On the Move

At Driving Safety Foundation we're always on the move.  Whether it's training new drivers about the dangers of distracted driving, helping people understand their vehicles inside and out through our Car Maintenance More »

US Distracted Driving Summit 2009 – Washington D.C.

Distracted Driving Summit: Ray LaHood called "distracted driving" a "menace to society" and an "epidemic." Don't text and drive! More »

Tires Degrade Over Time

Check out the video link from ABC news! Just because they look new, tires may have been sitting on the shelf for several years after they were first produced.  According to a More »

Highpoint Auto Insurance and On Star Launches Statewide Safe Driving Initiative

There is no debate that there is a common call to improve the safety of our roadways, however it is critical that we as citizens take the initiative to do so. Two More »

Fashion sunglasses for women UNSAFE!

This article claims the vast majority 14 million fashion-concious women put style before safety!     But road safety experts say they should jettison the chunky wide-armed variety of sunglasses worn by More »

Distracted Driving Technology – Associated Press Coverage

September 30, 2009   admin   No comments

The Driving Safety Foundation (DSF) partnering with Impact Teen Drivers, recently spoke to students at Foothill High School in Pleasanton, CA and demonstrated the dangers of “texting while driving.”  DSF demonstrated the patented Skid Monster technology to high school students with CHP officers as drivers, showing that no one is immune from the dangers of distracted driving.  The Skid Monster technology allows DSF to simulate highway speeds in a safe and controlled environment, while teaching drivers how to regain and maintain control when their vehicle begins to spin out of control.  Over 100 students were able to view demonstrations throughout the day and learn about the dangers of “distracted driving.”

Kelly Browning, from Impact Teen Drivers, promoted driving safety through *65 to Stay Alive… an idea focused on allowing drivers to type in a code before they enter their car, which will in turn send a message to incoming callers that they are focused on driving!  Student, Justin Keltner, also talked about his firsthand experience with distracted driving, and the important lessons learned.  Don’t forget: Texting while driving makes you 23 times more likely to be in an accident!

Leave sooner, text later, live longer!

DSF is excited for the initial Associated Press coverage related to “texting while driving.” The Driving Safety Foundation’s technology is featured at the beginning of the video as you watch a car skid out of control and come to a complete stop… simulating the dangers of texting while driving in a controlled, safe environment. DSF Advanced Driving Classes allow drivers to experience what it’s like to lose control of your car, while empowering them by teaching how to regain and stay in control.

View the Associated Press story: TEMPTED TO TXT – Technology 4 Driver

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Head-On Collision – 1959 Chevy vs 2009 Chevy

September 21, 2009   admin   No comments

How far has driving safety come in the last 50 years?  For a look at the major advancements in technology, check out this video of a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air versus a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu in a head-on collision.

The older Chevys like the Bel Air have always had this invincible mystique about them… they were built like tanks and able to withstand anything (or so we were lead to believe).  They were built with heavier materials and bigger frames, which really gives a false sense of security after watching this video.

This test was conducted by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) as a part of its 50th anniversary.  The damage sustained by the 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air would not have protected its driver, as the impact proved catastrophic.  However, the driver of the 2009 Chevy Malibu would have easily survived this crash with some minor injuries to the legs.

 Thanks to advances in driving safety technology, we have come a long way in the last 50 years!

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Tires Degrade Over Time

September 15, 2009   admin   No comments

Check out the video link from ABC news!

Just because they look new, tires may have been sitting on the shelf for several years after they were first produced.  According to a report on ABC news, tires that are 6 years old or older may present a hazard and should not be purchased.  These unused tires may start to experience tread separation which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and possibly result in a tire blowout, crash, or rollover.  There is an easy way for your local mechanic to check the "birthdate" of the tires, typically located on the tire but hidden by the rim of your wheel.  You will find a four digit number such as 0509… meaning that the tire was manufactured on the 5th week of 2009.

Tire experts say tires degrade over time. The oils, chemicals, rubber and bonding all start to come apart as time wears on. If a tire is not used, it only speeds up the process, because there are certain chemicals used to protect the tire that are only activated if the tire is in normal use.

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Texas Bans Cell Phone Use in Cars

September 02, 2009   admin   No comments

Teens under the age of 18 will no longer be able to legally use their cell phones in cars. 

VIDEO HERE

High school students in Amarillo, TX will also have access to to a driving simulation, over the coming weeks, which shows the consequences of using your cell phone while driving.  Expect more and more states to adopt similar laws to help protect teen drivers.  Leave earlier, text later, live longer!

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Scare Tactics and Texting

September 01, 2009   admin   No comments

A recent technology article in the New York Times discusses the use of graphic videos like the Teen Texting Crash video recently released by the Gwent Police Department in Wales.  Driving Safety Foundation has posted links to this video via our blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.  As an organization that promotes driving safety, we believe in the inherent intent of this video production: the safety of teen drivers.  We would love your feedback related to this article and the media attention that it has received throughout the last few weeks.  In addition to the technology article released by the NYTimes, another article was posted to their Wheels blog section which focuses on Car/Driving related news.  You can read my feedback below: 

Completely remember the Face of Death videos and have no issue with the graphic nature of the Wales video. I’ve actually seen much worse through friends who have forwarded me emails of horrific crashes showing crash victims with missing limbs and worse. I think that teens are probably quite desensitized to this already but the video provides a great reminder. After watching the video, I think twice before even looking at my BlackBerry in the car. Texting while driving has become a scary thing, not only putting the texting drivers in danger, but everyone else around them. Living in Los Angeles, I drive by 1000s of cars a day, many with drivers still talking on their phones without Blue Tooth and constantly looking down to check their cell phones and PDAs. Research has shown that texting while driving makes drivers 23 times more likely to be in an accident. The video from Wales is a great start in reminding people (not just teens) that texting while driving is extremely dangerous! Lucas @ Driving Safety Foundation

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Groundbreaking Video Simulation – Texting While Driving

August 19, 2009   admin   No comments

4:16 simulation of what can happen when you text & drive!

View our Training Programs that teach teens exceptional driving behaviors!

Recent research studies have shown that texting while driving increases the risk of an accident by 23 times.  While this number is staggering, we also need to remember that the number of friends/passengers in a teen drivers vehicle also increases the risk of a fatality:

"If your teenager is like most, he or she likes to bring lots of friends along for the ride. That divides their attention and increases the chances of a fatal collision. In fact, the larger the group in a car, the greater the risk for being involved in a fatal crash. If your teenager is driving with a friend in the car, he or she is 1 1/2 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than if driving alone. Add a second passenger and the risk increases again. By the time there are three passengers in the car, they are 3 times more likely to be involved in a traffic fatality."  (via AAAPublicAffairs.com)

On top of all the other factors that distract a driver, the most important thing you can do is buckle up.  A great reminder from The Safe Driver to remember to Click It!  (via SafeDriving)

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The DSF-USA Driving Safety Experience – Launches August 29th

August 06, 2009   admin   No comments

The Skid Monster

The Driving Safety Foundation is offering an exclusive Advanced Driver Training academy on September 26 & 27. The 4-hour experience provides students with the tools for vehicle control & correction, "10 Model Driving Habits," targeting & zone control, and risk prevention. Utilizing new driving safety technology with The Skid Monster, get behind the driver's seat and learn firsthand how to regain control of your car when the unexpected happens. These instructed behaviors have resulted in a 56% decline in crash incidents. Parents and their teens can not only enhance their driving safety but reduce their insurance premiums and overall liability.

90 minute sessions are also available beginning August 29th!  Space is limited. Visit www.DSF-USA.com for class schedules and registration.

Classes are available for both novice and experienced drivers.  

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Driving Safety and Cell Phone Use

August 03, 2009   admin   No comments

Free Image Hosting @ tpiwwp.com

Image courtesy of www.caranddriver.com

The buzz circulating around driving safety this week targets cell phone usage while driving. Several reports have been released during the last weeks, pointing to the many statistical dangers of using a cell phone while driving.

Here are the top five reasons to avoid using your cell phone while driving:

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute report

1. Drivers sending text messages – risk of getting in an accident was 23 times greater than when not texting

2. Drivers dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device – risk of collision about six times greater

NHTSA report

3. Research has shown there is "little, if any, difference between the use of hand-held and hands-free phones in contributing to the risk of a crash while driving distracted.

4. Driver distraction contributes to about 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

Car and Driver study

5. Headline reads: Texting And Driving Worse Than Drinking and Driving

Click here for cell phone related driving laws for each US State

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DSF-USA @ NCAC Event

March 14, 2009   admin   No comments

LeMans Karting

DSF-USA will be sponsoring a NorCal Audi Club even this Sunday at LeMans Karting in Fremont, Ca.

Karting has long been favored by track junkies as a method of learning the key essentials of driving technique – beginners learn the basics such as hitting apexes, driving on the line, target points, as well as honing basic driving skills. All of us here at DSF-USA are also big fans of karts, but unfortunately our road going vehicles do not handle as well as karts, nor do we drive in an closed and highly regulated environment. Our roads are not perfect, and our road going neighbors are not always as courteous as we hope. The Skid Monster workshops teach us real world scenarios in a controlled and safe environment. Having the correct response literally results in the saving of lives on our open roads.

If you have been curious about the DSF-USA Program or our Skid Monster Workshops but haven't been able to make it to one of our events in Mountain View, please join us at LeMans Karting this Sunday between 12pm-4pm. We will have the Skid Monster car out there, as well as literature and a senior experienced staff member to answer all your concerns and questions.

More on NCAC: http://norcalaudiclub.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=27&func=details&did=15

Thanks,
DSF-USA

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California DMV Teen Driving Week

March 14, 2009   admin   No comments

Driving Change

Wanted to remind all of you that this week is "Teen Driving Safety Week" in California. Per the CA DMV site:

"Teenage drivers get more tickets and are hurt and killed in greater numbers than any other age group of drivers. In an effort to decrease these alarming statistics, the department created a teen driver-related website, which focuses on encouraging teens to be safer drivers."

We here at DSF-USA have been working diligently on providing the necessary guidance, and direction that Teenage Drivers require to ensure not only their safety but ours on the open roads as well.

more info on the CA DMV site: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/chp_smart_pro/smart_pro.htm

Drive Safe,
DSF-USA

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