True Or False: Hands-Free Calls Are Safer Than Hand-Held?
Today, 10 states and several U.S. territories have banned the use of hand-held mobile phones by drivers. The thinking behind those laws is that folks need to keep their hands on the wheel, and trying to fumble with a mobile device is a major distraction.
But we have to wonder: have state legislatures missed the point? Is it the device that's the problem, or is the conversation itself?
As we enter the final week of National Distracted Driving Awareness month, we thought it was a good time to take a look at the evidence.
LaHood: Hand-held devices are the problem
Earlier this year, California's Office of Traffic Safety released the results of a study conducted by the Safe Transportation Research and Education Center at the University of California, Berkeley (PDF). That study looked at California's traffic fatality statistics since the state enacted a ban on hand-held calls in July, 2008.
The findings were encouraging. Overall, traffic deaths fell 22% (in keeping with the national trend), but deaths linked to drivers using hand-held devices plummeted 47%.
Findings like that help to explain why Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has focused so much of his attention on banning hand-held devices, while giving a thumbs-up to gadgets that enable hands-free calling.
In fact, when the National Transportation Safety Board proposed banning all calls for drivers -- both hand-held and hands-free -- LaHood basically threw the Board under the bus, saying that hands-free calls aren't such a big deal. Specifically, he said "The problem is not hands-free.... That is not the big problem in America."
NTSB: The conversation is the distraction, not the device
But the NTSB isn't giving up. Earlier this month, the Board defended its proposed ban on drivers taking any calls at all. Board member Robert Sumwalt pointed to data that shows talking on a mobile device -- either hand-held or hands-free -- increases the likelihood of an accident by four times. (Sumwalt was probably referring to the Australian study conducted by Suzanne McEvoy.)
"But what about the data from California?" some might ask. "Doesn't that prove that hand-held devices are dangerous?"
It does, indeed. But it doesn't show that hands-free devices are necessarily safer. Who's to say that if California had outlawed drivers from taking any calls behind the wheel that traffic fatalities wouldn't have dropped another 47%?
The problem, of course, is that no state in the nation has such a law on its book, so we don't have any real-world data to examine. In fact, only one municipality has such a law -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina -- and that was enacted just last month.
Our take
Driving isn't a right, it's a privilege, and with that privilege come certain responsibilities.
Late last year, the Governors Highway Safety Association published a study showing that few of us take those responsibilities very seriously. In fact, we're distracted behind the wheel 25% - 50% of the time.
The biggest distraction of all involves conversing with passengers, but as studies have shown (PDF), that's actually less dangerous than chatting on a mobile phone.
In the best of all possible worlds, drivers would stow their mobile devices while driving. It's what Oprah recommends, and unlike some of her dodgy book club picks, we stand by her on this one.
But while texting behind the wheel is always a bad idea, we understand that there are times when you have to take an important call -- someone's in the hospital, a child is ill, you're picking up a friend at the airport, whatever.
If you can pull over to take that call, do. If you can't manage that, take the call hand-free -- either through an in-dash system like Ford Sync, or simply via a clip that holds your phone in place. Using a Bluetooth headset is okay, but in our books, that's really just another device liable to fall to the floorboard.
And of course, take some responsibility for your kids. Make them use an app like DriveSafe.ly that limits their ability to call or text while driving. If they don't have a smartphone, that's no problem: Cellcontrol has created a system that works similarly for some feature phones.
Be safe, be thoughtful, be responsible. That's the best any of us can do -- during Distracted Driving Awareness month, or any month for that matter.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Coming Soon To Your New Car: A Black Box Data Recorder
Last week, we told you about a proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that would require brake-override systems on new vehicles. But there's more change afoot in D.C.: according to Mashable, legislation has passed in the U.S. Senate that would mandate the installation of black box data recorders too, beginning with the 2015 model year.
The exact verbiage can be found in Section 31406 of S.B. 1813*, and it goes something like this:
"Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall revise part 563 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require, beginning with model year 2015, that new passenger motor vehicles sold in the United States be equipped with an event data recorder that meets the requirements under that part."
While the devices would clearly benefit law enforcement agencies and insurance companies, they're also meant to help NHTSA evaluate customer complaints about specific vehicles. For example, data recorders could've cut through some of the confusion and panic surrounding 2010's Toyota/Lexus recall fiasco. (Though we're not sure that the floormat issue would've been caught with black boxes.)
Our take
Black boxes are already being tested on European cars. From where we sit, though, there are at least two major hurdles facing the installation of data recorders on American vehicles: privacy and cost.
The Senate bill addresses the former pretty clearly, stating that owners and lessees have sole ownership of their black box data, unless (a) the owner/lessee consents to share it, (b) it's subpoenaed by a court, or (c) there's a life-threatening accident, like a collision.
Cost is a different matter. The bill simply says that within two years, the Secretary of Transportation must report to Congress on the cost of the data recorders, but by that time, the 2015 model year will be mere months away. Even if the recorders are discovered to be cost-prohibitive, workers at factories around the globe will already be installing them. We suppose NHTSA will have to cross that bridge when it comes to it.
Of course, for any of this bill to pan out, it'll have to pass the House too. Mashable thinks that's likely to happen, but given the state of Capitol Hill these days, we're slightly less certain.
Take a look at the news clip below and let us know: do you think mandating data recorders is a great idea a terrible idea, or somewhere in-between?
* The entire bill is a really interesting read, if you've got nothing better to do on a Friday.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2013 Ford Escape: First Drive
When you think "Ford," you probably think of several brands--F-150, Explorer, Mustang, Taurus. Shame on you if that list is missing the Ford Escape.
Last year, Ford sold more than 250,000 copies of its compact crossover, capping an eleven-year run on sale with the ute's best year ever, and with more than a 30-percent boost over 2010 sales.
The Escape's an important leg in the Ford sales story, and for this model year, there's a brand-new model coming to dealers. Starting in June, the 2013 Escape arrives in showrooms, and it's an about-face to the past decade-plus of compact crossover SUVs sold by Ford. There's no V-6, and no Hybrid; no Mercury model, and no Mazda companion, though that formerly intertwined company's CX-5 is exceedingly close in just about every basic specification to the new Escape.
The new Escape is built from Focus underpinnings, which means a fresh design, which also means saying goodbye to the faux-SUV looks that characterized the model from the moment it was launched in the 2001 model year. The 2013 model is a completely fresh take for Ford, one that's altogether more fitting with today's crossover market. It's lean and athletic, smoothly rounded, not at all referential to the company's lineup of best-selling trucks. It reads as a car, albeit one with a tall roofline.
The Escape isn't just an aesthetic change of heart for the American automaker. It's a linchpin in its fuel-economy strategy of downsizing and turbocharging engines in some of its best-selling models, while reserving electrification for limited runs and low-volume applications like the Ford Focus Electric. All three available engines are four-cylinders; each is estimated to earn more than 30 miles per gallon on the EPA highway cycle. Of the two turbocharged engines, one has enough power to effectively replace the old Escape's optional V-6 engine. The other gets mileage ratings high enough to nearly match the outgoing Hybrid model.
It's also a revelation in road manners. Ride and handling truly transform the newest Escape. The trucky traits of the 2001-2012 model have been wiped clean, replaced by tight steering, a well-damped ride, and taut road manners that feel very much like those from the Ford Focus.
Finally--and critically, Ford's vice president for marketing and sales Jim Farley says--the Escape's a vital part of its strategy to sell even more copies of its hugely popular Fusion sedan, which is also new for the 2013 model year. How's that? Farley, at the launch of the Escape this week outside San Francisco, points out that the compact-crossover class is the one most often cross-shopped with the mid-size sedan segment. Find one in a family fleet and you're almost as likely to find the other, he points out.
"Compact SUVs are ground zero for the American garage," he says.
Prices range from $23,295 for the base S to $31,195 for the top Titanium model, the 2013 Ford Escape goes on sale in June.
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For more on styling, performance, utility, features, and safety, read our full review of the 2013 Ford Escape
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2002-2004 Honda CR-V, 2003 Honda Pilot Recalled For Headlight Problem
Honda has issued a voluntary recall for the 2002-2004 CR-V and the 2003 Pilot. According to a press release from the automaker, a flaw in those vehicles' electrical systems could cause the headlights to fail.
Though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't yet posted an official bulletin detailing the recall, Honda says that the problem is tied to the wiring of the low-beam headlight switch. Over time, that switch may become inoperative, which would, of course, prevent the low-beams from working.
To date, no accidents or injuries have been associated with the problem. All told, Honda estimates that 554,000 vehicles in the U.S. are affected by the recall.
Honda will send out notices of the recall in late April. At that time, owners will be able to take their vehicles to a Honda dealer, who will inspect and repair the wiring as necessary.
If you own one of the recalled vehicles and have questions in the meantime, we encourage you to visit www.recalls.honda.com or call Honda directly at 800-999-1009 and select option #4.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Chapel Hill, North Carolina Bans Driver Use Of Mobile Phones
While many states, counties and municipalities have laws on the books regulating the use of cell phones while driving, Chapel Hill, North Carolina has become the first city in the United States to enact an outright ban on the use of cell phones behind the wheel.
We’re not referring to texting while driving, since that’s already illegal in the state of North Carolina. We’re not referring to the use of a hand-held cell phone, either, since the newly passed ordinance prohibits the use of even hands-free devices while operating a motor vehicle.
That means no Bluetooth headsets, no external speakers and no integrated Bluetooth, either, which includes current in-car (and manufacturer-provided) systems. The measure was approved by the city council on Monday night, and goes into effect on June 1, 2012.
As the News Observer points out, the resolution proved difficult to pass, and has been in discussion for some two years. A previous vote on the matter resulted in a deadlock, which was broken on Monday by a council member absent from the last vote.
The new ruling allows for emergency calls, and the wording of the ordinance seems to permit calls with a spouse, parent or child as well. We fail to see how that makes any sense at all, since calls to family members are no more or less disruptive than calls to other parties. Get caught talking to a friend, though, and the fine is $25.
The ordinance may not stand, since the state attorney general’s office has already ruled that Chapel Hill lacks the authority to prohibit cell phone use while driving. Since the city ordinance is preempted by state law, the ban is essentially unenforceable, even if it was adopted with the best of intentions.
Similar municipal rulings have produced positive results. Evanston, Illinois bans hand-held cell phone use (but not hands-free), and in the two years since passing the law has seen a 17.6-percent reduction in accidents. Drivers in Evanston caught using a phone are fined $50, but the penalty jumps to $200 if the driver is involved in an accident.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
DrivingTests101 Helps Teens And Others Prep For Driver’s Exams
Spring has arrived ahead of schedule, and with it has come the usual surge of eager car shoppers. But spring is also an important time for drivers-to-be: now that roads have been cleared of snow, moms, dads, elder siblings, and others are sliding into passenger's seats and patiently, nervously training Dick and Jane to operate a motor vehicle.
Of course, as everyone knows, the road test is only half the battle for folks wanting a driver's license. There's also the written exam to consider. A new website promises to help students of all ages prep for that test -- and best of all, it's free.
DrivingTests101.com serves up sample questions from a range of exams, including the basic driving test, the motorcycle test, and the Commercial Driver's License test. What's more, the site offers relevant exam info from a number of different countries, including the U.S., Canada, Germany, and India.
Start by selecting the country in which you'll be taking the exam, then select the appropriate state or province. On the next page, you'll see the types of sample tests available: indicate how many questions you'd like to answer and which type you'd like to focus on (e.g. safety rules, traffic signs, or both), then click "go". As you proceed, the website will note whether you've gotten an answer wrong or right and provide a tally at the end.
Need this info in a different format? Most tests are available as apps -- just click the Android or iPhone icon on the second page. And if you want even more detail, click the notebook icon to see the actual driver's exam guide from your neck o' the woods.
About the only thing DrivingTests101 can't do is ease your jitters when you're taking the road test -- but hey, that's what vodka's for. (We kid, we kid: slug some chamomile tea, junior.) Good luck!
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
2014 Chevrolet Impala Teased: 2012 New York Auto Show
It's no secret the current Chevrolet Impala is more than long in the tooth. While the full-size sedan did get a new grille and an updated powertrain for 2012, it's time for a completely new model. Today Chevrolet released a teaser image of the new 2014 Impala which will make its debut at the New York Auto Show.
The new Impala will mark the 10th generation for the model, which was introduced in 1958. It has been one of GM's best-selling passenger cars, mostly due to fleet sales in recent years.
While no firm details regarding the new Impala were released with the teaser image, Vice President of Global Chevrolet Marketing Chris Perry said, "The new Impala further strengthens Chevrolet's passenger car lineup by giving consumers a full-size sedan that balances the desire for distinction with engaging driving dynamics."
The teaser images shows the Impala badge on the C-pillar with chrome surrounding the greenhouse.
The new Impala is expected to share the stretched Epsilon II platform that underpins the 2013 Cadillac XTS. Both four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines will be offered with six-speed automatic transmissions. An Eco version with mild-hybrid technology is also likely.
Stay tuned for more updates, and check our New York Auto Show hub for all the latest reveals.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
Bentley Boggles With Geneva Show Concept SUV
Extravagance and opulence and...mud plugging? That's the message telegraphed by the Bentley EXP 9 F concept vehicle introduced at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
Meant to mingle in garages with Mulsannes and Continentals, the EXP's billed as a "luxury performance SUV concept" that clearly has a future in the British brand's lineup. Executives at Volkswagen Group indicate the Bentley, and a similarly sized Lamborghini SUV to be previewed next month at the Beijing auto show, are almost certain to be approved for production.
The why and where are simple: SUVs are still popular and a growing market segment in places like China, Russia, and the Middle East, and it's buyers in those regions that have the most potential for expansion for the super-luxury brands.
Though a concept at Geneva, the EXP 9 F--introduced at the show with a display of falconry--is one way Bentley could expand its brand and attract new customers. It's the same concept that brought Mercedes-Benz into the SUV market, and Honda into the pickup truck market, with some results obviously better than others.
The EXP 9 F's styling is pointedly controversial. Some of the stamping show an obvious family relationship to today's Continental lineup, but according to Bentley designers, the details have been amplified for show-car audiences. After all, it's only Bentley's second concept car in the past two decades. Audiences in Geneva were short on praise for the exterior design, but the interior's lavish wood and leather trim and built-in picnic fitments were clear winners, as were its LCD instruments and tablet-based infotainment system.
Bentley says the concept's been designed for autobahn performance and all-terrain traction. Details of the mechanicals are few, but the concept is powered by a twin-turbo version of today's Bentley 6.0-liter W-12 engine. Bentley officials suggest a V-8 version is a natural, given that the brand's just launched an eight-cylinder in its Continental GT and GTC two-doors; a plug-in hybrid is a distinct possibility.
The SUV is made possible by Bentley's place in the Volkswagen Group, which already fields SUVs for its VW, Audi, and Porsche brands. The Cayenne marked a turning point for the Porsche franchise, in terms of profitability and reach. It's done exactly what VW now hopes to do with Bentley and, later, Lamborghini.
But that expansion won't be happening just yet. If the new SUVs get approval for production, it's most likely they'll be based on a new architecture, the one that's set to replace the current Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg platform sometime in the 2015 time frame. The new platform could be previewed in the upcoming replacement for the Audi Q7 seven-seat SUV, which is set for a major revamp sometime next year.
For more on the Bentley EXP 9 F concept and all the production and concept cars from the show floor, see our complete coverage of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
February 2012 Car Sales: Best Since 2008
New-car sales gained momentum in February, as most automakers reported rising sales volumes for the month.
With numbers still coming in from around the industry today, Chrysler again has turned in some of the best sales numbers, with an increase of 44 percent over the year-ago period. That topped Volkswagen, which had its best month since the Watergate era and posted a 42.5-percent sales increase.
Elsewhere in Detroit, Ford's sales were up by 14 percent, while General Motors watched its sales rise 1.1 percent. Among other big automakers, Nissan posted a 15.5-percent increase.
February's figures represented a major uptick even from January, when automakers hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 14.2 million sales, with nearly 1 million actual sales.
The numbers are triggering more optimism from automakers, with some predicting a February SAAR as high as 14.9 million units. Chrysler estimates February sales across the industry will top 1.1 million units, thanks to "stronger employment and credit availability, an improving housing market and the recovery in consumer sentiment." Ford says it will increase production by 3 percent to accommodate rising demand.
The last time the SAAR hit 14.9 million units was in 2008.
The totals for February 2012, as reported by the automakers:
General Motors: GM (NYSE: GM) reported sales rose 1.1 percent over February 2011, to 209,306 units. Chevrolet's sales were up 5.8 percent to 151,197 units; GMC rose 0.1 percent at 32,581 vehicles. However, Buick sales fell to 14,023 units, off 11.3 percent, and Cadillac was down to 11,505 units, a decrease of 27 percent.
Ford: Ford (NYSE: F) saw its sales grow by 14 percent in February, with total sales of 179,119 vehicles. Ford-branded vehicles accounted for 172,207 units, while Lincoln had a 16-percent increase, to 6,912 vehicles. Ford says the Focus--TheCarConnection's 2012 Best Car To Buy--sold better than it has in 12 years, while the outgoing Escape maintains its torrid sales with a best-ever February. Among trucks, Ford's V-6 F-150 now accounts for 57 percent of retail sales for the lineup.
Toyota / Lexus / Scion: Not yet reported
Chrysler: Chrysler says its total sales of 133,521 vehicles marks a 40-percent increase over the same period in 2011. Chrysler-branded vehicles accounted for 27,008 units, for a rise of 114 percent; Dodge counted 42,692 sales, 27 percent better than February 2011; Jeep moved 37,312 vehicles, up 30 percent; Ram trucks sold 22,595 units, up 21 percent; and Fiat sold 3,227 copies of the 500 subcompact. Chrysler's 300 had an incredible 480-percent sales gain on the month, while the Dodge Charger was up 124 percent.
Honda / Acura: Honda sold 110,157 vehicles in February, up 7.8 percent over February 2011. Honda-branded vehicles accounted for 98,899 units, up 8.8 percent, while Acura's sales of 24,759 vehicles represented an increase of 24.5 percent.
Nissan / Infiniti: Nissan sales were up strongly in February--15.5 percent above the same period in 2011. The Nissan brand accounted for 97,492 of the company's 106,731 U.S. sales, up 17.1 percent; Infiniti sold 9,239 vehicles, up 1 percent. Nissan says its Altima sedan posted a February sales record of 32,953 units, even as it prepares to launch a new Altima at April's New York auto show. However, sales of the Leaf electric car fell from January's totals, while the Chevy Volt almost doubled its tally.
2012 Subaru Impreza, Chevy Avalanche, Ford Mustang Make ‘Top Picks’ List
Consumer Reports regularly ranks cars on factors like reliability and bang for the buck. The company recently crunched all the data collected on 2012 models, and now it's announced a list of ten Top Picks for the year.
In compiling its rankings, Consumer Reports looked at three factors: reliability, safety, and a road test. To keep things fair, each data set came from a different source. Reliability was based on surveys of over 1,000,000 vehicles, provided by the magazine's subscribers. Safety data came from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and government sources. And of course, Consumer Reports conducted extensive studies of its own to determine road test scores.
After the dust had settled, the magazine found that Toyota had taken a whopping five out of ten Top Picks. In fact, Asian models heavily dominated the list, with vehicles from Hyundai, Infiniti, Subaru, and Toyota securing eight big wins. Of the remaining two spots, Ford and Chevrolet each scored one.
Here's a list of Consumer Reports' Top Picks, which are awarded by category. Click on any of the links below to see our own reviews of these models:
- Affordable family sedan: Hyundai Sonata
- Green car: Toyota Prius
- Family hauler: Toyota Sienna
- Family sedan: Toyota Camry Hybrid
- Family SUV: Toyota Highlander
- Pickup truck: Chevrolet Avalanche
- Small car: Subaru Impreza
- Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
- Sports sedan: Infiniti G
- Sporty car: Ford Mustang
Although the magazine didn't mention it in conjunction with the Top Picks list, it also put four vehicles on its "worst cars" list, including one from Toyota (though the most egregious offenders came from Jeep). Note, however, that these rankings are based solely on in-house test data from Consumer Reports:
#4 Toyota FJ Cruiser
#3 smart fortwo
#2 Jeep Liberty
#1 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
This data is in keeping with yet another list from Consumer Reports, which ranks automakers -- not marques -- on road test scores from their complete lineup of vehicles. (So, for example, GM was ranked on road tests from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC rides.)
This year, Subaru drove to the top of the automakers list, followed by Mazda, Toyota, Honda, and Ford. Bringing up the rear? Chrysler. More on this study after complete results have been published.
For additional details about Consumer Reports' Top Picks list for 2012, check out the video below, or visit our sister site, Family Car Guide.
This story originally appeared at The Car Connection
