A new report takes a look at some of the apps that drivers who just can’t stop themselves from texting and driving might be able to take advantage of.  First up is TextLimit, a website that allows subscribers to control exactly what phone functions are allowed at the wheel and at what speed.  DriveSafe.ly aims to allow the driver to communicate with text senders by way of reading incoming messages aloud to the driver.  In the meantime, an auto-response is sent to the texter.  Textecution targets parents of teenage drivers and allows an administrator to set a password in order to allow texting function while driving.  Until that password is entered, the teen driver won’t be able to text so long as their vehicle travels more than ten miles per hour.

For more about these apps, follow this link.

For those attempting to get on the right side of handheld texting and driving bans, there are many technological options to consider.  One such device is Gripgo, which has been reviewed in a report out of Virginia.  A couple of taxi drivers were tasked with taking the device for a spin, and they acknowledged the benefit of having a phone readily available in a manner that didn’t take focus off the road.  But even though devices such as this seek to eliminate handheld communications, a member of the Sheriff’s Office of Kanawha County stresses the fact that a driver could still be distracted even with such a device.  He wants people to be cognizant of the fact that even a hands-free distraction can endanger oneself as well as nearby commuters.

For more about Gripgo, click here.

One of the creators of the popular iPhone application known as Siri has taken issue with a Texas Transportation Institute study that found hands-free texting can be just as dangerous as manual texting and driving.  The Southwest Region University Transportation Center sponsored the study, which found that reaction times were increased at similar levels whether the driver was using voice commands or typing in a text.  But the aforementioned Siri creator explains what he sees as a crucial flaw with the research.  He says that the study mistakenly assumes that all drivers’ eyes are going to be busy when composing the voice message.  However, he believes that someone truly only using the voice-activated functions of the app will be much safer than someone looking away to input a manual text.

Click here to learn more.

A new article takes a look at an anti-texting and driving technology that pretty much takes temptation out of the equation entirely.  Known as the ORIGOSafe, the device is geared toward employers, parents of teens, and those people who know they absolutely won’t be able to help themselves from texting at the wheel.  The device is basically a small box that hooks up to your car.  You program it to disable engine starting capabilities until such time that you plug your phone in.  Texting capabilities will be disabled, and if the driver removes the phone while in transit, not only will the driver be confronted with an alarm, but the parent or employer of the driver (or some other administrator) will learn of the offense through an alert.  But at $279, will this be technology that gets widely adopted?

For more information, follow this link.

Volvo was on hand at the Geneva Motor Show last week to announce an onboard technology that aims to limit the danger posed to cyclists by vehicles.  The technology utilizes a forward-facing camera and a radar in the grille of the automobile to detect cyclists that are coming up in the road.  Once a person on a bicycle has been detected, the automobile operator will receive a signal from the system, and if action isn’t taken, the brakes will automatically be pressed.  Three years ago, the auto company unfurled a similar system that aims to detect pedestrians in the path of danger, but this more advanced technology has a higher price tag due to its requiring a greater processor.

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A new article takes a look at an anti-texting and driving system known as Text Buster.  However, its price point might be sufficiently high as to put off many drivers.  Text Buster is basically a device that one can install in a vehicle in order to disable those cellphone functions that typically create the biggest distractions.  When the driver starts their automobile, texting and even internet activity are automatically switched off by Text Buster.  The device is seen as more beneficial than an app that would be unable to determine the status of a vehicle, but such technology isn’t cheap: $180.  Still, it appears that employers are some of the biggest buyers of this system, as it allows them to be sure their workers aren’t texting at the wheel.

For more information, follow this link.

A new report comes to the conclusion that the largest vehicles on the road tend to also be the safest, but this fact is somewhat disappointing when you consider that large SUVs and trucks have fallen somewhat out of vogue because of their high price tag and propensity to blow through gas quickly.  A spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explains that small cars are not the best choice for the most safety-conscious consumers, a statement backed up by Insure.com, whose rankings of the five safest vehicles include the Porsche Cayenne and four large GMCs.  Consumers are also advised to think about insurance rates before they buy their vehicle.  A smaller automobile might not make as much of a dent in your wallet, but you could make up the difference when it comes to higher insurance rates you’ll have to pay.

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Electric vehicles are increasingly being touted for their ability to cut down on gas prices and aid the environment, but such automobiles are relatively quiet.  It’s this lack of noise that has caused concern among the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  To help protect pedestrians and cyclists who might not be properly warned of an oncoming vehicle because of the lack of emitted noise, the NHTSA has introduced a rule that would mandate such sounds when the vehicle travels under 18 miles per hour.  A final ruling will be made once the public has a chance to comment on the proposal.  Automakers will be offered a cadre of noises to choose from.

For more information, follow this link.

An Australian company has unveiled a device that they believe can greatly improve road safety, and the technology will soon receive funding from Cisco and a Dutch company known as NXP.  Cohda Wireless is responsible for the promising system, which can reportedly improve the connectivity necessary for onboard vehicle sensors to communicate with infrastructure along the roads.  By increasing both the range of such technologies and the data that is allowed to be transferred, the hope is that unseen obstacles such as tight curves or upcoming vehicles will be made known to the car and driver and an accident can be prevented.

For more information, follow this link.

A new article delves into some of the new technologies being rolled out in 2013 and 2014 model year vehicles, and the section dedicated to safety in particular caught our attention.  First, the 2014 version of the Ford Fiesta will be the first vehicle of that type to be equipped with MyKey.  This system allows parents to limit the ability of teenagers to engage in certain activities.  A maximum speed limit can be set, and a warning of low levels of gasoline can be set to activate before fuel gets truly low.  And the Mercedes S-Class will be equipped with something called DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist.  This is basically a cruise control that also keeps the vehicle in the proper lane on straightaways and less intensive curves.

Click here to learn more.

Persons who frequently travel on airplanes are likely fed up with their inability to activate mobile electronic devices while in the midst of a flight.  However, there’s now a possibility that the rules that govern this behavior could change.  The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has thrown his two cents in, and he apparently wants the Federal Aviation Administration to look into how flight policies in regards to mobile device activation could be relaxed.  The FAA announced its intention to revisit these rules this past summer, but their research into different standards is only in the initial phases.  The threat to safety posed is widely considered to be fairly low, especially since the rules are likely ignored by many commuters anyway.

Click here for more information.

With vehicles becoming safer than ever, automobile manufacturers are now trying to figure out how they can determine the health of the person behind the wheel.  Through the use of biometric sensors, automakers like Ford, Toyota, and Mercedes hope to be able to get an accurate reading of the state of mind (and body) of the driver.  We could soon be living in a world where the steering wheel is able to gauge heart rate and body temperature, where cameras on the dashboard can evaluate whether or not you’re paying attention to the road, or where media screens in the dash can alert the driver to a drop in blood sugar.

Follow this link for more about the recall.

We don’t recommend necessarily going out and putting together your own bike, especially if you’re not an expert on such matters, but a recent story caught our attention because it shows the ambitious safety measures that can be put in place should one set their mind to the task.  For about $150 plus some labor, a blogger was recently able to turn a standard bicycle into a conveyance that was sure to catch the attention of motorists.  She installed a strobe light, brake lights, and even working turn signals to increase visibility and help alert drivers to the cyclist’s intentions, and a speedometer to keep track of safe speed.  A guide has even been made available to all those persons who would like to do something similar.

Click here to learn more about the bike.

The National Transportation Safety Board has declared that they would like to see collision avoidance systems come standard on all automobiles, including both standard vehicles and commercial vehicles.  Some of the technologies which the NTSB would like to see become the norm are electronic stability control, lane departure warnings, adaptive cruise control, forward collision systems, and in the case of commercial trucks, speed limiters and tire pressure monitoring technology.  These requests were detailed in a letter to the current administration.  Automobile manufacturers, however, are not too keen; the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers believes that making such tech standard would increase the price tag of vehicles by thousands of dollars, something they say is not warranted in a tough economy.

To learn more, follow this link.

A new article provides consumers with a list of what Inside Line believes to be the best new features that drivers can expect in vehicles of the 2013 model year, and some features look to have a marked impact on safety.  At the top of the list is a blind spot camera that can be found on the passenger side mirror of certain Honda Accords.  The moment a driver signals that they’re turning right, the camera displays its feed directly onto the vehicle’s display screen.  Other safety features included within the list are a Cadillac active collision prevention system designed for times when a vehicle backs up and a Nissan system designed to let drivers know when air pressure in tires is satisfactory so that they don’t overfill.

Click here to see the rest of the list.

A new app created by a company based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota provides actual incentives to teenagers who opt to refrain from texting or engaging in other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel.  DriveScribe keeps track of a teen’s speed and other behavior while they drive.  If the app deduces that some type of violation has been had, then parents can opt to be notified via text message or email alert.  However, positive reinforcement comes in the form of points that can be exchanged by teenagers for things like gift cards or other prizes.

Click here to learn more about the device.

Leaf collection trucks have had to be taken out of service in Menasha, Wisconsin and nearby areas, but officials from the State Patrol and the city have devised a way to correct a potential safety issue.  Because the trucks use vacuum tubes on the front of the vehicles to collect the leaves, it was determined that they actually are in breach of state law due to the potential for the component to compromise the vision of the driver.  Now, though, a hinge that would move the component out of the way has been created and awaits approval from the Transportation Department.

Follow this link for more information.

Vehicles that operate by utilizing natural gas were once considered by some to be unsafe, but that perception is beginning to change now that many fleets have made the move to such vehicles without incident.  Because it takes 1,200 degrees to ignite, it’s highly inflammable, and the tanks that hold it are hard to pierce, natural gas is now widely considered to be safe by many fleet operators.  The Natural Gas Fleet Vehicles North American Congress was recently held, and many attendees spoke about their experience making the transition.

To learn more, follow this link.

The company Origo has introduced its aptly named Origo system, a commercial device designed to help regulate mobile phone use behind the wheel. The targets of the system are large commercial fleets where the owners of the vehicles have incentive to keep the drivers focused so as to improve safety. Origo will stop the vehicle if it detects too many attempts to use a mobile device.  It can be controlled via a centralized application called OrigoCommand.

Click here to learn more about the technology.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, 64 lucky volunteers have been given a year of free car usage. One woman who received a Mercedes Benz recently spoke about the pleasant surprise. The operation is all part of a study being conducted by a consortium of automobile manufacturers and the Transportation Research Institute at the University of Michigan. The Safety Pilot Model Deployment project has equipped the donated cars with sensors, cameras, and other recording devices as part of an effort to test technology that alerts the driver to perceived unsafe conditions.

Click here for more information.