Car Driving and Safety

Multi-function steering wheels are improving automotive safety simply by placing the most commonly used electronic controls in a very convenient place -- right at the driver's fingertips.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

A pre-collision detection system sounds like something out of a science fiction film; however, these systems have actually been around for several years. So, what kinds of systems are available today?

By John Fuller

Car testing is more than strapping a dummy to the driver's seat and releasing the brake. Engineers conduct myriad secret tests to assess everything from engine performance to design.

By Akweli Parker

Some cars just seem to overheat more than others, and many trucks are known to suffer the same fate. Do you know how to prevent your truck from overheating?

By Scott C. Benjamin & Cherise Threewitt

You hop inside your car to escape the brutal winter winds and fumble with your frigid keys, only to find that your car won't start when you turn the ignition. What's going on? It's probably one of three problems.

By Sascha Bos

Computerized stability systems for your car won't magically steer you clear of an out-of-control vehicle, but they can keep an eye on road conditions and vehicle performance.

By Robert Lamb

This winter make sure your car is as prepared as you are. Going the extra mile by getting your vehicle ready for winter and learning what it takes to drive safely through ice and snow could save your life.

By Jennifer Geiger

Have you ever wondered what happens to your old seatbelt? They can't be recycled in cars for safety reasons, but they often find new lives as clothing, furniture and even artwork.

By Tiffany Connors

Airbags are everywhere. You can find them in the front and on both sides of your car. Vehicles now have tubular airbags, knee airbags and even outside airbags to protect pedestrians. How much safety is too much?

By Ed Grabianowski

They are crucial to personal safety and very expensive to replace. Should it be a surprise that airbags have replaced car stereos as the most popular target for auto thieves?

By Ed Grabianowski

Airbags have saved more than 27,000 lives since 1990, yet they still have detractors because of their danger to children. Occupant Classification Systems detect exactly who -- or what -- is sitting in your passenger seat.

By Patrick E. George

There's always going to be some risk involved with automobile travel. Crash testing helps remove some of that risk. However, given the availability of modern computer modeling, is it still necessary to destroy actual vehicles?

By Jamie Page Deaton

A lot of engineering goes into crash test dummies. But as advanced as crash test dummies are, they can't tell researchers everything that happens in a crash. That's where human crash test dummies come in.

By Jamie Page Deaton

Did you know that parts of your car are built with special structures designed to be damaged, crumpled, crushed and broken? These components redistribute the force of an impact before it reaches the vehicle's passengers.

By Ed Grabianowski

It's time to take your family to the beach. But take care of your car's summer maintenance. Don't let this be the year you get stranded on the side of the road.

By Dave Roos

What if your car came with a guarantee that you'd never die while driving or riding in it? It sounds far-fetched, but one company is promising such a car by 2020.

By Josh Clark

Strong coffee? That's the old-fashioned way to stay awake behind the wheel. Future generations of cars will be equipped with high-tech features to rouse sleepy drivers.

By Josh Clark

Just like you need to bundle up in the winter, your car requires a little extra love to function at its best in cold weather. Here are 10 of the best ways to winterize your car.

By John Fuller

Ever wondered what would happen to your transmission (and car) if you accidentally popped your gearshift into reverse while driving? The answer may surprise you.

By Marshall Brain

The oil in a car is a necessity that keeps things lubricated and running smooth. But what happens if you never change it? And how long can you really go?

By Marshall Brain

On average, you might spend up to two weeks sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic this year. While some say the answer is to build more roads others say that's just inviting more traffic congestion.

By Jonathan Strickland

Take a 3000-pound car, add a dash of traffic, and lots of frustration and what do you have? A potentially dangerous emotional state called road rage. Learn how you can negotiate the roads without blowing your top or someone else's.

By Jonathan Strickland

Traffic tickets are the bane of some motorists, but they exist to enforce driving laws and to encourage safe driving. Learn about traffic tickets including what's on a ticket what happens during a traffic stop and how to fight a ticket.

By Jacob Silverman

Car seats: Get fast facts on car seat safety and easy-to-read explanations on harnesses the LATCH system and what to look for when buying car seats.

By Shane Speck

With parking space limited in big cities, squeezing your car into a tiny space is a vital skill. Learn how self-parking cars can remove the difficulty stress and uncertainty of this chore.

By Ed Grabianowski