Posts Tagged ‘ Car Accidents ’

Biggest News from Detroit Car Show: Driving’s Become a Distraction

January 15th, 2010. By Hunter West

Driver's Ed 2015? "There's your Aplusk Twitter alert!"

Get ready for a new round of lawsuits everybody. Because the nation’s roadways are about to become a lot more dangerous.

Consider this statement from an automotive industry engineer:

“Customers are expecting more and more, especially business people who expect to find in the car what they find in their smart phone,” said Mathias Halliger, the chief engineer for Audi’s multimedia interface systems, in comments published in the New York Times last week. “We should give them the same or a better experience.”

Experience?

Really…

Ford SYNC multimedia system

Let’s get one thing straight. Driving is not a video game. Driving is not a virtual ‘experience’. Driving is being in control of a hurtling goliath of metal weighing several tons hurtling down a road shared by other vehicles, or pedestrians hurrying across an intersection. Kids on bikes. Old men with their walkers.

It’s bad enough that car stereos are more complex, now that you can plug your iPod or mp3 player into the system. Now there are GPS systems that serve to distract drivers even further from the task at hand—which is driving safely.

Many states and cities have banned talking on a cell phone unless a Bluetooth or other hands-free device is used. Texting while driving is so stupid; its stupidity is a foregone conclusion. That’s been banned too, in many areas across the country. As the bans step up, safety advocates have been breathing a sigh of relief.

Well for them—and for the rest of us—this horror movie has just become a whole lot scarier, with automotive Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Audi, Auto Accidents, Car Accidents, Car Crash, Ford
Posted in Accidents, Defective Products | 24312 Comments »2010-01-15+17%3A53%3A29Hunter+West

DPS on how to Avoid a Texas Car Crash this Weekend

November 25th, 2009. By AbiK

thanksgiving turkey DPS on how to Avoid a Texas Car Crash this Weekend The Texas Department of Public Safety issued some very sound advice for all of those (like me) who are racing to the car to get the holiday weekend going. You don’t need to live in Texas to heed the advice—nor do you need to live in Texas for a car accident to occur….so take note and be safe on the road this weekend!

As reported on statesman.com (11/24/09), David Baker, assistant director for the Texas Highway Patrol states, “Please drive carefully. Crashes can happen in just a second, so pay attention. We want everyone to arrive safely this weekend. Be patient, slow down and drive sober.” (Note, Texas DPS troopers apparently made some 252 arrests for driving while intoxicated during last year’s Thanksgiving weekend).

Aside from staying sober to drive, the Texas DPS also shares these tips for avoiding road rage—and hey, with a gazillion eager relatives trying to get to that turkey and pumpkin pie while sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, I’m betting a few carloads will be carrying a bit of rage down the interstate. Here, the habits to keep in check:

Not using turn signals
Driving in the passing lane
Tailgating, flashing lights or honking
Using high beams in traffic
Not allowing adequate time for a given trip

When confronted with aggressive drivers, the DPS recommends that you:

Put your pride in the back seat and move aside.
Do not speed up, block lanes, slam or tap on brakes.
Report extreme cases of reckless driving to the appropriate authorities when the incident occurs.
Do not retaliate, gesture or make eye contact.
Make sure everyone is buckled up.

And hey, from all of us at LawyersAndSettlements.com, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tags: Car Accidents, Texas
Posted in Emerging Issues | 2008No Comments »2009-11-25+23%3A14%3A50AbiK