Back To School: Driving Safety Tips
Posted by Cassandra in Uncategorized on August 27th, 2010
As back to school season begins the simple fact is you will encounter more cars on the road. From additional youth drivers to parents returning from a summer vaca you may notice an increase in traffic throughout the day and especially in the mornings. Now is a great time to review safe driving techniques with your children, teenagers – even take a refresher yourself:
- Silence your cell: With the new distracted driving legislation this should be a no-brainer. If caught texting and driving you can face a steep fine or even a suspension of your license!
- Buckle-up: Elementary, but necessary for safe driving. Parents should ensure all children are buckled and situated in car-seats appropriate for their size. Remind your teenagers seat belts are a must, they won’t “look cool” when they find themselves without in an accident.
- Reverse: Looking over your shoulder and checking all mirrors should be automatic before placing your vehicle in reverse. This is especially important when children are present.
- School-buses: Know when a school bus stops and its red stop sign or flashing lights appear children are boarding or exiting the bus. Be on the look out for children crossing the street even after the bus has moved on.
- Be Alert: Avoid driving when you are exhausted or feel fatigued. When you are not able to pay full attention to the road you may miss crucial directions or signs and will be putting other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians lives at risk.
- School Zones – SLOW DOWN: School zones generally have a lower speed limit than other surrounding areas. There is a rhyme and reason to this and these lower speed limits should be obeyed.
Kicking the Habit: Texting & Driving
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on August 17th, 2010
The Massachusetts texting ban is to take effect October 1st and some drivers have already had difficulty trying to quit. Many texting addicts have already tried to start prying their fingers from a cell phone while driving, here are a few tips on how to keep yourself from the buttons while behind the wheel:
- Place your phone out of sight or at least arms reach in places like the glove box. If you’re a true texting addict, the trunk may be your phone’s ultimate safe haven.
- Turn the texting notification tone to silent to ease your texting temptation.
- If you can still see the screen light up when the ringer is on silent, turn your phone off.
- Read your directions a couple times before hitting the road, this way you’ll be familiar with the route & have to pull over fewer times to check those texted directions.
- Two words: designated texter. If you have a friend in the car, have them text for you!
- Make the ultimate realization that the text message will still be there when you park. Lo and behold, it will say the same thing it did 5, 10 or 20 minutes ago when your phone received it.
Happy and safe driving everyone!
Twenty-Six Billion Dollar Bill: Passed
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on August 11th, 2010
The traditional six week congressional recess was interrupted yesterday when House members gushed back to Capitol Hill voting on a measure the Senate passed just last week. The Senate, House and President have now approved a bill for a $26 billion plan that will provide additional aid to states, including an additional $655 million for Massachusetts. These additional funds are expected to help prevent states and local governments from laying off hundreds of thousands of teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
Governor Deval Patrick stated yesterday the $655 million allocated to Massachusetts will be divided as follows:
- $200 million for education programs in the state
- $75 million for state colleges & universities
- Remaining funds will be used to “fully fund” Chapter 70 state aid to local schools
The votes cast for this piece of legislation closely followed political party lines – only three Democrats voted against it and two republicans for it. The final count of 247 – 161 confirmed the bill’s pathway to the President’s desk where it was signed only a couple hours after passing through the House vote.
On a national level the new bill will provide $16 billion to offer increased Medicaid payments to states. This increase in funding will allow additional funds to be re-routed into other areas of the budget. According to an article by the Boston Globe advocates of the legislation have estimated this measure to keep more than 150,000 police officers, fire fighters and other public employees on payrolls. It has also been estimated this bill would decrease the deficit by 1.4 billion over the next 10 years.
Although the bill has been passed into law, much opposition remains. Businesses and Republicans have objected to $0 billion that would be raised via raising taxes on certain US-based multinational companies. Additionally Democrats and advocates of the bill are irritated over the plan to phase out an increase in food stamp payments. We will need to wait and see how this measure affects America and what obstacles lie ahead.
Right to Repair Denied
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on August 5th, 2010
A decade-long battle to require auto manufacturers to release diagnostic and software information as well as tools to auto repair shops and individuals was shot down this past weekend. Also known as the “Right to Repair” bill, the proposed legislation which passed the Massachusetts State Senate July 6th was denied entry to law by the Massachusetts House this past Saturday evening.
Opposition to the bill was largely felt by automakers. They believe the bill would be costly for both dealers and automakers possibly threatening their industry. Auto manufacturers also fear their valued information would fall in the wrong hands allowing other companies to make generics of their specialized and trade-secret parts. Supports of the bill stated it would make lower repair costs available to consumers and allow independent repair shops to compete with the dealers.
The high tensions of the Right to Repair Act may also be seen in its expensive costs. Opposition and proponents have spent a total of $1.3 million on lobbying and advertising this past year in efforts to sway voters.
If this measure were to have passed it would have made Massachusetts the first state to require auto manufacturer’s to release their highly valued informaiton. The Right to Repair coalition plans to bring their best when the legislation meets again next year. If at first you don’t succeed – try, try again.
NHTSA Announces New 5-Star Vehicle Safety Rating
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy on July 30th, 2010
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also known as NHTSA, has publicized their first lineup of 2011 model vehicles undergoing the government’s newly renovated 5-star safety rating program.
The NHTSA press release stated:
“In all, 24 passenger cars, 20 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and nine 2011 model year pickups will be rated under the new system that not only includes tougher crash tests, but, for the first time, provides consumers with a single overall safety score per vehicle. The new testing program will also provide consumers with information about new advanced crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure and forward collision warning systems.”
The ratings for the 55 vehicles undergoing the new NHTSA’s safety rating system will be posted on the agency’s future webpage: www.safecar.gov. Once the new scores are posted drivers will be able to compare the new ratings with old ones as the rating criteria has changed. Challenging auto manufacturers to create safer vehicles the new standards have made it more difficult to obtain a high safety rating.
The stricter standards are to include new injury testing and a new side impact pole test that simulates wrapping a vehicle around a tree. The new testing will also require crash-test dummies and a frontal crash test that will look more closely at knee, hip and thigh injuries.
If you’re in the market for a 2011 vehicle keep an eye out for these new ratings to be published on the NHTSA’s website. For a list of first vehicles to be tested on the new standards visit the NHTSA’s website at: www.nhtsa.gov/PR/NHTSA-05-10.
Emergency Vehicles – Move Over & Save a Life
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy on July 27th, 2010
Police across Massachusetts and New Hampshire have announced they will be increasing their efforts in enforcing the laws requiring drivers to move over when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road. State police in New Hampshire report about 25 accidents a year in which troopers or their vehicles were struck by other vehicles when stopped at construction details or traffic stops.
The seriousness of this measure needs to be understood by all. This past July 17th 2010 a Massachusetts trooper was sitting in his cruiser after pulling a driver over when he was struck by another motorist. The second motorist who collided with the trooper’s cruiser was cited on DWI charges however police note distracted driving is one of the greatest factors in these accidents.
New Hampshire and Massachusetts police said they are doing their best to educate drivers of the law requiring motorists to move over a lane when an emergency vehicle’s lights are flashing. The state police have also noted they will be enforcing this law with greater diligence. Some drivers have complained it’s difficult to move over a lane due to additional traffic – in these cases the state police have said the motorist should slow down or face a fine.
Trooper Thomas Lencki was able to escape an accident in 2003 where another motorist crashed into the back of his vehicle:
“I noticed an SUV coming into the breakdown lane at a high rate of speed… I was able to move a little bit to protect myself and the woman, and he hit me at about 78 mph, pushed me into the Jersey barrier and then pushed me into her.”
Distracted driving can have grave consequences. If you see an emergency vehicle flashing lights, move over a lane – you may just save a life.
Drunk Driving Crack Down
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy, Legislation on July 21st, 2010
The head of the state police union Rick Brown is calling for additional officials to help take impaired drivers off the road:
“We need extra patrols out there looking for drunk drivers, especially in the summer. If we put more saturation patrols in these areas, maybe you start taking some of these drivers off the roads.’’
- Rick Brown
In the past few weeks four state police troopers have been injured and one killed while on duty. All five accidents took place between midnight and 2:30 a.m., and in four of these instances the drivers now face drunken driving charges. Police are still seeking a suspect in the fifth case. A report from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shows the number of police officers killed in traffic accidents has risen 35% from this time last year.
Massachusetts hopes a saturation of officers will help to deter intoxicated persons from driving. Troopers have urged their superiors to increase enforcement during peak drinking and driving hours, especially Friday and Saturday nights along the free ways.
If a driver is caught with a BAC above the legal limit, serious consequences will follow:
- On the first offense Massachusetts drunk driving laws mandate a fine from $500 to $5,000 and/ or face up to two and a half years in prison after driving with a blood-alcohol-content of .08 or more. Not only will you face these hardships, but your license will be suspended for a full year.
- On your second offense the consequences are more sever. A second conviction comes with: guaranteed jail time of at least 60 days no more than two and a half years, fine of $6,000 – $10,000, suspended license for 2 years, and an interlock device installed in your car. If the first offense consequences didn’t deter you from drunk driving, the second offense punishment should.
Drinking and driving is a serious danger for anyone involved, officials are hopeful the additional measures will help to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the road.
Massachusetts 1000 Greatest Places… Road Trip Anyone?
Posted by Cassandra in Consumer Advocacy, Legislation on July 14th, 2010
Massachusetts legislature has evaluated more than 12,000 nominated locations across Massachusetts and released a list of “1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts”. The greatest places list was approved by legislators and signed by Deval Patrick last year in an effort to lure more tourists to the Bay State. For a fun weekend trip or less-expensive summer vacation, take a Massachusetts road trip – become a tourist yourself!
The list of great Massachusetts places includes the typical tourist spots, but it also mentions the lesser known wonders as well. Some of the obscure places mentioned on the list include: the Paul Bunyan statue in Bellingham, the Songline Emu Farm in Gill and the glacial potholes of Shelburne Falls. Use the 1,000 greatest places list as a map to explore the Commonwealth with a new set of eyes.
While hosting guests from out of state this list is key to showing them the great culture and beauty your Bay State has to offer. Guests may want to tour the more famous locations such as Plymouth Rock, Walden Pond, the Old North Church, Tanglewood and the Cape Cod National Seashore -all of which the list includes. Organized by city your guests can tour just a few surrounding towns and experience more of Massachusetts than the typical vacationer.
Even if you don’t have time for a weekend trip or vacation throw the list of 1,000 greatest places in your glove box for later on. If you finish a meeting early or find extra time to kill these wonderful locations can be a great escape from the daily grind. For the complete list of the Massahcusetts 1,000 greatest places click here.
Texting Behind the Wheel Bill: PASSED
Posted by Cassandra in Legislation on July 8th, 2010
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed legislation H4794 into law last week banning drivers from texting behind the wheel. The new law has made Massachusetts the 29th state to pass a law restricting texting behind the wheel. The passed legislation bans drivers from reading or writing an e-mail, texting and basically anything that doesn’t include talking on the phone while driving. Drivers over age 18 will still be permitted to take phone calls while behind the wheel.
Drivers under 18 years are prohibited from using a cell phone while behind the wheel. On a first offense the teenager can face a fine of $100 and a 60 day license suspension. If a suspension is given, the driver will have to complete a driver attitudinal course in order to reinstate their license. For repeat offenses charges can reach up to $500. These fines will not be considered a moving violation and is not expected to affect a driver’s surcharge.
“Texting while driving has become a serious threat to the safety of our roads and drivers… We have taken strong action to keep our roads safe by banning texting while driving and instituting needed measures to keep impaired drivers off the road. Protecting the safety of our residents is our most important task as elected officials and this bill will do just that.”
- House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo
The new law affects mature drivers as well. Those 75 years or older will need to renew their licenses in person and pass a vision text every five years to keep a current license. Under current laws these drivers have only needed to renew in person every 10 years. Further than the young and elderly, any driver who accrues three or more surchargeable incidents within a two-year period will be required to take a driver retraining and safety course or face a license suspension.
The new law is to take effect in October when officers may pull over any driver suspected of using a cell phone for a purpose other than making or receiving a phone call behind the wheel.
Progressive & Liberty Mutual Lawsuit Initiated
Posted by Cassandra in Competition on July 1st, 2010
A federal lawsuit has been filed by Progressive, the nation’s fourth largest auto insurer, against Liberty Mutual for a patent infringement on a vehicle monitoring system. Progressive claims Liberty’s OnBoard Adviser and Rewind programs are copyright infringements of Progressive’s MyRate program monitoring insured’s driving habits.
According to the lawsuit Progressive was issued a patent in 2000 for the MyRate program. This patent is being used as the grounds for lawsuit against Liberty’s Rewind and Onboard Adviser programs. The Rewind program waives surcharges for qualifying drivers who receive a speeding ticket or are involved in an accident. The Onboard Advisor program is more intense as it reports your fuel score, indicates driver performance as to correct risky driving habits, keeps a location lock on the vehicle and creates a driver trend analysis. These systems are utilized by Liberty Mutual to transmit data used to calculate the driver’s safety score.
According to an article from Business Insurance a Progressive spokeswoman stated:
“Our extensive research, development and investment in usage-based insurance dates back to the mid-1990s. We filed this suit to protect intellectual property rights we have spent more than 15 years investing and developing.”
The Liberty Mutual Spokesman Gleen Greenberg has relayed to the press as of now the company has no comment on the litigation.
