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According to a study on in-car internet, many drivers in the United States believe such a thing could not only cause much distraction while driving, but invade their privacy, as internet connectivity could provide information to companies on a driver’s location and driving habits. However, companies such as Apple suggest that moderate internet integration into cars could make carrying out certain tasks much safer, including looking for directions and placing calls.

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General Motors has taken WiFi to a whole new level. By allowing smart phones to communicate with one another, cars with the WiFi technology can detect pedestrians on the road, leading to a safer driving environment. While the technology itself is not unheard of, GM takes it a step further than everyone else by allowing pedestrians to download an app to protect themselves via the same tech that allows vehicles to communicate with one another.  The obvious drawback, though, is that it requires a pedestrian to prepare themselves beforehand.

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The Dorel Juvenile Group is boasting about new car seat technology that has a shell which contains foam filled with hexagonal holes.  Designers say this best deflects the energy around the child passenger. The inspiration for this technology came from looking at the cockpit of an IndyCar. 30-plus designers worked on this new seat thanks to a $3.6 million investment. This innovative seat currently sits in a showroom in Columbus, Indiana.

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In a new editorial, an author discusses how new technology in vehicles actually may not be increasing safety. According to a recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, new safety systems apparently have not appreciably decreased the number of accidents. In light of this surprising information, some believe that manufacturers would do better to focus on safety systems that obviously work to increase safety, such as seat belt technology. For example, manufacturers of limousines could install systems on vehicles which would emit a loud, intrusive noise if all occupants in back are not belted.

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To reduce the chances of suffering death or injury in a traffic accident, a new report recommends purchasing a vehicle with five of the most important modern safety features:  Electronic Stability Control, antilock brakes, side curtain airbags, shoulder/lap seatbelts for the rear seats, and a collision warning system. Many older vehicles don’t have these lifesaving features, and it is recommended that consumers buy a newer model vehicle with such technology if doing so is feasible. With traffic fatalities up this year, they might just save a life.

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Indiana news station WISH-TV reports on a new high temperature alarm being installed in the cars of the Noblesville Police Department’s K-9 unit. The installations are a response to the recent death of a police dog in a hot squad car in Arizona. Although each alarm costs about $1,000 to install, the K-9 unit officers no doubt realize their companions’ health is worth the additional expense.

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Tired of potholes?  Officials and residents in the city of Boston certainly are.  A spokesperson for the public works department says that, on average, crews have to repair about 19,000 such driving hazards every single year.  But officials are hoping that a new app can be used to cut down on costs and make the entire repair process more expedient.

That app, known as Street Bump, was developed thanks to ideas from hackers in Somerville, Massachusetts, the head of Grand Valley State University’s math, and an unnamed software engineer.  All of the above responded to a crowdsourcing challenge issued by InnoCentive.  The city of Boston and Liberty Mutual put up the money for the development of the technology, and it was the ideas contributed by the aforementioned parties that finally got the project off the ground.

Street Bump works like this:  drivers can download the app, which became available in June, for free from the iTunes store.  Then, just when they’re about to set out on their commute, drivers simply start the app and place the phone on their dashboard.  Using the device’s internal accelerometer, the app can actually measure when a pothole is driven over.

Once three drivers drive over one pothole, the system is able to correlate the data and successfully record that a pothole needs to be fixed.  The first version of the app failed due to an inability to determine whether a bump was the result of a pothole or some manmade object like a manhole or a speed bump.  No such problem with the new software, which can tell the difference between the up and down motions that a car would undergo depending on the obstacle.

This isn’t the first time that Boston has attempted to harness such technology, nor are they the only city attempting this type of measure.  Citizen Connect was one initiative that likewise hoped to draw on users’ experiences to identify problem areas, but that technology had a critical failing in that a user would have to call or text to report the problem, a big no-no in a moving vehicle.  Cities like San Francisco and Washington D.C. have tried something similar, but their efforts also share the same drawbacks.

Hundreds of users have reportedly downloaded the app thus far, and Boston hopes to roll out the technology to other cities soon.  Officials in other areas are already salivating at the prospect of using such technology to detect earthquakes or to act as a black box on police cruisers.  To foster these types of uses, Boston plans to make public the code needed for the app.

Starting January 1 of next year, drivers in California will be allowed to text while driving ONLY if it is being done hands-free through a voice command application. A CHP officer commenting on the new law made it very clear that fines will still be issued if a driver is seen holding the cell phone.  He stated that hands-free is the operative term.   Fines will start at $20, but could be as much as $100 once various administrative fees and penalties are taken into account.

We’ve previously reported on this story, but each article brings a new facet to the story.  Click here to learn more.

Research indicates that men value safety less then women when purchasing a new car. The study, conducted by Opinion Matters, finds that 47% of men focus more on performace factors such as speed and technology while women are typically more interested in safety (60%) and comfort (58%). Economically, safety is still paramount, because safer cars correlate with lower car insurance premiums.

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The Mazda MX-5 sportscar is going to be tweaked in time for release in England this year, and it hosts some new features that safety-conscious consumers might want to hear about.  There will be a new bumper design that aims to increase aerodynamics and protect pedestrians in the event of a collision. The throttle pedal actuation has reportedly been improved, as has the vacuum-brake booster.  But perhaps the most important development is an added safety feature known as the active bonnet, which will hopefully decrease the risk of injuries to pedestrians during an impact by creating an impact-absorbing space on the hood.

Click here to learn more about the safety features in this vehicle.