Attitudes across the U.S. have shifted dramatically on marijuana use in recent years. A Pew Research poll released in April found that a whopping 91 percent of American adults favor either medical marijuana legalization or legalization of both medical marijuana and...
Car Accidents
Does vehicle technology create more problems than it fixes?
As technological advances continue to pile up to improve the safety of vehicle occupants, some advancements seem to be working across purposes. The introduction of numerous advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as blind spot monitoring, brake assist and...
Drive safely during the 100 deadliest days of summer
The summer season is the time of year that sees a considerable increase in road traffic. Road trips, vacations, and more teen drivers out of school all contribute to the increase in drivers on the road and the accidents that come with it. Because the rise primarily...
Why are pedestrian accident deaths on the rise?
One of the advantages of living in Alabama is that if you enjoy taking an early morning walk, you often can do that in favorable weather. Many people like to get out and walk for exercise. Dog owners often take their pets for a walk every day. Some people even decide...
Study: Alabama among the worst states for weather-related crashes
Everyone knows that Birmingham has a reputation for hot, muggy weather – and lots of it. But like the rest of Alabama, we experience a fair share of rain-soaked days as well. A recent study of weather-related crashes put Alabama near the worst in the nation, with a...
Can vehicle safety systems lead to unsafe driving habits?
Car designers, computer programmers and manufacturers are all working toward the goal of autonomous vehicles in the coming years. These advancements must be made in smaller technological steps, though, through the introduction of advanced driver assistance systems...
Study examines why women have a greater injury risk in crashes
As it is in most places in the U.S., the adult population of Birmingham is split pretty evenly between men and women. Despite that parity, women are much more likely than men to sustain serious injuries when they’re involved in a motor vehicle crash. According to...
Will advanced auto tech keep teens from learning the basics?
When it comes to safe driving, there is a lot for new drivers to learn. They must master all the skills of driving, along with the traffic laws and rules of the road. Among the skills to learn are things like avoiding distraction, predicting other drivers’ actions,...
Driver automation systems may promote lack of focus among drivers
A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and MIT’s AgeLab indicates that drivers may become dependent upon partially-automated driving systems. As they become familiar with the automation, they may be more willing to engage in distracting activities...
IIHS: In-vehicle alcohol detection systems could save lives
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing losses from motor vehicle crashes. Recently, it performed an analysis of the potential for in-vehicle alcohol detection systems and found that these...
