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Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Passing Down Your Old Car to Your Teen Could Be a Deadly Mistake
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American teenagers are at significantly higher risk of dying in car crashes if they drive older vehicles. This is the conclusion of a study from Nationwide Children's Hospital which reveals that teens driving vehicles between 6–15 years old face a 19 percent greater risk of death in fatal crashes compared to those driving vehicles five-years-old and newer. For teens in vehicles older than 15 years, the risk disparity rises to 31 percent. Lead researcher Jingzhen Ginger Yang told Newsweek that parents and caregivers influence the vehicles their teens drive, which affects the driving safety of the teens and other road users. Teenage girl driver in glasses sitting behind wheel of car. Teenage girl driver in glasses sitting behind wheel of car. Valeriy_G "Families should be advised to prioritize safety features when choosing the first car for teens, ensuring it is newer and safer, given the increased involvement of teen drivers in motor vehicle crashes and motor vehicle crash-related fatalities," she said. The researchers analyzed data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a national crash database covering the years 2016 to 2021. They compared vehicles driven by teen drivers (ages 15–18) to those driven by middle-aged drivers (ages 31–55) involved in fatal crashes. The findings were stark—teens were more likely to drive older vehicles and those lacking essential driver assistance technologies such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring. "Parents commonly pass their old vehicles to their teens who are still learning basic driving skills," said paper co-author Fangda Zhang "While it is an exciting milestone for families with new drivers, this practice increases teens' vulnerability to vehicle malfunctions, making their driving less safe." The study highlights that each driver assistance technology present in a vehicle is associated with a six percent reduction in the risk of driver death during a fatal crash. Despite this, teens are less likely than middle-aged drivers to benefit from these life-saving features because they are often driving older, less equipped vehicles. Based on the findings, the researchers recommend that teens should drive the safest vehicles available. "Parents can refer to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for a list of affordable, safe vehicles for teens," Dr Yang said. "If a newer vehicle is not an option, more frequent maintenance should be encouraged to improve the vehicle's safety." While the study did not identify the most effective technologies for teen drivers, Yang emphasized that newer vehicle technologies like crash avoidance, lane assistance, and teen-specific features can notably reduce crashes and injuries. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about stars? Let us know via science@ Reference Zhang, F., Rundus, C. R. M., Alshaikh, E., Peek-Asa, C., & Yang, J. (2025). Vehicle Age and Driver Assistance Technologies in Fatal Crashes Involving Teen and Middle-Aged Drivers. JAMA Network Open, 8(5).
New York Post
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Post
Reckless Ohio driver causes multi-vehicle crash by coming to full stop on busy interstate after missing exit — then flees
A reckless driver caused a three-vehicle crash on a busy Ohio interstate when they came to a dead stop after missing an exit and tried merging over during rush hour traffic. The Ohio Department of Transportation posted a jaw-dropping clip that shows a heavy flow of traffic on Interstate 71 moments before the wreck around 5:24 p.m. near downtown Columbus on April 30, The Columbus Dispatch reported. In the clip, a red minivan is seen crawling into the frame in the middle lane of the busy three-lane highway as other vehicles zip around it. Advertisement The driver of the van appeared to have missed the exit heading towards Dayton and decided to take a risk, coming to a full stop in hopes of cutting across two lanes of traffic. As the minivan came to a standstill, two other minivans were forced to abruptly stop behind the reckless driver as vehicles in both adjacent lanes continued to speed past them. Advertisement However, a large passenger van plowed into the back of the minivan, propelling it forward into the other, causing a multi-vehicle accident. The driver of the red van, who caused the wreck, then seizes the opportunity to cross over into the left lane and carelessly merge into the exit, driving off. The reckless driver of the red minivan has not been identified after fleeing from the scene, and no life-threatening injuries were reported, according to the outlet. In the clip, a red minivan is seen crawling into the frame in the middle lane of the busy three-lane highway as other vehicles zip around it. ABC 6 via Ohio Department of Transportation Advertisement 'When you are driving along a major interstate and you miss your exit do you: A) keep driving and get off at the next one or B) come to a complete stop, cause a multi-car rear-end crash and then drive away,' The Ohio Department of Transportation prompted its followers in its post. 'HINT: The answer is NEVER B. Do not be this driver.' Ohio Department of Transportation Press Secretary Matt Bruning told Fox 8 that the driver did the 'worst thing you can do on a highway' if they missed their exit. A large passenger van collided with the rear of the minivan, propelling it forward into the other vehicle, resulting in a multi-vehicle accident. ABC 6 via Ohio Department of Transportation Advertisement 'What this driver did is extremely dangerous and the absolute worst thing you could do,' he said. According to studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 94% of motor vehicle accidents are estimated to be caused by driver error. A nationwide study released by the personal finance website ValuePenguin in April — used data from the NHTSA, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), and the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) — found that reckless driving was responsible for 6.4% of motor vehicle deaths from 2018 to 2022, totaling more than 12,600 fatalities. In 2021, it led to more than 3,000 deaths, making up 7.1% of that year's motor vehicle deaths.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
More than texting: Florida's new hands-free driving bill gets closer to law
A bill aimed at combating distracted driving on Florida roads is moving forward in the State Senate. Senate Bill 1318 would rename the 'Florida Ban on Texting While Driving' law to the 'Florida Hands-Free Driving Law.' It would also expand the prohibition to include 'using, while driving, a wireless communications device in a handheld manner except to activate, deactivate, initiate, or terminate a feature or function of the device, including a hands-free accessory.' The current bill only bans texting while driving - it does not prohibit you from having a phone in your hand. This bill will largely prohibit you from having your phone or any wireless device in your hand or touching any part of your body. It would also make it a primary offense. Florida Traffic Safety Board statistics show in 2024, there were 697,439 total crashes in the state, 14,003 serious injuries, and 3,080 fatalities. 2,289 of those serious injuries and 275 deaths were considered a direct result of distracted driving accidents. 'It's more than a hope. It's a knowledge that it will save lives,' said Demetrius Branca. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] In 2014, Branca lost his 19-year-old son Anthony to a distracted driver. He's positive this bill, if passed and signed into law, would make Florida roads safer. 'We've tried this in 30 other states, plus the District of Columbia, and in every single one as soon as this law is implemented, fatality rates on the roads go down drastically,' said Branca. Read: Florida Gov. praises Jacksonville immigration bill passage, Mayor said she will not rush its signing In 2018, Georgia became one of the first states in the Southeast to implement a hands-free driving law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) shows the number of people killed in Georgia crashes involving a distracted driver the year the bill passed was 65. The following year, that number dropped to 43 deaths. Maurice Raines is the Deputy Director for the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). He says the number of distracted driver convictions also went up since the law passed. 'Before the law was passed we averaged about 4000 (convictions) and today we bring in over 57,000. So the numbers are going up because people are still trying to do it, but it has helped us. It reduced the number of fatal crashes in our state,' said Raines. The Florida bill has one more committee hearing before heading to the Senate floor for a vote. Read: 'It's never gonna end if we don't fight': 'Free Kill' repeal appears on track to pass after 35-year battle Read: Florida bill would remove work hour restrictions, create exemptions for minors depending on age Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Do heavier vehicles protect you more in a car accident?
Alex Kierstein MotorTrend Conventional wisdom says, all other things being equal, surrounding yourself with the most metal possible will protect you the best in a crash. And that has been borne out by some studies, and assuming bigger is better in a crash is still a reasonable rule of thumb up to a limit. Even the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says so. There are many caveats. Massive vehicles are much, much more dangerous for pedestrians, bicyclists and any other living or smaller thing on the road. And the IIHS also acknowledges that making these large, heavy vehicles lighter wouldn't affect safety as much as you think. It's not a 1:1 relationship between vehicle mass and vehicle safety, in other words. Lastly, when a large vehicle strikes a small one, the occupants of the smaller vehicle are disproportionately killed. For example, since 2005, a pickup truck striking a regular car is 159 to 212 percent more likely to result in the death of an occupant of the car, compared to car-to-car crashes, according to IIHS. More from MotorTrend:The best used SUVs under $15,000: Finding utility on a budget A new study by IIHS puts a bit of detail on the numbers and assumptions involved. Basically, as the safety systems in all vehicles have improved — think airbags, automatic emergency braking and the way bumpers are designed — the role of vehicle weight has declined. In other words, occupying a heavier vehicle doesn't offer as much of a benefit as it once did because of all the systems preventing accidents, or mitigating the effects, that all modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with. The study used Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data from 2011 to 2022, focusing on vehicle crashes in which the vehicles were between 1 and 4 years old and there was at least one resulting driver fatality. (In a somewhat sobering process, the total of 440,604 traffic fatalities in that timeframe was winnowed down to 9,674 deaths by this process.) Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. The result is really interesting. There's a divergence at a specific weight point — about 4,000 pounds. Below that threshold, IIHS found that heavier vehicles confer safety benefits to the driver that increase by weight, but the fatality rate in the other vehicle increases at a comparatively small amount. That is to say, a heavier vehicle is safer for the driver, and only a little bit more dangerous to other vehicles, up to about 4,000 pounds. The IIHS example here is illustrative: 'a lighter car gaining 500 additional pounds was associated with a 17-point reduction in driver death rate and only a single point increase in car partner driver death rate.' In case you missed it:The best and most disappointing cars, trucks and SUVs of 2024 Above that two-ton threshold, things go the other direction. Drivers of these vehicles don't see an additional safety benefit for any additional weight, and the fatality rate of the vehicle it impacts increases significantly. The conclusion? There's a clear upper limit to vehicle weight when it comes to maximizing a driver's safety. IIHS concludes that reducing the weight of the largest vehicles could actually benefit driver safety, and of course improve the fatality rates of the vehicles they might hit. Reducing vehicle mass also has a number of knock-on benefits, like improving fuel economy and perhaps payload or cargo capacity, depending on other factors. But the bottom line is that reducing the weight of the heaviest vehicles on the road will almost certainly save lives. Photos by MotorTrend
