Dan Wheldon: by the drivers

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Dan Wheldon's friends from the racing world have been paying tribute to the British driver, who died in Sunday's IndyCar finale in Las Vegas.

Mark Webber has dedicated his column on the BBC Sport website to the man he met when they were both driving instructors at Brands Hatch in 1996/97.

Sky Sports also screened a special documentary - Dan Wheldon, A Tribute - on Sky Sports 2.

And Dallara – the Italian racing team – confirmed their 2012 IndyCar chassis will be named in his honour. Wheldon had conducted all the testing for the new car in the second half of the season.

Company chairman Gianpolo Dallara said: "Dan lives in the memory of everybody at Dallara. He has been a true champion; not only because of his many victories, but and above everything else, because he has been a true and warm man to all the people he encountered.

"All people at Dallara always enjoyed meeting him in Italy and in the USA. We will honor his memory for the years to come by dedicating the Dallara IndyCar 2012 in his name. He deserves that."

Dan Wheldon 1978-2011

The driving community have also been writing their own messages on Twitter since Sunday's news:

Lewis Hamilton, F1 driver
"He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500, he was an inspirational guy, and someone that every racing driver looked up to with respect and admiration." 
@LewisHamilton

Jenson Button, F1 driver
"I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90's, a true afighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy."
@JensonButton

Jake Humphrey, F1 commentator
"God bless Dan Wheldon, how terribly sad. Thoughts and love from the F1 community to his family and friends."
@jakehumphreyf1

Danica Patrick, IndyCar and NASCAR driver
"There are no words for today. Myself and so many others are devastated. I pray for Suzi and the kids that god will give them strength."
@DanicaPatrick

Mark Webber, F1 driver
"Rest in Peace Dan. I remember our early days in the UK. Miss ya.."
@AussieGrit

Paul Di Resta, F1 driver
"Very sad news that a great racer died. Rest in peace Dan. Thoughts are with your family."
@pauldirestaf1

James Hinchcliffe, IndyCar driver:
"It's a black day for the sport. We came in here hoping for a good season finale and ended up losing a close friend and a very good racing driver."
@Hinchtown

Dario Franchitti, former teammate:
"Everybody in IndyCar considered Dan a friend. You saw what the reaction was. Dan was one of those special, special people."
@dariofranchitti

Chip Ganassi, owner of Wheldon's former team:
"We're all going to miss him. A little bit of everybody in IndyCar racing died today."
@CGRTeams

Oriol Servia, IndyCar driver:
"Dan was always a very happy guy; he was always smiling. He was a funny, great person that touched a lot of people. He will be missed."
@OriolServia

Tommy Kendall, NASCAR driver:
"Struggling for words. A very bright light was extinguished today. As alive as a person can be one minute and gone the next."
@TommyKendall11

Sam Schmidt, owner of Wheldon's No. 77 Indy-car
"Dan was a tremendous competitor, a great racer and an even better person. It was an honour to have him be a part of our team."
@SSMIndy

Marco Andreti, IndyCar driver
"I looked up to you both as a racing driver and a person/friend. You will be forever missed. RIP Dan Wheldon.."
@MarcoAndretti

Ken Block, WRC driver
Just heard about the loss of both Dan Wheldon and fellow Monster Energy driver Rick Huseman. So very sad
@kblock43

David Croft, BBC F1 commentator
From Sebastian Vettel's joy to the dreadful news from Vegas a few hours later. RIP Dan Wheldon, what a racer you were, such a tragic loss
@CroftyF1

Martin Brundle, former F1 driver and BBC commentator
It's so so sad about Dan Wheldon. Deepest condolences to his wife and young children along with family and friends. This is a cruel sport.
@MBrundleF1

Rubens Barrichello, F1 driver
"Will always remember the great times we had at karting in Brazil, my friend. Rest in peace."
@rubarrichello

Alex Tagliani, IndyCar driver
"It's a very sad day. He was my little brother from another mother."
@atagliani

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Cayman R is UK’s Best Driver’s Car

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The Porsche Cayman R has emerged triumphant in Autocar’s annual Britain’s Best Driver’s Car comparison for 2011. Of the 11 cars on test, it was the Cayman R’s completeness and ruthless efficiency, which stood out for the six judges, no mean feat considering that last year’s winner – the Porsche 911 GT3 RS - was also a contender.

See all the best pics from Britain’s Best Driver’s Car comparison

Watch the Porsche GT3 vs McLaren MP4-12C chase video

The rigorous three-day test took place at Rockingham’s 1.7-mile long Motor Speedway, featuring a fine mix of second, third and fourth-gear corners as well as a plethora of changes in gradient and camber, sometimes mid-bend. To complete testing, we also took to some of the Midland’s most challenging B-roads.

In a well-deserved second place was the light-footed (and one of the cheapest) Caterham Seven Supersport, followed by the Aston Martin V8 Vantage S and the 911 GT3 RS.

Despite the McLaren MP4-12C’s technical brilliance and undoubted pace, speed does not necessarily equal fun, so sixth place was the best it could muster in our testing, one place below the Lotus Evora S.

Editor-at-large Steve Sutcliffe described the winning Cayman R’s steering as “about as sweet as it gets,” while its ride is “150 times better than it has any right to be considering how little body movement there is when you’re really going for it”.

For the full story, see the 12 October edition of Autocar magazine, on sale today.

Steve Sutcliffe: Jag versus Aston = no contest

Matt Prior: Caterham leaves us in seventh heaven

Matt Saunders: What makes a good handling car?

Comments: 28 Join the discussion

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Teen Tracking Devices Make Them Better Drivers

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Gadgets like the MotoSafety Teen Driving Coach may actually make your teen safer on the road (AOL).

Many parents feel squeamish about tracking their teen drivers with technology. It seems invasive, intrusive, and like you don't trust them.

But a study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety shows that teens whom know they're being tracked behave better behind the wheel.

And given that the first year of driving really should be considered more of a training period than a full-blown, no-restrictions free pass to drive, parents should consider using whatever tools they have at their discretion.

While handing over the car keys can turn any well functioning parent into a stressed-out mess, these devices are another tool to help the learning process continue even after your teen is driving on his or her own. Experts are not fond of using the devices on the sly. Why? Because the research shows that a teen will practice better driving habits if they know they are being watched. And they won't feel betrayed if they are suddenly surprised to learn you've been tracking them with a GPS.

Here are a just a few to consider:

Comes with the car

Ford's MyKey:

The primary purpose of Ford's MyKey system is to act like an advanced seat-belt reminder. It also does a bunch of other things. But if it only serves the purpose of forcing to teens buckle up, it's creator will consider it a victory.

Andy Sarkisian, manager of Ford's Safety Planning and Strategy, came up with the idea after one of his teen daughters survived two serious car crashes – including one rollover crash – because she was belted in.

How does it work? The system blocks out the radio until the front passengers have all clicked in. It also limits how loud a radio can play, maxing out at 60% of full volume, which is plenty loud.

MyKey also can be set to max out the top speed at 80 mph, and to set alerts when the driver goes above 45 mph, 55 mph, and 65 mph.

It comes basic on all Ford models. One key can be programmed with the technology, and the other master key can turn it off.

Hyundai

Later this year, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata will come with BlueLink, a telematics system that can be used to help parents monitor teen drivers. The "GeoFence" will alert owners when a car has been driven outside of a predetermined area, which will help if you want your teen to stay close to home. And it will you allow to set speed limits and curfews on the car.

The system will come standard on all 2012 Hyundai Sonata sedans, which means it will be available to everyone.

Spy gadgets to add on

There are a couple of ways you can track teen drivers without them knowing. Or you can track them and let them know you're watching, which may actually offer better results because your teen will practice their best driving behaviors knowing someone is watching over their shoulder.

One such technology is the MotoSafety Teen Driving Coach. The device is about the size of an iPod Nano, except thicker. It plugs into the on-board diagnostics (OBD II) port in the car, which is located somewhere three to five feet from the driver. It can be hard to find, so you may need a technician at the retailer or your garage to help you.

For $150 for the device and a $20 monthly subscription fee, the device uses GPS to track where your teen has gone. It gives your child a monthly grade, displaying the number of speeding, harsh braking and rapid acceleration incidents that contributed to a low grade. And it shows how the score has changed over time.

Youth Driving Safe offers a set of similar devices, varying in sizes, for a $298 initial cost and a $17.99 a month subscription. The $99 CarChip Pro also tracks teen drivers, but it doesn't come with a GPS option, so you won't know where you child has gone.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of finding the OBD port, you can pay a little extra to get wireless devices. The Spark Nano 2.0 Real-Time tracker goes for between $199 and $299, and then a whopping $209 to $399 in service costs, depending on the plan you chose. But it can be hidden in the glove-box, and performs the same way as other GPS tracking devices.

There are plenty of other devices available, but each plan differs. Some claim to offer continuous tracking, but only record the car's location and speed every few minutes.

Smart phone apps

There are plenty of smart phone apps that promise to block text messaging and cellphone calls for your teen driver, or even for yourself.

AOL Autos tested out the StateFarm Driver Feedback app for the iPhone. The free program records your speed, acceleration, braking and location, and at the end of the ride gives the driver a score. It also provides feedback on problem areas – the first time through, it said we had a tendency to take turns too quickly. Using that feedback, we slowed down and got a better score the second time around.

Apps are helpful in the teaching process, because sometimes teens take criticism better from outside sources than from their parents. Sad but true. Seeing their driving performance criticized on an app may go down easier than from a parent. Setting up the StateFarm Driver Feedback app to record a drive is useful, but be aware that the program needs to run continuously throughout the drive, and it drains cellphone battery. Thus, you'll want to keep the phone plugged in while it is working.

When searching for driver-monitoring apps, be aware that many apps offered are merely driving logs. Those are useful to help your teen record their training hours behind the wheel, but don't actually do anything on their own.

Other apps to consider include ones that block texting while driving. Many of those also need to be physically turned on before driving, and can drain the phone's battery quickly using GPS technology to determine if someone is in a car. But T-Mobile's DriveSmart detects when a phone is quickly switching between cell-towers, and activates then.

Bottom line: Thanks to today's technology, parents don't have to be completely ignorant of how their teens drive when they are not around. And forcing your teen to practice good driving skills even when you're not present will make them better drivers in the long run.

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Teen Tracking Devices Make Them Better Drivers

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Gadgets like the MotoSafety Teen Driving Coach may actually make your teen safer on the road (AOL).

Many parents feel squeamish about tracking their teen drivers with technology. It seems invasive, intrusive, and like you don't trust them.

But a study by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety shows that teens whom know they're being tracked behave better behind the wheel.

And given that the first year of driving really should be considered more of a training period than a full-blown, no-restrictions free pass to drive, parents should consider using whatever tools they have at their discretion.

While handing over the car keys can turn any well functioning parent into a stressed-out mess, these devices are another tool to help the learning process continue even after your teen is driving on his or her own. Experts are not fond of using the devices on the sly. Why? Because the research shows that a teen will practice better driving habits if they know they are being watched. And they won't feel betrayed if they are suddenly surprised to learn you've been tracking them with a GPS.

Here are a just a few to consider:

Comes with the car

Ford's MyKey:

The primary purpose of Ford's MyKey system is to act like an advanced seat-belt reminder. It also does a bunch of other things. But if it only serves the purpose of forcing to teens buckle up, it's creator will consider it a victory.

Andy Sarkisian, manager of Ford's Safety Planning and Strategy, came up with the idea after one of his teen daughters survived two serious car crashes – including one rollover crash – because she was belted in.

How does it work? The system blocks out the radio until the front passengers have all clicked in. It also limits how loud a radio can play, maxing out at 60% of full volume, which is plenty loud.

MyKey also can be set to max out the top speed at 80 mph, and to set alerts when the driver goes above 45 mph, 55 mph, and 65 mph.

It comes basic on all Ford models. One key can be programmed with the technology, and the other master key can turn it off.

Hyundai

Later this year, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata will come with BlueLink, a telematics system that can be used to help parents monitor teen drivers. The "GeoFence" will alert owners when a car has been driven outside of a predetermined area, which will help if you want your teen to stay close to home. And it will you allow to set speed limits and curfews on the car.

The system will come standard on all 2012 Hyundai Sonata sedans, which means it will be available to everyone.

Spy gadgets to add on

There are a couple of ways you can track teen drivers without them knowing. Or you can track them and let them know you're watching, which may actually offer better results because your teen will practice their best driving behaviors knowing someone is watching over their shoulder.

One such technology is the MotoSafety Teen Driving Coach. The device is about the size of an iPod Nano, except thicker. It plugs into the on-board diagnostics (OBD II) port in the car, which is located somewhere three to five feet from the driver. It can be hard to find, so you may need a technician at the retailer or your garage to help you.

For $150 for the device and a $20 monthly subscription fee, the device uses GPS to track where your teen has gone. It gives your child a monthly grade, displaying the number of speeding, harsh braking and rapid acceleration incidents that contributed to a low grade. And it shows how the score has changed over time.

Youth Driving Safe offers a set of similar devices, varying in sizes, for a $298 initial cost and a $17.99 a month subscription. The $99 CarChip Pro also tracks teen drivers, but it doesn't come with a GPS option, so you won't know where you child has gone.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of finding the OBD port, you can pay a little extra to get wireless devices. The Spark Nano 2.0 Real-Time tracker goes for between $199 and $299, and then a whopping $209 to $399 in service costs, depending on the plan you chose. But it can be hidden in the glove-box, and performs the same way as other GPS tracking devices.

There are plenty of other devices available, but each plan differs. Some claim to offer continuous tracking, but only record the car's location and speed every few minutes.

Smart phone apps

There are plenty of smart phone apps that promise to block text messaging and cellphone calls for your teen driver, or even for yourself.

AOL Autos tested out the StateFarm Driver Feedback app for the iPhone. The free program records your speed, acceleration, braking and location, and at the end of the ride gives the driver a score. It also provides feedback on problem areas – the first time through, it said we had a tendency to take turns too quickly. Using that feedback, we slowed down and got a better score the second time around.

Apps are helpful in the teaching process, because sometimes teens take criticism better from outside sources than from their parents. Sad but true. Seeing their driving performance criticized on an app may go down easier than from a parent. Setting up the StateFarm Driver Feedback app to record a drive is useful, but be aware that the program needs to run continuously throughout the drive, and it drains cellphone battery. Thus, you'll want to keep the phone plugged in while it is working.

When searching for driver-monitoring apps, be aware that many apps offered are merely driving logs. Those are useful to help your teen record their training hours behind the wheel, but don't actually do anything on their own.

Other apps to consider include ones that block texting while driving. Many of those also need to be physically turned on before driving, and can drain the phone's battery quickly using GPS technology to determine if someone is in a car. But T-Mobile's DriveSmart detects when a phone is quickly switching between cell-towers, and activates then.

Bottom line: Thanks to today's technology, parents don't have to be completely ignorant of how their teens drive when they are not around. And forcing your teen to practice good driving skills even when you're not present will make them better drivers in the long run.

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3 Things Drivers Do To Make Us Mad

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Certain aggressive driving maneuvers may make other drivers mad, but will they get you ticketed? (jupiterimages)

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world. And by that we don’t just mean angry -- we also mean crazy. You can see it on the road, daily.

We have a problem with aggressive driving, one that manifests itself in many disturbing and dangerous ways, from road rage to fatal traffic accidents. It’s gotten worse in recent years, as the population has increased -- leading to more cars on the road, leading to greater traffic congestion, leading to shorter tempers and more flat-out aggression.

The fact that we’re in the worst recession in 80 years doesn’t help, either. So many people are so stressed out these days about lost jobs, making ends meet, and general financial strain, that getting on the freeway can seem akin to gladiatorial combat.

“Aggressive driving has definitely become more of a problem,” says Saul Gomez, a public information officer for the California Highway Patrol who was previously a patrolman. “Part of that is because we spend more time in our vehicles, in stop-and-go traffic, and it takes longer to get to where we’re going.

“So, people get reckless. They get this notion that if they drive more aggressively, they will get to their destinations more quickly, but that’s obviously not true. You might save two seconds, but you’re just increasing your stress level, and often putting yourself and other drivers in dangerous situations.”

Russ Rader, vice president of communications for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, notes that speeding -- an obvious form of aggressive driving – accounts for about one-third of all of the fatal car crashes in America. And, running traffic signals -- another form of ‘aggro behavior – is one of the most common causes of accidents in metropolitan areas.

In these cases of aggressive driving that clearly qualify as traffic violations, Rader says that law enforcement has the tools to more effectively enforce these laws – like mounted or mobile cameras that can catch drivers in the act of speeding or running traffic lights. But “they are not deployed very efficiently, because government officials often let vocal minorities dictate traffic safety policy.”

The use of such cameras have reduced the rates of speeding red-light running in European nations and Australia, where they are widely used, says Rader.

Gomez just wishes motorists would have more respect for one another. “Selfish driving, selfish parking -- those kinds of behaviors are just going to create problems for everyone,” he says. “I think the daily driving experience would be a lot less stressful if everyone would just extend the same courtesy to others that you would want them to extend to you.”

While driving over the limit and blowing through a red light are both clearly against the law, what about examples of aggressive driving that, in the minds of many motorists, may fall into a gray area? While many drivers wouldn’t describe their behavior as “road rage,” we’re willing to bet that most have engaged in one of the three behaviors identified below.

Jackrabbit Starts

For example, we’ve often seen macho types punch the pedal and explode away from a stoplight as though they were launching a rocket from a lift-off pad. If this particularly obnoxious maneuver does not cause them to exceed the speed limit, does that constitute a violation? And how dangerous is it?

“If that driver accelerates so quickly that the tires break traction with the road, that is definitely an example of driving at an unsafe speed, and is so reckless and aggressive, that he’s probably violating one law or another,” says Gomez. “He can be cited for reckless driving, or depending on road conditions or traffic congestion, that could get him a ticket for driving at an unsafe speed for those conditions.”

And, adds Rader, “any time you do something like that, whether out of anger or just showing off, that kind of sudden acceleration reduces your margin of error, if something you were not anticipating suddenly appears in front of you, like a bicyclist or pedestrian darting out in front of you, or the vehicle in front of you doing something you didn’t expect, [it] can lead to someone getting hit.”

Highway Courtesy

Another frequent and obnoxious expression of behind-the-wheel aggression is speeding up on the highway so that another driver cannot change lanes in front of you. Or, worse, speeding up in a way that impedes other drivers from safely merging onto the freeway from an entrance ramp.
“That’s very common,” laments Gomez. “I’ve seen it in my own vehicle, and I’ve seen it while on patrol. In fact, that’s probably the most common example of aggressive driving I see -- refusing to let someone else get ahead of you.

“And by speeding up like that, you are not doing any service to yourself. Again, you might end up two seconds ahead, but you’re potentially causing a collision, because the driver trying to merge doesn’t have much room to work with, because the ramp is ending.

“And if, by speeding up like that, you end up following the car ahead of you too closely, that’s definitely a violation.”

Rader concurs: “When people behave like that, you’re just egging the other driver to anger. It’s happened to me, and it’s definitely a safety hazard.”

Blocking The Road

Sometimes, there is such a thing as “passive-aggressive driving.” Put another way, selfish driving that just plain violates common courtesy, among other things. In this instance, we’re talking about the clueless narcissist who stops his car in the middle of the road – typically a side street – and starts talking to a friend or acquaintance he’s spotted on the sidewalk, or emerging from a parked vehicle.

“You definitely don’t want to be stopped someplace where another driver could come up behind you and not be expecting a stopped vehicle,” asserts Rader. “We’ve found that this scenario is a factor in a lot of crashes in urban and metro areas.”

Gomez confirms that this is more than just evidence of self-absorption, it’s also unsafe, and it’s also a violation. “That is obstructing the flow of traffic, plain and simple,” states Gomez. “And if a police officer spots something like that, the driver is definitely going to end up in a conversation with the officer. Depending on the traffic conditions, and how nice the officer is, the driver may end up with a ticket, or just a verbal warning.”

What To Do?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests five things to do if you’re confronted by road rage or aggressive driving:

1. Get Out of the Way. First and foremost, make every attempt to get out of their way.
2. Put Your Pride Aside. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane.
3. Avoid Eye Contact. Eye contact can sometimes enrage an aggressive driver.
4. Gestures. Ignore gestures and refuse to return them.
5. Report Serious Aggressive Driving. You or a passenger may call the police. But, if you use a cell phone, pull over to a safe location.

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Truckers To Lose Cell-Phone Privilege. All Drivers Next?

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Truck drivers could be forbidden to use cell phones while driving (ACE, Flickr).

Federal regulators took a step toward banning cell-phone use in vehicles by recommending that all commercial vehicle drivers be forbidden to use the phones unless in cases of emergencies.

The National Transportation Safety Board, an advisory body, made the recommendation following an investigation of a 2010 Kentucky crash that killed 11 people. In that accident, a tractor trailer had jumped a grass median and collided with a 15-passenger church van. The driver of the truck was later found to have been making cell-phone calls prior to the accident and was on the phone when it occurred.

The Department of Transportaton is already considering new rules to ban all 3.7 million commercial drivers from talking on cellphones except in emergencies. Last year, the DOT banned those drivers from texting while driving.

The NTSB's statement seems sure to make the proposal law, and gives the DOT, which has been vocal in its support of a ban on cellphone use in all vehicles, more ammunition.

The NTSB previously recommended bans on cellphone use by newly licensed commercial drivers after an accident in 2002, as well as among bus drivers after a fatal collision in 2004 found to be caused by distracted driving on the part of the bus driver. Following an epic accident in 2008, the advisory body also recommended banning cellphone use for commercial railroad and marine operators.

In a rare twist, the American Trucking Associations, the trade group and lobby that usually battles regulations, said it agreed with the safety board's recommendations.

The ATA, back in 2009, said there should be a legislative ban on texting for all drivers, including passenger car drivers, and last year it said that hand-held cellphone use should also be banned among all drivers.

The DOT proposed a ban on cellphone use among truck drivers last December, and has been considering public comment on the issue. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, who strongly favors a federal ban on all cellphone use by drivers, said, "The National Transportation Safety Board can speak with a loud voice, and we're very happy to have them on board."

View the original article here

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What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

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According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

Forbes.com: 13 common car buying mistakes  
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Forbes.com: 10 used cars to avoid
Forbes.com: Best and worst states to own a car

© 2011 Forbes.com

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What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

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AppId is over the quota
According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

Forbes.com: 13 common car buying mistakes  
Forbes.com: The next wave of green cars
Forbes.com: Anatomy of a solar car
Forbes.com: 10 used cars to avoid
Forbes.com: Best and worst states to own a car

© 2011 Forbes.com

View the original article here

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Drivers Feel Less Safe Than Five Years Ago

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AppId is over the quota
By AutoObserver Staff September 19, 2011

More than half of drivers said driving feels less safe now than it did five years ago, according to a survey for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: 2010 Traffic Safety Culture Index. The 52 percent of drivers who said driving feels less safe was an increase of 17 percent over the number of drivers who said so just a year earlier. The reason: concerns about increasing driver distractions, according to Jim Foley, a researcher at Toyota Motor Corp.’s Technical Center in Ann Arbor, MI.

Foley said analysis of driver distraction is a chief priority for Toyota’s Collaborative Safety Research Center, which just announced it will spend $50 million for new safety research projects. One aspect of the research will expand study of the so-called “human-machine interface,” or HMI, and how designs for interacting with onboard systems can affect distraction. Early conclusions from CRSC studies, Foley said, indicate that talking and listening to engage various functions is markedly less distracting than controls that require visual attention. One related study indicated that 78 percent of crashes were related to inattention from the driver.

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What, not your town? D.C. has worst drivers

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
According to a recent report issued by Allstate Insurance Co., Washington, D.C. can lay claim to having the worst — or at least the most accident-prone — drivers among the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

Residents of our nation’s capitol were found to get into collisions on average once every 4.8 years. This means they’re 107.3 percent more likely to get into an accident every time they take the wheel than the typical driver in the U.S., who wrecks his or her car once every 10 years.

Other cities ranking high on the list include such traffic hot spots as Baltimore, Md., Glendale, Calif., Newark, N.J., Providence, R.I., and Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles holds down the number 11 position, with the driving population crashing their vehicles once every 6.6 years. Surprisingly, New York City didn’t place among the top 10, being ranked at number 20 in the survey, with motorists getting into collisions on average once every 7.3 years (guess cab drivers weren’t counted as part of the study).

While collisions have been on the decline, fatalities from car crashes still claim over 32,000 lives each year. “Human behavior is the biggest cause of accidents. It is vital for us to educate American drivers about safe driving behaviors they can demonstrate on the road that will help make our roadways safer,” says Mike Roche, executive vice president for Allstate’s claim organization.

Forbes.com slideshow: Cities with the worst drivers

The Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer found the safest drivers residing in smaller cities — motorists living in U.S. cities with populations of over one million are more likely than the national average to get into accidents. Allstate says the safest drivers can be found in Fort Collins, Colo., where the average motorist experiences an auto collision only once every 14 years. Other cities on the safest driver list included Boise, Idaho, Lincoln, Neb., Chandler, Ariz., and Huntsville, Ala.

The study was based on property damage claims reported over a two-year period (from January 2008 to December 2009) adjusted for population, with a weighted average of the two-year numbers used to determine the results.

A copy of the full report can be found here.

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© 2011 Forbes.com

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Urge drivers "down to bypass slow"

Urge drivers to "Slow down to avoid", to keep the streets safer for everyone. Many drivers service vehicles passed too quickly and without adequate consideration of vehicles and people around them.

(NAPSI) - a little patience and courtesy can help to keep drivers and others on the way to security. That's the word from the sponsors of the campaign aims to keep safe drivers of service and the public.

The campaign encourages drivers to operate vehicles the courtesy that they already show school buses to expand. To understand when they see a school bus, children are probably in the vicinity, so that they are expected to slow down drivers.

Also, slow because it is the law. Accelerate to a stopped school bus, and you're likely to a ticket.

Unfortunately for trash, it is common to collectors, postal workers and other service vehicles that the driver be not so polite, when they see their trucks on the Road stopped.

In fact, some drivers stopped service vehicles, be aggressive, to prevent, to speed up when they see. Unfortunately, the results can be tragic.

A dangerous profession

Road accidents caused distracted or acceleration drivers are a big risk for the more than 135,000 men and women of the industrial solid collection, which every day keep clean and healthy communities are in place.

Mainly because of the road, garbage collection, one of the most dangerous professions in the country is dangers. Ask your local waste collection, and you are likely to an artistic on the almost accidents, which he or she is every day.

Campaign for safer

Is a national security strategy of the solid waste company developed aimed at ending tragic road accidents with the garbage collector - a leading cause of workplace deaths for such employees. Called slow "to get around", calls for the campaign of driver to solid waste collection vehicles be more cautious.

An example

"In contrast to with school buses, there are no traffic laws force drivers to be garbage truck, cautious", said Bruce Parker, President of the national solid wastes Management Association (NSWMA), which the private sector solid waste management in the United States "It is a big problem, but one that is easy to resolve."

"It takes only a smart and cautious driver, an example to give", said NSWMA Security Director David Biderman. "Leading in your community - if you see a trash truck to slowly bypass." "In this way, you can save a life."

For more information, visit www.environmentalistseveryday.org/safety. A national safety campaign urges drivers to solid waste collection vehicles be more cautious.

Automotive: Link sponsors

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