Teens: Bad Experiences, More Enforcement Deter Distracted Driving 

Teenagers say that being in a crash while texting and driving is the single most effective way to reduce the deadly practice, followed closely by knowing someone who was involved in such a crash, according to a new survey of teen attitudes. At the same time, more than 80% of teens believe that tougher penalties for those caught texting while driving and heavier police enforcement also are deterrents.  Read more. 

Study: Certain Drivers Show High-Risk Tendencies 

Too Many Drivers Pass School Buses Illegally

 The national association representing state directors of pupil transportation released the results of its 2nd annual survey on illegal passing of school buses. In 28 states throughout the country, about 20% of the nation's school bus drivers participated in a one-day survey to report how many times motorists passed their stopped school buses illegally. Nearly 100,000 drivers reported that 88,025 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day. Throughout a 180-day school year, these sample results alone point to nearly 16 million violations by private motorists. The group notes this year's results were consistent with the 2011 results. The association believes these results should trigger more safety countermeasures within states and at the national level, including greater motorist awareness, greater enforcement, and tougher, more uniform laws. Read more.

Study: Pedestrian Deaths Increase with Age

Older pedestrians are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by cars or trucks than those under 60, according to a new report by a group studying transportation issues in New Jersey, southern New York, and Connecticut. The Tri-State Transportation Campaign found that the risk of being killed while walking rises with age. Pedestrians older than 60 are 2.4 times more likely to be fatally run down than those under 60, the report showed; for those over 75, the risk is three times higher. The organization found that 435 people over 60 died in pedestrian accidents in the study zone from 2008 through 2010, accounting for a third of the total number of pedestrian-vehicle deaths during the period. People older than 60 make up about 17% of the population. The death rate for pedestrians older than 60 in the study region declined slightly from 2007 through 2009, but it increased for those 75 and older.  Read more.

Vehicles Vulnerable to Computer Viruses

A team of top hackers working for Intel Corp's security division are searching for electronic bugs that could make automobiles vulnerable to lethal computer viruses. Security experts say that automakers have so far failed to adequately protect these systems, leaving them vulnerable to hacks by attackers looking to steal cars, eavesdrop on conversations, or even harm passengers by causing vehicles to crash. A McAfee spokeswoman said that among those hackers working on pulling apart cars was Barnaby Jack, a well-known researcher who has previously figured out ways that criminals could force ATMs to spit out cash and cause medical pumps to release lethal doses of insulin.  Read more.

Distracted Driving Fueled by Multi-tasking Employees

Teen drivers aren't the only demographic known for using their phones on the road: Multi-tasking employees who conduct business while driving are becoming an increasing concern for highway safety. Our work-oriented society and the availability of technology 24/7 - even when we're driving - can be a deadly combination. Experts suggest that education, rather than legislation, will prove to be the key for reducing highway injuries and fatalities resulting from multi-tasking while driving, and the best venue for such education can be found in the private sector's corporate environment.  Read more.