Selfie alarm
If you are alarmed about drivers taking selfies while they have their hands on the wheel and their foot on the gas pedal, you aren’t alone. The Zebra shares your concerns and has introduced a product designed to discourage the practice and ultimately make the roads safer. The In-Car Selfie Prevention Alarm (ICSPA) uses connected technology to monitor for high levels of vanity – for instance, how often drivers check themselves out in the rearview mirror, how many photos are in their smart phones’ selfie albums, and even how many cosmetic products are in the vicinity – within a vehicle. When such activities exceed a safe threshold, a kill switch is activated on the driver’s smartphone. Continued monitoring may activate safe braking and parking if the driver doesn’t become more engaged in his or her driving. The company intends to use its funding efforts to produce millions of free ICSPAs for cars nationwide for drivers who find their car insurance through TheZebra.com.
Under pressure
The National Safety Council recently released survey results showing that 82 percent of Americans feel the most pressure from their families to drive distracted. Two-thirds of drivers reported feeling unsafe because of another driver’s distraction, but far fewer – just 25 percent – recognized that their own distractions have put themselves or others at risk. The dangers of using cell phones – even hands-free – while driving have been understood for years, yet today there are more ways than ever to stay connected behind the wheel. In-vehicle systems allow drivers to call, text, email, update social media and browse the Internet, despite research showing these systems cause distraction that can linger long after the driver finishes the task. That said, 55 percent of drivers said if their vehicle or phone came with a technology solution to prevent distraction, they would not turn it off.
Other key findings from the poll include:
- 54 percent of drivers feel pressure from work to drive distracted.
- Of the teen drivers surveyed, 73 percent said their friends put the most pressure on them to drive distracted (71 percent said their family puts the most pressure on them.)
- 74 percent of drivers admitted they would use Facebook behind the wheel.
- One in 4 drivers said they would feel much better about their drive if there was no way to use technology behind the wheel.
- 66 percent of drivers would talk on the phone while driving through a parking lot, which can be a chaotic environment with many hazards.
Service, please
When it comes to auto care, 80 percent of vehicles require service, a new part and/or repair, according to the Car Care Council, which reports that vehicles inspected at community car care events held throughout the country in 2015 failed one or more aspects of the inspection process. Some areas posting the highest failure rates include:
- Low fluid levels (washer fluid 26 percent, engine oil 23 percent and coolant 19 percent)
- Clogged or dirty air filters (19 percent)
- Illuminated check engine light (13 percent)
- Worn belts (13 percent)
- In need of battery service (13 percent) and wiper blade replacement (12 percent).
For more information visit www.carcare.org.
Strike prevention
Kiekert AG, an automotive locking systems manufacturer, has developed an electromechanical door protection function called i-protect, a technology designed to prevent a car door from unintentionally striking nearby obstacles, The system was developed from concept to prototype in just six months. The i-protect sensors and the door-brake system work together to ensure collision avoidance. On-board vehicle electronics evaluate the signal and send a stop command directly to the door check when an nearby obstacle is detected. The i-protect stopping mechanism controls arresters on the door hinges and can stop the door electromagnetically when necessary, just centimeters away from an obstacle. The technology reportedly recognizes static objects of any size or shape within the swing range of the door.
Tire maintenance
It may be August, but basic automotive maintenance important year round, particularly given the damage to roads caused by the winter season. For instance, if a vehicle – including its tires – is not properly maintained, a pothole can cause significant damage to one’s tires, suspension, steering system and even the engine. Hankook Tire offers the following checklist for drivers:
- Check your tires regularly. A recent Hankook Tire Gauge Index (a quarterly survey of Americans that uncovers their attitudes and opinions about all things related to driving) reveals that 51 percent of Americans do not regularly check their tire pressure and 33 percent do not know how. For best performance, Hankook recommends inflating the vehicle’s tires to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure. This information can be found in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
- Learn to change a tire. About 40 percent of all drivers (and 60 percent of all female drivers) reportedly do not know how to change a flat tire. Furthermore, 17 percent of drivers between 18 and 34 years do not have a spare in their car or are not sure where it is located.
- Select an appropriate tire.
Self-driving Ubers
Uber is testing a self-driving car on public streets in Pittsburgh, according to an Associated Press article. Uber reports it has outfitted a Ford Fusion hybrid with radars, laser scanners and high-resolution cameras and is using the car to test self-driving capability and collect mapping data. For now, though, a trained driver remains behind the wheel to ensure safety. The San Francisco, Calif.-based company selected Pittsburgh as the testing ground because it has a wide variety of weather and road types. Plus, Uber announced a partnership with Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University last year and has opened its own Advanced Technologies Center, which is led by a former Carnegie Mellon robotics engineer.