Traffic engineers in the United States have never agreed on how to time yellow lights so the interval between green and red is just right.
If it’s too short, drivers may run the red light by mistake. If it’s too long, they may intentionally risk driving through the intersection.
In the past, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has tried to come up with a formula, but they couldn’t get enough support from their 15,000-plus members. That was 30 years ago, but they’re trying to create a standard again. Their findings might come before the board late this year at the earliest.
The current proposal relies on four factors: determining how long the yellow should last; vehicle approach speed; driver perception-reaction time; and the deceleration rate and grade of the road. Because no studies are available on these factors, the information they use will be approximations.
Timothy Gates, an engineering professor at Michigan State University and co-author of an ITE report, says it’s a matter of validating appropriate input values.
“If the formula suggests you need 4.5 seconds, and if you provide drivers with 3 seconds, you’re putting drivers into a case where they either have to stop abruptly or proceed through and run the risk of running the red light,” Gates reported recently in The Wall Street Journal.
Category: Auto Insurance
Key fobs are handy targets for thieves
Your car is always listening for the electronic signal from your key fob. If it’s a newer model, you might not even have to press a button, just approach your car and the doors will unlock. In some cases, the engine will turn on.
The key fob’s signal is easy for thieves to intercept and might let them drive off in your car. The fob uses a computer chip to create a unique code that it sends to the car’s security system. The car has a chip that uses algorithms to generate a second code. If the codes match up, the car opens.
Each key fob/car security pair is unique, but researcher have found that by intercepting the signal twice, they could narrow down the possible combinations. After that a computer can figure out the code in just a half-hour and unlock the car.
USA Today‘s Kim Komando says always-on fobs present a serious weakness in your car’s security. As long as your keys are in range, anyone can open the car and the system will think it’s you. That’s why newer models won’t unlock until the key fob is within one foot.
Thieves, however, can buy an inexpensive signal amplifier over the Internet. That means your keys could be in the house, but a thief could walk up to the car and open it.
You can buy a signal-locking pouch to hold your keys. Or you can put the key fob in the refrigerator.
You can also just wrap the key fob in aluminum foil, but wrap it well so it can’t leak the signal.
Warren Buffett says … ‘If cars are better, and they clearly are, drivers must be worse’
Safety experts at the National Safety Council, and insurance companies such as Allstate and Geico, were surprised by the 14 percent increase in fatal auto accidents during the first half of 2015. Geico is part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway group. Figures for the second half haven’t yet been compiled.
Insurers say drivers could be facing a period of rising premiums. Some companies are reacting to the statistics with rate increases and others are expected to follow.
What caused the accidents
Buffett’s statement about drivers being worse is not quite on target, though driving longer hours on trips and on crowded roads can be stressful.
* Roadways were more dangerous in 2015 as travel increased to a record 1.54 trillion miles through June, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
The average number of miles individual Americans drove remained at the same level as in 2007, but there were more people driving.
* Low gasoline prices, the lowest since 2010, encouraged more travel.
* The low unemployment rate of 5.1 percent meant people could afford to take more trips, according to the American Automobile Association.
Allstate president Matt Winter told analysts that increased vehicle complexity could be a factor, but it’s typical for people to drive more and have more accidents as the economy rebounds from a recession.
What you can do
Traditional cautions are even more important on crowded roads: Take it easy and don’t be aggressive. Allow more time to reach your destination. Drive defensively. Be ready for another driver to make a mistake.
Get Ready To Drive Abroad
Driving abroad can get you to all sorts of amazing destinations. It allows you to be in control of where you go and how soon you get there. Before you arrive, there are some ways to prepare.
Can You Drive in the Country?
There are a few things you want to look at to make sure that you can drive in the country. There may be some special requirements in the country. You may also be required to get an International Driving Permit, which translates your driver’s license into a variety of different languages.
Do You Have Everything You Need?
It is important to have everything that you need prior to arriving, or at least have everything in place. It’s a good idea to have a paper map of the cities you will be driving in as well as a GPS. If you have your own GPS, be sure that international maps are loaded, otherwise you can rent one from the rental car company.
Are You Protected?
Have insurance in place so that you are well protected against various issues. This includes collisions as well as simple dents and other issues from parking, hail, and other driving conditions.
Are You Ready?
Be ready for driving in the different cities/countries that you may be visiting. This includes knowing whether you will have to drive on the “other” side of the road as well as any different driving conditions that you may not be used to, such as roundabouts. It’s also important to understand the most common road signs so that you can stay safe while driving.
You don’t have to go through the auto insurance buying process alone. Our knowledgeable agents can help you with choosing the right coverage and comparing rates across the state. Call InsureUS now and let us help you.
3 Ways Agents Will Help With Car Insurance
Cypress, Texas is a city within Harris County that has a population of more than 120,000. It is located within the Houston metropolitan and has a lot to offer residents and tourists alike. The 77429 ZIP code also boasts one of the oldest dance halls in the state, known as Tin Hall. There is also The Berry Center, which is a conference center, auditorium, basketball arena, and football stadium.
Car insurance is an important component to being able to drive legally on the roads of Texas. You will need to find a policy that provides adequate protection and offers the best price on the market.
By working with independent agents, you can get all the help you need.
Learn About Coverage Options
Car insurance in Texas requires that you maintain at least the minimum level of liability insurance. However, you can choose to go above these liability levels and agents can help you determine what will provide good protection. You can also learn about collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured coverage, and more.
Compare the Companies
Not all car insurance companies are the same. Some will provide roadside assistance while others will not. Some companies are also more technologically advanced, offering online access, mobile apps, and auto bill pay. Our agents can tell you the details on all the companies you are considering.
Get Quotes
The only way to get the best rate is to get multiple quotes. This will allow you to see what each of the companies have to offer so you don’t inadvertently go with the most expensive company simply because you didn’t know what else was out there for you in 77429.
Call our agents today and let us get quotes and help you find a policy in Cypress that you can count on day after day.
Does A Learner’s Permit Affect Car Insurance?
Texas has a lot to offer. There’s a good change of seasons throughout the year, a number of events held to include music, food, wine, and more. Residents enjoy the relatively low cost of housing in comparison to other parts of the country. Many tourists also come into the state from around the world to partake in the many attractions.
Driving can be a task. Depending on where you live, there are many cars and therefore a lot of traffic. Car insurance rates are often calculated by your zip code because the insurance companies look at the population as well as the rate of past accidents to set a precedent.
When you add a learners permit to your policy, it is going to be affected. The permit shows that you have a young driver in your household. They have passed the exam to show they know the rules of the road, but they don’t know all of the dynamics to driving. This means they may change lanes slowly, have problems with backing up or parallel parking, and more.
The insurance company is going to assume a risk for having this driver on your policy. The statistics show that young drivers are one of the most common demographics to be involved in an accident. Even if the child with the learner’s permit never gets into an accident and you have a clean record, it’s still a risk.
This risk is going to translate to a higher cost of insurance in Texas. You can combat this price, however, by taking the time to make some rate comparisons from multiple insurance companies.
Our agents can be called at any time to help you with the search for affordable car insurance with a learner’s permit. We can get quotes so you can do your own comparisons.
