Safety
Seat Belt Reminders Coming to a Back Seat Near You?
Seat belt reminders for those in the front seats have been around since the 1970s and more recently have caught on with roughly 75% of new cars coming with the safety feature. But soon that chime, bing or ding could be coming to the rear seats as well.
Washington D.C. Getting Stricter Drunk Driving Laws
Drunk drivers in Washington D.C. can expect stiffer penalties starting tomorrow when the Comprehensive Impaired Driving Act of 2012 takes effect.
AutoGuide Week-In-Reverse: Toyota Reaches 200M Units, 2013 Lexus LS Revealed
The automotive industry is a global business that is constantly evolving and growing, and we here at AutoGuide know it can be hard to keep up sometimes. So here is a summary of the top stories you may have missed this week:
Safety Group Wants Ford Fined for Escape Unintended Acceleration Issue
Earlier this month, the Center for Automotive Safety (CAS) filed a petition with NHTSA regarding the Ford Escape’s unintended acceleration issue and now the safety group is calling for the American automaker to be fined.
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee ‘Re-Moose Tested,’ Passed
Reviving an issue many would have considered dead, Chrysler put out a press release today publicizing a new moose test that performed without issue.
GM Pedestrian Alert Detects Smartphone Signals
Wifi Direct allows some smartphones to communicate without cell phone towers, but thanks to new research by GM it might also keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.
Hyundai Airbag Defects Spur Recall in Two Vehicles – 31,600 Affected
Split between two vehicles from different eras with separate problems, Transport Canada is announcing recalls for the 2007-08 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2012-13 Hyundai Sonata.
California Legalizes Dictated Texting While Driving
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is fighting a spirited battle against texting behind the wheel while California Governor Jerry Brown (pictured above) signs the “Freedom to Communicate” bill, which legalizes texting while driving, at least in part.
Mercedes adds Inflatable Seat Belts for Rear Passengers
Mercedes will become the second automaker to equip its cars with inflatable seat belts, likely in the S-Class sedan, which will go into production next year.
Porsche Turbocharger Defect Prompts Recall: 270 Units
Porsche owners driving a 2011-12 Panamera Turbo, 2012 Panamera Turbo S or 2012 Cayenne Turbo should be advised: their car’s forced induction system might be faulty.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Struggled in Swerve Test: Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is, to an extent, corroborating Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld‘s accusations that the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a rollover hazard.
Distracted Driving Laws Might Make Roads More Dangerous
A new report from the Frontier Center, a Canadian-based public think tank, suggests distracted driving laws might actually make roads more dangerous.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Tires Pop During Second Moose Test
Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld’s accusations toward the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee became much harder to dispute with the rag’s latest video. Both the clip and brief article that accompany it end with a pointed message that says: “Don’t buy the Jeep Grand Cherokee, for you and your family’s safety.”
Cell Phone Jammer Blocks Driver, Not Passengers
Convincing drivers to use cell phone jammers is probably as easy as selling Larry the Cable Guy a Toyota Prius, but researchers out of India’s Anna University of Technology have invented something that might ease the blow.
Progressive Determines Driver Safety with Device, Lures Customers
Drivers who buy auto insurance from Progressive are probably accustomed to the idea of having their driving patterns tracked for the chance at a discount, but now the company is using its program to tempt customers from under competing companies.
Chrysler Responds to Latest ‘Moose Test’ Accusations
After a press release and a strongly-worded blog response by Gualberto Ranieri, Chrysler’s senior vice president of communications, it seemed as thought the battle between the automaker and with Swedish publication Teknikens Varld was all but over — until the magazine published new claims that prompted the brand to issue another response.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Moose Test Battle Rages On
Without batting an eye, Swedish magazine Teknikens Varld published a rebuttal to Chrysler’s swift rebuke slapped on the once again infamous “moose test.”
Ford Escape Unintended Acceleration Spurs Petition
A nonprofit consumer safety group is pressing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to investigate complaints surrounding 320,000 Ford Escapes model year 2002 through 2004 that could be subject to unintended acceleration following an earlier recall.
Jeep Says Grand Cherokee ‘Moose Test’ Failure Faked
Shortly after our orignal story about Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld’s “moose test,” and how the Jeep Grand Cherokee failed it, we spoke with the company about the reported danger.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Fails “Moose Test” by Swedish Publication
This isn’t supposed to be a problem anymore, but a Swedish publication found during its “moose test” that even at moderate speeds the Jeep Grand Cherokee is at serious risk for a potentially fatal rollover.
Distracted Driving Admitted by Four of Five Drivers: Study
There’s a fighting chance you’re guilty of it and so is your neighbor because according to a new Harris Poll, 80 percent of drivers participate in distracting behavior behind the wheel.
Incentive-Based Anti Distracted Driving Bill Before Congress
A new transportation bill before congress seeks to reward states that ban texting and driving with money, but is it ethical?
Mitsubishi i MiEV Falls Short of Competition Crash Rating
Results for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash tests on the Mitsubishi i MiEV were released today, leaving the little electric vehicle trailing its competition.
Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Warning Reduce Crash Risk 42 Percent: Study
EuroFOT, a European large-scale field test on driving safety, is finally concluded and suggests that safety systems like adaptive cruise control and collision warning systems reduce the risk of a crash by 42 percent.
