Over the last decade SUVs have received less than rave reviews for their safety features but according to a new study the 3,000 to 3,499 pound vehicles along with other vehicles in that weight class have become far better at protecting passengers.

Federal data from 2008 to 2009 shows that significantly less fatalities have been reported in relation to SUVs with 16 deaths per million registered vehicles. That number is 64% less than the 44 deaths per million rate recorded in 2000-2001.

During that same period the death rate for car occupants hit by a car or SUV remained unchanged.

An officer of the institute that completed the study told the Wall Street Journal that “It used to be, pound for pound, pickups and SUVs were more deadly than cars.”

According to experts SUV related fatalities have been one of the biggest highway safety problems of the last two decades.

The new study comes after U.S. automakers redesigned their SUVs and equipped their vehicles with better safety technology.

According to one of the study’s researchers:

“You can pick up a car today that is light years safer than 20 years ago.”

Do you feel as if new SUVs manufactured today drive better and offer better overall safety standards than SUVs purchased a decade ago?

SUVs Get Higher Marks For Safety As Vehicle Related Deaths Plummet is a post from: The Inquisitr

As Hurricane Irene begins to make landfall, be sure to keep this piece of advice in mind.

On Hurricane Safety… is a post from: The Inquisitr

People in snowy regions might recall that every season, a few stories pop up where an otherwise healthy-seeming and relatively young person dies shoveling snow after a heavy snowfall.

With estimated totals ranging near two feet in some regions of the Northeast, people are being urged to practice safe shoveling as they deal with massive drifts, snowplow-packed-in cars and other cold weather unpleasantness. Heart attacks are the most common ailment associated with excessive amounts of snow shoveling, but other injuries are also associated with what might be winter’s most unpleasant chore.

NJ.com offered some tips for clearing walks, driveways and cars of snow in a safer manner:

• Don’t do the entire driveway at once- shoveling in increments of 15 minutes is not as dangerous as doing it all at once;
• Remain hydrated;
• Avoid caffeine- it can constrict blood vessels;
• Lift with the legs, not the back;
• Push snow to the side and try to avoid lifting as much as possible.

The site also advises on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack, including “chest pain, shoulder, neck or arm pain, dizziness, fainting, sweating or nausea; or shortness of breath.”

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Experts warn snow shoveling can be deadly is a post from: The Inquisitr

Graco, a popular manufacturer of strollers sold at top retailers throughout the United States, including Toys “R” Us and Target, have announced a massive stroller recall after determining that the strollers were leading to finger amputations in children.

The company has recalled their Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems and you can find the model numbers here.

The strollers feature a hinge which can catch a child’s finger, causing amputations and lacerations when opening or closing the strollers canopy.

Seven reported incidents have now occurred with five amputations and two lacerations involved in those reports.

The recall extends from October 2004 to February 2008 models that were sold at the following stores:

• Burlington Coat Factory
• Babies “R” Us
• Toys “R” Us
• Kmart
• Target
• And Others

Users can obtain a free “protective cover repair kit” for their strollers by calling (800) 345-4109 or visiting cpsc.gov.

Graco Stroller Recall Announced After Finger Amputations Reported is a post from: The Inquisitr

In their marketing materials, lipgloss manufacturer “2 Love My Lips” cites a survey of 750 women by a British newspaper about the use of date rape drugs such as GHB and Rohypnol.

The survey, which was conducted over two days in sixteen cities, indicates that as many as 1 in 4 women reported experiencing spiked drinks. With an objective of giving women “the confidence to look beautiful and stay in control,” “2 Love My Lips” lipgloss comes packaged with a mini-kit to detect the presence of date rape drugs.

The company says the kit isn’t meant to be used with every drink, only those that seem suspect or may have been unattended. They offer this bulleted list of tips to avoid possibly dangerous situations:

2 LOVE MY LIPS DRINK SAFE & STAY IN CONTROL GUIDE

• You have started you night looking fab dressed to impress
• Stay in control alcohol impairs judgement
• Watch your drink at all times
• Trust your own instincts, if you feel something is wrong, let someone you trust know
• Do not consume a drink, which has been left unattended
• Buy your own drink – it’s not just strangers who spike drinks
• Pre-book your taxi
• If you’re out with your friends all go home together
• If a friend/anybody is unconscious, place them in the recovery position – get help – they may require medical attention.
• THINK BEFORE DRINK THINKS FOR YOU

[Via Gizmodo]

Dual action lip gloss glosses lips, prevents date rape is a post from: The Inquisitr

Crosswalks are everywhere – some are no more than a sign on a post warning drivers that someone might be crossing the road. Others are the old push a button on the lamppost and wait for the lights to change so you can cross the street.

However it would seem that Seattle is testing out a whole new style of crosswalk that aims to make it safer regardless of the time of day it might be. The new style being tested involves a yellow pad on the curb area that when you tap your foot on it will activate the lights on the roadway that outline the crosswalk area.

As good as an idea as it might be I wonder how long it would be before a setup like this gets screwed with.

Pedestrian crosswalks get safer is a post from: The Inquisitr