drivers News

Research Shows Hands-Free Phones Just As Risky

When someone is talking to you, your brain is listening, processing and thinking about what’s being said – even if you’re in the driver’s seat trying to concentrate on traffic. That’s why drivers get distracted during cellphone conversations, even when …

Montana City Cellphone Ban Takes Effect Today

A ban on using hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices while driving in Helena takes effect Wednesday, but police are giving drivers 30 days to get used to the new rules. Helena is joining Billings, Missoula and Butte in enacting …

IndyCar Drivers, Officials Discuss Safety Issues

IndyCar drivers and officials debated how to make open-wheel racing safer Monday. Now comes the hard part: turning talk into action. More than a dozen IndyCar drivers met for three hours with series CEO Randy Bernard and Brian Barnhart, the …

Wisconsin Puts Focus on Safety of Teen Drivers

The focus is being put on the safety of teenage drivers this week in Wisconsin. Gov. Scott Walker has declared this as Teen Driver Safety Week and the Department of Transportation is reminding young drivers and their parents about the …

Thousands of Maryland Drivers Ticketed for Phone Use

Maryland police agencies have issued thousands of tickets to drivers for using hand-held cellphones behind the wheel in the year since a ban took effect. Records from more than 70 police agencies in the state that participate in the Electronic …

Distracted Alabama Drivers Rack Up Over 270 Tickets

The Montgomery Police Department has cited 274 drivers for violating a distracted driving ordinance that was enforced starting a year ago. The Montgomery Advertiser reports the city council passed the ordinance in August 2010, and after a 30-day grace period, …

Rains Flood Maryland Roads, Strand Drivers

Firefighters were among those who had to be rescued as storms flooded roads Wednesday, trapping cars in rushing water and filling basements in a region still cleaning up from Hurricane Irene less than two weeks ago. A swift water rescue …

California Bill Would Restrict Use of Red-Light Cameras

The state Assembly has approved restrictions on governments’ use of cameras to catch drivers who run red lights. The bill requires that red-light cameras be used for public safety, not to generate revenue from traffic fines. It also would force …

Florida Lawmakers Want Crackdown on PIP Fraud

Florida lawmakers have been frustrated trying to resolve insurance issues on many fronts in recent years. One of the most troublesome has been the growth of fraudulent claims for drivers who have personal injury protection insurance. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty …

Americans Say ‘Yes’ to New Requirements for Teen Drivers

Nearly six in 10 Americans favor a federal law to establish minimum requirements and driving restrictions for teen drivers. A recent national survey from Allstate Insurance shows that support for a national graduated driver licensing (GDL) law corresponds with low …