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Jan 10
From Virginia Tech News:
BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 2, 2014 – Teens may begin their driving habits with great caution, but as months behind the wheel pass, they begin to multi-task at higher frequency rates – dialing cell phones, eating, and talking to passengers, etc. – and therefore greatly raise their risk of crashes and/or near-crash incidents.
These findings from a study conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development appear in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
“Novice drivers are more likely to engage in high-risk secondary tasks more frequently over time as they became more comfortable with driving,” said Charlie Klauer, group leader for teen risk and injury prevention at the transportation institute’s Center for Vulnerable Road User Safety and first author of the article. “The increasingly high rates of secondary task engagement among newly licensed novice drivers in our study are worrisome as this appears to be an important contributing factor to crashes or near-crashes.”
Traffic studies site that drivers from 15 years to 20 years of age represent 6.4 percent of all motorists on the road, but account for 11.4 percent of fatalities and 14 percent of police-reported crashes resulting in injuries.
Interaction with cell phones and other handheld electronic devices have garnered the most public and media interest, but even the simplest distractions can put a young driver at risk.
In the New England Journal of Medicine study, titled “Distracted Driving and Risk of Crashes Among Novice and Experienced Drivers,” Klauer and her research team found that likely dangerous distractions for new drivers – versus experienced motorists – include handling of a cell phone to dial or text, reaching away from the steering wheel, looking at something alongside the road, and eating.. All these acts were statistically significant as a distraction for the new drivers.
“Any secondary task that takes the novice driver’s eyes off the road increases risk,” said Klauer. “A distracted driver is unable to recognize and respond to road hazards, such as the abrupt slowing of a lead vehicle or the sudden entrance of a vehicle, pedestrian, or object onto the forward roadway.”
Klauer and her team compared the results of a one-year, 100-car study with drivers between 18 and 72 years of age with an average of 20 years’ experience and an 18-month study of 42 teens who had drivers’ licenses for less than three weeks when the study began.
Participants from both studies drove vehicles outfitted with the same data acquisition systems developed at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, including a minimum of four cameras and a suite of sensors which collected continuous video and driving performance data for the duration of both studies.
Data coders at the institute then watched the video recordings of the drivers and noted any presence of distracting secondary tasks before or during an instance of a crash or near-crash. Many participants from both studies were involved in multiple crash/near-crash events, said Klauer.
A secondary task was considered a contributing factor to any crash or near-crash event if it occurred within five seconds prior to or within one second after the event. A crash was defined as any physical contact between the study participant’s vehicle and another object, where the driver was at fault. A near-crash included any maneuver that required the driver to quickly maneuver the vehicle to avoid a crash.
The data revealed that compared to experienced drivers, novice drivers engaged in secondary tasks less frequently during the first six months. However, they matched experienced drivers between months seven and 15, and were engaged in non-driving tasks more often than experienced drivers during months 16 through 18 – a two-fold increase in risky distractions during the last three months of the study.
“Many states have adopted graduated driver licensing provisions that limit cell phone use,” said Tom Dingus, director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and a co-author on the Journal of Medicine paper. “However, it is not the only risky behavior for novices. Our analyses separated talking and dialing tasks and found that talking on a phone did not increase crash risk among experienced or novice drivers, while dialing increased risk for both groups.”
Combining crashes and near-crashes in odds ratio calculations produces conservative point estimates with tighter confidence intervals than when using crashes alone, said Feng Guo, an assistant professor of statistics affiliated with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and a co-author on the paper with Klauer.
“The true risk is probably higher than indicated,” added Guo.
Added Klauer, “Newly licensed novice drivers are of course at a particularly high crash risk, in part because driving is a complicated task and novices tend to make more mistakes when learning a new task.”
“In previous studies we found that crash or near-crash rates among the novice drivers were nearly four times higher than for experienced drivers,” she said. “Therefore, it should not be surprising that secondary task engagement contributes to this heightened risk among novice drivers.”
Additional authors include Bruce G. Simons-Morton, a senior investigator with the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development, which sponsored the research; Marie Claude Ouimet, an assistant professor at the University of Sherbrook in Montreal; and Suzie E. Lee, a research scientist at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Added Simons-Morton of the National Institute of Child Health, “This study is first report of its kind to objectively assess the degree to which engagement in tasks other than driving contributes to novice drivers’ crashes and near-crashes, and to compare the results to the impact of such distractions on more veteran drivers.”
The publication of a traffic-related study in the New England Journal of Medicine is a natural fit, said Klauer. “We are working on preventing the leading cause of death in people under 35 years old, crashes,” she added. “We’re working toward the same goals as a medical research institute, but along a different pathway.”
The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducts research to save lives, save time, save money, and protect the environment. Researchers and students from multiple fields are continuously developing the techniques and technologies to solve transportation challenges from vehicular, driver, infrastructure, and environmental perspectives. As one of seven premier research institutes created by Virginia Tech to answer national challenges, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute has effected significant change in public policies for driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety, and it is advancing the design of vehicles and infrastructure to increase safety and reduce environmental impacts. -
Jan 03
We can't believe it's already 2014! Ushering in a new year is exciting- with each new year comes new beginnings, new opportunities, and a chance to better yourself by way of making a new year's resolution. What's that you say? Still haven't settled on a new year's resolution?
Here's an idea: How about resolving not to text or use any other handheld functions of your phone while driving? Think about what a difference even one person with full focus on the road could make- cutting out this tempting distraction that may be plagueing your time behind the wheel could be the best thing you do in 2014, or even your life, if it means saving you or a fellow driver from a senseless and preventable collision!
Unlike a resolution to quit biting your nails, stop eating so much fast food, or start hitting the gym more often, putting a stop to texting while driving is a resolution that makes a difference both for you and others. But we all know that old habits die hard, and many drivers admit that texting and driving is more than a habit, it's a full-blown addiction.
That's one of the reasons we at ORIGO™ created the ORIGOSafe™: To lend a hand to drivers who have realized that they just can't seem to stop texting at the wheel, despite their knowledge of the extreme risks invloved. As one ORIGO™ customer puts it, "It was only a matter of time before something bad happened." That's why so many drivers are installing the ORIGOSafe™ in their own vehicles; Sometimes we need someone (or something) to hold us accountable. Not familiar with the ORIGOSafe™? Watch the video below to see how our solution can help you keep your promise not to text and drive in 2014 (or ever again!).
Let's work together to make our roads safer in 2014!
Happy 2014 from ORIGO™!
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Dec 12
There are so many accessories you can buy for your car these days- It seems like everybody offers some "innovative" gadget to make your long drive to the in-laws more comfortable and fulfilling (ok, maybe just tolerable).
Some of these add-ons are truly ingenious, some are useless, and some are just plain dangerous. That last category is where we at ORIGO™ have to speak up. It's appalling that, with all we know about the dangers of distracted driving, new products that take your attention away from the road where it should be continue to flood the market. Here are a few gifts NOT to give (or ask for) this holiday season:
- Dash-Mounted DVD Player: As if there aren't enough distractions on the road these days... We can't imagine what effect watching movies could have on driving. Not only does this obviously take your visual focus off the road, but the mental and emotional investment that a good movie requires isn’t one that you can or should make while driving. Plus, what's a good movie without a bowl of popcorn or a cold drink? This only compounds the distraction. And you don't want to show up at your next destination over-energized from a fight sequence or teary-eyed from a sappy love story (I have enough problems as it is watching movies at home. Ever seen The Notebook?) I rest my case.
- Steering Wheel Desk: It’s exactly what it sounds like: a desk that attaches to your steering wheel. Granted, this desk space is inserted between the rungs of your steering wheel, making it impossible to steer, and the device comes with a disclaimer that implores you to never use the Steering Wheel desk while the vehicle is in motion. Why? Because we all know there’s going to be that one guy who gets pulled over on a long straight stretch of highway in Kansas playing solitaire on his new Steering Wheel Desk.
- Front Seat Laptop/iPad Mounts: Like the Dash-Mounted DVD Player, these mounts are the stuff of nightmares for those of us trying to prevent distracted driving. Allowing a panel the size of an iPad to obscure your windshield and controls is enough of a risk even if it were made out of wood. Add the tactile and visual razzle-dazzle that is the iPad, and even the safest of drivers will start driving like a 15-year-old boy in a stolen Ferrari.
- Steering Wheel Phone Mounts: Now this one is just ridiculous. Doing anything to alter the mechanism that steers your vehicle is bad enough. Combine that with a phone, proven to be the biggest distraction to drivers today, and you have a recipe for disaster. There are only two things thatshould be on your steering wheel: your left hand and your right hand. The concept of this post was inspired by the article, "6 Car Gifts Not to Buy" on consumerreports.org Dec 11, 2013
Give your loved one the gift of safety this holiday. Buy them an OrigoSafe™ and make sure they go caroling through the snow, not barreling through a guard rail.
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Dec 04
Yesterday, Sentator Tim Kaine came to visit ORIGO™ and learn about our solution. As the former Governor of Virginia, Senator Kaine takes special interest in ORIGO™’s sourcing of 90% of the components that make up our device from Virginia businesses.
Of course, Senator Kaine is also invested in the fight against distracted driving: He is the author of the original legislation in Virginia that outlawed texting while driving as a secondary offense (it has since become a primary offense!)Click on the picture to watch a video from Senator Kaine's Visit:A huge thank you from ORIGO™ to Senator Tim Kaine for his visit, and to PlasticsOne, Keltech, Corrugated Container Corp., and all the other local businesses who have helped ORIGO™ to create a texting and driving solution that is saving lives! -
Nov 25
From our friends at Fix the Toaster:
Thanksgiving Day holds the title as the holiday in the US where the most amount of people die in car crashes.
Photo MyRecipe.com
Moms, please make sure that you make driving safe #1 on your to-do list this week. Make your spouses, partners drive safe as well.
Grandpa too drunk to drive home?
Great, let him crash out on your couch. There is much we can do to make the numbers go down.
So here’s a recap. A LOT of people usually die on Thanksgiving. Isn’t that awful?! Most of these crashes are preventable here are some tips:
He said he realized that people don’t recognize how the holidays can make them drive too fast for the road conditions. His accident was a wake-up call, and it’s something he tells his patients about because they sit up and pay attention.
“Just because you’re late for meal, slow down because you’ll be a lot later if you’ll get in a car accident,” Dill said.
Dill and Nelson reminded drivers to buckle up because they can’t control other people on the road, but they can drive the speed limit and be vigilant.
“You have to drive knowing that you’re going to be passing people who are impaired, who are rushing, who are intoxicated,” Dill said.
Sharma said the best advice for anyone who has been in an accident is to stay still until help arrives unless the car is on fire. Neck injuries can be made worse by moving, so one of the first things first responders do is immobilize crash victims with a back board. (ABC NEWS)
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Nov 20
Okay, calling him the "world's dumbest driver" may be a little harsh, but this video depicts a very serious issue. If sending/recieving a text while driving takes the driver's eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds (the equivalent of driving the length of a football field, blind, at 55 mph), we can't imagine how long this driver is speeding down the road without even looking where he's headed during his movies-on-the-go. (We've heard of a Drive-In movie, but a Driving movie?!?! Come on!)
Josh can't be the only one participating in this irresponsible activity, and we know he isn't the only one texting while driving (6,000 people were killed last year by distracted drivers). For your safety, and the safety of all those you share the road with, put the phone down when you get behind the wheel, or better yet, put it in your ORIGOSafe™ and eliminate the ability to use dangerous handheld functions while the car is moving.
Josh, we hope you have wised up!
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Nov 13
An interesting new PSA from Telekom Srbija illustrates the effect of texting or other handheld phone use on your vision while you drive. Succumbing to visual and manual distraction behind the wheel can be deadly: distracted driving claims 6,000 lives per year here in the United States alone. Dock your phone in the ORIGOSafe™ and do away with the temptation altogether, or install ORIGOSafe™ in your teen's car and know they are driving distraction-free.
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Nov 07
Texting and driving has reached epidemic proportions. New headlines crop up every day about a teen whose life was lost or changed forever due to a few seconds of handheld activity on a cell phone while driving. A common thread in these tragic stories is a recurring line uttered by the parents of the teen involved: “I never thought it could happen to my child.”
The truth is, it can happen to anyone. The fact that teens text while driving 26 times more than their parents think they do makes it likely that your teen is doing it, too.
Until you do something real to prevent it, teens WILL text and drive, and here’s why:
1. Teens are addicted to texting, it's that simple. Teens text all the time: One in three teens sends more than 100 text messages a day, or 3000 texts a month. According to a study: “Texting is instantly gratifying and highly anxiety producing. Instant connection can create elation and self-value only to be replaced by the devastation of no response, a late response, the misinterpretation of a punctuation mark, a sexually harassing text, a text sent to the wrong person or a text that is later regretted."
"Neuro-imaging has shown that back and forth texting floods the pleasure centers of the brain, the same area that lights up when using heroin. The emotional disruption of a real or perceived negative response, however, necessitates more texting to repair the mood, to fix the feelings of rejection, blame and disconnection. The addictive potential is obvious.” (Suzanne Phillips, PsyD, PBS)
Texting can become, and is for many teens, a full-blown addiction. Dismissing this addiction as totally harmless or "just part of being a teen these days" is a devastating mistake. One of the hallmarks of any addiction is the addict’s willingness to ignore logic and common sense, taking risks in order to continue the behavior they are addicted to. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a teen who walks around texting all day isn’t also texting when they are behind the wheel.
2. Teens feel rude if they don't respond right away. Teens expect one another to spend every waking hour with their cell phones, and then some. Recent studies show that 4 out of 5 teens sleep with their phones on or near their bed, in order to be available for contact while they sleep. Teens in focus groups admit they sleep with the phone nearby in case someone contacts them. This behavior is the social norm in a society that expects instant response and instant gratification. Said one teen, “People will wake me up in the middle of the night and I have to wake up and talk or they will think I’m mad at them or something.” (Suzanne Phillips, PsyD, PBS)
3. The numbers don't lie. A recent nationwide survey commissioned by Bridgestone Americas Inc. showed that 95% of teens surveyed admitted to texting while driving. According to the National Safety Council, the use of cell phones while driving contributes to 1.6 million crashes per year. 6,000 people are killed every year in the United States due to texting and driving. These are just a few of the myriad statistics emerging each year as the problem grows.
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ORIGOSafe™ is a simple, easy solution that removes the serious risks of handheld phone use while driving once and for all. Dock your phone, start your car, start driving SAFE. Order yours today and break the habit overnight. Order one for your teen and know that they are focused on the road when they're away from home.
You hold the wheel, we'll hold the phone. Drive ORIGOSafe™
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Oct 24
Conor Lynch was a special kid: Smart, funny, kind, and athletic. He was part of a loving family, and a friend to many. Then Conor was killed by a distracted teen driver, while training with his cross country team. He was 16. Since his death in 2010, the Conor Lynch Foundation has become a stalwart force in the fight against distracted driving, among other road safety initiatives.
From www.inhonorofconor.org: “The Conor Lynch Foundation has been established to support new and existing programs that raise awareness and promote the safety of runners, pedestrians, cyclists and young drivers. Your contribution, and events such as safety fairs and the annual 5K Run/Walk “In Honor Of Conor” directly benefit this foundation, and work to ensure that no family suffers a loss like this again.”
On October 27th, there will be a 5K run/walk in honor of Conor, and in support of the Conor Lynch Foundation and their goal of making our roads safer.
Come join in and do your part to help an incredible cause, all in memory of an incredible kid!
Register Today: http://active.com/sherman-oaks-ca/running/5k-runwalk-in-honor-of-conor-2013 (Prices will go up)
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Oct 16
From McClatchy Tribune's Daily Wildcat:
LOS ANGELES – Do you think it’s OK to text and drive because you’re a great driver? If so, chances are you’re a guy.
A new study published in the International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management found that 4 out of 5 college students texted while driving, and that males in particular were more likely to downplay the dangers of distracted driving, because they believed they were skilled drivers.
“While male respondents widely agree that texting while driving is dangerous they also believe that they are better at texting while driving than other drivers,” wrote study authors Garold Lantz and Sandra Loeb.
The authors, who are both marketing professors at Kings College, in Wilkes Barre, Pa., surveyed 120 male and female students on their texting habits, as well as their views of the practice.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a connection between a person’s impulsiveness and their likelihood to text while driving. The authors were surprised by what they found.On average, the students sent 82 text messages a day, with females sending more than that and males sending fewer on average. Females appeared to be more impulsive about texting, but that did not carry over to texting while driving, authors said.
“Females who were more impulsive were not more likely to text while driving,” they wrote. “This is probably due to the finding that females recognized the dangerousness of texting while driving more than males.”
Males, according to he study authors, reported texting less frequently, and less impulsively, but “showed less awareness (or less appreciation) of the dangerousness of texting while driving.”
Despite that difference in attitude, males and females appeared to be equally likely
to text while driving in general, the authors wrote.
Previous studies have demonstrated that texting while driving can slow reaction times even more than drinking and driving. And while most people believe they are good at multitasking, other studies suggest fewer than 3 percent of the population can effectively perform more than one task at a time.
Study authors noted that their research was limited by the small sample size, however, they said it was among the first papers to try to identify the motivations for texting while driving.
Despite numerous state laws forbidding texting while driving, and other forms of distracted driving, the authors wrote that legislation seems to have had minimal effect on people’s habits.
For this reason, the authors said further research was necessary in order to implement effective programs that would discourage people from texting while driving.
“Simply outlawing the behavior is insufficient to persuade people not to do it,” authors wrote.
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As this article notes, texting laws are near impossible to enforce. Apps are ineffective, limited, and can present even more of a distraction when drivers attempt to circumvent them. Pledges and promises are great, but how many of us keep them?
ORIGOSafe™ is a simple, easy solution that removes the serious risks of handheld phone use while driving once and for all. Dock your phone, start your car, start driving SAFE. Order yours today and break the habit overnight. Order one for your teen and know that they are focused on the road when they aren't at home.
You hold the wheel, we'll hold the phone. Drive ORIGOSafe™