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Opinion: If distracted driving is such an epidemic, why don’t statistics show it?

Filed under: Safety

Declining Highway Death Rate Challenges Distracted Driving Fears

Distracted driving

The distracted driving debate is being marred by an overdose of hype and hysteria.

My weekend nearly got off to a disastrous start when a driver, busy texting, suddenly realized he was going to miss his exit. At the last possible moment, he slammed his brakes and surged across four lanes of traffic, avoiding the need to go a few miles out of the way – but nearly touching off a multi-car accident in the process.

We’ve all seen the texters, the women putting on makeup, the guys checking their sports scores. Heck, a woman in Florida recently crashed while giving herself a bikini shave. But are we experiencing, as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood puts it, “a deadly epidemic” of distracted driving – one that can only be addressed by the most draconian of new laws?

There’s no question that there are some things you just shouldn’t be doing behind the wheel, and few would argue against the laws that many states have passed prohibiting motorists from texting while driving. But what other steps are needed? The latest federal data on highway fatalities suggests we’ve probably gone far enough – and that the distracted driving debate is being marred by an overdose of hype and hysteria.

Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.

[Image: Corbis]

Continue reading Opinion: If distracted driving is such an epidemic, why don’t statistics show it?

Opinion: If distracted driving is such an epidemic, why don’t statistics show it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mystery Chevrolet sedan… what is it?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, China, GM, India, South America

Chevrolet Sedan spy shots

Chevrolet Sedan spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our crack team of spy photographers have managed to set their lenses on an automotive quandary. Reports from the field say that this particular machine was spotted last year wearing even more camouflage, and that at the time, it was suspected that the vehicle could be the sedan successor to the Aveo. Now, though, we’ve seen the four-door Sonic that’s heading to our market later this year, so our guess is that this particular vehicle isn’t aiming to take the States.

That still doesn’t answer exactly what the pint-sized four door is, nor does it give us any idea of where the production version will touch down.

There’s some indication that General Motors is readying a new compact fighter to tango in markets in South America, India and China, and that the checkerboard prototype you see above is that very vehicle. Still, with the Sonic being manufactured in Korea, we have to wonder why GM would be interested in pursuing an additional model for the rest of Asia. We’ll keep our ears down and our eyes open and let you know what we find.

Gallery: Chevrolet Sedan spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Mystery Chevrolet sedan… what is it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Manhattan’s speed limit – Do you know it?

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

NYC DOT construction worker speed limit ad screencap

NYC DOT speed limit PSA spots – Click above to watch the videos

You might honestly think that the speed limit in Manhattan is “whatever you can crank it up to between red lights.” That’s wrong, and the New York City Department of Transportation wants you to know that it’s 30 mph.

More than that, however, the NYC DOT wants you to know why it’s 30 mph, and has put a series of amusing ads into rotation to deliver the message that a pedestrian hit at that speed has an 80 percent chance of survival, versus the 70 percent chance of dying a human clobbered at 40 mph faces. The commercials start with an unlikely character expounding on a subject you wouldn’t expect before the speed limit question is posed by the omniscient voiceover. Check out the humorous PSA spots for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Advertising Age]

Continue reading Video: Manhattan’s speed limit – Do you know it?

Video: Manhattan’s speed limit – Do you know it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Specialty

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV — Click above for high-res image gallery

The police vehicle market is flush with new iron from all quarters, making the results of this year’s Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation hotly anticipated. Ford brought its new Taurus-based Police Interceptor, Chrysler had the 2011 Dodge Charger Police Pursuit model, and General Motors showed up with the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Preliminary results of the performance and dynamics testing put the Caprice PPV on top of its rivals, says GM, but there’s a catch.

Chevrolet is touting the unofficial test outcome (final results will be released later this year) as proof of the Caprice PPV’s superiority. Being quicker to both 60 and 100 mph and offering shorter stopping distances are performance attributes that officers appreciate, as is a 6.0-liter V8 and a chassis that handled Grattan Raceway with the best average lap time. Thing is, despite the fact that Ford’s forthcoming Taurus-based cruiser was on-hand and competed in the tests, GM only compares its new Caprice to the ancient Crown Vic. The reason? The Blue Oval’s new PI won’t be available for more than a year. According to the blokes at Jalopnik who were on-hand for the shootout, the Caprice was actually bested by the AWD Taurus PI in braking and lap times, but GM has fashioned the ‘not available yet’ loophole to create victory (nevermind that the Caprice isn’t on the streets yet either).

Of course, good performance numbers aren’t all there is to police work, or departments would patrol in Corvettes. Chevrolet says the Caprice PPV leads in interior space and thoughtful touches like seats designed to accommodate officers’ equipment belts. All of this, GM says, adds up to an open-and-shut case for the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. You’d expect no less from a press release (posted after the jump), but clearly, the real victory in the race to replace the Crown Victoria has yet to be determined.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Sources: General Motors, Jalopnik]

Continue reading Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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