Newly issued driving guidelines proposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) could be the first to directly address GPS units and other electronic devices that foster distracted driving and increase the risk of drivers becoming involved in car accidents. Car crash experts note that the guidelines, if approved, would force automakers to…
Saying that the U.S. Department of Transportation has “made significant progress” toward developing a final rule regarding the installation of rearview cameras on all passenger vehicles , Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood once again delayed the final deadline scheduled for the new law to go into effect. New vehicles in Ohio and all other states…
Ohio, as a state with a comparatively high population, busy transportation corridors and multiple urban centers such as Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and many others, is awash in rental cars. Nationwide, the number of vehicles in the fleets of rental companies is estimated at more than 1.6 million. That vast number — the rental…
According to a new report, more teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 died as a result of a car accident in the first half of 2011 compared to the first half of 2010. For the past eight years and up until the new report, there had been a steady decline of car…
Although Ohio does not rank at or near the top of states having the most roundabout intersections, it certainly has its share, with the European-inspired traffic feature becoming an increasingly familiar site on state roads. The trend has been clear for several years. As evidence of that, the Columbus Dispatch featured a story from…
Traffic officials in most states, including Ohio, have few explicit guidelines to follow when they are considering closing down a portion of a freeway or major highway due to adverse driving conditions. In the absence of clear instructions, and on occasions of rapidly changing weather or other factors that can negatively influence driving conditions,…
We reported recently on a strong push by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and other traffic safety organizations to implement ignition interlock laws nationally that would apply to even first-time DUI offenders (please see our January 17 blog post). MADD officials say that the interlocks are strong and proven tools that help cut back…
Toyota owners have been plagued by a series of car accidents in recent years due to unintended acceleration. As a result, Toyota has been hit with nearly 200 lawsuits, including some from Ohio, relating to injures and damages concerning various accidents linked to unintended acceleration. Toyota has revealed that it is likely to use…
Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans constitute flagship brands and are popular consumer choices in Ohio and everywhere else across the country. The company has a singular and enduring history in the United States, with deep loyalties among many of its vehicle buyers. And, now, some problems to boot. Along with its major competitors,…
In a recent study conducted by two university professors, car accident fatalities are shown to have decreased in those states that have legalized marijuana laws. The information linking those states was posted on the Institute for the Study of Labor website and is currently under review by the Journal of Law and Economics. The…