Forty percent of the fatal collisions of people 70 and older compared with 23 percent of fatal crashes of 35-54 year-olds, occur at intersections and involve other vehicles, according to a recently released study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

IIHS is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage on the nation’s highways. It is wholly supported by auto insurers like Unitrin Specialty.

The IIHS wanted to know what mistakes were leading a disproportionate number of older motorists to get into intersection crashes. To find out, the Institute studied intersection crashes on Connecticut roads involving more than 200 drivers in three age groups: — two groups of older drivers (70-79 years old and 80-plus) and a comparison group of 35-54 year-olds.

Among the drivers in Connecticut, rear-end crashes accounted for a lower proportion of 80-plus drivers’ intersection crashes. Both groups of older drivers had lower proportions of run-off-the road crashes than 35-54 year-olds. In contrast, failure to yield the right of way to other vehicles led to more than half of the intersection crashes for which the oldest drivers were responsible. This compares with about one-third of the intersection crashes of 70-79 year-olds and about one fourth of those involving 35-54 year-olds.

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Why they crashed

Reasons for the intersection crashes varied by driver age.  People 70-79 made more evaluation errors than drivers of other ages. That is, they saw potentially conflicting vehicles but misjudged whether there was time to proceed.

Drivers in the other age groups (35-54 and 80-plus) more often failed to see potentially conflicting vehicles. The 35-54 year-olds said it was because they became distracted, while most of the drivers 80-plus said they were looking but simply didn’t see the conflict.

The IIHS said failure to see other vehicles “may be due to increases in vision impairments, which escalate rapidly after about age 75. Another factor could involve the complexity of urban intersections, with vehicles traveling in multiple directions. Older drivers may experience decreasing ability to process the multiple sources of information at once and maneuver safely.”

Range of head movement might also be a factor in older drivers’ crashes. These ranges have been found to decrease with age, which could hinder a driver’s ability to see potentially conflicting vehicles.

Whatever the reasons for the intersection crashes, those involving failure to yield occurred more often where traffic is controlled by stop signs than at intersections with signal lights  (more rear-end crashes occurred at the signals). Fifty-nine percent of the

failure-to-yield crashes occurred at stop signs, and 50 percent of these crashes occurred

while motorists were turning left. The proportions didn’t vary much across the three age groups.

Reducing the risks of older drivers

Crashes per capita are lower among older drivers than people in any other age group, mostly because fewer older people have licenses and those who do drive fewer miles.

But when older people get behind the wheel, their risk of crashing and dying is high.

A challenge is to identify problem drivers before they crash — and even if the hazardous ones can be identified, then what?

A number of approaches are being tried. For example, provisions in some states require people older than specified ages to renew their licenses more often, thus creating more frequent screening opportunities.  Such provisions apply in addition to the usual ones designed to identify drivers of all ages who no longer meet licensing standards because of physical or mental infirmities.  Officials in a few states are trying vision tests or road tests. Where these approaches have been evaluated, results are mixed.

Is your computer’s high definition audio device giving you trouble? Does it refuse to work after coming out of hibernation? Does your sound icon have a big red X in it indicating a problem? Many sound device problems are easily solved by updating the computer’s high definition audio device drivers.

First, consider updating your operating system. Windows regularly releases updates that solve known problems with sound devices. For example, Windows Vista had a known problem with high definition audio devices refusing to turn on after coming out of hibernation. This problem was later solved when Microsoft released a Windows update (937077) addressing the problem.

Next, consider whether the problem recently started and whether a recent Windows update may be to blame. Just as Windows updates solve many sound device problems, new updates sometimes introduce new ones. If you suspect an update may be to blame, it might be smart to rollback the update via System Restore and wait a few days for Microsoft to fix the update.

Now that you’ve considered these solutions, consider updating your high definition audio device drivers manually. You can do this by using Device Manager’s “update drivers” function or going directly to your sound device’s manufacturer’s website and searching for high definition audio device drivers. Another option is to use a commercial device driver update tool that searches for the right high definition audio device drivers (as well as other device drivers) specific for your computer.

Depending where you get the high definition audio device drivers, you may have to manually install them. If so, you’ll need to follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s website. Typically this will involve launching Device Manager, going to the Sound, Video, and Game Controllers section, selecting your device, clicking the Driver tab, and installing the high definition audio device drivers by clicking Update Driver followed by Browse.

If the manufacturer or third party driver utility provides you with self-installing high definition audio device drivers, the installation is a simple matter of downloading the drivers and clicking a few prompts. For example, your computer may ask you if it’s okay to run the newly downloaded file or your computer security program may warn you of the risk of opening .exe files. If you trust the source that is supplying you with the high definition audio device drivers, allow the process to run and you will soon have freshly installed drivers.

No matter which method you use to update the high definition audio device drivers, take the time to reboot your computer. While this is a bit on the tedious side, it will save you grief. Many driver updates as well as Windows system updates require a reboot before the computer will fully understand what instructions to follow. Get into the habit of rebooting after all updates and you will save yourself confusion should the computer not act as expected after updating your high definition audio device drivers.

In the last year in America, almost 2 million truck drivers experienced near misses or actually crashed, causing death or injury to thousands.  Many of these drivers are suffering from OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea).  The risk is higher for those drivers employed commercially, as they use the roads more frequently than those in the private sector.

OSA is known as a silent disease, suffered by 18 million Americans, yet largely undiagnosed.  In fact, up to 95% of sufferers are unaware that they have sleep apnea, known to cause high blood pressure; obesity; Diabetes; heart disease and stroke.  Sufferers experience hundreds of breathing arrests throughout a night’s sleep, causing oxygen levels to drop dramatically. 

The condition is usually caused by a blockage in the throat through fatty tissue and causes daytime fatigue and drowsiness; fatal for truck drivers, 2.4 – 3.4 million of whom are thought to be sufferers in the US.  Obese truck drivers are thought to be more susceptible to drivers fatigue and it is thought that screening for OSA could significantly reduce the risk of accidents.  Findings were a result of a recent survey conducted by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: 450 drivers were studied, 17% of whom met the screening criteria.

As a result of these studies, a large number of drivers were referred to undergo effective treatment that is available for OSA. However, many of the drivers failed to take the opportunity to be properly tested for sleep apnea following referral.  “Truck drivers with sleep apnea are much more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and the condition is increasingly common as Americans become more obese,” said Stefanos N. Kales, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Employee and Industrial Medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance.  Dr Kales was the senior author of the study and also observed that drivers who suffer from OSA often do not report their symptoms or follow through recommendations for further testing and treatment.

Certainly it is obvious that unless truck drivers are required legally to undergo OSA screening, accidents will continue to be caused by sleep disorders.  Drivers should ideally be prohibited from driving until they have sought appropriate treatment for OSA, an issue that is being considered by The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), based on obese drivers’ BMI (Body Mass Index).

The law as it stands requires that drivers seek medical certification every two years to comply with conditions imposed within the terms of their licences but this certification does not require testing for OSA, largely due to the lack of medical awareness of the seriousness of OSA on the part of heath professionals: the condition is under diagnosed and as result, truck drivers requiring treatment are achieving certification from doctors who are not familiar with the risks.  The implementation of sleep apnea screening by the FMCSA would offer the advantage of the connection between truck drivers and sleep apnea being detected within safety examinations, making the roads safer for everyone.

Probably the most fashionable things youngsters to undertake nowadays with their cars or trucks may be to include custom special effects. This could be everything via mod products that make the distinct automobile overall look and audio more fantastic, personalized fresh paint jobs, remarkable rims and tires that could lift as well as reduce the level of the vehicle to a lot more unusual and also overwhelming modifications. Most importantly, this is a major industry.

If you are considering creating any kind of variations for a auto try to remember one thing, the price tag alone for any modifications won’t be the sole thing you’ll have to pay for, however additionally, you will have to start off forking over larger car insurance policy rates which will not allow you to get cheap automobile insurance for younger drivers.

This might be due to the fact not merely are modified autos more prone to possibly be broken stolen, but a majority of instances the parts needed to make car repairs are often times much more costly. This also would make evaluating prices, especially online for car insurance even more crucial for you to undertake. You need to complete no matter what it takes to lower your insurance expenses on your automobile and get less expensive automobile insurance for younger car owners, in addition to shopping online has become the most effective actions you can take.

Let’s look at a number of popular automobile innovations and uncover the reason they will increase your auto insurance premiums.

#1 Advanced sound system. I am certain that you have noticed at least once in your life a sound system inside it that was just so deafening that it rattled and shook the trunk. This brand new sound system and every one of those speakers, sub woofers plus amps might seem wonderful and sound more desirable, but all it takes is a short period of time occasionally for someone to break in your car or truck in addition to snatch that innovative hifi system out of your dash. A little longer and you could return with nothing more than numerous openings in the car exactly where the brand new equipment was installed.

#2 Personalized paint jobs. Done right, it can help to make just about any vehicle seem to be a work of art in its own right. While a paint job cannot be taken, this is among the things most easily vandalized or maybe damaged in even any modest crash. The minute that damage is actually done you may have to have the paintings fixed. In addition certain designs enhance a vehicle’s stylish look, making the insurance company increase your insurance premiums and always remember if you would like inexpensive auto insurance for young drivers refrain from this.

#3 Tailor made wheels and . Yes, it is true that the tires make the car look good, however with the correct equipment and a speedy enough group of people it does not call for more than a couple minutes for them to remove the fresh wheels away from your vehicle, and all resulting in you with your vehicle perched up on bricks. In a situation like this the more modern locking lug nuts and also rim style makes it much less probable for an individual to take off with your dazzling brand new wheels.

These are just some of the techniques for you to modify your car and at the same time raise your insurance costs. On the very same note nevertheless, there are actually modifications you may have set up that could lower your premiums as well. Finding affordable auto insurance for young drivers can be done with an independent insurance agent, so its possible to modify your automobile, make it look and feel drastically enhanced but stay away from still arm and a leg relating to insurance coverage (blank) quotes and coverage comparisons. Affordable auto insurance is attainable and just a phone call away.

If you’re in a bind each month but still need to purchase auto insurance to make sure you are compliant with all your local laws, do not fear; fortunately there are number of different tricks you can do to help you save money each month and drive down your car insurance costs.

One of the easiest ways to save money each month is something that you should already be doing habitually and that is driving safe!  By having a good driving record, and being able to verify this for an insurance company, you can almost always reduce your rates significantly each month. This is due to the fact that insurance companies see these records as a sign that you are at low risk of them needing to make an insurance claim payout.  The less likely you are seen to cause a claim. the more likely you are to have reduced payments each month on insurance premiums.

Another key point to look at is considering what car you will be driving. Think of the two key points that companies factor into their calculations: speed and age

When considering the speed of a car.  Think about different performance abilities of different makes and models.  Sports cars typically can operate at higher speeds than, say, a minivan, and as such are seen as high-risk vehicles for accidents to occur.  Purchasing a vehicle that is generally considered to be lower performance, and not designed for speed, but safety can help get you discounts immediately.

There can also be an easy and helpful way to get lower cost for your car each month.  By buying a second hand car, not only can you save costs and purchasing the vehicle out right, but as the vehicle is most likely consider to be significantly lower in price than the newer models or insurance company will take this into consideration when giving a quote and be able to pass their own expected savings on to you.  This means you can save potentially thousands of dollars on an initial purchase and hundreds of dollars each subsequent month in insurance savings alone simply by purchasing a vehicle that may be a few years older than the newest models.

If you’re looking at saving money immediately considers searching online at sites such as InsureThePoor.com or local directories now to see what you may have available to you.  Many different companies specialize in discount car rates that can help people find plans to meet their specific needs.