Intel Designing New Car Safety Device

Intel has projects aim to open up new industries for chip markets and fuel demand for computing power. Intel processors are found in approximately 80 percent of the world’s personal computers, revealed projects during an annual event at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

One of the most exciting exhibits was a mockup of a car, with a computer built into the dashboard slot, in place of a stereo or navigation. The computer is more like an information robot that collects tremendous amount of data regarding the trip. It recognizes almost everything that is going on in the car. The number of occupants and wirelessly connects with their phones, computers and other devices to make music or other content available to the car’s entertainment system.

Unique sensors connected to the computer can engage the headlights to communicate with stoplights, transmitting traffic data. The system could warn the driver that there is an emergency vehicle coming, the head researcher Van Ngyuen said. It also could allow cars to communicate with one another and automatically engage the brakes in an emergency.

“There are many devices in cars that do one thing very well, but they can’t handle additional information,” Ngyuen said. “A PC in the car will allow you to do that.”

Intel chief executive officer Paul Otellini is hoping that these projects will not only make the roads safer but also bring in as much as $10 billion per year in revenue for the company

It is good to know that Intel has included environmental improvements to their list of goals with increasing revenue

More Driving Safety Devices

Safe Seniors Driving

A point of "nature shows senior citizens have declining physical functions,and increased medication usage can increase the risk of accidents and injury among older adults, especially after age 75, when the risk of being involved in a collision increases for every mile they drive. The rate of risk for adults over age 75 is nearly equal to the risk of younger drivers age 16 to 24. Fatalities increase slightly after age 65 and significantly after age 75. This is directly related to the inability to withstand physical trauma as a person ages over 75.

These statistics highlight the risk of older drivers. Each family must ask, “Is my older loved one safe while driving?” Once that question is answered, the next question becomes, who should do the talking? Older adults generally prefer to speak confidentially about driving safety with someone they trust. Interesting enough the spouse are less likely to listen to advice to put aside the car keys. Folks that live alone are more likely to listen to their physician over a family member. However, adult children seem to have more influence with parents over 70 than with younger parents in their 50s and 60s. These differences often correlate to health changes and shifts in parent-child relationships later in life. Older drivers also tend to be more open to adult children who live nearby.

Bottom line it is a sensitive issue that must be handled very carefully with sensitivity to the mobitity and respect of all involved

Some steps include:
• Watch for changes in driving habits, general behavior, and health.
• Encourage a driving evaluation through your local Department of Motor Vehicles, along with refresher driving lessons and the AARP Driver Safetycourse.
• Offer the senior some self-evaluation tools to assess driving risk, or work together on these quizzes. See especially the driver assessment questionnaires from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Explore ways to reduce driving, such as making purchases online or through mail-order catalogs. If possible, arrange for home delivery of groceries, and home visits by clergy, medical and personal care providers, and government service providers.
• If necessary, garner support from the older adult’s primary care physician and other family members.
• Research and propose alternative modes of transportation. Maybe the senior can continue to drive some of the time (such as in the daytime or off the freeway), and alternative transportation can fill the need for rides at other times.

Talking to a senior driver who should stop driving...

If you feel that it is time to talk to a senior close to you about stopping driving, approach the issue with sensitivity. A driver’s license signifies more than the ability to drive a car; it is a symbol of:
• freedom
• independence and independent living
• self-sufficiency
• being employed
• fun and spontaneity
• involvement in social and religious activities

Best bet is to make other arrangements for transportation that suits the loved senior.

Understandably, driving is not a privilege that anyone—teenager or elder—wants to relinquish willingly. As important as it is to treat the senior driver with respect and not jump to unjust conclusions, it is also important to help the elderly driver retire from the road. Start slowly and try to persuade the senior to give up the keys. Perhaps first reduce the night driving then hours during the day. Showing that less driving does not necessarily mean not getting what is needed

Mercedez Trains New Drivers

http://www.girlracer.co.uk/motoring/news/1105-learn-to-drive-with-mercedes-benz-.html Learn to drive with Mercedes-Benz

The new Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy is set to revolutionise the way British teenagers learn to drive, with the aim of encouraging safer driving on Britain’s roads. With young drivers amongst the most vulnerable on the roads (nearly 1 in 3 car drivers who die or are seriously injured are under the age of 252), the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy promises to coach its students to become good drivers, not to just pass the test. Launching at Mercedes-Benz World in June, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy offers three main modules: Pre-road module (age 12 – 16yrs), Provisional Licence module (age 17+yrs) and Post-test module (for those who have already passed their test). With the handling circuits at Mercedes-Benz World, in Weybridge, Surrey, students as young as 12yrs can enrol in the Academy and start mastering driving skills in a safe environment off the public roads, under the expert tuition of certified personal coaches. This allows them to get familiar with the car, gain confidence and focus on controlling the car before they have to deal with traffic situations out on the public roads. Concentrating on one thing at a time in a stress free environment eventually leads to more effective learning and better driving habits. The positive impacts of learning to drive at a younger age have been demonstrated in Sweden where the introduction of the Swedish Young Drivers initiative reduced accident rates by 40 per cent in the first year amongst drivers who started behind the wheel 18 months earlier - at 16yrs3. Mercedes-Benz has been working with Dr Mika Hatakka (Turku, Finland), an internationally acknowledged expert of driver education, to develop an innovative curriculum-based programme. The structure of this programme takes into account recommendations from a series of EU road safety research projects that look at the benefits of learning to drive younger and earlier, as well as best practice tuition techniques. With over 190 different skills, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy takes a holistic approach to learning to drive. Passing the driving test focuses on two key areas - basic vehicle control and mastering traffic situations. The new research-based Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy curriculum goes far beyond car control with two completely new ‘psychological’ modules covering journey planning, dealing with peer pressure in the car, personal motivations, time pressures, health and wellbeing and social influences - all of which are adapted according to relevance, age, module and ability. Example tasks also include practical lessons in car maintenance, first aid and the best ecological and economical ways to drive. As well as coaching students to master driving skills, the Driving Academy will also teach risk assessment and prevention via practical experiences and role playing exercises. These exercises will include training on how to avoid losing control of a car, the importance of eliminating distractions and what to do with a car full of noisy friends or loud music. Using a variety of techniques from practical tuition on the handling circuits and on the public roads as well as classroom seminars and peer group discussion sessions, students will be tasked with actively thinking about driving as well as learning to drive. Self-evaluation and effective use of feedback are given extra emphasis in the programme via in-car cameras and post-session interactive discussions. In addition, a web-based skills tracker will allow both students and parents to monitor progress throughout the different levels of the Driving Academy curriculum, and to see exactly what has been achieved in each lesson. The Academy’s holistic approach also offers ‘Parent-Partner-Sessions’ where parents are given practical advice (on the handling circuits) on how to become the best possible in-car advisors when they are with their children outside of the Academy. The Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy also recognises the importance of supporting young drivers after they have passed their test as their driving experience in traffic develops. The Post-Test Module offers students a series of refresher courses which go beyond ‘Pass Plus’. It includes practical simulations of emergency situations as well as discussion seminars to review and self-evaluate driving experiences in traffic. Peter O’Halloran, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz World commented: “Learning to drive should be like learning to play an instrument. The more practice you have the better you master it and the more confident you become. With Mercedes-Benz, students start learning to drive at a younger age, which removes the stress of passing the actual driving test. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy provides young people with the skills and thought based experiences that go beyond the requirements of just passing the driving test and prepares them for the actual demands of driving on the public roads, making them better and safer drivers when they have their licence.” Surrey Fire and Rescue Service welcomes initiatives that attempt to raise driving standards in the local area, Area Manager Leslie Dodd said " Last year 14 young people died on our roads and 10 of their passengers were killed. Any scheme which equips drivers with the skills and knowledge to stay safe on our roads deserves our support." www.girlracer.co.uk

Senior Citizens Driving Test

By Ariel Wittenberg & Nick O'Malley, DAILY NEWS CORRESPONDENTS

GHS http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x413663335/Seniors-weigh-in-on-driving-restrictions

Posted Jun 21, 2009 @ 12:16 AM

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With Massachusetts lawmakers considering more stringent regulations on drivers over the age of 85, area residents who would be affected had mixed feelings about how additional tests should be implemented.

Richard King, 87, did not give a second thought when he drove to the Fairbank Senior Center in Sudbury on Wednesday.

"I'm almost 90 and still driving, and you better believe it," he said while stuffing envelopes for the Center's weekly senior bulletin.

"Well, don't tell the authorities that," his friend, 78-year-old Peggy Angel of Sudbury, replied, "They'll take away your license."

Angel explained she believes that driving tests are necessary for safer roads but "they should look at who has a bad driving record before they test people."

"I've never gotten a ticket in my life. I have no records with the police or anyone else and I am in good health," she said. "I don't want you testing me just because I'm over 70."

But, King responded "giving a 10-year license to a 70-year-old is a bit ridiculous," he said. "Ten years is a long time when you're our age."

At the Holliston Senior Center, Dorris McGrath, 79, said while she welcomes additional driving tests, she believes that they should be administered to drivers of all ages, saying that while senior drivers might have a tendency to be slow and confused, younger drivers are too fast and erratic to be safe.

Roger Meritt, 71, of Holliston said anyone could be a dangerous driver, but said he becomes concerned when he sees handicapped seniors driving.

"Sometimes you see people at Wal-Mart who it takes all the strength they have to get into the store, and they have the walker and everything," he said. "You just have to wonder, how does this person maneuver on Rte. 495? What happens if they have to stop short and they are going 65, 70 miles an hour? Can they make it?"

Northborough resident Robert Flint, 82, does not drive at night per his doctor's request because he has glaucoma. But Flint, who has no problems with his reflexes, said he "would be lost" if he ever had to stop driving completely because the rest of his family relies on him for transportation.

Living in a town with a lack of public transportation, Flint is responsible for driving his daughter, who has epilepsy and is not allowed to drive for medical reasons, and his 12-year-old granddaughter.

Grace Gledhill, 73, of Wayland said "it would throw me in a tailspin" to have to hand in her license because "I've always been an independent person, and to be independent, I need a car."

Still, Gledhill believes additional tests for the elderly are necessary.

"I know people up in their 80's, who can barely walk, and who I would never get into a car with," she said.

Bob Gagnon of Franklin questioned why elderly drivers were being singled out but said, "If they think it'll make it safer, I guess it's all right."

Anthony Grillo said more accidents are caused by people - not seniors - on cell phones. He thought a doctor should make the call on when a senior should stop driving.

Gordon Curtis of Bellingham said it may be difficult to convince some to give up their license.

"Most of the seniors are independent and they don't look forward to that request. Hopefully, they realize it's time to stop on their own. That's the best way to do it," he said.

Testing Elderly Drivers

Older Age Limit on Driving

Thursday, 18 June 2009 13:27

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/puopinion/local_story_168223946.html Editorial: Testing elderly drivers a necessary step in the name of safety A string of accidents involving elderly drivers — including one that seriously injured a 1-year-old Gloucester girl at the Danvers Wal-Mart two weeks ago, and one that killed a 4-year-old in Stoughton last weekend — has renewed a push in the state Legislature to require new road tests for drivers above and beyond the age of 85. That, in turn, is renewing familiar complaints that such a requirement would be discriminatory. It would. In fact, it would be the right kind of discrimination. While the word now carries almost exclusively negative connotations, many kinds of discrimination are necessary and good. It is good to discriminate between good and evil, between something of value and something that is worthless, between food that is good for you and food that will harm you. And it is good to discriminate in issuing driver's licenses when a group is at risk of putting themselves, and others, in harm's way. Society has imposed discrimination on young drivers for generations. The age at which they are allowed to get a license keeps creeping up. They have to operate under "junior operator" rules at the start. And while, yes, that's discriminatory, too, there is a justified context to it. As any insurance actuary will tell you, young drivers are some of the most dangerous out there. Not all of them, of course, but enough to matter, and enough to merit these blanket limitations. The same, for different reasons, is true of elders as a group. The recent accidents were not isolated anecdotes. It's right there in broad statistics. The number of accidents per mile driven spikes as people get older. And statistics show that drivers over the age of 85 are 3 to 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident than even their teenage counterparts. That requires some "discrimination" — and some regulations as well. Some elders have attacked proposed legislation filed by state Sen. Brian Joyce, D-Milton, to require the testing of drivers aged 85 and older as if the Legislature is out to confiscate their licenses on a given birthday. They complain that lawmakers want to punish all of them for the infractions of a few. That is demonstrably false. Anybody who is 85, 90, 100 or even older can indeed keep driving — if he or she passes the necessary test. A test is no more a punishment for an 85-year-old than it is for a 16-year-old. All it does is screen out impaired drivers. State Sen. Steven Baddour, D-Methuen, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, says he is trying to "balance the demands of the advocacy groups with the interests of public safety." Fair enough. Elders deserve a respectful hearing. But they have received that, and their contention that driving is a right they have earned is not what they taught their children a generation ago. They taught them that driving was a privilege, not a right, and that public safety must trump individual desires. That's still the case today, perhaps more than ever.