This causes tremendous disputes between injured parties and the insurance companies that are responsible for compensating them fro their injuries. To insurers, there really is no speed at which they want to admit and injury could occur. For economic reasons they try to dismiss whiplash in its entirety as if it doesn’t exist.

Thanks to recent irrefutable research studies proving the existence and exact mechanism of whiplash injuries, insurers are hard pressed to try the “whiplash is a hoax” defense nearly as much as in the past.

A more recent tactic is to claim the speed of the collision is too low to cause injury. The defense often relies on their insured’s reports of how fast they were going when they ran into the back of the other party-obviously biased data. Other times photographs of the vehicle damage is used to show a low speed. Often, the photographs are shown to an Accident Reconstructionist who by merely looking at photographic damage renders an opinion on how fast the vehicles were traveling. They will even go so far to make statements such as “the evidence suggests there was insufficient force to cause human bodily injury…” This would be laughable if it didn’t cause so many problems for injured victims.

Here are but a few facts concerning motor vehicle injuries and their relationship to speed with supporting scientific evidence.

Three different studies (Panjabi, Panjabi and Cholewicki and Kaneoka) proved the mechanism by which the neck is injured by a rear impact force. [1], [2], [3] The studies involved simulating a rear impact collision ot live human test subjects and recording the results with cineradiography (high speed motion x-rays). The researchers found that the neck was injured by deforming into an “S- shaped” configuration. All three of these studies found that this physical event occurred at speeds as low as 2.5 mph.

The radiographically proven human threshold for injury in a rear impact collision therefore is 2.5 mph. Other authors have disputed these figures and some insurance company sponsored studies have found the threshold to be closer to 5 mph.

For the sake of argument, let’s stipulate that the 5 mph threshold is correct. It still means that a collision of only 5 mph can cause damage to the neck.

Freeman et. al. in Spine, Vol. 23, Number 9, 1998, p. 1046 shows the damage thresholds for many cars. This is the minimum speed required to cause the car to show visible signs of damage. The smallest, lightest vehicle listed was the 1980 Toyota Tercel, which required a collision of 8.1 mph to become damaged. On the other end of the spectrum was the 1989 Chevrolet Citation, which required 12.7 mph. A Ford F-250 pick up required 11.7 mph.

Cars built today are equipped with rear bumpers designed not to show any damage below 5 mph. In an attempt to reduce repair costs shouldered by insurance companies, crash standards were adopted to mandate rear bumpers must withstand a 5 mph collision into a fixed barrier (wall, pole, etc) without any visible evidence of damage. It should be noted that this standard involves testing of “vehicle to barrier” crashes not “vehicle to vehicle” testing.

In “vehicle to vehicle” crashes where the bumpers line up well, it takes considerably more force to cause visible bumper damage than a 5 mph collision. Some tests have shown that cars could be crashed repeatedly at 20 mph and not show outer damage. In a “vehicle to vehicle” crash it is estimated that the minimum speed to cause visible damage is approximately 15 mph.

Another consideration is that while a bumper may look undamaged from the outside after a collision, inside under the skin, the foam or plastic may be crushed or cracked. This is not seen from the outside, so photographs would make it appear as if no damage was sustained. Still further, the bumper may appear intact, but on unibody vehicles, the unibody may be bent or deformed by a collision. This may not be apparent and some auto repair facilities may miss it.

So what does this mean? It means that if you are rear-ended and your bumper is cracked, dented, or misplaced at all, your collision involved speeds in excess of 15 mph. That’s 3 times the human threshold for injury if we use the 5 mph figure. In reality, the proven threshold is only 2.5 mph, so a collision of 15 mph is 6 times the threshold for injury.

Now let’s say your vehicle sustained no visible damage, but your neck hurts after the collision. Does that mean you weren’t really injured? No. It means that the vehicle’s threshold for damage was not exceeded. The impact could have been 10 mph. Too low for bumper damage, but still 4 times the threshold for human injury.

In a low speed collision, the kinetic forces that are transferred from the other vehicle into your vehicle are not dampened or bled off by your bumper. Instead, the force is transmitted through the vehicle, into your seat and to your neck resulting in injury. If your body or neck are jolted or jerked by the impact, an injury could occur.

Another aspect to consider is if your vehicle is moved forward by the impact. An average car weighs close to 4,000 lbs. Let’s say you are hit from behind and your car is pushed forward a few feet, but shows no signs of bumper damage. Is it possible to be hurt? Yes, of course. The force required to move a stationary 4,000 lb object is tremendous. Can you walk up to a car sitting at a red light with its brakes on and shove it forward even an inch? Not likely. A collision that is strong enough to propel a car forward by even inches is plenty enough force to cause a whiplash injury.

So, as you have now learned, there really shouldn’t be any dispute on whether a low speed collision can cause injuries. It has been scientifically proven by several studies. It is also a fact that the speed required to cause bodily injury is quite low, a scant 2.5 mph. It has also been shown that any accident that causes damage to the rear bumper is likely to cause injuries and even in accidents where there is no outward physical damage to the vehicle, there may still be sufficient forces involved to cause bodily injuries.

References

Panjabi MM, Grauer JN (1997): “Whiplash produces a S-shape curvature of the neck with hyperextension at lower levels. ” Spine 22 (21): 2489-94.

Panjabi MM, Cholewicki J, Nibu K, Grauer JN, Babat LB, Dvorak J, Bar HF (1998-12-01): “[Biomechanics of whiplash injury].” Orthopade 1998 Dec; 27(12): 813-9.

Koji Kaneoka, Koshiro Ono, Satoshi Inami and Koichiro Hayashi (99-04-15). “Motion analysis of cervical vertebrae during whiplash loading.” Spine 24(8): 763-770

Characteristics of Specific Automobile Bumpers in Low Velocity Impacts, SAE 940916

Dr. Barry L. Marks, DC… chiropractor, author and lecturer. He is a former Associate Clinical Professor and has been in practice since 1986. He has specialized training in whiplash and brain trauma from auto accidents and vehicle crash reconstruction. His expert opinion is often sought in connection with whiplash and other injuries due to automobile collisions. You may reach Dr. Marks at his Orange, CA office at (714) 938-0575. His articles and ebooks can be found at http://www.drmarks.com and a Free Consumer’s Guide, “What You Should Know If You’ve Been Invovled in an Auto Accident” can be found at http://www.drmarks.com/auto_accident_whiplash_treatment.html

Author: Dr Barry L Marks D.C.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Unix inter-process communication (IPC)

Most take accidents for granted and that arriving-alive is a right-of-passage-but for over 42,000 motorists in the U.S. that lose this game annually, and over 3 million placed on injured reserve with severe injuries, arriving alive would be a welcomed privilege. We live in an extremely competitive society, as well as being taught from our youth to win at anything we choose to do or become. So why do we continued to play the Game of Death with over five tons of steel in most instances, without the benefit of understanding that we are not on a level playing field-the odds are not in favor of living if we do not “play to win.”

Now, these words take on a new meaning if motorists playing the Game of Death and Injuries understand the rules for the Game of Life by preventing accidents proactively. The key word here is “proactive.” Once motorists are involved in an incident, nearly 99.9% always say, “I never thought it would happen to me or loved ones,” when all of the statistics indicate that if you drive, ride, or otherwise transported from one destination to another via any vehicle, accidents could happen to anyone, anywhere, and at anytime-no one is immune. Are you taking this fact for granted?

The question remain, do you want to win the Game of Death and Injuries on our nation’s highways and roadways by being proactive or do you want to continue to play the Game of Russian Roulette with your life and the lives of others? Time alone will tell, and from a professional perspective, in this Game, you should always “play to win.”

Here are some practical proactive measures to assist with playing the Game, and which is even more-”Playing the Win:”

1) Motorists should always be 100% focused on driving-avoid distractions such as answering wireless calls, responding to text messages, rubber-necking, etc., place your full attention on driving and arriving alive safely;

2) Drive with a “defensive posture,” always looking out for and anticipate what other drivers may do and how to proactively respond base on a worst case scenario-accident avoidance (a good offence is predicated on initiating a good defense);

3) Traffic signals and stop signs are everywhere, there is no avoiding them,-so obey what you have always been taught, e.g., Red means Stop, Yellow means slow down and prepare to Stop, and Green means Go. At a Stop Signal, always come to a complete Stop and never, ever pull-off immediately when the traffic signal turns Green-chances are some motorists will attempt to beat the yellow light or simply speed up and run through a changing light;

4) Allow “aggressive drivers” to do their thing. Some motorists have a death wish, and if you are not careful, they will take you with them. So, always check in your rear view and side mirrors for speeding and aggressive driving vehicles, simply move over and let them pass;

5) Be aware of Road-Rage motorists-this coincides with aggressive driving, but not all road-rage is attributed to aggressive driving. If someone wants to go-ahead of you, let them, remember, a space or two behind may be a more preferred choice-who knows what awaits the position that vehicle is in, or if your life will be spared as a result of simply being patient because in order to remain in the Game, you have to arrive without incident;

6) Use the “roving-eye” technique-it will always keep you in a constant state of awareness and alert to what is happening around you. This technique has proven extremely effective, and assists with proactively avoiding an incident;

7) Post accidents are on the increase and becoming a serious risk to motorists involved in an accident. If ever your vehicle becomes disabled through a fender-bender or simply breaks-down or stopped on the side of the highway, you become a sitting duck for other oncoming motorists-especially if the incident occurs around a curve. Motorists may not have time to react, generally motorists have 3 seconds to spot you and/or your vehicle before impact if traveling at 60 mph. In this instance, the following is critical to survival and accident avoidance on the roadside:

Always have an emergency safety device in your vehicle to alert oncoming traffic of potential trouble ahead. “Being Seen” is the first line-of-defense, and is a critical proactive measure to accident avoidance. Technology has improved significantly in recent years to include “higher visibility safety solutions and products” designed as a proactive response to increasingly dangerous highways where disabled motorists or accidents that are high candidates for contributing to a “post accident” (accident is caused by an existing accident that creates a chain-reaction) are most vulnerable to death and injuries. Visit www.globalnologies.com [http://www.globalnologies.com/hotspot2.html] for more information about higher visibility safety solutions;

9) Don’t become apart of the problem, be apart of the solution to avoid devastating accidents. It’s simple, always think safety first, plan reactions to worst case scenarios in advance, and you will have the best chance of arriving alive. Because after all, with the many events that could occur between Point A to Point B and even Point C and beyond, being prepared place you in the best position of “Being Safe that results in No Accident.”

There is no reason to become overly sensitive to driving on our nation’s highways or to become dogmatic about driving in an otherwise safe environment when compared with the sheer number of on vehicles out there. However, thinking before acting and advanced preparedness has always led to a greater sense of awareness-leaving one to emphasize that the Game is Winnable, if and only if, you know how “the Game is Played.” Committing to being proactive is an excellent way to prevent an accident and arrive at your destination safely, and more importantly, alive.

Be prepared, be proactive, by all means Be Safe, and you will “Win the Game of Life on our highways.”

Tony M Jackson is an expert on “loss prevention strategies and tactical safety solutions to prevent devastating accidents on highways/roadways–he is committed to saving lives and protecting assets (vehicles) from damage in dangerous environments . He is located in Atlanta, Georgia USA. To learn more about proactive safety solutions, “Being Safe Is No Accident” and/or to receive Tony’s free monthly “automotive safety newsletter,” please visit http://www.globalnologies.com You may also contact Tony directly at tonyj@globalnologies.com

Author: Tony M Jackson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Get my ex back

2) Maintain your vehicle – The mere act of properly inflating your tires you can reduce your risk of losing control of your vehicle or suffering a blowout by a significant margin. Rotating your tires annually and monitoring the health of your tire stems can also decrease your chance of suffering a flat tire. Regularly replacing wiper blades will ensure you always have a clear view out of your windshield in an unexpected rain or snow shower. Maintaining your battery and alternator health is also a crucial element in a vehicle safety strategy. Ending up on the side of the road due to a car that has stalled or will not start is very unsafe, especially at night or in severe weather. Many accidents occur when a vehicle has been pulled to the side of the road due to equipment failure, and an oncoming driver unwittingly collides with that car. Simple maintenance can pay heavy dividends when it comes to vehicle safety.

3) Calm down – While ‘Road Rage’ is a term we are all familiar with, simple road aggression is something almost all drivers go through at one time or another. We should all do our part to maintain civility on the roads. This includes letting other drivers go ahead of us at intersections, yielding to traffic when appropriate and not becoming possessive about the lanes we are travelling in. Even a simple beep of the horn can lead to an accident if it distracts one or more vehicle operators. Vehicle horns are, by law in some states, only to be used for warning drivers of an impending impact. Beeping at a fellow driver for cutting you off or performing some other action you do not agree with is risking not only your safety, but may also risk you getting pulled over by the police and issued a substantial ticket. If you become frustrated on the road, try to take a deep breath and not let it bother you too much. Don’t put yourself and your passengers at risk because of the actions of a careless driver.

4) Use your turn signals – We have all seen drivers on the road make abrupt lane changes without the use of their turn signals, or blinkers. Using your blinkers when turning or making a lane change is incredibly important to vehicle safety, especially when travelling at high rates of speed. By using blinkers you are giving the other drivers on the road the opportunity to make timely adjustments to their speed and path. Many accidents are caused everyday due to drivers making unexpected and sudden turns are crashed into by unsuspecting motorists who had no chance to avoid them. Using blinkers when making turns is also a valuable safety practice in city driving. By indicating before you turn you will be giving motorists the chance to go around you and keep traffic moving at a steady rate. You will also be decreasing the chances of a rear-end collision because motorists behind you will know you are making a turn rather than continuing forward. Beyond the obvious safety advantages, and despite the lack of usage practiced by many motorists, using turn signals when changing lanes on the highway is required by law in every state. It is evident that if you fail to signal your turns, you will be paying in one way or another.

5) Slow down – The most obvious vehicle safety tip is also the easiest one to adhere to. Every mile you take off of your travel speed decreases your chances of an accident. Travelling at a high rate of speed greatly reduces the amount of time you have to react to the actions of other drivers, and to avoid any animals that may wander into the road in front of you. Accidents that occur at a higher rate of speed are much more devastating than their low speed counterparts and result in a much higher fatality rate. Vehicle equipment such as radiators and tires are also much more likely to fail at high speeds due to the stress the speed places on them. Finally, as with turn signals, there are strict laws governing driving speed. Exceeding these limits can earn you significant fines and the state of mind these fines place you in may contribute to further unsafe driving.

These 5 steps form the basis of any comprehensive vehicle safety approach. Always remember that nothing is more important than your life and the lives of those around you. Respect yourself, your fellow drivers and the laws of the road by adhering to these safety recommendations.

This article was written by Jefferson Spooner on behalf of Ken Jones Tires. He recommends you visit Ken Jones Tires for all of your mower tires,
tire tubes, tire chains, tire tubes, trailer tires, and tractor tires.

Author: Jefferson Spooner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Humorous photo captions

Insurance companies focus on keeping people safe, reducing accidents, and
ultimately the amount of money they have to pay out for coverage. So, safe cars are
the pick of the litter so to speak for insurance companies. They are so favored, in
fact, that insurance companies frequently offer discounts to individuals who buy
safe cars resulting in hundreds of dollars in savings each year on premiums. Safe
does not mean the car is unattractive or without all the extras you want, so get it
out of your head that safe does not equal cool.
And while the trend may not change and people will continue to look for cool cars,
they should keep in mind that there are indeed cool cars that are also safe cars.
Each year a rating list of the top 25 safest cars is produced and if you are in the car
buying market you should definitely take a peak and see if the car you are
interested in buying is on that list. If not, check out the other safe cars that did
make the list and see if you can find something that is equally cool and considerably
safer. The following cars made it on the safe car list and also have some amazing
features that will please even the pickiest car connoisseur.

Upscale Cars
If you are interested in and can afford an upscale car and are also concerned about
safety, then you should consider the Audi A4 or perhaps the BMW 330i. The Lexus
ES300 also ranked high in the crash tests and overall safety in the upscale sedan
category.

Small Cars

Small cars that rank high on the top 25 safety car list include the Volkswagen golf
and Honda Civic which received the top honors. Another safe car in this category
includes the Volkswagen Jetta.

Midsize Cars

Volkswagen also took the top prize in the midsize category with the Volkswagen
Passat GLX 6.0. The Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy also ranked high in the mid
size family sedan category.

Pickups

Everyone thinks pickup trucks are safe, however some are safer than others and
generally pick up trucks are not as safe as cars. In the top 25 safest cars the Toyota
Tundra SR5 4.7, Ford F150 XLT 5.4, and the Dodge Ram SLT 4.7 ranked higher and
safer than the rest.

Minivans and SUVs

The minivan and SUV category have an interesting array of really safe vehicles and
then some that are hazards to drivers and passengers. Minivans that responded well
in the tests include the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey EX, and the Mazda MPV. The
safest SUVs include the Lexus RX300, Toyota Highlander, and the Saturn VUE as well
as others.

Of course, you could choose to buy a safe vehicle and still be injured in an accident.
This is because there is no perfect car that is constructed in a way that it can protect
you 100%. However, there are plenty of cars that are significantly safer than others
and as a result consumers should pay attention to these cars. Fortunately, some of
the safer models are actually very stylish and come with the latest gadgets and
features so many people are looking for in a new car. So, no matter if you want the
coolest car on the market you can still find one that is rated high in the safety
category. Honda, Lexus, BMW, Saturn, Volkswagen, and others all ranked high in
their respective categories and are all very popular car models. Also, cars today are
significantly safer than they were even 15 years ago and tires are safer as well.

If you buy a used vehicle that is 10-15 years old you can rest assured it will not
have the same safety qualities as new cars made today. The reason for this is safety
standards were different as well as the technology used to build the cars. As a
result, older cars simply are not as safe. The best option for your safety and that of
your family and other passengers is to buy a car that is ranked high on the safety
list and rest assured that if you are in an accident your car will protect you as much
as possible because it was designed with safety in mind. By making safety one of
the qualities you look for in a vehicle, even above price or design, you are choosing
to protect yourself and your family, which is the best decision you can possibly
make. Remember to take a look at the top 25 list before you start car shopping. Not
only are the top 25 cars in all categories listed, but some of the worst cars are listed
as well so you will know what to avoid. Happy car shopping!

Steven Anderson is the Marketing Director for Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals (http://www.hawaiidrive-o.com). He has personally researched and experienced many of the Hawaiian activities and as described above.

Author: Steven Anderson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

Fortunately, an automobile driver can employ a number of defensive driving measures which will reduce the risk of colliding with a tractor trailer. First, it is imperative that automobile drivers recognize and respect the operational limitations of tractor trailers. Tractor trailers do not have the same ability to maneuver in traffic that automobiles do. Always keep this in mind as you drive with trucks nearby. For example, where a car traveling 55 MPH can come to a stop within about 265 feet, it will take a large truck 313 feet to stop.

This limitation leads to an important safety rule. Always keep your vehicle a safe distance behind or in front of a tractor trailer. Should you need to stop suddenly, you want the truck behind you to have sufficient space in which to stop without striking your vehicle’s rear end. Likewise, you want to be able to stop your own vehicle if the truck in front of you slows down suddenly. Never follow a truck closely or let one follow you closely.

A corollary to this rule involves situations where the automobile driver passes a truck and then abruptly cuts back into the truck’s travel lane without leaving sufficient distance between truck and car. Such an unexpected move can force the truck driver to slam on his brakes endangering not just the vehicle cutting in front but others close by. Make sure you have safely passed a truck, leaving plenty of distance between the two of you, before you attempt to move back into the truck’s travel lane. Likewise, don’t pass a tractor trailer quickly and then cut directly in front of it with the intention of exiting the highway. This behavior causes accidents.

You may have heard about “blind spots” or “no-zones”. You don’t want your vehicle traveling in a “blind spot” for more than a few seconds. Most vehicles, even cars, have blind spots. These are spaces you cannot see in your rear or side view mirrors. These “no-zones” around the left rear, right front, and the back of a tractor trailer are large. When your car moves into a “blind spot” while it passes a truck, the truck driver can’t see you or your car. The most immediate danger is that the truck driver will pull left or right into your travel lane without seeing you, causing a collision.

What can you do to reduce the risk of such a collision? Do not travel alongside a tractor trailer for longer than it takes you to move past the truck at a reasonable speed. This sounds simple enough, but it is not unusual for many of us to find ourselves cruising down a major highway beside a truck, sometimes for several miles at a time. The road ahead is clear, the weather is good, and we think nothing of it.

Make it a habit, as you approach a tractor trailer, to either pass the truck immediately or drop back in your lane behind the truck to a point where the truck driver can see your vehicle easily in his side view mirror. Likewise, before you begin passing a truck, make sure it doesn’t have its left turn signal activated and that it doesn’t appear to be moving, even slightly, towards your lane of travel. These are indications the truck driver is contemplating an imminent lane change. You can’t just assume the driver knows you’re there or that he will wait for you to complete your pass before he moves into your lane. Maybe he will, but maybe he won’t!

Sometimes, stopping your vehicle on the highway or on the shoulder is unavoidable. Remember, however, that there are few things more dangerous to all passengers and vehicles on the road than another vehicle stalled in a travel lane. If there is any way you can drive your vehicle entirely off the highway and also off the shoulder, do so.

Think ahead. If your vehicle seems to be developing mechanical problems or your gas gauge is near “empty”, don’t wait to take action to resolve these difficulties. Many a fatality has occurred when a tractor trailer driver fails to recognize soon enough that the vehicle ahead in his travel lane is at a dead stop. The trucker can’t come to a halt in time and ploughs into the rear of the stalled vehicle. Ordinarily, the automobile’s occupants don’t stand a chance under these circumstances.

It is best for you and your passengers to get out of harm’s way entirely if you can exit your broken down vehicle safely. After you activate your hazard lights, get as far off the highway as possible and as quickly as you can. Another auto or truck may crash into the rear of your car, and one or both vehicles could be knocked off the roadway in your direction. Keep in mind, however, that abandoning your vehicle on the road itself is extraordinarily dangerous for approaching vehicles.

On the other hand, it may be equally dangerous for you and your passengers to stay in your vehicle or try to push it off the road. Use good judgment under all the circumstances. One of the first things to do is contact the state and/or local police immediately to alert them to the road hazard. Law enforcement officers can warn approaching traffic of the hazard, reroute traffic safely around your broken down vehicle, and have it moved off the road promptly.

At night, vehicles stopped on the road or shoulder become even more dangerous. It can be almost as hazardous to stop on a highway shoulder after dark as it is to stop in a highway travel lane. No one sees well in the dark. Night vision can play strange tricks on what all of us perceive and think we see. Those tail lights far ahead of us may be nothing more than reflectors posted on either side of a driveway. On the other hand, the lights we see in the distance and assume belong to a vehicle in a moving travel lane may belong instead to a vehicle stalled on the road or shoulder. If the driver of a tractor trailer makes this error and follows what he perceives to be a moving lane of travel, he is likely to strike the stopped vehicle whether it is in a travel lane or on the shoulder. Truckers are especially prone to make this mistake at night when they are tired after a long day’s drive.

Such accidents are not uncommon, and unfortunately you read about them in the newspaper or see them reported on the television news. The most tragic examples involve cases where a “good Samaritan” stops in front of or behind the broken down automobile to render aid. The vehicle occupant(s) and the “good Samaritan” are checking under the hood of the car or are changing a tire when the tractor trailer slams into the rear of the vehicles. Don’t hang around a broken down vehicle at night. Leave its hazard lights in operation. If you can safely set out flares or triangles, do so, but, otherwise, leave the scene immediately and call for help. Stay in a safe place, out of the danger zone, until help arrives. State troopers and police officers are trained to handle these situations. You are not.

Watch out for the tractor trailer making a right turn. You don’t want to be the victim of what is commonly called a “right turn squeeze”. Tractor trailers cannot turn on a short radius. To make a sharp right turn at an intersection, they must “swing wide”. This means they often don’t approach the intersection entirely in what we think of as the “turning” lane. In making a right turn, the truck driver may move towards the left, either partially out of the right lane or completely out of it in the next lane over. This sometimes confuses the automobile operator approaching the same intersection. He may conclude, wrongly, that the truck is making a left turn or simply moving straight ahead.

In this situation, look first for the tractor trailer’s turn signals. Is the right turn signal activated? If so, you know the truck driver is preparing to turn right. Stay in your lane behind the truck. Don’t try to squeeze in to the right of the truck thinking you can get the jump on him when the light turns green. Don’t pull up to the intersection alongside the tractor trailer and assume its driver knows you’re there. You will have moved directly into his “blind spot”.

Just because your driver’s side window is directly opposite the truck’s passenger side window doesn’t mean the truck driver can look out his window and see you. Usually he can’t because he sits high up in the truck cab. If the truck driver doesn’t know you’re there, he is likely to cut you off as he makes his turn. Suddenly, you find yourself in the middle of a “squeeze play” between the truck on your left and the curb on your right.

Of course, you may have passed beyond the rear turn signals of a long tractor trailer when the trucker first activates his signal. As a result, in the end, you can’t rely simply on whether or not the truck’s right turn signal is blinking. You have to make a judgment call, and it is better to err on the side of caution. Before sliding into the space immediately to the right of a tractor trailer at an intersection, keep in mind that the truck may start turning right, directly into your path. When the red light turns green or as you approach the front end of a truck on your left side, watch the truck carefully for signs it is beginning to move into your lane of travel. If it does, take quick action to avoid it.

There is always the potential for a collision when either your vehicle or a tractor trailer is merging into traffic. If you merge into traffic improperly, from the shoulder of a highway, for example, you may cause a nearby tractor trailer to brake or turn suddenly. This may, in turn, cause a collision. Whenever you see a truck ahead of you merging into traffic, slow down and let the truck merge in front of you. Trucks simply don’t have the ability to accelerate as quickly as automobiles do.

The most potentially dangerous place on the road to find yourself is between two tractor trailers – both within a few hundred feet in front of and behind your vehicle. Just imagine what will happen to you and your car if the truck ahead slows down or stops suddenly without warning, and the truck behind you has to do the same when you begin to slow down or stop for the truck ahead. It is not a pretty picture. Remember, you can’t see around a tractor trailer to know what is going on in front of it which means you are unlikely to have any warning of the impending slow down of the truck ahead of you.

It goes without saying that unsafe speed contributes to tractor trailer accidents. Never approach a tractor trailer too fast from the rear. Also keep in mind that it is easy to misjudge a truck’s speed, especially as it approaches you.

There are many ways motorists, primarily automobile operators, can share the roads and highways more safely with nearby trucks and tractor trailers. This is not to suggest that truck drivers do not engage in unsafe behavior themselves. They do. However, whenever there is a collision between an automobile and tractor trailer, the automobile operator and his passengers are much more likely to die in the crash than the truck driver. Statistics tell us that 86 percent of those persons killed in accidents involving large trucks were not occupants of the truck. They were, for the most part, occupants of passenger vehicles. As a result, it is the automobile driver who has the most to lose in any collision with a large truck. Consequently, it is up to the automobile driver to keep the odds in his favor by driving defensively whenever he sees tractor trailers and large trucks close by.

Elizabeth M. Allen, of the law firm Allen and Allen, has been engaged in the practice of personal injury law, including tractor trailer accidents, for over 30 years. Allen and Allen has been protecting the rights of injured victims in Virginia for nearly a century. They have offices located in Richmond, Petersburg, and throughout Virginia. Allen and Allen can be found online at: http://www.allenandallen.com

Author: Elizabeth Allen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

1. The most frequent accident on the highway is the rear end collision – 29.7%.

2. 75% of rear end collisions are less than 10 mph.

3. Most are direct hits (which is why you don’t need anything to protect the corners – backing accidents get the corners).

4. 94% of rear end collisions occur on straight roads.

5. 46% of drivers aged 16 and 17 said they “text” while behind the wheel.

6. 1 in 5 drivers send text messages while driving.

7. 1,000,000 crashes are caused by driver inattention each year.

8. 20% of drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.

9. 40% – typical insurance premium increase if a claim is made.

10. 52% of drivers are decelerating when they rear-end another vehicle.

11. $450 – the average cost to repair a plastic bumper.

12. $900 – the average cost to replace a plastic bumper.

13. $1,618 – average cost to fix a full size pickup truck bumper from a 5 mph rear end collision – in 2004 prices.

14. The lightest tap from a vehicle can leave damage from $450 to over $2,000 damage.

15. Twice-Women are twice as likely as a man to get a whiplash injury in a low speed (10 mph or less) rear end collision.

16. Low speed rear end collisions (less than 10 mph) accentuate the whiplash more than high speed ones.

17. 2.7 Billion – the amount of money spent just to fix whiplash injuries.

18. $9,900 – cost per claim for every whiplash injury.

19. 8 million – that’s how many plastic bumpers are replaced each year.

20. 2.5 mph – The Federal Bumper Standard for passenger cars

21. 0 mph – The Federal Bumper Standard for pickup trucks, SUVs & mini vans – which is why they’ll never get better.

22. 80% of bumper scratches occur during parking – usually by the “other guy”.

23. 30% of drivers feel it’s OK to “love tap” your bumper when parallel parking.

24. 14% of all claims for auto damage involve parking lot conditions.

25. 79% of consumers claim their bumpers were damaged in a parking garage.

26. 77% of fuel system ruptures were the result of rear end collision damage.

27. 17 seconds – a reported rear end collision occurs.

28. 8.5 seconds – an unreported rear end collision occurs.

29. 35 minutes – the time you’ll spend at the accident scene filling out forms.

30. 78 minutes – the time you’ll spend filling out forms after your accident.

31. 4 hours – the time you’ll spend getting repair estimates.

32. 2 days – the average time without your car.

33. 26% – percent of uninsured drivers in Mississippi – 25% in California and Alabama – 24% in New Mexico – 22% in Arizona.

34. 14.7% – national average percentage of uninsured drivers on the road today (2004) – if they hit you – you lose.

35. 3 times – rear end impacts are three times as likely to result in a fatal fire.

36. 143 – the number of people that die each year from a rear end collision fire.

37. $16,500 – average cost per accident claim for employers.

38. $74,000 – average cost per accident claim for employers if an on-the-job crash results in an injury.

39. $500,000 – costs can exceed $500,000 for employers if the accident results in a fatality.

40. $20,000 – extra money a company needs to make at a 5% profit margin to cover a $1,000 accident claim.

41. 3 times more likely to burn to death in a rear end collision than you are to kill someone by backing over them.

42. 25 times more money (estimated) is spent on fixing damage from a rear end collision than from backing.

43. 2.5 times – The acceleration of the occupant when hit from the rear is 2.5 times that of the car.

44. 12 million – the estimated number of rear-end collisions in the US every year – both reported and unreported.

45. 38% – Rear end collisions account for 38% of all the dollars paid for automobile claims.
46. 27 Years – That’s how long it’s been since the passenger car has had 5 mph bumpers (1982).

47. 50,000 – the number of times a person typically brakes each year to avoid a rear-end collision.

48. 80% percent of all rear end collisions are caused by driver inattention, tailgaters, external distraction (talking on cell phones, shaving, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or CD player, kids, etc.) and poor judgment.

49. 3 major factors determine the price and value of a used vehicle: model year, mileage and condition. Take care of it.

50. 15 times – If you are aware you are going to be rear ended and are able to brace yourself, you are 15 times less likely to experience chronic whiplash pain.

51. Talking on a cell phone makes you four times as likely to be involved in a serious auto accident as a driver not using a phone, and that “texting” was even worse, raising that risk by another 50 percent.

Jeff is CEO of Mohr Mfg is an expert in rear end collisions. His company makes portable, energy absorbing, spare safety bumpers that prevent rear end collision damage caused by Tailgaters, Uninsured Motorists, Bumper To Bumper Traffic, Distracted Drivers, Inattentive Cell Phone Users, Drivers With Poor Judgment, Text Messengers And Lousy-Stinking Parallel Parkers. For additional information: http://www.superbumper.com

Author: Jeff Mohr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Throughout the years, specialized safety features have been created to make cars a much safer machine to deal with. But many car safety threats do not deal with the way a vehicle is made. For example, the actions of drunk drivers are avoidable. This threatens the lives of both driver and anyone they may come in contact with on the road. At any time, a slip in judgment, as well as hand and eye coordination, could lead to a slip at the wheel, causing irreversible results. This is why defensive driving may help to detect and avoid such occurrences from happening by staying alert and aware of all car safety issues you may encounter.

Car Safety Features

Car safety begins when you first select your household vehicle or take your place behind the wheel of any car. Various safety features may already come with the automobile you are driving. Turn signals and brake lights, such as Center High Mounted Stop Lamps make night driving easier. For those who haven’t quite gotten the hang of parking in tight situations, variable assist power steering is now available on some models.

Headlight wipers and washers improve visibility while on the road. Various cars now offer ribbed taillights, which decrease the amount of snow or dirt accumulation that may occur. Today, the air bag is now placed in more than just the steering wheel and the dashboard. Side and rear air bags are now becoming increasingly popular car features.

Is Your Car Safe to Drive?

While you might not be able to tell when the engine will fail or muffler gives out, there are several basic car checks to make sure driving your car is safe. For starters, checking the air in your tires not only saves gas, but also improves safety. You should also make sure they are equipped with the proper amount of tread, which influences the effectiveness of sudden braking. Periodically, the fluids in a car should be checked. Water prevents the car from overheating, while oil maintains the health of the engine. Windshield wiper fluid cleans the grime from windows so drivers may enjoy a clear view of the road.

The weather will also affect car safety. Before taking to the road in the wintertime, you should make sure you allow the vehicle ample time to warm up. Also, all windows should be snow, ice, frost, and fog-free. Running the defroster until you have a clear view of front, back, and rear view windows is a must to promote safe driving. For rainy spring days, make sure the windshield wipers are in good working condition so that raindrops and storms won’t impede your driving and field of vision.

The brakes are another important part of car safety. When you start to hear a squeaking noise, it is time to bring the car to a mechanic. If you ignore the warning signs, you run the risk of damaging additional vital car parts. A responsible driver will have their car checked out and serviced on a regular basis to make sure it is always in good working order.

Responsible Driving

When it comes to the open road, responsible driving equals safe driving. There are plenty of ways to make sure you do your part in car safety. For unfamiliar trips, pre-planning your route is extremely helpful. This creates a more confident driver that doesn’t have to deal with the distraction of not knowing where they are going. Lost drivers tend to lose focus and direct their attention to passing signs rather than concentrating on the road. Minimizing the amount of distraction altogether is also recommended. A loud radio, screaming children, restless pets, cell phones, and unnecessary activities, such as eating a sandwich should be dealt with in a timely manner before driving.

When driving safely, it is important to remember that you will not be the only one on the road. Sharing space is a great way to avoid accidents and stay alert for the actions of other drivers. While sharing the road, you should also keep a safe amount of distance between you and the next car. Staying too close behind a vehicle is called tailgating – a sudden stop may result in a traffic accident. You should also know your surroundings. For instance, it probably isn’t a good idea to become sandwiched in between two large trucks. This is an intimidating situation that should be avoided.

Adhering to the speed limit is also an important car safety practice. Many driving fatalities have involved increased speeds on the road. Sometimes, even going below the speed limit will cause problems on the road. Therefore, watching your speed is an essential habit regarding car safety. Also, when you intend to shift lanes or pull over, proper signaling is a must so other drivers on the road are clear on your next move.

Sometimes, accidents cannot be avoided. This is when wearing your seatbelt at all times will help reduce the amount of injury you may sustain if a collision or other traffic violation may occur. This goes for all of the occupants in a car, especially young children.

Overall, knowing car safety for both driving and car maintenance will bring you one step closer to protecting the wellbeing of yourself, as well as others sharing the road with you.

VehicleRide.com strive to provide car safety informations and other informations relating to the automobile industry. Feel free to visit http://www.vehicleride.com today.

Author: Steve Lim
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Depending on how you purchase your next pre-owned car – through the original owner, through a chain broker like CarMax, or through an independently owned used car lot – you should study what is for sale and what safety features are available. Families of small children will especially be interested in space for holding car seats and automated GPS and contact systems like OnStar, while others will also look for dual dash and side airbags, powerful fog lights, and a good spare tire. As you shop, check with the seller to see what warranties on safety features are still in effect, or if a new one can be purchased at the time of sale.

If the car of your choice is an older model that preceded current features, you may want to know if you can add upgrades to the car to make it safer for your family. Know exactly what can be done to the model and how much extra you can expect to pay. The investment you make now will be worth the protection of your passengers.

To learn more about car safety and how to shop for the most secure car to suit your work and life, consult Safercar.gov, where free brochures are available to answer your concerns.

K. Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach autos and Norfolk used cars.

Author: K. Lively
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Here, we’ll provide you with four simple steps that you can utilize not only to ensur your tires are safe, bu alos to promote their longevity. All it takes is checking them every now and again. You’ll discover that spending a few minutes on a regular basis can help protect you and your passengers over the long run.

Tip 1 – Look For Signs Of Wearing

Due to the constant friction between your treads and the road, the rubber material wears down. Over tens of thousands of miles, the grooves slowly become more shallow. That prevents moisture from channeling through them properly, causing your tires to lose adherence to the road. In wet conditions, that can lead to hydroplaning.

Wear indicators on modern tires make it easry to identify when they need to be repaired. If you’re unable to see indicator bars, you can buy a tread-depth gauge for a few dollars at any auto supply store. Simply stick the gauge into each of your tires‘ grooves every three or four weeks. Once they wear down to 2/32 of an inch, it’s time to replace them. If you drive in inclement weather, you might consider replacing them when they reach 4/32 of an inch.

Tip 2 – Check For The Proper Pressure

Above all other factors, the most common reason for tire failure is a lack of pressure. A lot of people are unaware that a small amount of pressure seeps from between the membranes of their wheels’ rubber. Over the course of a couple of weeks, the pressure loss in undetectable. Over several months, however, it can be substantial.

Besides lowering the overall fuel efficiency of your vehicle, underinflated wheels can affect your car’s steering response. Moreover, it can impact your safety because a lack of sufficient pressure can eventually cause the treads to separate.

Pressure should be checked once a month. If it’s low, fill it to the manufacturer’s recommended psi.

Tip 3 – Rotate Them Twice A Year

Routine tire rotations are important in order to prevent excess tread wear from developing on your front wheels. The majority of vehicles today are front-wheel drive. That means that during operation, most of the pressure is place on the front wheels, causing the treads to deteriorate more quickly than those in the rear.

Get into the habit of rotating your tires twice each year. That will help evenly distribute the wear and tear across your entire set.

Tip 4 – Have The Alignment Checked

Alignment problems can cause excess tread wear over a surprisingly short period of time. The root cause of such problems involves the angles at which your wheels lean. If the camber, castor or toe are aligned improperly, you wll feel your car pulling to one side while trying to drive straigh ahead. In front-wheel drive vehicles, your front tires will suffer the majority of the wear.

You should have any noticeable alignment issues resolved as quickly as possible. They may seem harmless, but their effect on your treads can impact not only your safety, but that of your passengers.

Often, people inadvertently fail to naotice their tires until the treads are worn down to the point where replacing them becomes unavoidable. Follow the provided maintenance suggestion to prolong their life and monitor their condition. Not only will you ensure your safety, but you’ll improve your vehicle’s response and save a few dollars in the process.

It is believed that driving fatigue is a serious factor in many of the motorway road traffic accidents that occur each year. However, whilst it is notoriously difficult for an investigating police officer to prove that a tired driver was a contributing factor in a road traffic collision, studies at the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University show that driver fatigue actually accounts for twenty percent of the traffic accidents that occur on monotonous roads.

Driving after a poor nights sleep, a long day at work or following a heavy meal will make you more susceptible to feeling drowsy whilst at the wheel. So make sure you are well rested and only have a light snack before setting off, and ideally you should also aim to stop every two hours for a fifteen minute rest, to get out of the car and have a good stretch to wake yourself up again before driving off.

Driving long distances on the motorway in the early hours of the morning, where the light from the oncoming car lights can have a hypnotic and tiring effect, or in the middle of the afternoon are traditionally the times when a driver is most likely to feel tired, although it can actually occur at any time of the day or night. Therefore it is important to know how to guard against driver fatigue, and what you need to do should you begin to experience it.

If you do start to feel tired behind the wheel open the window or turn the air conditioning to cold and direct the vent to get a blast of cold air to perk you up, you can also try and turn the stereo up loudly or start up a conversation with your passenger. However, whilst these tricks will perk you up briefly, you will need to find a safe place to stop for a rest.

Test have shown that a short 15 minute power nap, can significantly increase your awareness and alertness levels, however before you settle down for a quick sleep consider drinking a cup of coffee or a high caffeine energy drink first. Normally caffeine takes 20 to 30 minutes to be absorbed into your system, so if you have a caffeinated drink before you fall asleep you will start to feel the affect soon after you wake, and be ready to continue with your journey.

Fatigue whilst driving can happen to any driver, no matter how experienced, at any time of day or night which is why you need to be on your guard for the early warning signs and make sure you have frequent rest stops on long motorway journeys. Otherwise falling asleep at the wheel could be the last thing you ever do.

Jo Alexander is an online, freelance journalist and keen windsurfer. Jo lives by the sea in Essex.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/driving-fatigue-how-to-avoid-tiredness-when-driving-871237.html