Walking While Distracted–Nobody Wins
Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared in April 2018 as NMA E-Newsletter #481. If you would like to receive the weekly one-topic NMA Newsletter, subscribe today! Have we become a nation of cellphone zombies? Many experts believe that the increase in distracted driving, in particular using a cellphone to text while driving, has been a […]
So, Who IS Responsible in a Driverless Car Accident?
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared as NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #617 from November 2020. If you would like to receive the weekly NMA E-Newsletter, subscribe today. For years, an ongoing debate has been raging in the media about who would be responsible when a driverless vehicle injured or killed another road user. Perhaps, we will […]
9 Ways Motorists Can Be More Proactive Against Car Accidents
By guest writer Erik Abrahamson For any motorist, the risk of car accidents is an undeniable reality. Despite doing everything we can to avoid them, sometimes they just happen. Still, as a motorist, you can take certain steps to remain proactive against car accidents. These nine tips can help you both avoid an accident on […]
The Matter of Car Touchscreens
Consider the juxtaposition of the cell phone and the in-car cell phone: Nearly everyone owns a cell phone and the LCD touchscreen is a standard in almost every new car. Both are fundamentally the same thing—a touch/tap/swipe interface. This form of control requires visual concentration. You have to look at what you are trying to […]
Will Self-Driving Cars Create Even More Distracted Drivers?
Distracted driving is one of the most significant road safety hazards we’re currently facing. According to the Center for Disease Control, it causes more than 1,000 injuries and nine fatalities every day in the United States. Whether drivers are taking their eyes off the road to check their phone, eating lunch, or putting on makeup, […]
Leading Causes of Car Accidents and How you Can Prevent Them
Motor vehicle accidents are unfortunately very common in the United States, taking thousands of lives and causing severe and minor injuries every year. Driving safely and following traffic laws reduce the risk of your getting into a car accident. However, the frustrating truth is that you cannot be assured that all the other drivers on […]
Car with Personality: Are we ready for this?
Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on the NMA Blog in April 2018. We felt it still has resonance today. I admit…I have always named my cars and talked to them too. Not because I am a lonely and sad person but because I want to imbue good feelings in my space—talking to my car […]
Friends don’t let friends drive Android
Another report on distracted driving came out recently. Most people saw typical press release fluff with a bar graph with no obvious scale showing how reaction time differed depending on what drivers were doing. Driving drunk was the best thing you could do short of driving sober. Using a touch screen infotainment system was the […]
The Slow March toward Forced Temperance
Editor’s Note: This piece first appeared as NMA Weekly E-Newsletter #571 which was emailed to NMA members on December 22, 2019. If you would like to receive the weekly E-Newsletter, a one-topic dive into an important aspect of motorists rights, become an NMA member today! It’s been seven years since we wrote about the Driver Alcohol […]
Minding Your Mood and your Eyeballs
Memory seats are nice. But how about mood minders? In-car sensors that assess your state of mind via eye movements, facial expressions, gestures — even your rising (or falling) heartbeat — and adjust the car accordingly? Some of this is already here. Some new cars come standard with “drowsy driver” monitoring systems. Cameras embedded in the dash […]