A recent study found that users of the technology called adaptive cruise control are more likely to speed then those not using the technology.  The conclusion of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study was that those drivers using this technology were more likely to get into an auto accident then those who were not using the technology. The study was performed in Boston where 40 drivers were giving a Land Rover and a Volvo to drive for four weeks.  Both vehicles were equipped withe adaptive cruise control.  Drivers who were told to use the technology were, on average, likely to speed by 7.0 MPH faster then the posted speed limit.  Those drivers that did not use the technology were clocked at a speed that was just 6.1 MPH over the speed limit, a difference of .9 MPH.  The study found that this was not an insignificant difference and that this slight increase in average speed could dramatically impact the chances that drivers using this technology would get into a serious auto accident.  Overall 24% of drivers using the adaptive technology were more likely to have higher speeds then those not using the technology. Researchers were unclear as to whether or not the decreased safety of those using adaptive cruise control would outweigh the other safety measures that each vehicle had on board and therefore…continue reading

Sure the weather is nice now, but what happens when a warm March day turns into a frigid and snowy March evening.  Every year at this time we get lulled into thinking that winter is behind us and that we don’t have to concern ourselves with the white stuff anymore.  Don’t get us wrong, we hope that is the case this year, but we often get a tricky spring snow storm that may not amount to much accumulation, but could cause havoc for commuters who aren’t expecting it. If you’re not prepared, even a brief snow squall in the Spring can lead to a New Haven auto accident and here’s how; A light snow falls and forms a layer of dusty snow on the roads The traffic causes this snow to heat up and melt under the weight of the traffic Temperatures drop and turn the melted snow into a sheet of ice This is a situation that plays out each and every March in the state of Connecticut and you can protect yourself from getting into an accident because of this type of sneaky weather.  First, you’ll want to make sure your tires are properly inflated.  Under inflated tires can make even the safest cars vulnerable to slipping and sliding across thin sheets of ice.  Second, while driving, make sure to slow down, speed…continue reading