playing in the street, to the high cost that speeding crashes are costing society in medical, emergency services, rehabilitation and property damage. This is a FREE full-day summit that will involve various experts and specialists from fields of driving safety, public health, medicine, traffic safety and enforcement.

The schedule:

• 8:00 – 8:45 | Registration


• 8:45 – 9:00 | Welcome: Paul Steely White, Executive Director, Transportation Alternatives


• 9:00 – 10:30 | Morning Program: Area-wide 20 mph Zones: Lessons from the U.K.


• 10:30 – 11:30 | Panel Discussion: Slower Vehicle Speeds: Healthier New Yorkers


• 11:30 – 11:45 | Break


• 11:45 – 1:00 | Luncheon Program: Keynote Presentation Dr. Thomas Farley, NYC Commissioner of Health & Mental Hygiene


• 1:00 – 3:15 | Saving Lives through Enforcement


• 1:00 – 2:30 | Panel Discussion: Automated Enforcement


• 2:30 – 3:15 | Panel Discussion: Strategic Enforcement


• 3:15 – 3:30 | Break


• 3:30 – 4:15 | Afternoon Program: Economic Cost of Crashes


• 4:15 – 4:30 | Closing Remarks

To register for the summit, the form is on the Transportation Alternatives site: http://www.transalt.org/events/calendar/4850

Or visit their Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/transalt

Labels: avoid distracted driving, costs of crash, speeding, stop speeding

The summer is approaching! Are you planning to get into your car or RV and see the sights America has to offer? Will you go north, south, east or west?

It does not seem to matter in which direction you go because many states are having financial problems causing budget deficits and in order to save money, have decided to close rest areas on some of the highways.

It now becomes important to check the states you plan to visit and see if the rest areas are going to be available. You do not want to be surprised if suddenly there is a sign on the road "Rest Area Closed."

Why are rest areas important? They allow you as a traveler to pull off the roadway, use the restrooms, stretch your legs, walk your dog, if they travel with you, water horses, if that is why you are on the road, eliminate any drowsiness, give your eyes a rest, get a drink, pick up a tourist pamphlet, look at a map and get back on the road. They also are well lit, so it is a safer place to pull off if you need to shut your eyes and nap for a few minutes, especially if you are traveling at night, in rain, or in sun glare.

With less rest areas available there can be more highway crashes because people may just pull over to the side of the road. This can also impact nearby gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants who are concerned about travelers and truckers that have to pull off the roadway and take up parking spaces when they stop only to sleep and use their facilities.

We are always taught to be sure to use well lit areas when stopping. If there is no place to stop it can be dangerous and hazardous for drowsy and distracted drivers to just park along the side of the road.

Although, there has been closing of rest areas in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Vermont, Colorado, and South Carolina, Virginia has reopened most of the ones that they had closed , there are other states that might just be cutting back on staff, hours and services. In spite of this, Iowa and Texas are using some stimulus money to replace older rest areas with new ones. Texas is also adding internet kiosks and wi-fi access. The Florida Turnpike is not planning any closures at present, they have 8 service areas that are placed at intervals of approximately 45 minutes apart that provide food, fuel, car repair and towing service to the turnpike customers. They allow drivers to rest on long distance trips to avoid fatigue, this helps to keep this roadway as one of the safest.

If your plans take you to either Alaska or Hawaii, be aware that they have no rest areas at all.

Your mottos for any travel - "Be Prepared" and "Plan Ahead" - seem to be important this year so that you can be safe while on the roads.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, driver safety, drowsy driving, rest area, sleep