TSS Customer Service, Author at Traffic Safety Resource Center

Autonomous Tech & Driverless Cars: What’s On the Road Now, and What’s Next

Self Driving Cars

Autonomous cars haven’t been a new concept since at least Isaac Asimov, but this year the automotive industry and tech companies seem to have finally hit the throttle on making them reality. The industry is undergoing a shift that is likely to change the face of the marketplace and rewrite the rules of the road.But are consumers aware of the … Continue reading “Autonomous Tech & Driverless Cars: What’s On the Road Now, and What’s Next”

Autonomous Car Technology – Past, Present, and Future

Self Driving Cars

Building The Dream Of Automated Driving CarsThroughout the past decade, we have witnessed one of the greatest strides in automobile technology with the focus on autonomous cars.Advancements have accelerated with the participation of the leading car developers including BMW, Ford, Audi, and most recently Google and Tesla entering the ring.While you may only recently have heard about self-driving cars in … Continue reading “Autonomous Car Technology – Past, Present, and Future”

The Five Levels of Automotive Autonomy

Self Driving Cars

Are you ready to trust computers and connected cars with your life? That’s the question many consumers and manufacturers are considering now that autonomous vehicle technologies (self parking, emergency braking, lane change detection, etc.) are becoming more widespread.Five Levels of AutonomyWhen we talk about autonomous vehicles, we aren’t just referring to self-driving cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has defined five … Continue reading “The Five Levels of Automotive Autonomy”

This Inspiring Green Parking Lot was Created by Boy Scouts

Infrastructure

If you’re considering greening your property, take a cue from Michael Bigness from Boy Scout Troop 11 of Chittenango, New York. His recent Eagle Scout project helped transform the parking area at his local library into a Green Parking Lot — the kind of infrastructure that’s encouraged by the Environmental Protection Agency and Leadership in Environmental Design. As part of … Continue reading “This Inspiring Green Parking Lot was Created by Boy Scouts”

The Simple Way This Organization Makes Streets More Bike Friendly

Bicycle Advocacy

Williston Road in South Burlington, Vermont, is a quintessential car-centric conundrum: four vehicle lanes with no space for bikes and no sidewalk, yet it’s one of the city’s central links. Indeed, the thruway needs a full redesign, but money shortages, politics and red tape can quickly throw that vision into limbo. Is there a way around these roadblocks? Jason Van … Continue reading “The Simple Way This Organization Makes Streets More Bike Friendly”

“Honestly, Any Other Goal is Unethical,” RI Bike’s Alex Krogh-Grabbe on Charlie Hawkins and Vision Zero

Bicycle Advocacy

On July 19th around 6 pm, transportation advocate and experienced cyclist, Charlie Hawkins, was fatally struck while walking his bike across a four-lane road in Warwick, Rhode Island. The handful of local reports that surfaced provided little detail about the incident so Traffic Safety Store contacted Alex Krogh-Grabbe, Programs Director for the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, to learn about what … Continue reading ““Honestly, Any Other Goal is Unethical,” RI Bike’s Alex Krogh-Grabbe on Charlie Hawkins and Vision Zero”

Watch Out For These 5 Unexpected Risks of Summer Driving

Safe Driving

Winter, with its abundance of snow, ice and auto-mechanical failure, is certainly a precarious time for drivers. Yet, it’s summer that’s most deadly. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration consistently shows the highest number of traffic fatalities are in the third quarter (July-September) while the lowest are in the first quarter (January – March). This might be attributed … Continue reading “Watch Out For These 5 Unexpected Risks of Summer Driving”

Choosing The Right High-Visibility Gear For Bicycling, Motorcycling, Walking At Night, And Outdoor Adventures.

Resource Guide

If you’re riding with cars or venturing into the great outdoors during hunting season, wearing eye-catching clothing is more than a best practice. It can be the difference between a good time and an accident. Lightweight, breathable high-visibility safety wear — which runs under $20 and can cost as little as $5 — is the only gear developed and tested … Continue reading “Choosing The Right High-Visibility Gear For Bicycling, Motorcycling, Walking At Night, And Outdoor Adventures.”

Why Railway Safety Demands a Long Term Strategy

Infrastructure

While many questions remain in the federal investigations of the May 12th Amtrak catastrophe, one thing seems certain: Technology could have prevented the crash. That specific technology is called Positive Train Control (PTC) and it isn’t exactly cutting edge. These crash prevention systems were released over 25 years ago and have been included in The National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) … Continue reading “Why Railway Safety Demands a Long Term Strategy”

San Antonio Upgrades with Innovative Cycle Tracks

Bicycle Safety

The city of San Antonio, Texas, made a significant step towards realizing their ambitious Bicycle Master Plan. With the addition of 250 Zebra Lane Blockers (aka Armadillos), transportation officials are making a commitment to safe cycling that goes beyond a strip of white paint. Like many progressive transportation strategies, the Master Plan, published in 2011, aims to push San Antonio … Continue reading “San Antonio Upgrades with Innovative Cycle Tracks”

This Life-Hacker Nails What Safe Driving is Really About

Safe Driving

Etiquette. Not exactly the first word that comes to mind when you think about safety. Yet, that’s exactly what life-hacker and journalist, Kayla Matthews, chose to focus on in this brief but powerful video about safe driving. The majority of accidents, it turns out, are precipitated by inappropriate lane switching and other fuax pas. What seems rude can quickly … Continue reading “This Life-Hacker Nails What Safe Driving is Really About”

Think You Can Drive? The Top 10 Winter Safety Tips You Probably Forgot.

Winter driving

Winter is proving increasingly unpredictable (polar vortex, anyone?) and more treacherous for driver. That’s especially true in regions of the country that have been hit with sudden, atypical freezes.Yet, no matter how many advisories are issued, roll overs, multi-car pile-ups, and highway blockages continue to make daily news. Before you head out, make sure you’ve reviewed those safety measures most likely … Continue reading “Think You Can Drive? The Top 10 Winter Safety Tips You Probably Forgot.”

Check Out The Pro-Biking Bling In This Congressman’s Office

Infrastructure

One of the federal government’s most vocal proponents for infrastructure funding happens to be a staunch supporter of bicycle commuting. In a recent 60 Minutes report on the growing problem of underfunded, aging U.S. infrastructure, only one elected official unabashedly asserts what experts have long acknowledged: To save our crumbling roads and bridges, we need a long term, federal strategy. Althought the … Continue reading “Check Out The Pro-Biking Bling In This Congressman’s Office”

This Swedish Traffic Safety Specialist Says Better Design – Not More Laws – Is Key To Saving Lives.

Pedestrian Safety

You are now four times more likely to die in a traffic accident in the United States than in Sweden. But the difference wasn’t always so dramatic. Since the late 1990s, Sweden has employed Vison Zero, an innovative and holistic traffic safety strategy that’s cut fatalities down to a fraction. Due to its uncanny success, Vision Zero is now being adopted … Continue reading “This Swedish Traffic Safety Specialist Says Better Design – Not More Laws – Is Key To Saving Lives.”

Michigan’s New Law Acknowledges Vulnerable Users. But Is That Enough?

Bicycle Safety

Ask any official what will make roads safer for vulnerable users and “education” invariably tops their list. That’s a funny term because dangerous driving is rarely addressed through a curriculum. More often, officials are actually referring to public awareness campaigns — i.e. billboards, TV ads and web content that battle for public attention. Thanks to the Nathan Bower Act, signed … Continue reading “Michigan’s New Law Acknowledges Vulnerable Users. But Is That Enough?”