When it comes to sports cars, even those drivers with a need for speed are starting to brake for safety. An estimated 34,000 people are killed in auto crashes in the United States each year. And whereas sports cars are most often associated with sleek exteriors and hip convertible tops, some of today's roadsters offer the most sophisticated, reliable safety features on the market-to ensure your drive is as good as it looks. Two Sides Of Safety Safety has two sides-passive and active. Passive safety provides protection at the time of a collision.

Don't let the larger size and rugged image of the typical SUV fool you. SUVs need routine care and maintenance for peak performance and safe operation. Their owners - new SUV drivers in particular - should take time to learn about safety. Firestone Complete Auto Care suggests the following steps to help keep you and your passengers safe on the road, as cold weather approaches.

Headaches on the highway have plagued our roads since the Model T. But the attitudes and multitasking natures of America's drivers have made some roadways a ticking time bomb for sudden, uncontrollable outbursts of road rage, according to a new survey. To learn more about what drives commuters to rage, the second annual "In The Driver's Seat Road Rage Survey" questioned drivers in 25 major metropolitan areas. It was sponsored by AutoVantage, a leading national auto club.

Aggressive driving, speeding, alcohol, and sleepiness are the usual culprits for tragic road accidents. Last August, over 40 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions on Ontario's highways, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. Excessive speed, improper lane changes, losing control and alcohol consumption caused approximately 60 per cent of the fatal collisions. Alternative routes not only provide nicer scenery, they may help you avoid aggressive, reckless drivers that can make your trips unpleasant. One alternative route is unique in Ontario because of its safety record and good traffic flow, even on holiday weekends

Over 24 million children ride the bus to school every day and as a result are regularly exposed to harmful diesel exhaust emissions. Major components of diesel exhaust include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, formaldehyde and tiny soot particles that carry substances called polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies diesel emissions as a "likely carcinogen." Diesel emissions are estimated to be responsible for 70 percent of the cancer risk arising from air pollution, according to the California Air Resources Board. Dangers from diesel exhaust can range from respiratory illnesses including asthma and bronchitis to lung cancer and heart disease. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of diesel exhaust than adults because they breathe more quickly and take more air into their developing lungs. And on average, school children who ride the bus spend an average of 90 minutes each weekday in transit

Wireless communications devices such as cell phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants) have dramatically changed consumers' communication habits. Many mobile phone users view their device as a critical component to staying connected with friends and family-that includes talking on the phone while driving. Safe-driving habits have become more important than ever. According to a recent survey by Pew Internet & American Life Project, more than a quarter of cell phone owners (28 percent) admit they sometimes do not drive as safely as they should while they use their mobile devices. Whether you're driving around the corner or across the state, it's important to remember to use wireless phones safely.

If it seems like bicycles are everywhere these days, it's not your imagination. According to federal government statistics, 660 bicyclists died in crashes with motor vehicles in 2002 -- the most recent year for which fatality data are available. Thirty-three percent of those deaths happened between September and December. "What the statistics don't tell you is that a lot of those accidents were avoidable," says Jeff Beyer, senior vice president and chief communications officer of Farmers Insurance Group. "Driver distraction, or failure to use due care was probably to blame in a lot of the cases." It's pretty easy to get caught up in the world within our motor vehicles. The radio or CD player is on, people are talking in the backseat, and you're on the cell phone. There are often more distractions inside the car than on the road, but Beyer says that's no excuse for being inattentive and causing an accident. Here are some tips Farmers encourages drivers to keep in mind -- particularly about bicycles and motorcycles -- when driving during the fall, and any time of year for that matter.

As clocks spring ahead and the seasons change, roads and highways throughout the nation become a bit more dangerous, according to the National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF), a non-profit group that provides free driver safety programs for schools and other organizations. In the spring and early summer, tired motorists have to deal with shadows, glaring sunlight and busier highways and neighborhood streets. Children will increase their outdoor playtime due to nicer weather and many more school buses are traveling to accommodate competitions, field trips and other activities. The best way for students to travel to school is by school bus. Fatal crashes involving school bus occupants are extremely rare, even though school buses serve a remarkable 25 million children every school day. In fact, approximately 475,000 yellow school buses drive 4.3 billion miles each school year while maintaining a safety record unequalled in the transportation industry.

As soon as the snow melts and the sun starts to sizzle, vehicle maintenance is often forgotten. People don't realize that they need to exercise the same amount of caution when driving in summer as in winter. To ensure your family is safe and sound on the roads this season, it's essential to take your vehicle in for a summer check-up.

Experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today's car. Along with seatbelts and airbags, ranked first and second, all three components are part of what automobile engineers refer to as a vehicle's safety restraint system (SRS). The SRS is intended to keep vehicle occupants inside the relative safety of the passenger compartment during a collision or roll over. "SRS components work together," says Leo Cyr, vice president of NOVUS Auto Glass. "For example, the windshield provides virtually all the support a passenger side airbag needs to deploy properly. If the windshield falls out, the air bag is all but useless. Similarly, the windshield provides a minimum of 60 percent of the roof support for most cars. If the windshield is displaced, that support is gone, along with most of the crush resistance designed into the vehicle." Everybody loves a bargain. But "cheap" is not a criterion that should enter into an informed consumer's selection of an auto glass repair or replacement company.