Part One: type three
FCA's:
1.Describe the steps you used in changing your tire.
2.Describe the safety components involved in changing a tire.
3. Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
The first thing you need to do in order to change a tire is to have the car on flat ground and have the parking rake on. Then, you take a wrench and loosen the lug nuts half a turn. Next, with the crank handle, raise the jack to a place where it can still be put under the car. Make sure you get the car so its just off the ground. After, take off the lug nuts and lift the tire slightly so you can take off the tire. When the tire is taken off, put it to the side and place the spare tire on to the lugs. Next, using the wrench, tighten the lug nuts on the lugs and when possible ask for the mechanic to tighten them further. Finally, put the old tire in your trunk or the place where your spare tire was stored.
Part Two: type three
FCA's:
1 Describe the following types of coverages: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured and under insured bodily and property damage liability, and the term deductible and how it relates to collision and comprehensive coverages.
2.Describe what the state of Vermont requires for automobile insurance.
3Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation
Bodily injury liability covers your legal fees whether or not you were at fault and pays for injuries caused to the other people. Property Damage Liability pays for the damage to property of others and covers fees whether or not they were your fault. Collision insurance pays for repairing or replacing your vehicle. Comprehensive Insurance protects your car against damage by theft, vandalism, fire, flood, earthquake, vandalism etc. Uninsured and Under insured bodily and property damage liability covers damages done to you or your property by a driver who does not have insurance or doesn't have insurance that covers the certain incident. The amount for the insured is responsible for is a deductible. This relates to Collision or Comprehensive insurance because if the damage to your car is a thousand dollars and your deductible is two-hundred and fifty dollars, then your insurance will give you seven-hundred and fifty dollars and you would have to pay the rest.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Crash Site Final
Crash Site Final
7/28/07
Among the millions of people in the United States; the number one cause of death is motor vehicle accidents. New divers have the highest crash rate and crashes are twice as likely when another passenger is a teenager. For every teen killed in a motor vehicle accident, about one-hundred other people suffer from non-fatal injuries. My assignment was to find out what role I played in a crash by going to different people (doctor, lawyer, police and school). I would get key information about the crash and other important details having to do with accidents.
I first decided to visit the doctor because I wanted to find more about want did and could have happened to me. I learned that if someone has a head injury; it could last a lifetime, how marijuana affects the brain and how alcohol affects the brain. Head injuries can make you not concentrate, have loss of smell or taste, you could have mood swings and you could have difficulty with motor skills. Marijuana affects your brain and body by misjudging certain things on the road, emotional disruption and memory loss. On the other hand, alcohol affects your brain by poor judgment, bad decisions and slowed messages to the brain.
Next, I visited the lawyer because I wanted to know what the penalties of driving actions are and what I would be getting myself into economically. I found out that if someone was caught drinking & driving then they could end up paying thousands of dollars in insurance costs, defense attorney, alcohol education program, fines, car towing, car storage, restricted license fee, court costs, funds for head injuries and probation fees. Also, I leaned that when you have to go to court you have a big process to do like plaintiffs and defendants case and cross-examines.
After, I visited the police because I wanted to know what kind of things I would have to deal with if the police were involved. I learned how to recognize impaired drivers by making wide turns, slow response to traffic, having headlights off, drifting, following too close, weaving and/or swerving. It’s not certain that the driver is impaired is there doing these things. Also, I leaned that when in order for certain states to receive federal money they need to have a zero tolerance law for underage drinkers which means that if a teen has had only one drink they could be arrested. When you get caught drinking & driving, you have to go through a long process that starts from getting pulled over to getting sentenced.
Finally, I visited the school because I wanted to find out some safe ways to avoid drinking & driving. I learned from the school that when someone is caught drinking & driving or has been involved in a collision, they go through many emotional changes like feeling guilty, empty, sad etc. I also learned that there are safe alternatives to letting someone get into a car drunk. Some safe alternatives would be taking the keys from the impaired person, finding another driver, delaying the driver and/ or using another angle.
In the crash, I was the bicyclist hit. I suffered head-injuries and some memory loss. My opinion on drinking is that when your in the appropriate place and age, its fine but when it is over used I don't agree with it. I also don't agree with using drugs but people can do whatever they want to do, but i personally don't agree with it.
"Source" ( Crash Site CD developed by Inflexxion)
7/28/07
Among the millions of people in the United States; the number one cause of death is motor vehicle accidents. New divers have the highest crash rate and crashes are twice as likely when another passenger is a teenager. For every teen killed in a motor vehicle accident, about one-hundred other people suffer from non-fatal injuries. My assignment was to find out what role I played in a crash by going to different people (doctor, lawyer, police and school). I would get key information about the crash and other important details having to do with accidents.
I first decided to visit the doctor because I wanted to find more about want did and could have happened to me. I learned that if someone has a head injury; it could last a lifetime, how marijuana affects the brain and how alcohol affects the brain. Head injuries can make you not concentrate, have loss of smell or taste, you could have mood swings and you could have difficulty with motor skills. Marijuana affects your brain and body by misjudging certain things on the road, emotional disruption and memory loss. On the other hand, alcohol affects your brain by poor judgment, bad decisions and slowed messages to the brain.
Next, I visited the lawyer because I wanted to know what the penalties of driving actions are and what I would be getting myself into economically. I found out that if someone was caught drinking & driving then they could end up paying thousands of dollars in insurance costs, defense attorney, alcohol education program, fines, car towing, car storage, restricted license fee, court costs, funds for head injuries and probation fees. Also, I leaned that when you have to go to court you have a big process to do like plaintiffs and defendants case and cross-examines.
After, I visited the police because I wanted to know what kind of things I would have to deal with if the police were involved. I learned how to recognize impaired drivers by making wide turns, slow response to traffic, having headlights off, drifting, following too close, weaving and/or swerving. It’s not certain that the driver is impaired is there doing these things. Also, I leaned that when in order for certain states to receive federal money they need to have a zero tolerance law for underage drinkers which means that if a teen has had only one drink they could be arrested. When you get caught drinking & driving, you have to go through a long process that starts from getting pulled over to getting sentenced.
Finally, I visited the school because I wanted to find out some safe ways to avoid drinking & driving. I learned from the school that when someone is caught drinking & driving or has been involved in a collision, they go through many emotional changes like feeling guilty, empty, sad etc. I also learned that there are safe alternatives to letting someone get into a car drunk. Some safe alternatives would be taking the keys from the impaired person, finding another driver, delaying the driver and/ or using another angle.
In the crash, I was the bicyclist hit. I suffered head-injuries and some memory loss. My opinion on drinking is that when your in the appropriate place and age, its fine but when it is over used I don't agree with it. I also don't agree with using drugs but people can do whatever they want to do, but i personally don't agree with it.
"Source" ( Crash Site CD developed by Inflexxion)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Assignment 9/23
Part One:
The 8 areas where it is illegal to pass another vehicle are:
1.Curves - it is unsafe to pass on a curve because you can see what is in your left front zone in order to safely pass.
2.Hills- it is unsafe to pass on a hill because you can see in any of your frontal zones to make a safe and secure pass.
3.Tunnels- it is unsafe to pass in a tunnel because tunnels are usually dark and you can't see far enough ahead to know whether anything is coming.
4.Intersections- it is unsafe to pass at an intersection because someone could be pulling out without you knowing and could end up hitting you.
5.Rail Road Crossings- it is unsafe to pass at a rail road crossing because you can't see if there's a train ahead to safely pass.
6.Bridges- it is unsafe to pass on a bridge because you always cant see whats in front of the car in front of you to do a secure pass
7.No Passing Zones- it is not safe to pass in a no passing zone because if the law is posted there's probably a good reason why your not supposed to pass like reasons listed above.
8.Oncoming Traffic is Present- it is unsafe to pass when oncoming traffic is present because you could easily hit the oncoming car by pulling out.
Part Two: Type Two
Car traveling 60 mph- 90 feet/second
Car traveling 40 mph- 60 feet/ second
* 40 mph= 180 feet
Part Three: First Article-
Turnpike Authority To Review O'Neill Tunnel Design
(AP) BOSTON The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is investigating the geometry of the Tip O'Neill Tunnel after an activist citizen proved to state officials, using their own data, that there have been significantly more car accidents in the new tunnel compared to nearby tunnels.There were 614 crashes in the new O'Neill tunnel in a two-year period ending in February, compared with 28 crashes in the same period in the aging Callahan and Sumner tunnels, according to statistics Boston activist Vincent Zarrilli obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request which he supplied to The Associated Press.The O'Neill tunnel, part of Interstate 93, is about 1.5 miles long, the older tunnels, which link downtown to Logan airport, are about a mile long.The MTA has launched an evaluation of the accident data and the geometry of the highway and tunnel, authority chief of staff Stephen Collins wrote in a July 20 letter to Zarrilli."This engineering evaluation includes an assessment of the pavement condition, horizontal and vertical curvature, sight distances, signage, lighting, and all engineering aspects of the roadway and tunnel," Collins wrote.The letter thanks Zarrilli for his "diligence and concern for public safety.""I can assure you that public safety is of utmost concern to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and that safety issues identified in the engineering analysis will be appropriately addressed by the Authority," he wrote.Authority spokesman John Lamontagne said the Turnpike Authority "feels confident that the Tip O'Neill tunnel is a safe part of the highway. We're constantly evaluating the tunnel to determine if there are ways we can enhance driver safety." He declined further comment.The tunnel was named for late House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., one of the political fathers of the Big Dig project. The tunnel carries traffic along Interstate 93, to and from the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.Zarrilli, a longtime civic activist who once proposed an alternative project to the Big Dig, said he wants to see the speed limit in the O'Neill tunnel reduced from 45 mph to 30 mph."They can erect signs before one enters the tunnel saying speed strictly enforced by video monitoring," he said in phone interview Monday. "If that signage were to take place the number of accidents per month would be reduced."Zarrilli said he's pleased that state officials are taking his concerns seriously."I'll stay right on top of it," he said, referring to his frequent requests for public documents revealing accident data. "The public does deserve to know."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )
http://wbztv.com/bigdig/local_story_204193733.html
My opinion on this article is that they should be watching how people drive in the tunnel and not go straight to the geometry because I don't think that the geometry is the problem. When people are in a rush and they need to go through a tunnel there more likely to pass others to create a faster time. If this is to the reason then they should tell people what the incidents involved to try and fix it that way.
Article Two-
SUVs Improve In Rear Crash Tests
Study Finds Most Pickups, Minivans, SUVs Fail
POSTED: 8:39 am EDT July 3, 2007
UPDATED: 12:48 pm EDT July 3, 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Most seat and head restraint designs in SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans were rated marginal or poor, according to new crash test data released Tuesday.
The latest evaluations of occupant protection in rear-end collisions by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that the seat and head restraints in more than half of light truck and minivan models fall short of state-of-the-art protection from neck injury or whiplash.
According to the IIHS, seat and head restraint combinations in SUVs made by Subaru and Volvo and new designs from Acura, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai earned good ratings, the top rating the IIHS gives.
Seat and head restraints in three minivan models from Hyundai and Ford earn good ratings. The redesigned Toyota Tundra is the only pickup model evaluated with seat/head restraints rated good for rear crash protection.
The designs of seats and head restraints in 21 models were rated good, with an other 12 rated as acceptable. Those in 54 other models are rated marginal or poor.
The ratings of good, acceptable, marginal or poor for 87 current models are based on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that together assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in a typical rear crash.
"In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than any other crash type," said David Zuby, senior vice president of the Institute's Vehicle Research Center. "It's not a major feat of engineering to design seats and head restraints that afford good protection in these common crashes."
Rear-end collisions are frequent, and neck injuries are the most common injuries reported in auto crashes. They account for 2 million insurance claims each year, costing at least $8.5 billion. Such injuries aren't usually life-threatening, but they can be painful and debilitating.
How Whiplash Works
When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, its seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, an occupant's head will lag behind this forward torso movement, and the differential motion causes the neck to bend and stretch.
The higher the torso acceleration, the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.
The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together. To accomplish this, the geometry of a head restraint has to be adequate -- high enough to be near the back of the head.
Then the seat structure and stiffness characteristics must be designed to work in concert with the head restraint to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is pushed forward.
SUVs Improve
In the latest evaluations, the seat and head restraint combinations in 17 of 59 SUV models are rated good, five are acceptable, 14 are marginal, and 23 are rated poor. In minivans, seat and head restraints in three models are rated good, two are acceptable, one is marginal, and five are rated poor. In pickups one is good, five are acceptable, five are marginal, and six are rated poor. While there hasn't been much overall improvement among pickups and minivans since the last time the Institute evaluated protection in rear crashes, the performance of the seat/head restraints in SUVs is much better. In 2006 those in only 6 of 44 SUV models earned a good rating.
"The reason may be that automakers have updated or introduced many new SUVs since 2006, but minivans and pickups are being updated more slowly," Zuby points out.
In the latest tests seat/head restraints in the Mitsubishi Outlander improved to good from the previous design that was rated acceptable. Those in the Acura MDX, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorento improved from their previous ratings of poor to good. Those in the Honda Pilot and Mercedes M class improved from marginal to good. The seat/head restraints in the Toyota Tundra pickup improved to good from acceptable.
In contrast some manufacturers have introduced new models with subpar seat designs. The ones in the BMW X5, Dodge Nitro, and Suzuki XL7 are rated poor. Those in the new Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 are rated marginal. Under the new phase-in schedule, manufacturers must start to fit better front-seat head restraints in 80 percent of their models beginning in September 2009. Front-seat head restraints in all new vehicles made after September 2010 must comply.
"There's lots of room for improvement in the designs of seats and head restraints," Zuby said. "We know many manufacturers are trying to fit better head restraints in their vehicles, and some have been working with us to boost their ratings as they introduce new models. Some manufacturers were waiting for resolution of regulatory issues before fitting better designs in their vehicles. And some didn't get changes made in time for the Institute's tests."
Zuby said that BMW plans to redesign the seats in the X5 and X3 SUVs to earn better ratings for the 2008 model year.
"The Institute's evaluations of seat and head restraint designs suggest that the worldwide attention is yielding results," Zuby said. "We're seeing more seat and head restraints rated good and acceptable than we used to. It's clear that many foreign and domestic automakers are moving in the right direction."
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My feelings on this article are that its good to let the public know that certain vehicles are not as safe as others. If the public didn't know then, more people could buy big trucks & SUV's and end up killing people when it was because they weren't informed. Letting the public know that some trucks are not are safe as others will help more people be safe.
Third Article-
Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Crash
Driver, Passenger Unhurt
POSTED: 5:57 am EDT June 21, 2007
UPDATED: 6:51 am EDT June 21, 2007
BOSTON -- State Police said they arrested and charged a Springfield, Mass., man with attempted murder and assault Wednesday for allegedly running his BMW off the road on purpose during a fight with a female passenger.
Troopers said they responded to a report of an single-car accident about 8:45 p.m. on Route 90 westbound, west of interchange 7, in Ludlow.
Officers said their investigation showed that Harold D. Palmer, 64, of Springfield, was operating a 2000 BMW 323I on Route 90 West when he became involved in an altercation with his adult female passenger.
At some point, troopers alleged, Palmer purposely drove the BMW off the right shoulder of the roadway and into the wood-line striking several trees.
Both Palmer and the adult female passenger were wearing safety belts at the time of the crash and were uninjured in the crash.
Palmer was arrested and taken to the State Police Barracks in Charlton were he was booked for attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a car), domestic assault and battery, operating to endanger and a lanes violation.
Palmer was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Palmer District Court.
This crash remains under investigation.
Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I think this article shows how some people can be so stupid when driving. You don't use a car as weapon unless you life is at risk. The man that purposely drove off the road after an altercation was being irresponsible and deserves to be penalized. He needs to deal with the consequences to acting immature and putting someone else in danger.
The 8 areas where it is illegal to pass another vehicle are:
1.Curves - it is unsafe to pass on a curve because you can see what is in your left front zone in order to safely pass.
2.Hills- it is unsafe to pass on a hill because you can see in any of your frontal zones to make a safe and secure pass.
3.Tunnels- it is unsafe to pass in a tunnel because tunnels are usually dark and you can't see far enough ahead to know whether anything is coming.
4.Intersections- it is unsafe to pass at an intersection because someone could be pulling out without you knowing and could end up hitting you.
5.Rail Road Crossings- it is unsafe to pass at a rail road crossing because you can't see if there's a train ahead to safely pass.
6.Bridges- it is unsafe to pass on a bridge because you always cant see whats in front of the car in front of you to do a secure pass
7.No Passing Zones- it is not safe to pass in a no passing zone because if the law is posted there's probably a good reason why your not supposed to pass like reasons listed above.
8.Oncoming Traffic is Present- it is unsafe to pass when oncoming traffic is present because you could easily hit the oncoming car by pulling out.
Part Two: Type Two
Car traveling 60 mph- 90 feet/second
Car traveling 40 mph- 60 feet/ second
* 40 mph= 180 feet
Part Three: First Article-
Turnpike Authority To Review O'Neill Tunnel Design
(AP) BOSTON The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is investigating the geometry of the Tip O'Neill Tunnel after an activist citizen proved to state officials, using their own data, that there have been significantly more car accidents in the new tunnel compared to nearby tunnels.There were 614 crashes in the new O'Neill tunnel in a two-year period ending in February, compared with 28 crashes in the same period in the aging Callahan and Sumner tunnels, according to statistics Boston activist Vincent Zarrilli obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request which he supplied to The Associated Press.The O'Neill tunnel, part of Interstate 93, is about 1.5 miles long, the older tunnels, which link downtown to Logan airport, are about a mile long.The MTA has launched an evaluation of the accident data and the geometry of the highway and tunnel, authority chief of staff Stephen Collins wrote in a July 20 letter to Zarrilli."This engineering evaluation includes an assessment of the pavement condition, horizontal and vertical curvature, sight distances, signage, lighting, and all engineering aspects of the roadway and tunnel," Collins wrote.The letter thanks Zarrilli for his "diligence and concern for public safety.""I can assure you that public safety is of utmost concern to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and that safety issues identified in the engineering analysis will be appropriately addressed by the Authority," he wrote.Authority spokesman John Lamontagne said the Turnpike Authority "feels confident that the Tip O'Neill tunnel is a safe part of the highway. We're constantly evaluating the tunnel to determine if there are ways we can enhance driver safety." He declined further comment.The tunnel was named for late House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr., one of the political fathers of the Big Dig project. The tunnel carries traffic along Interstate 93, to and from the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.Zarrilli, a longtime civic activist who once proposed an alternative project to the Big Dig, said he wants to see the speed limit in the O'Neill tunnel reduced from 45 mph to 30 mph."They can erect signs before one enters the tunnel saying speed strictly enforced by video monitoring," he said in phone interview Monday. "If that signage were to take place the number of accidents per month would be reduced."Zarrilli said he's pleased that state officials are taking his concerns seriously."I'll stay right on top of it," he said, referring to his frequent requests for public documents revealing accident data. "The public does deserve to know."
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )
http://wbztv.com/bigdig/local_story_204193733.html
My opinion on this article is that they should be watching how people drive in the tunnel and not go straight to the geometry because I don't think that the geometry is the problem. When people are in a rush and they need to go through a tunnel there more likely to pass others to create a faster time. If this is to the reason then they should tell people what the incidents involved to try and fix it that way.
Article Two-
SUVs Improve In Rear Crash Tests
Study Finds Most Pickups, Minivans, SUVs Fail
POSTED: 8:39 am EDT July 3, 2007
UPDATED: 12:48 pm EDT July 3, 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Most seat and head restraint designs in SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans were rated marginal or poor, according to new crash test data released Tuesday.
The latest evaluations of occupant protection in rear-end collisions by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that the seat and head restraints in more than half of light truck and minivan models fall short of state-of-the-art protection from neck injury or whiplash.
According to the IIHS, seat and head restraint combinations in SUVs made by Subaru and Volvo and new designs from Acura, Ford, Honda, and Hyundai earned good ratings, the top rating the IIHS gives.
Seat and head restraints in three minivan models from Hyundai and Ford earn good ratings. The redesigned Toyota Tundra is the only pickup model evaluated with seat/head restraints rated good for rear crash protection.
The designs of seats and head restraints in 21 models were rated good, with an other 12 rated as acceptable. Those in 54 other models are rated marginal or poor.
The ratings of good, acceptable, marginal or poor for 87 current models are based on geometric measurements of head restraints and simulated crashes that together assess how well people of different sizes would be protected in a typical rear crash.
"In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than any other crash type," said David Zuby, senior vice president of the Institute's Vehicle Research Center. "It's not a major feat of engineering to design seats and head restraints that afford good protection in these common crashes."
Rear-end collisions are frequent, and neck injuries are the most common injuries reported in auto crashes. They account for 2 million insurance claims each year, costing at least $8.5 billion. Such injuries aren't usually life-threatening, but they can be painful and debilitating.
How Whiplash Works
When a vehicle is struck in the rear and driven forward, its seats accelerate occupants' torsos forward. Unsupported, an occupant's head will lag behind this forward torso movement, and the differential motion causes the neck to bend and stretch.
The higher the torso acceleration, the more sudden the motion, the higher the forces on the neck, and the more likely a neck injury is to occur.
The key to reducing whiplash injury risk is to keep the head and torso moving together. To accomplish this, the geometry of a head restraint has to be adequate -- high enough to be near the back of the head.
Then the seat structure and stiffness characteristics must be designed to work in concert with the head restraint to support an occupant's neck and head, accelerating them with the torso as the vehicle is pushed forward.
SUVs Improve
In the latest evaluations, the seat and head restraint combinations in 17 of 59 SUV models are rated good, five are acceptable, 14 are marginal, and 23 are rated poor. In minivans, seat and head restraints in three models are rated good, two are acceptable, one is marginal, and five are rated poor. In pickups one is good, five are acceptable, five are marginal, and six are rated poor. While there hasn't been much overall improvement among pickups and minivans since the last time the Institute evaluated protection in rear crashes, the performance of the seat/head restraints in SUVs is much better. In 2006 those in only 6 of 44 SUV models earned a good rating.
"The reason may be that automakers have updated or introduced many new SUVs since 2006, but minivans and pickups are being updated more slowly," Zuby points out.
In the latest tests seat/head restraints in the Mitsubishi Outlander improved to good from the previous design that was rated acceptable. Those in the Acura MDX, Honda CR-V, Honda Element, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia Sorento improved from their previous ratings of poor to good. Those in the Honda Pilot and Mercedes M class improved from marginal to good. The seat/head restraints in the Toyota Tundra pickup improved to good from acceptable.
In contrast some manufacturers have introduced new models with subpar seat designs. The ones in the BMW X5, Dodge Nitro, and Suzuki XL7 are rated poor. Those in the new Mazda CX-7 and CX-9 are rated marginal. Under the new phase-in schedule, manufacturers must start to fit better front-seat head restraints in 80 percent of their models beginning in September 2009. Front-seat head restraints in all new vehicles made after September 2010 must comply.
"There's lots of room for improvement in the designs of seats and head restraints," Zuby said. "We know many manufacturers are trying to fit better head restraints in their vehicles, and some have been working with us to boost their ratings as they introduce new models. Some manufacturers were waiting for resolution of regulatory issues before fitting better designs in their vehicles. And some didn't get changes made in time for the Institute's tests."
Zuby said that BMW plans to redesign the seats in the X5 and X3 SUVs to earn better ratings for the 2008 model year.
"The Institute's evaluations of seat and head restraint designs suggest that the worldwide attention is yielding results," Zuby said. "We're seeing more seat and head restraints rated good and acceptable than we used to. It's clear that many foreign and domestic automakers are moving in the right direction."
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My feelings on this article are that its good to let the public know that certain vehicles are not as safe as others. If the public didn't know then, more people could buy big trucks & SUV's and end up killing people when it was because they weren't informed. Letting the public know that some trucks are not are safe as others will help more people be safe.
Third Article-
Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Crash
Driver, Passenger Unhurt
POSTED: 5:57 am EDT June 21, 2007
UPDATED: 6:51 am EDT June 21, 2007
BOSTON -- State Police said they arrested and charged a Springfield, Mass., man with attempted murder and assault Wednesday for allegedly running his BMW off the road on purpose during a fight with a female passenger.
Troopers said they responded to a report of an single-car accident about 8:45 p.m. on Route 90 westbound, west of interchange 7, in Ludlow.
Officers said their investigation showed that Harold D. Palmer, 64, of Springfield, was operating a 2000 BMW 323I on Route 90 West when he became involved in an altercation with his adult female passenger.
At some point, troopers alleged, Palmer purposely drove the BMW off the right shoulder of the roadway and into the wood-line striking several trees.
Both Palmer and the adult female passenger were wearing safety belts at the time of the crash and were uninjured in the crash.
Palmer was arrested and taken to the State Police Barracks in Charlton were he was booked for attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a car), domestic assault and battery, operating to endanger and a lanes violation.
Palmer was scheduled for arraignment Thursday in Palmer District Court.
This crash remains under investigation.
Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I think this article shows how some people can be so stupid when driving. You don't use a car as weapon unless you life is at risk. The man that purposely drove off the road after an altercation was being irresponsible and deserves to be penalized. He needs to deal with the consequences to acting immature and putting someone else in danger.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Assignment 7/19
Part One: Article One-
Driver in Deadly Motel Crash Is Charged
By Associated Press
11:45 AM EDT, July 20, 2007
ANTIGO, Wis. - A man who plowed his sports utility vehicle through a motel, killing a sleeping man, had a blood-alcohol level more than five times the legal limit to drive, authorities said. Stephen VanVleit, 58, of Antigo was charged with felony homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and drunken driving, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.46 percent, the complaint said. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08 percent.
He was convicted of drunken driving in Arizona in 1998 and 2003, the complaint said. The most serious charge filed against him Thursday carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison if he's convicted. Jesus Manuel Quirios-Castillo, 26, died in the crash reported around dawn Wednesday at the Good Nite Inn. VanVleit's GMC Yukon hit a truck in the motel parking lot, accelerated, crashed through a brick wall and the window of Room 28, ran over Quirios-Castillo and then went through another wall in the back of the room, investigators said. The SUV then struck a garage and an auto on a neighbor's property, they said. VanVleit lived at the motel. Shortly after the crash, his mother told another resident that her son had been at her home at 4 a.m., was very intoxicated and refused to get a ride home from his uncle, the complaint said. Castillo and his 24-year-old brother, Octavio, were staying in the room because they were scheduled to help dismantle a garden center, sheriff's investigators said. Octavio Castillo suffered some injuries in the crash, the complaint said. Motel manager Robert Lindemann said the surviving brother told a motel resident that he and his brother were to leave Saturday for Mexico to see their mother, whom they hadn't seen in six years. VanVleit was in stable condition at Langlade Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-motel-crash,0,2557578.story
This story relates to what we have talked about in class because it explains about a man that was irresponsible when drunk. We talk about how drinking affects you and your decision and that it is very wrong to do when driving. Also, even though you might not get caught; there is a high chance you will one day and you will have very serious consequences.
Article Two-
State police will increase traffic patrols on Route 9
By NICOLE ORNE, Reformer Staff
Wednesday, July 18
MARLBORO -- The state police and the town will be working together to curb traffic concerns along Route 9. At last week's Select board meeting, Brattleboro barracks commander Lt. Rick Hopkins told the board that state troopers did, in fact, police the town roads, not just Route 9, a notion expressed by the board the week before. When Hopkins read a recent article in the Reformer about speeding on Route 9, he immediately called up the Select board to set up a meeting. Having read about the town and board's concerns and feelings of helplessness, Hopkins wanted to discuss possible solutions to the problem. There is a lot of communication between the sheriff's department and the state police, he said, so "if there's a sustained, continuous problem on a road and you told the sheriff's department about it, I'd expect to hear about it," and respond. And when Select board member Lucy Gratwick asked for specific amounts of time spent policing back roads, Hopkins assured her that a larger staff was on its way. While the state police are busy right now, Hopkins said there will be three more people on staff by the end of the summer. Right now,
"We start with places where the accidents are." Hopkins had applied for and received a $10,000 grant from the state to aid in accident reduction on Route 9, specifically for the section running through Marlboro. This was used for 2005 and 2006, but the grant focus has since changed, Hopkins said, so he could not re-apply. There was a limited impact, he explained, because real change requires a few years of work. "It's kind of tough to make a big difference in one year," he said. Hopkins agreed that last year was particularly difficult, with several fatal accidents on Route 9. "There are good years and bad years. Last year was a bad year and we couldn't explain why," he said. It was clear that something needed to be done. State Police Lt. Bill O'Leary applied for a grant to create a position for a crash data analyst.
"With the number of fatalities we saw over the years, it became an issue to get real time crash data from Vermont," O'Leary explained. Sarah Kepchar, the new analyst, has spent most of the past two months training.
"She's going to be able to get us data about crash patterns and causes," O'Leary said. "She's just now getting her feet wet. We're hoping, in the next couple of months, to get data reports out to the field commanders." While some accidents, such as weather-related crashes, cannot be fixed by enforcement, Hopkins said, "a lot of them you can."
"What we think we're seeing is faster drivers," Select board member Craig Hammond said.
"It seems people are more distracted when they're driving and just fly," Select board Chairwoman Gail MacArthur added. "With new cars, you don't know you're going so fast." Hopkins agreed, saying that speeding cars could also affect residents' quality of life. Road Commissioner David Elliott said it was important to see the truth of the issue. "It's not out-of-staters," he said. "It's Vermonters that know where they can make up a little time." It was also important to recognize that college students and participants in the summer music festival were not really as much of a problem as suggested, Gratwick said. Its residents in Marlboro and Halifax that cut through town on their way to work, Elliott agreed. Hopkins suggested three solutions:
* The state police could do a speed survey with an unmarked car with a laser.
* They could put a "smart cart," an electronic display that gives drivers a real-time visual of their speed, on the road. Doing so, however, tends to be a double-edged sword as people may accelerate to see how high they can get the reader to go.
* Or Marlboro could send a representative to the community advisory board.
The community advisory board is comprised of people from all towns within a department's jurisdiction. It meets quarterly with the state police to discuss issues, serving as a "conduit between the town and the state police," Hopkins said. Representatives also have a direct contact to call with issues or trends between meetings. Although there was an attempt in the past to send someone from Marlboro, there is currently no representative on the board. The next meeting, possibly an open house, will be held in October. There will be a statewide meeting in December.
http://www.reformer.com/ci_6401077?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com
This article relates to what we talked about in class because the police are trying to improve the HTS and make it more safe. The police are trying to keep Route 9 more efficiently driven and keep people safe. Also, if the police improve the security then the HTS will have a big impact because people, cars and roadways will be better pretected.
Third Article-
Driving Small Doesn't Mean Less Safe
Dan Carney
POSTED: 7:40 pm EDT June 19, 2007
UPDATED: 9:43 am EDT June 21, 2007
Until very recently, Americans super sized their vehicles the same way they super size their fast food. After all, more is better, right? But with the price of gasoline hitting $3 or even $4 a gallon, more Americans are slimming down their vehicle purchasing habits.
Many are thinking smaller. Honda, for example, recently reported the most Civic sales ever during the month of May. "Small is big right now," notes Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Honda's American operations. However, going from big to small feels uncomfortable for American drivers. While many don't mind the thought of giving up some surplus cargo space or towing capacity that went unused in large cars, they balk at the idea of trading away safety for fuel economy. These consumers formed their impressions of small car safety at a time, decades ago, when their ability to protect occupants in a collision left much to be desired. Small cars used to fare poorly in laboratory crash tests and produced grossly higher fatality rates in real-world driving. But that notion is outdated. Crash protection has been growing, along with the size of the small cars themselves, over the years. Crash fatalities in the smallest cars on the road fell by 15 percent between 1985 and 1995, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That was the period when airbags went from a novelty on luxury vehicles to standard equipment on all cars. Today, small cars feature an array of impressive technologies and thoughtful design touches aimed at maximizing their safety, including front and side airbags. High-strength steel withstands blows with less intrusion into the cabin, and electronic driver aids such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control help reduce crashes. These factors produce cars that are dramatically safer than the little cars of yore. Additionally, today's small cars are much bigger and heavier than those of the past. Consider that a 1984 Honda Civic hatchback weighed 1,830 pounds. The lightest version of today's hot-selling version of the Civic tips the scales at 2,628 pounds, and the Si version weighs 2,945 pounds, more than half a ton heavier than the 1984 model. Significantly, most compact cars like the Civic approach the 3,000-pound mark that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has identified as the weight that provides good crash protection on highways populated with many big trucks and SUVs. That's the point of diminishing returns, beyond which each extra pound adds less crash protection, according to IIHS spokesman Russell Rader. What about truly small cars? The 1985 Chevrolet Sprint weighed 1,540 pounds - that's less than the tiny, bullet like cars that raced in the Memorial Day weekend Indy 500. Today's equivalent, the Chevrolet Aveo, weighs 2,348 pounds. And the all-new 2008 Scion xB weighs 3,086 pounds when it's equipped with an automatic transmission. Remarkably, that's heavier than a 1986 Ford Taurus or Buick Century. These numbers show today's small cars aren't the flyweight deathtraps many consumers suppose. That's due to stiffer government requirements and consumers' growing insistence that new cars earn top scores even in non-mandatory crash tests. For example, the federal government has toughened its requirements for things like side impact protection, mandating more metal in a car's side. The Insurance Institute's offset front crash test and side-impact test are not government requirements, but customers insist on top scores in them, so car manufacturers respond by adding reinforcing bulk that improves a car's performance in the tests. Even some of today's smallest cars - like the Honda Fit and Toyota's Yaris - bagged "good" scores (the highest available) from the IIHS's frontal and side crash tests. On the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's tests, the Fit earned the maximum five stars in the frontal crash, and five stars for the front seat in the side impact test, with three stars for the back seat in a side crash. The Yaris got four stars for front crashes and three stars for side impacts. Compare those scores with the old Chevrolet Sprint of 1985. It earned just one star in the frontal test, meaning it met the minimum requirements of that time, but no more. It also weighed much less, so it would be punished more in a collision with a bigger car. Modern small cars are designed for greater safety too, although few are aware of this fact. Unlike full-size pickup and SUVs with rigid bumpers and trailer hitches, a small car is more likely to show visible damage in a crash, as the crumple zones collapse to absorb the blow. Too many consumers still equate a badly damaged vehicle with badly injured occupants, when in fact the vehicle is suffering so the passengers don't have to explain Natae Rayner, senior product education and development administrator for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
"There are crush zones and crush boxes in the front of the vehicles used to absorb the impact then distribute that force in the proper places," he said. This kind of design could, over time, lead to lighter, more efficient cars that still provide the needed protection for a car's occupants said S.M. Shahed, a corporate fellow for Honeywell Turbo Technologies who researches fuel-saving technologies.Shahed says that very efficient cars (even ones that get up to 100 miles per gallon) have to be lighter than the ones on the road today. They will still protect the occupants as well as today's cars, but would probably suffer enough damage to be totaled even in crashes of just 25 mph.
"I think our philosophy needs to change from safety for the vehicle to safety for the occupant," he said. "What if I have a car that in a 25 mph crash is going be totaled and you are going to be 100 percent safe?" he asked. "If the price you have to pay for a 100 mpg car is totaling the car at 25 mph, I'm willing to pay that price.” We’re nowhere near 100 mpg today, but there are an increasing number of small cars that score well in crash tests. In addition to the subcompact cars already mentioned, compacts like the Honda Civic, Subaru's Impreza, Nissan's Versa and the Toyota Prius all earn "good" scores in both front and side crash tests at IIHS.No small cars earned five stars in every category of NHTSA's testing, but many earned a confidence-inspiring mixture of four- and five-star ratings - that's worth contemplating when you're paying up to $100 to gas up a super sized vehicle.
Copyright 2007 by MSNBC.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This article relates to what we have talked about in class because gas affects what type of vehicle that is bought but there talking about how if the car is smaller it always isn't safer. If a small vehicle gets into a collision with a bigger vehicle; which one is the most likely one to have less damages? the bigger one. Even though a smaller car would be great on gas mileage, it might not keep you safe in a collision which could end up costing even more.
http://www.wptz.com/news/13537700/detail.html
Part Two: timing arrival for green
First you see the light in the target area and see a red light as a closed zone. Then, check your rear zone and alert your rear zone by braking. Next, begin constant braking and time your arrival into the open zone. After at 10 mph, go or stop. If it's a green light search the intersection and if it's a red light stop smoothly.
Part Three: The benefits of keeping a four second following distance are it opens the view, allows you to gather vital information, allows you to plan ahead, eliminates surprise and allows time for reduced risk decision making. Also, you create more time, create more space and removes control the front vehicle has over your actions.
Driver in Deadly Motel Crash Is Charged
By Associated Press
11:45 AM EDT, July 20, 2007
ANTIGO, Wis. - A man who plowed his sports utility vehicle through a motel, killing a sleeping man, had a blood-alcohol level more than five times the legal limit to drive, authorities said. Stephen VanVleit, 58, of Antigo was charged with felony homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and drunken driving, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.46 percent, the complaint said. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08 percent.
He was convicted of drunken driving in Arizona in 1998 and 2003, the complaint said. The most serious charge filed against him Thursday carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison if he's convicted. Jesus Manuel Quirios-Castillo, 26, died in the crash reported around dawn Wednesday at the Good Nite Inn. VanVleit's GMC Yukon hit a truck in the motel parking lot, accelerated, crashed through a brick wall and the window of Room 28, ran over Quirios-Castillo and then went through another wall in the back of the room, investigators said. The SUV then struck a garage and an auto on a neighbor's property, they said. VanVleit lived at the motel. Shortly after the crash, his mother told another resident that her son had been at her home at 4 a.m., was very intoxicated and refused to get a ride home from his uncle, the complaint said. Castillo and his 24-year-old brother, Octavio, were staying in the room because they were scheduled to help dismantle a garden center, sheriff's investigators said. Octavio Castillo suffered some injuries in the crash, the complaint said. Motel manager Robert Lindemann said the surviving brother told a motel resident that he and his brother were to leave Saturday for Mexico to see their mother, whom they hadn't seen in six years. VanVleit was in stable condition at Langlade Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press
http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-motel-crash,0,2557578.story
This story relates to what we have talked about in class because it explains about a man that was irresponsible when drunk. We talk about how drinking affects you and your decision and that it is very wrong to do when driving. Also, even though you might not get caught; there is a high chance you will one day and you will have very serious consequences.
Article Two-
State police will increase traffic patrols on Route 9
By NICOLE ORNE, Reformer Staff
Wednesday, July 18
MARLBORO -- The state police and the town will be working together to curb traffic concerns along Route 9. At last week's Select board meeting, Brattleboro barracks commander Lt. Rick Hopkins told the board that state troopers did, in fact, police the town roads, not just Route 9, a notion expressed by the board the week before. When Hopkins read a recent article in the Reformer about speeding on Route 9, he immediately called up the Select board to set up a meeting. Having read about the town and board's concerns and feelings of helplessness, Hopkins wanted to discuss possible solutions to the problem. There is a lot of communication between the sheriff's department and the state police, he said, so "if there's a sustained, continuous problem on a road and you told the sheriff's department about it, I'd expect to hear about it," and respond. And when Select board member Lucy Gratwick asked for specific amounts of time spent policing back roads, Hopkins assured her that a larger staff was on its way. While the state police are busy right now, Hopkins said there will be three more people on staff by the end of the summer. Right now,
"We start with places where the accidents are." Hopkins had applied for and received a $10,000 grant from the state to aid in accident reduction on Route 9, specifically for the section running through Marlboro. This was used for 2005 and 2006, but the grant focus has since changed, Hopkins said, so he could not re-apply. There was a limited impact, he explained, because real change requires a few years of work. "It's kind of tough to make a big difference in one year," he said. Hopkins agreed that last year was particularly difficult, with several fatal accidents on Route 9. "There are good years and bad years. Last year was a bad year and we couldn't explain why," he said. It was clear that something needed to be done. State Police Lt. Bill O'Leary applied for a grant to create a position for a crash data analyst.
"With the number of fatalities we saw over the years, it became an issue to get real time crash data from Vermont," O'Leary explained. Sarah Kepchar, the new analyst, has spent most of the past two months training.
"She's going to be able to get us data about crash patterns and causes," O'Leary said. "She's just now getting her feet wet. We're hoping, in the next couple of months, to get data reports out to the field commanders." While some accidents, such as weather-related crashes, cannot be fixed by enforcement, Hopkins said, "a lot of them you can."
"What we think we're seeing is faster drivers," Select board member Craig Hammond said.
"It seems people are more distracted when they're driving and just fly," Select board Chairwoman Gail MacArthur added. "With new cars, you don't know you're going so fast." Hopkins agreed, saying that speeding cars could also affect residents' quality of life. Road Commissioner David Elliott said it was important to see the truth of the issue. "It's not out-of-staters," he said. "It's Vermonters that know where they can make up a little time." It was also important to recognize that college students and participants in the summer music festival were not really as much of a problem as suggested, Gratwick said. Its residents in Marlboro and Halifax that cut through town on their way to work, Elliott agreed. Hopkins suggested three solutions:
* The state police could do a speed survey with an unmarked car with a laser.
* They could put a "smart cart," an electronic display that gives drivers a real-time visual of their speed, on the road. Doing so, however, tends to be a double-edged sword as people may accelerate to see how high they can get the reader to go.
* Or Marlboro could send a representative to the community advisory board.
The community advisory board is comprised of people from all towns within a department's jurisdiction. It meets quarterly with the state police to discuss issues, serving as a "conduit between the town and the state police," Hopkins said. Representatives also have a direct contact to call with issues or trends between meetings. Although there was an attempt in the past to send someone from Marlboro, there is currently no representative on the board. The next meeting, possibly an open house, will be held in October. There will be a statewide meeting in December.
http://www.reformer.com/ci_6401077?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com
This article relates to what we talked about in class because the police are trying to improve the HTS and make it more safe. The police are trying to keep Route 9 more efficiently driven and keep people safe. Also, if the police improve the security then the HTS will have a big impact because people, cars and roadways will be better pretected.
Third Article-
Driving Small Doesn't Mean Less Safe
Dan Carney
POSTED: 7:40 pm EDT June 19, 2007
UPDATED: 9:43 am EDT June 21, 2007
Until very recently, Americans super sized their vehicles the same way they super size their fast food. After all, more is better, right? But with the price of gasoline hitting $3 or even $4 a gallon, more Americans are slimming down their vehicle purchasing habits.
Many are thinking smaller. Honda, for example, recently reported the most Civic sales ever during the month of May. "Small is big right now," notes Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Honda's American operations. However, going from big to small feels uncomfortable for American drivers. While many don't mind the thought of giving up some surplus cargo space or towing capacity that went unused in large cars, they balk at the idea of trading away safety for fuel economy. These consumers formed their impressions of small car safety at a time, decades ago, when their ability to protect occupants in a collision left much to be desired. Small cars used to fare poorly in laboratory crash tests and produced grossly higher fatality rates in real-world driving. But that notion is outdated. Crash protection has been growing, along with the size of the small cars themselves, over the years. Crash fatalities in the smallest cars on the road fell by 15 percent between 1985 and 1995, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That was the period when airbags went from a novelty on luxury vehicles to standard equipment on all cars. Today, small cars feature an array of impressive technologies and thoughtful design touches aimed at maximizing their safety, including front and side airbags. High-strength steel withstands blows with less intrusion into the cabin, and electronic driver aids such as antilock brakes and electronic stability control help reduce crashes. These factors produce cars that are dramatically safer than the little cars of yore. Additionally, today's small cars are much bigger and heavier than those of the past. Consider that a 1984 Honda Civic hatchback weighed 1,830 pounds. The lightest version of today's hot-selling version of the Civic tips the scales at 2,628 pounds, and the Si version weighs 2,945 pounds, more than half a ton heavier than the 1984 model. Significantly, most compact cars like the Civic approach the 3,000-pound mark that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has identified as the weight that provides good crash protection on highways populated with many big trucks and SUVs. That's the point of diminishing returns, beyond which each extra pound adds less crash protection, according to IIHS spokesman Russell Rader. What about truly small cars? The 1985 Chevrolet Sprint weighed 1,540 pounds - that's less than the tiny, bullet like cars that raced in the Memorial Day weekend Indy 500. Today's equivalent, the Chevrolet Aveo, weighs 2,348 pounds. And the all-new 2008 Scion xB weighs 3,086 pounds when it's equipped with an automatic transmission. Remarkably, that's heavier than a 1986 Ford Taurus or Buick Century. These numbers show today's small cars aren't the flyweight deathtraps many consumers suppose. That's due to stiffer government requirements and consumers' growing insistence that new cars earn top scores even in non-mandatory crash tests. For example, the federal government has toughened its requirements for things like side impact protection, mandating more metal in a car's side. The Insurance Institute's offset front crash test and side-impact test are not government requirements, but customers insist on top scores in them, so car manufacturers respond by adding reinforcing bulk that improves a car's performance in the tests. Even some of today's smallest cars - like the Honda Fit and Toyota's Yaris - bagged "good" scores (the highest available) from the IIHS's frontal and side crash tests. On the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's tests, the Fit earned the maximum five stars in the frontal crash, and five stars for the front seat in the side impact test, with three stars for the back seat in a side crash. The Yaris got four stars for front crashes and three stars for side impacts. Compare those scores with the old Chevrolet Sprint of 1985. It earned just one star in the frontal test, meaning it met the minimum requirements of that time, but no more. It also weighed much less, so it would be punished more in a collision with a bigger car. Modern small cars are designed for greater safety too, although few are aware of this fact. Unlike full-size pickup and SUVs with rigid bumpers and trailer hitches, a small car is more likely to show visible damage in a crash, as the crumple zones collapse to absorb the blow. Too many consumers still equate a badly damaged vehicle with badly injured occupants, when in fact the vehicle is suffering so the passengers don't have to explain Natae Rayner, senior product education and development administrator for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
"There are crush zones and crush boxes in the front of the vehicles used to absorb the impact then distribute that force in the proper places," he said. This kind of design could, over time, lead to lighter, more efficient cars that still provide the needed protection for a car's occupants said S.M. Shahed, a corporate fellow for Honeywell Turbo Technologies who researches fuel-saving technologies.Shahed says that very efficient cars (even ones that get up to 100 miles per gallon) have to be lighter than the ones on the road today. They will still protect the occupants as well as today's cars, but would probably suffer enough damage to be totaled even in crashes of just 25 mph.
"I think our philosophy needs to change from safety for the vehicle to safety for the occupant," he said. "What if I have a car that in a 25 mph crash is going be totaled and you are going to be 100 percent safe?" he asked. "If the price you have to pay for a 100 mpg car is totaling the car at 25 mph, I'm willing to pay that price.” We’re nowhere near 100 mpg today, but there are an increasing number of small cars that score well in crash tests. In addition to the subcompact cars already mentioned, compacts like the Honda Civic, Subaru's Impreza, Nissan's Versa and the Toyota Prius all earn "good" scores in both front and side crash tests at IIHS.No small cars earned five stars in every category of NHTSA's testing, but many earned a confidence-inspiring mixture of four- and five-star ratings - that's worth contemplating when you're paying up to $100 to gas up a super sized vehicle.
Copyright 2007 by MSNBC.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This article relates to what we have talked about in class because gas affects what type of vehicle that is bought but there talking about how if the car is smaller it always isn't safer. If a small vehicle gets into a collision with a bigger vehicle; which one is the most likely one to have less damages? the bigger one. Even though a smaller car would be great on gas mileage, it might not keep you safe in a collision which could end up costing even more.
http://www.wptz.com/news/13537700/detail.html
Part Two: timing arrival for green
First you see the light in the target area and see a red light as a closed zone. Then, check your rear zone and alert your rear zone by braking. Next, begin constant braking and time your arrival into the open zone. After at 10 mph, go or stop. If it's a green light search the intersection and if it's a red light stop smoothly.
Part Three: The benefits of keeping a four second following distance are it opens the view, allows you to gather vital information, allows you to plan ahead, eliminates surprise and allows time for reduced risk decision making. Also, you create more time, create more space and removes control the front vehicle has over your actions.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Assignment 7/6
Part One:
Five ways to communicate with other drivers are using your headlights, brake lights, horn, lane position and using signals. You can communicate with your headlights because putting them on helps you and others see where the car is going. Using brake lights helps others know what your doing whether your stopping, slowing down or pulling over. The horn helps you communicate because you can use a light tap for warning others of a loud blast in emergencies. Lane positioning can be used to help because it indicates your intended path of travel to other drivers. Finally, using your signals lets the other drivers know which way you intend to go so the can plan there actions accordingly.
Part Two: Type Three
FCA's
1) Explain what the Vermont Graduated License Law is all about
2) Express in your own words how you feel about the law and would you suggest any changes to the law
3) Correct spelling and grammar
The Vermont Graduated License Law is a way to help people ages fifteen to eighteen understand how to be better drivers and be safe. Restrictions of the law were made by earlier teens experiences and lack of knowledge. Also, this law helps teens keep others safe and prevents injuries or even deaths. My opinion on this law is that its a good law because it helps young driver stay safe because there a sets of guidelines and rules so that its hard for the driver not to be safe. This gives a good chance for teen drivers to feel more responsible and at the same time keep them safe. If I could suggest anything to add to this law I would say to give more information and fact describing the law and the advantages to having this law more then what they said already.
Part Three:
First Article-
Drivers: Stop Waving E-Z Passes
Signs Posted at Toll Booths
POSTED: 7:55 am EDT July 22, 2007
UPDATED: 8:02 am EDT July 22, 2007
DERRY, N.H. -- The state Department of Transportation has a message to turnpike drivers: Stop waving those E-ZPass transponders!
After observing a third of E-ZPass users holding and waving their transponders back and forth, toll plaza attendants posted new signs: "Transponder Waving Causes Violations."
Properly used, E-ZPass transponders are attached to car windshields so they can be electronically read. Drivers who treat transponders like hand-held devices, waving them to and fro as they drive through the tolls, because a couple of problems, said Transportation Department spokesman Bill Boynton. First, transponder readers often can't recognize transponders that aren't fixed to a stationary point on a windshield, Boynton said. That means transponder wavers sometimes aren't getting charged as they drive through. Although toll evaders in the cash lane face up to a $144 fine, E-ZPass users who get through without paying only are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
But Boynton said there's a more serious reason not to wave those transponders. That's the second problem: If a driver is holding a transponder in one hand, which means there's only one had on the steering wheel, and that's dangerous.
Linda Cate, a supervisor at the Bedford tolls, says she has even seen drivers stop in the E-ZPass lane, get out of their cars and wave their transponders in the air to try to get a reading.
That's not safe, Cate said.
"They could be hit by a car," she said.
Boynton said he doubts most transponder wavers do it to intentionally avoid paying the toll. Some still haven't got the hang of the program that has only been around for two years; some people don't like the look of transponders attached to their windshields and others just forget to attach them when they buy a new car, he said.
"To guarantee the accuracy of transponder activity, we have to be sure that it is done correctly," Boynton said.
New Hampshire's E-ZPass program has grown to 180,000 accounts since the program began; today more than 50 percent of cars passing through the state's tolls use E-ZPass. New Hampshire collected $80 million in cash and electronic toll payments in 2006.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My response to this article is that people need to be more efficient with this system because if it's not working then they need to improve it so the economy is not breaking down. If this system was better watched or made more efficient then less people would have to go through the hassle of having to deal with the consequences even though they paid the toll already
Second Article-
Jeff Larson And Cindy Campbell's Driving School
Getting Good Drivers To Be Better Drivers
POSTED: 1:52 pm EDT May 21, 2007
UPDATED: 4:17 pm EDT July 13, 2007
BOSTON -- Jeff and Cindy's idea is to discuss subjects that might be unclear or not considered by most drivers.
It is an effort to improve the driving knowledge, behavior and decision making of the average driver. They hope to get good drivers to be better drivers.
Where to put your hands on the wheel
Do You Look?
Driving With Trucks
How To Save Gas
How To Drive Safely On the Highway
How To Drive Defensively
How To Deal With Bright Headlights
Dangers Of Following Too Closely
Tips To Make Sure The Other Driver Sees You
Who Has Right Of Way?
Why Predictability Is Important
Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My feelings on this article is that I think it's good that more people are talking about how to be better and safer drivers. This will make more people be aware of the good and bad things in driving. Also, it's good so it will be on more peoples minds.
Third Article-
Driver in Deadly Motel Crash Is Charged
By Associated Press
11:45 AM EDT, July 20, 2007
ANTIGO, Wis. - A man who plowed his sports utility vehicle through a motel, killing a sleeping man, had a blood-alcohol level more than five times the legal limit to drive, authorities said. Stephen VanVleit, 58, of Antigo was charged with felony homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and drunken driving, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.46 percent, the complaint said. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08 percent.
He was convicted of drunken driving in Arizona in 1998 and 2003, the complaint said. The most serious charge filed against him Thursday carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison if he's convicted. Jesus Manuel Quirios-Castillo, 26, died in the crash reported around dawn Wednesday at the Good Nite Inn. VanVleit's GMC Yukon hit a truck in the motel parking lot, accelerated, crashed through a brick wall and the window of Room 28, ran over Quirios-Castillo and then went through another wall in the back of the room, investigators said. The SUV then struck a garage and an auto on a neighbor's property, they said. VanVleit lived at the motel. Shortly after the crash, his mother told another resident that her son had been at her home at 4 a.m., was very intoxicated and refused to get a ride home from his uncle, the complaint said. Castillo and his 24-year-old brother, Octavio, were staying in the room because they were scheduled to help dismantle a garden center, sheriff's investigators said. Octavio Castillo suffered some injuries in the crash, the complaint said. Motel manager Robert Lindemann said the surviving brother told a motel resident that he and his brother were to leave Saturday for Mexico to see their mother, whom they hadn't seen in six years. VanVleit was in stable condition at Langlade Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
My thoughts on this article are that it proves that when people intoxicated they don't have the capability to think in a responsible manner. These kinds of behaviors need to stop especially when someone intoxicated gets behind the wheel. Even though you're not in the right mind while intoxicated, its no excuse to get being the wheel of a enormous vehicle.
Part Four: This video shows multiple collisions and who and what are affected by it. There were many different collisions so they may have been getting the point that there are a lot of collisions by doing one little thing wrong. Also, by limiting those small mistakes, you would have less of a chance of getting into a collision.
Part Five:
1) Describe the three parts of the zone control system are
2) Choose 5 of the 12 zone control management principles and explain how you might use each one in a particular situation to solve a problem.
3) Correct spelling and grammar
The zone control system is an organized method for managing space or the six zones around your car. Three parts of the zone control system are the front zone, rear zone and the left front zone. The front zone is the area in which your path of travel is. The rear zone is the car-length behind the car. The left front zone is the area in front of you to the left (ex. oncoming cars would be in your front left zone)
Part Six:
Link 1.) http://social-advertising.info/seat-belts-can-save-lives/
Link 2.) http://www.seatbeltpros.com/
Link 3.) http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
Five ways to communicate with other drivers are using your headlights, brake lights, horn, lane position and using signals. You can communicate with your headlights because putting them on helps you and others see where the car is going. Using brake lights helps others know what your doing whether your stopping, slowing down or pulling over. The horn helps you communicate because you can use a light tap for warning others of a loud blast in emergencies. Lane positioning can be used to help because it indicates your intended path of travel to other drivers. Finally, using your signals lets the other drivers know which way you intend to go so the can plan there actions accordingly.
Part Two: Type Three
FCA's
1) Explain what the Vermont Graduated License Law is all about
2) Express in your own words how you feel about the law and would you suggest any changes to the law
3) Correct spelling and grammar
The Vermont Graduated License Law is a way to help people ages fifteen to eighteen understand how to be better drivers and be safe. Restrictions of the law were made by earlier teens experiences and lack of knowledge. Also, this law helps teens keep others safe and prevents injuries or even deaths. My opinion on this law is that its a good law because it helps young driver stay safe because there a sets of guidelines and rules so that its hard for the driver not to be safe. This gives a good chance for teen drivers to feel more responsible and at the same time keep them safe. If I could suggest anything to add to this law I would say to give more information and fact describing the law and the advantages to having this law more then what they said already.
Part Three:
First Article-
Drivers: Stop Waving E-Z Passes
Signs Posted at Toll Booths
POSTED: 7:55 am EDT July 22, 2007
UPDATED: 8:02 am EDT July 22, 2007
DERRY, N.H. -- The state Department of Transportation has a message to turnpike drivers: Stop waving those E-ZPass transponders!
After observing a third of E-ZPass users holding and waving their transponders back and forth, toll plaza attendants posted new signs: "Transponder Waving Causes Violations."
Properly used, E-ZPass transponders are attached to car windshields so they can be electronically read. Drivers who treat transponders like hand-held devices, waving them to and fro as they drive through the tolls, because a couple of problems, said Transportation Department spokesman Bill Boynton. First, transponder readers often can't recognize transponders that aren't fixed to a stationary point on a windshield, Boynton said. That means transponder wavers sometimes aren't getting charged as they drive through. Although toll evaders in the cash lane face up to a $144 fine, E-ZPass users who get through without paying only are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
But Boynton said there's a more serious reason not to wave those transponders. That's the second problem: If a driver is holding a transponder in one hand, which means there's only one had on the steering wheel, and that's dangerous.
Linda Cate, a supervisor at the Bedford tolls, says she has even seen drivers stop in the E-ZPass lane, get out of their cars and wave their transponders in the air to try to get a reading.
That's not safe, Cate said.
"They could be hit by a car," she said.
Boynton said he doubts most transponder wavers do it to intentionally avoid paying the toll. Some still haven't got the hang of the program that has only been around for two years; some people don't like the look of transponders attached to their windshields and others just forget to attach them when they buy a new car, he said.
"To guarantee the accuracy of transponder activity, we have to be sure that it is done correctly," Boynton said.
New Hampshire's E-ZPass program has grown to 180,000 accounts since the program began; today more than 50 percent of cars passing through the state's tolls use E-ZPass. New Hampshire collected $80 million in cash and electronic toll payments in 2006.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My response to this article is that people need to be more efficient with this system because if it's not working then they need to improve it so the economy is not breaking down. If this system was better watched or made more efficient then less people would have to go through the hassle of having to deal with the consequences even though they paid the toll already
Second Article-
Jeff Larson And Cindy Campbell's Driving School
Getting Good Drivers To Be Better Drivers
POSTED: 1:52 pm EDT May 21, 2007
UPDATED: 4:17 pm EDT July 13, 2007
BOSTON -- Jeff and Cindy's idea is to discuss subjects that might be unclear or not considered by most drivers.
It is an effort to improve the driving knowledge, behavior and decision making of the average driver. They hope to get good drivers to be better drivers.
Where to put your hands on the wheel
Do You Look?
Driving With Trucks
How To Save Gas
How To Drive Safely On the Highway
How To Drive Defensively
How To Deal With Bright Headlights
Dangers Of Following Too Closely
Tips To Make Sure The Other Driver Sees You
Who Has Right Of Way?
Why Predictability Is Important
Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
My feelings on this article is that I think it's good that more people are talking about how to be better and safer drivers. This will make more people be aware of the good and bad things in driving. Also, it's good so it will be on more peoples minds.
Third Article-
Driver in Deadly Motel Crash Is Charged
By Associated Press
11:45 AM EDT, July 20, 2007
ANTIGO, Wis. - A man who plowed his sports utility vehicle through a motel, killing a sleeping man, had a blood-alcohol level more than five times the legal limit to drive, authorities said. Stephen VanVleit, 58, of Antigo was charged with felony homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and drunken driving, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was 0.46 percent, the complaint said. The legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08 percent.
He was convicted of drunken driving in Arizona in 1998 and 2003, the complaint said. The most serious charge filed against him Thursday carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison if he's convicted. Jesus Manuel Quirios-Castillo, 26, died in the crash reported around dawn Wednesday at the Good Nite Inn. VanVleit's GMC Yukon hit a truck in the motel parking lot, accelerated, crashed through a brick wall and the window of Room 28, ran over Quirios-Castillo and then went through another wall in the back of the room, investigators said. The SUV then struck a garage and an auto on a neighbor's property, they said. VanVleit lived at the motel. Shortly after the crash, his mother told another resident that her son had been at her home at 4 a.m., was very intoxicated and refused to get a ride home from his uncle, the complaint said. Castillo and his 24-year-old brother, Octavio, were staying in the room because they were scheduled to help dismantle a garden center, sheriff's investigators said. Octavio Castillo suffered some injuries in the crash, the complaint said. Motel manager Robert Lindemann said the surviving brother told a motel resident that he and his brother were to leave Saturday for Mexico to see their mother, whom they hadn't seen in six years. VanVleit was in stable condition at Langlade Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.
My thoughts on this article are that it proves that when people intoxicated they don't have the capability to think in a responsible manner. These kinds of behaviors need to stop especially when someone intoxicated gets behind the wheel. Even though you're not in the right mind while intoxicated, its no excuse to get being the wheel of a enormous vehicle.
Part Four: This video shows multiple collisions and who and what are affected by it. There were many different collisions so they may have been getting the point that there are a lot of collisions by doing one little thing wrong. Also, by limiting those small mistakes, you would have less of a chance of getting into a collision.
Part Five:
1) Describe the three parts of the zone control system are
2) Choose 5 of the 12 zone control management principles and explain how you might use each one in a particular situation to solve a problem.
3) Correct spelling and grammar
The zone control system is an organized method for managing space or the six zones around your car. Three parts of the zone control system are the front zone, rear zone and the left front zone. The front zone is the area in which your path of travel is. The rear zone is the car-length behind the car. The left front zone is the area in front of you to the left (ex. oncoming cars would be in your front left zone)
Part Six:
Link 1.) http://social-advertising.info/seat-belts-can-save-lives/
Link 2.) http://www.seatbeltpros.com/
Link 3.) http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Assignment 6/28
Part Seven: Can not get the video's in order to do the assignments
Part Eight: Type two
A legal stop is a stop that is made before the white line usually shortly followed by a stop sign. A safely stop is a stop made after the white line and is made in line with the sidewalk or road. A staggered stop is a stop that is made when your can pulls out and suddenly another car drives in front of your car making your car stop very sudden and unplanned. The point of no return is the point when the driver can't safely stop without entering the intersection.
Part Eight: Type two
A legal stop is a stop that is made before the white line usually shortly followed by a stop sign. A safely stop is a stop made after the white line and is made in line with the sidewalk or road. A staggered stop is a stop that is made when your can pulls out and suddenly another car drives in front of your car making your car stop very sudden and unplanned. The point of no return is the point when the driver can't safely stop without entering the intersection.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Assignment 6/25
Part Two- Type Three Assignment
FCA's
1. Describe the point system in Vermont using the state statutes found on this page
2. Use the spell check
3. Give your feeling about the law
The point system in Vermont is a way to get drivers that are reckless and irresponsible off the road and to keep the road safe for everyone that follows the guidelines. When someone gets there license they have a clear record without any violations on the license. If someone violates a law or is convicted of a driving violation, then points are put on the license to show what was done and gives the driver less freedom in having a license. For example, if someone got too many speeding tickets and didn’t pay them, then there could be points added to the license which would make it hard for the driver to buy a new car because they have points on there license. My feeling on this law is that it’s good for people because it makes them accept responsibility for there actions and if someone isn’t being a good driver then they will have to deal with the consequence of not being able to drive which would effect there life enormously.
Part Three-
Victim Was Drying Her Car
HAVERHILL, Mass. -- A witness to a deadly crash outside a Haverhill car wash told police he never saw brake lights on the Mercedes-Benz coupe that struck and killed Robin Young, 43, of Danville, N.H. The Eagle-Tribune reported that the witness statement was filed as part of the case against Marie Pigaga, 46, of Plaistow, N.H., who surrendered Friday to face charges of motor vehicle homicide. “She said she lost control of the vehicle due to a malfunction,” prosecutor Christopher Holland said. “One witness said she was traveling 40 to 50 miles per hour and that he didn’t see any brakes. It was all gas.” Holland said Young was drying her car at the car wash Tuesday when a car driven by Pigaga left the road, jumped a wall and went through the parking lot, hitting Young. "She jumped the wall -- there was an evergreen here -- and ran straight across the lot to where the woman was at that first vacuum," a witness at Haffner's car wash said. Young's 10-year-old daughter was in the car and witnessed the accident. Pigaga's attorney blamed a problem with the car's brakes, but Holland told the Eagle-Tribune that an inspection of the car by a mechanic showed there was nothing wrong with the braking, steering or acceleration systems. Pigaga was arraigned and released on $5,000 bail.
This article reflects how irresponsible people can be with accidents. It is clear that the woman who killed Robin Young had control of the car and decided not to stop the car in any way. Marie Pigaga needs to accept the fact that because of her irresponsible behavior it caused a death to occur. Even though she surrendered to face the charge that doesn’t mean that she isn’t going to try and get away with it again because of her behavior in this situation.
Part Four- The three types of roadway signs are regulatory, warning and guide signs. Regulatory signs are signs that control traffic. Examples of regulatory signs are stop and yield signs. Warning signs are signs that alert you to a possible hazards and road conditions. Examples of warning signs are hill or deer crossing signs. Guide signs are signs that give directions, distance, service, points of interest and other information. Examples of guide signs are service and points of interest signs.
FCA's
1. Describe the point system in Vermont using the state statutes found on this page
2. Use the spell check
3. Give your feeling about the law
The point system in Vermont is a way to get drivers that are reckless and irresponsible off the road and to keep the road safe for everyone that follows the guidelines. When someone gets there license they have a clear record without any violations on the license. If someone violates a law or is convicted of a driving violation, then points are put on the license to show what was done and gives the driver less freedom in having a license. For example, if someone got too many speeding tickets and didn’t pay them, then there could be points added to the license which would make it hard for the driver to buy a new car because they have points on there license. My feeling on this law is that it’s good for people because it makes them accept responsibility for there actions and if someone isn’t being a good driver then they will have to deal with the consequence of not being able to drive which would effect there life enormously.
Part Three-
Victim Was Drying Her Car
HAVERHILL, Mass. -- A witness to a deadly crash outside a Haverhill car wash told police he never saw brake lights on the Mercedes-Benz coupe that struck and killed Robin Young, 43, of Danville, N.H. The Eagle-Tribune reported that the witness statement was filed as part of the case against Marie Pigaga, 46, of Plaistow, N.H., who surrendered Friday to face charges of motor vehicle homicide. “She said she lost control of the vehicle due to a malfunction,” prosecutor Christopher Holland said. “One witness said she was traveling 40 to 50 miles per hour and that he didn’t see any brakes. It was all gas.” Holland said Young was drying her car at the car wash Tuesday when a car driven by Pigaga left the road, jumped a wall and went through the parking lot, hitting Young. "She jumped the wall -- there was an evergreen here -- and ran straight across the lot to where the woman was at that first vacuum," a witness at Haffner's car wash said. Young's 10-year-old daughter was in the car and witnessed the accident. Pigaga's attorney blamed a problem with the car's brakes, but Holland told the Eagle-Tribune that an inspection of the car by a mechanic showed there was nothing wrong with the braking, steering or acceleration systems. Pigaga was arraigned and released on $5,000 bail.
This article reflects how irresponsible people can be with accidents. It is clear that the woman who killed Robin Young had control of the car and decided not to stop the car in any way. Marie Pigaga needs to accept the fact that because of her irresponsible behavior it caused a death to occur. Even though she surrendered to face the charge that doesn’t mean that she isn’t going to try and get away with it again because of her behavior in this situation.
Part Four- The three types of roadway signs are regulatory, warning and guide signs. Regulatory signs are signs that control traffic. Examples of regulatory signs are stop and yield signs. Warning signs are signs that alert you to a possible hazards and road conditions. Examples of warning signs are hill or deer crossing signs. Guide signs are signs that give directions, distance, service, points of interest and other information. Examples of guide signs are service and points of interest signs.
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