Doggie distractions: AAA just updated its poll on pet owners who drive with their dogs in the vehicle. Once again, the survey found the pet owners fessing up to their potentially dangerous behaviors. About 6 of 10 drivers who own dogs reported that they bring their canines along on car trips. About a quarter of the respondents said they use their hands or arms to restrain the dog while braking. Almost 20 percent of the drivers said they reach into the back seat to interact with the dog, while 17 percent of the drivers allow their pets to sit their laps. "83 percent of respondents … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2011
Double trouble for distracted driver; mayor busted
July 26, 2011 by 1 Comment
A pair of odds and ends, with the emphasis on odd: Here's a candidate for the world's most brazen distracted driver: British police were in the process of stopping David Secker of Norwich for using a handheld cell phone while driving on a freeway. To their astonishment, the officers then realized that he was texting on another cell phone. The capper: Secker reportedly made the officer wait for him to finish his cell phone call. Sentencing is Aug. 15. Toronto's mayor allegedly gave the finger to a citizen who scolded him for using a cell phone while driving. Ottilie Mason said she gave … [Read more...]
In N.Y., texting a primary offense
July 12, 2011 by 3 Comments
New York means business with violators of its texting and driving law: The governor signed legislation giving primary enforcement status to the offense. That means law officers can stop and cite offenders of the state's electronic distracted driving laws. Handheld cell phone use already carries primary enforcement status in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said he would order the DMV to carry out his plan to assess a third point against the drivers licenses of texting and handheld cell phone violators. "It's plain and simple: Distracted driving leads to tragedies that have affected families … [Read more...]
DOT vs. GHSA on cell bans
July 12, 2011 by 2 Comments
Days after a group of state highway safety officials urged a halt to new handheld cell phone legislation, the federal DOT is out with its own study indicating that distracted driving bans can indeed work. The U.S. Transportation Department said July 11 that two local crackdowns on handheld cell phone use and text messaging while driving -- in Syracuse, N.Y., and Hartford, Ct. -- resulted in significant drops in those distracted driving behaviors. "It is crystal clear that those who try to minimize this dangerous behavior are making a serious error in judgment, especially when half a … [Read more...]
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