Safer Cars Does Not Mean Safer Roads

<p><img align="left" alt="ruinmyweek.com" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-izo-CQkv6-y3EcLXwNgpVXP-hsnYCYLbsBPPp5pTiHOM8FAhyvzYPhRl9osq2rRwQ3fy30P1SZsp-y6W0O6VfJHzWwnggOzfH9IT5qxwyZvMsmyr9W-Hvz1btBvHMO8Z8Ovl4yzxPTLb/w259-h194-no/" style="display: inline; float: left" title="photos by" />These days, it is pretty standard for cars to include top of the line safety features. These range from rear-view cameras, lane departure warnings, traction control and even blind spot detection.</p> <p>Driving a safe vehicle can also mean more money in your pocket as drivers can save on car insurance cost. A car insurance company is generally able to provide more affordable car insurance if your vehicle has safety features. However, safer cars do not necessarily mean safer roads across the country.</p> <p>From January to June, approximately 18,720 people have died on U.S. roads. As a result of a growing economy, people are driving more miles compared to recession level data. Less unemployment means more cars are on the road getting people to and from work and more money for leisure activities. In 2017, Americans traveled 3.22 trillion miles according to the Federal Highway Administration.</p> <p>Factor in more miles driven along with speeding, drug and alcohol impaired driving and distracted driving and the fatality rate is at an all-time high.</p> <p>South Carolina leads the nation in traffic fatality rates per miles traveled. In 2017, the state had 1.88 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, which is almost two times the national average. Illinois reported 1,090 traffic deaths.</p> <p>This trend prompted Governor Rauner to declare August 17 as Traffic Fatality Awareness Day at the Illinois State Fair through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Health, Illinois Secretary of State and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.</p> <p>States across the country have launched similar awareness efforts like Vision Zero. Vision Zero's goal is to strategically eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for everyone.</p> <p>Reducing speed is perhaps the most effective way to reduce the fatalities. Speed increases the distance it takes a car to come to a complete stop. The speed of impact is also directly correlated to the risk of death. The higher the speed of impact, the higher the probability of a passenger dying becomes.</p> <p>Even with lower speeds, it is hard for police officers to enforce these lower limits. Automated cameras are already unpopular and adding more would also be costly.</p> <p>Every year, an estimated 40,000 Americans die on the road. With effective legislation and commitment, we can all work together to reduce that statistic.</p> <p>According to research by the Overseas Development Institute and the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, one way to make progress is to treat traffic fatalities and road safety as a public health issue. The public has to stop blaming drivers for collisions and look to policymakers for ways to help prevent them.</p>

Automotive Safer Cars Does Not Mean Safer Roads

These days, it is pretty standard for cars to include top of the line safety features. These range from rear-view cameras, lane departure wa...

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A New Car Break-In Technique

<p><img align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ8OGcFIJ_FP7tuBo4XdlOSKuTpml2e3L0T7hS3x5-Gd_Mua52BSlO5JlOAsrh3Ae8qgrPNmnyd9ihy69OqUV3G_bB0-CdvUW-qsq3pVyoI5HHhkQ9TRo4f3erB2Srfwbzxd5sZ_vvjfS/w275-h183-no/" style="display: inline; float: left" />We live in a fast pace society and that includes technology development. Technology can be a great tool to make our lives much easier in many ways. However, with great technology comes great responsibility. It is easy for technology to consume your life. It is also easy to abuse and misuse the wonders of technology.</p> <p>With this story, that is the case. Thieves caught on surveillance camera were recorded walking up to cars and yanking on the handles. Usually at this point you would see broken windows or pried open doors. In other words, there would usually be a lot of damage done. But, in this case the thieves seemed to use a compact device to electronically unlock the doors.</p> <p>It is pretty easy to manipulate, according to tech experts, especially since most vehicles use a keyless method to unlock and lock their vehicles. It is easy to create something that manipulates the vehicle into thinking that the owner with the car remote is standing nearby, even when the are not.</p> <p>This case took place in Sauk Village, IL, but it is not unheard of happening in other places. The victims losses included a jujitsu belt and some boxing gloves, estimated around $30. Fortunately, there was not anything extremely valuable to the victim in the vehicle. Again, the thieves left no evidence or damages besides the contents of the glove box being strewn across the passenger seat.</p> <p>Although this new technique can be difficult to prevent, there are a few factors to keep in mind when trying to prevent theft. First, remember to avoid leaving anything valuable in your vehicle, especially when leaving it for the night. If you are running errands and must leave something in your vehicle, experts advise you leave it in the trunk or underneath a towel or blanket.</p> <p>It also helps to install extra security systems and anti-theft devices in your car. It decrease your auto insurance cost and prevent the theft of any belongings. It also helps to add security systems around your home to expose criminals such as the surveillance footage did.</p> <p>Another tip that may reduce the likelihood of a break in is parking your vehicle in a well-lit area. Most thieves will not target a vehicle that is in an area that has relatively bright lighting because it increases the likelihood of them getting caught.</p> <p>It also helps to avoid parking in an otherwise empty area. This also makes your vehicle an easier target to thieves since less people will be around.</p> <p>Remember, car break-ins are fairly common and now technology is making it even easier to unlock and get into vehicles. Always lock your vehicle when leaving it and again, never ever leave valuables such as money or electronics in your car.</p> <p>Additionally, keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior out of people around cars, as this could be criminals at work. Report anything unusual or unsafe to authorities immediately. </p>

Automotive A New Car Break-In Technique

We live in a fast pace society and that includes technology development. Technology can be a great tool to make our lives much easier in man...

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Owning a Car Vs Using Rideshare

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPM3nPR0uIx6U-6xNfnJvcx9KE5X7cis5Cz2zaRzuCnrkYDZm_HaH_3M49c4CgjXgC9X-wm_fHuppbGFvweIBvT2lHRSBkTV5BiYlYYfuVkq6E6uiEADtbLMk4yG1znW0sRVOCnvp2mzR/s1600/internationnal-geneva-cars-salon-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="448" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPM3nPR0uIx6U-6xNfnJvcx9KE5X7cis5Cz2zaRzuCnrkYDZm_HaH_3M49c4CgjXgC9X-wm_fHuppbGFvweIBvT2lHRSBkTV5BiYlYYfuVkq6E6uiEADtbLMk4yG1znW0sRVOCnvp2mzR/s320/internationnal-geneva-cars-salon-2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> It is not a secret that buying, owning, and maintaining a car costs a significant amount of money. Especially now, when gas prices are high and continue to increase. What if you could avoid paying as much as you do right now? Even while still getting to where you need to go?<br /> <br /> Many city dwellers can. In fact, many people from Chicago are already dumping their vehicles and becoming reliant on rideshare. Current research has shown that it is in fact cheaper to use services such as Uber and Lyft in cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, among others.<br /> <br /> However, some people are hesitant to use these services due to all of the negative news stories reporting violent crimes involving drivers of such services. However, some services such as Uber are introducing safety features to help riders feel more comfortable reaching someone in case of emergency. It also helps hold drivers accountable by creating a stronger sense of authority, of being watched.<br /> <br /> There are many benefits to using these rideshare services in bigger cities. In bigger cities drivers tend to have to pay to park their vehicles in addition to other typical costs such as gas, repairs, affordable auto insurance, etc.<br /> <br /> On the other hand, some reports say that the cost of using rideshare will not be cheaper than owning a car until 10 years from now. But, it just depends what is best for the individual budget. In fact, news sites have even developed calculators to see if ridesharing is beneficial to your budget. Another detail that the calculator includes is the cost of time. A detail often overlooked by the monetary costs of things, but a detail equally, if not more valuable to people.<br /> <br /> Additionally, there are options to "pool" with other rideshare users to eliminate even more costs. This option is not always the best depending on the intentions of your trip, but can be especially helpful for the commute to work, for example.<br /> <br /> The increase in regular rideshare users creates another problem, unfortunately. The amount of cars picking up passengers has disrupted the flow of traffic in certain regions of the city, especially in Chicago. They have even increased fines of traffic violations.<br /> <br /> The tickets and gas prices also seem to be turning away some drivers as they pay out of pocket for each item, in addition to possible rideshare insurance. But, drivers who discover that there is a growth in the city population using their services may attract attention to drivers hoping to make more money.<br /> <br /> This then creates an issue for rideshare companies who are already struggling to pay their workers. Companies such as Uber who are providing benefits to European drivers, the costs will not go down anytime soon for them.<br /> <br /> Overall, it may benefit the individual to utilize rideshare instead of owning a personal vehicle. But, there are many factors to take into account before switching over, both personally and the industry in whole. Rideshare is undoubtedly a hot topic at this time and does not appear to be dying down anytime soon.<br /> <div> <br /></div>

Automotive Owning a Car Vs Using Rideshare

It is not a secret that buying, owning, and maintaining a car costs a significant amount of money. Especially now, when gas prices are hig...

Read more »