Cell Phone-Related Crashes on the Rise, National Safety Council Says | Edmunds.com

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ITASCA, Illinois — As motorists prepare for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, they should be aware that cell phone-related crashes have increased for the third consecutive year and now account for 27 percent of all crashes, according to the National Safety Council.

The estimate includes crashes involving drivers who are texting or talking on cell phones.

"The incredible connectivity enabled by technology has resulted in a very dangerous environment behind the wheel," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, in a statement Monday.

Texting increases a driver's crash risk by at least eight times, while drivers talking on cell phones are four times as likely to crash regardless of whether they're using a handheld or hands-free phone.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is trying to put the brakes on texting and cell phone use behind the wheel, saying that distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2013, 3,154 were killed in distracted-driving crashes.

Safety advocates are also calling attention to motor-vehicle safety as the summer driving season begins.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Tuesday launched its 2015 "Click It or Ticket" campaign in advance of the holiday weekend. This campaign urges motorists to use seatbelts.

In 2013, seatbelts saved an estimated 12,584 lives among passenger vehicle occupants 5 years old and up, according to the most recent NHTSA data. Historically, seatbelts saved an estimated 62,468 lives from 2009-'13.

Edmunds says: Put the phone down, buckle up and drive safely this holiday weekend. In fact, why not do that every day of the year?

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Aeromobil flying car crashes during test flight

Aeromobil flying car crashes during test flightImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilImage Credit: AeromobilMore PhotosHottest Cars and Trucks in AmericaMost Popular Cars By StateOur Picks For The Best $5,000 Used CarsCars That Depreciate FastestHistory's 10 Best Selling Cars Of All TimeWard's 10 Best Engines of 2015Chris Bruce

Aeromobil wants to have its flying car on sale to customers by 2017, but a recent crash during a test flight suggests that development is still far from over.

The plane/car was flying in Slovakia at the hands of its inventor, Stefan Klein, when something went wrong. According to the company, Klein deployed the Aeromobil's parachute at around 900 feet, and it brought him safely back to Earth. Photos of the incident posted by Paleofuture showed extensive damage to the vehicle, and witnesses claimed that the aircraft went into a tailspin before Klein deployed the 'chute. He wasn't harmed in the crash, though.

Aeromobil intends to treat this setback as a chance to improve its vehicle even more. The company is examining the data and plans to start test flights again once the plane is repaired.

The Aeromobil has evolved through multiple functioning prototypes over the past few years, and videos have shown previous, successful test flights. The design features power-folding wings that stow behind the passenger compartment when not in use. If the flying car does go on sale, prices are expected to start at several hundred thousand dollars.


Related Video:

#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-213645{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-213645, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-213645{width:100%;display:block;}Show full PR textAeroMobil statement regarding a test flight on May 8, 2015

The pilot activated an advanced parachute system and safely landed.

Saturday, May 9, 2015 -

The AeroMobil 3.0 experimental prototype is currently undergoing a rigorous analysis and testing programme. During one of the test flights that took place on May 8, 2015, the inventor and test pilot, Stefan Klein, encountered an unexpected situation and activated the advanced ballistic parachute system in an altitude of approximately 300 meters (900 feet).

The system has proved itself fully functional and landed the entire vehicle without any injury to the pilot. The detailed data and overall experience from this test flight will be thoroughly analyzed and the results will be used in the ongoing R&D and improvements of the prototype. Testing of the current prototype 3.0 and further product development will continue after the replacement of the damaged parts.

In the process of developing new vehicles, especially in the prototype phase, the possibility and likelihood of an unexpected situation is a natural part of the testing program. This is a learning period which allows us to detect and subsequently refine our design. It is necessary to test the prototype in every way possible to establish its limits and to improve on them. The flight recording details will help us learn from the data and improve the performance of the vehicle prior to our next flight test.Featured GalleryAeromobil 3.0 Renderings

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