Putting Common Sense Back in the Driver’s Seat

Earlier this week we learned that West Virginia legislators are considering a modification to the state’s texting ban that would prohibit driver use of a “wearable computer with a head mounted display.” With growing hype surrounding Google Glass and this emerging technology, lawmakers say this is an attempt to get ahead of the curve and cover their bases with regards to distracted driving. As currently written, WV law would permit the use of virtual goggles as hands-free devices.

Legislation plays a vital role in the traffic safety equation. With the explosion in cell phones and other mobile systems, however, we know that the development of new technologies almost always outpaces legislative considerations of whether these devices belong in the vehicle. Moreover, even if West Virginia’s efforts to preemptively address emerging technologies became the new norm nationwide, our police departments and patrol officers would need substantially enhanced resources to be able to enforce such laws.

So where does this leave us? With a reminder that common sense is what truly belongs in the driver’s seat. We know distracted driving is a problem. Nearly 90 percent of us even say it’s a bigger problem today than it was three years ago. And we know that when other drivers talk on cell phones or send text messages, it feels threatening to our own personal safety. Yet many of us keep doing it ourselves.

 

While it is gratifying to see safety-conscious attitudes at all levels, we must remember that it is each and every one of us who is ultimately responsible for safeguarding our nation’s highways. Moreover, recognizing that legislation won’t be able to restrict every distracting technology as soon as it hits the market, it is incumbent upon us to “self-regulate” and avoid using these devices while driving. Not because it’s the law, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Popular Foundation Brochures Now Available in Spanish

Our mission at the Foundation is to “save lives through research and education,” and today we have taken an important step toward reaching a broader audience with our safety messaging. Our five most popular brochures are now available online in Spanish, and can be downloaded here free of charge.

Drawing upon the latest scientific findings of the Foundation’s research efforts, these brochures provide practical insights and tips for motorists and other road users in an effort to promote safety for all on the nation’s highways. The critical traffic safety topics addressed include:

-          Distractions in Everyday Driving

-          How to Avoid Drowsy Driving

-          How to Avoid Headlight Glare

-          The Older and Wiser Driver

-          Road Rage

We are very pleased to be able to expand our Spanish language offerings, and sincerely hope that these brochures will be valuable resources for driving schools, police departments, senior centers, community groups, and all of our safety partners who are trying to save lives and mitigate injuries on our roads.

Leading by Example this Saint Patrick's Day

Earlier this year, we released the fifth installment of our annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, a nationally-representative survey of the attitudes and behaviors of the American motoring public. As in previous years, we found that a “do as I say, not as I do” attitude persists, with many people admitting to doing the very same dangerous things – such as drinking and driving – that they say are unacceptable for others to do.

Consider the following:

-- More than nine-in-ten drivers say that drunk drivers are a serious threat to safety;

-- Nearly all (97%) say it is unacceptable for people to drive when they think they may have had too much to drink;

-- Four-in-five drivers support requiring ignition interlock use by all DWI offenders; and

-- More than half of people say drunk driving is a bigger problem today than it was three years ago.

However, despite these attitudes, roughly one-in-seven drivers admit that they drove when they thought their blood alcohol level was close to or over the legal limit, at least once in the past year. Among the biggest culprits were males, 18.1 percent of whom reported drinking and driving (vs. 10% of females), and drivers in their early 20s, more than a quarter of whom admitted to this.

 
Friday and Saturday nights in general see the most drunk-driving-related crashes and fatalities, and with Saint Patrick’s Day falling on a weekend this year, there could be an even bigger risk. From our safety culture survey, we know that motorists are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving. So this year, we hope that more people will turn away from a “do as I say, not as I do” stance, and instead choose to “lead by example.” How? By designating a driver this Saint Patrick’s Day, taking public transportation, or calling a cab, and by watching out for friends and always buckling up!

Roadwise Rx: Your Prescription for Medication Information

By 2020, one in six Americans will be aged 65 or older, and most will still have a driver’s license. Safer roads, safer vehicles, and a healthier, more active older population mean that seniors are driving more miles and later in life than was previously the case. And, despite what we often hear in the news, AAA Foundation analysis has shown that older drivers are, in general, a safe and responsible subset of motorists.

Aging does present its challenges, however, and among these tends to be an increased use of various medications. Whether over-the-counter or prescription drugs, these medicines may have side effects that can impact the ability to drive safely, or they may interact in ways that cause impairment. However, a recent AAA survey of older drivers found that while 82 percent take regular prescription or over-the-counter medications, only half of these drivers have talked with their doctor about possible safety issues related to driving.

We are very pleased, therefore, to announce the launch of a new product developed by the AAA Foundation. Roadwise Rx is a free online tool that provides information about medication side effects and drug interactions that may be relevant to safe vehicle operation. Visitors to www.roadwiserx.com enter the names of any medications they are taking, and instantly receive confidential, personalized results. We encourage drivers of any age who use this tool to bring this feedback to their doctors and discuss options for mitigating crash risk.

Promoting senior safety and mobility is one of our key priority issues. We hope this new tool will raise general awareness of the possible impacts that various medications and drug combinations can have on driving, and offer a user-friendly way for motorists of all ages to receive information that is specifically relevant to them. As always, more information about the Foundation’s work in this area is available at www.aaafoundation.org, and additional AAA tools and resources can be found at www.SeniorDriving.AAA.com.

Is Safety on Your Syllabus?

Three-and-a-half months ago, we joined with many of our safety partners to publicize the fact that summertime is a particularly deadly period for teens on the road. Longer trips, later nights, and relaxed attitudes can all contribute to a spike in teen driving – and crash risk – during this time. The National Organizations for Youth Safety, therefore, challenged all of us to have the summer of 2012 be the “Safest Summer Ever.” We sincerely hope that for you and your family and friends, it was.

Just because the summer is winding down, however, doesn’t mean it’s time to let safety slip off the radar screen. After all, motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of young Americans – all year long. And with kids heading back to class and family routines crystallizing again, back-to-school time provides an excellent chance to promote safety within your family.

If you drive your kids to school, that time in the car is a perfect opportunity to model safe behaviors and attitudes for them. If they see you buckling up, putting away your cell phone and other distracting items, slowing and stopping properly for school buses, and using extra caution at crosswalks, they’ll have an implicit understanding of the importance of such actions. It’s never too early to start building awareness of the responsibilities that come with being a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist.

Promoting safety in the hours after school lets out is crucial, as well, as this is one of the deadliest times of day for teens. All too often, teens pile into cars with their friends, and the results can be deadly. AAA Foundation research has shown that the risk of teens being killed in a crash skyrockets when passengers are present, and that despite laws in most states restricting newly-licensed teens from driving with their peers, roughly 40 percent of teen drivers killed in crashes were carrying passengers. This is a good time of year, therefore, to talk with teens about the importance of obeying passenger restrictions, and to make sure alternative transportation options to sporting events, jobs, and other activities are available.

AAA and the AAA Foundation have long been engaged in addressing school- and child-related traffic safety concerns. The AAA School Safety Patrol program has turned generations of children – including Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton – into traffic safety leaders at their schools. Participating students take on the responsibility of helping move traffic and pedestrians safely and efficiently through school zones, and volunteers have saved nearly 400 lives in the program’s history. Additionally, the AAA Foundation offers a variety of instructional materials related to school safety, including videos on crossing guard training and school bus safety.

Safety may not officially be on the syllabus for your students this year, but we hope it will be taught and promoted all the same. By working together, we can make sure kids of all ages are able to come to school ready and able to learn, because they are safe.

Is Your Child Safe In Their Car Seat?

Proper installation for a child under 2

Every day, two children under the age of 12 die in car crashes and 325 are injured.  A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine  found that car crashes are the leading cause of death in kids over age 3 in the U.S., yet many parents still don't know how to properly install car seats or know the age guidelines for booster seats.

Requiring that children travel in proper restraints reduces the risk of fatality and injury so much that each U.S. state and territory has adopted its own regulations on child safety seats.  Although most parents understand that babies must travel in child safety seats, varying state regulations can create some confusion.  According to AAA polling, only 39 percent of parents know the specific rules in their states.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which updated their child passenger safety guidelines in 2011:

• Children should remain in child safety or booster seats until they are at least 4’9”, the minimum height for using standard seat belts
• Rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) for kids until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.
• All kids 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their CSS, should use a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.
• Back seat riding with seat belt until age 13

Don’t forget to check the expiration dates on the child safety seats you’re using, too.  Exposure to sun, cold, and heat, as well as general wear and tear, degrade the plastic and foam in the seats, so they begin to lose their effectiveness. 

Deadly Debris

Nineteen-year-old Katie Puwalowski wasn’t killed by a drunk driver, or a texting driver, or any of the other “types” of drivers that get the lion’s share of attention for being menaces to other road users. Instead, she was killed last week outside of Pittsburgh by a tire that came off a Jeep, bounced across the median, and struck her vehicle.

How can we ever come to terms with such a crash, and the suddenness by which motorists can be targeted by flying objects?

The AAA Foundation has examined this issue in its research, in an effort to better understand the safety impact of vehicle-related road debris (VRRD). Our estimates suggest that nationwide, approximately 25,000 crashes and 80-90 fatalities each year are attributable to VRRD, and these may be under-estimates due to data limitations.

Statistically-speaking, this means VRRD crashes are rare, accounting for roughly 0.2% of fatal crashes and 0.4% of non-fatal crashes. But this rarity is of no comfort to Katie’s loved ones, or the loved ones of Sara Betancourt, who was killed in Connecticut last year when a metal bolt came off a dump truck and crashed through her windshield, or the loved ones of Channing Quinichett, who died on the Capital Beltway in 2009 when a tire detached from a truck that was being towed, bounced down the highway, and was launched onto her vehicle by a striking tractor-trailer truck.

The list goes on.

The lesson learned from each of these crashes is that we all have a responsibility to properly secure cargo, keep our vehicles in good working condition, and immediately investigate rattles and other indications of loose parts. After all, at highway speeds even seemingly-insignificant items can pose lethal hazards. In fact, roughly 63% of fatal VRRD crashes occur on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher, compared with 27% of fatal crashes overall.

Motorists can also take steps to avoid being the victims of VRRD crashes, of which remaining alert and observant at all times is the most important. See a tire tread in the lane next to you? Chances are there’s more rubber elsewhere, too. Are cars suddenly slowing and changing lanes up ahead? It could be due to a hazard that you can’t see yet, but have plenty of time to avoid because you were paying attention. And don’t hesitate to call the police if you see a vehicle with a load that appears to be improperly or inadequately secured.

While being attentive behind the wheel is crucial for a variety of reasons, the fact remains that perceiving and avoiding sudden hazards is always difficult. As such, we owe it to our fellow motorists to never put them in that position in the first place.

Remember: maintain your car, secure your load, and save a life.