Automakers have been trying to attract the younger generation into buying their vehicles with dashboard infotainment systems.

The systems allow drivers to turn on various functions in the car such as windshield wipers, post messages on social networking sites, and even order pizza through voice commands. 

Automakers have been promoting the system by saying that drivers can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

A new AAA study found that using voice commands to perform smartphone tasks from behind the wheel is actually more distracting and dangerous.

Researchers said that speech-to-text systems require greater concentration by drivers. The required concentration is so great that drivers are likely to develop ‘tunnel vision’ as well as ‘inattention blindness’.

Currently there are about 9 million vehicles on the road with infotainment systems.This is expected to increase to 62 million by 2018.

William & Mary will test its emergency alert system Wednesday, June 5, 2013.

The drill, conducted at 12:15 p.m., will include both a test of the campus-wide siren system and the annual Continuity of Operations Exercise.

The Continuity of Operations Exercise will test the university’s emergency communications capabilities in the event of failure of its regular mass notification system. Due to the special exercise, the emergency test will not include text messages or non-campus telephones.

The university does anticipate all other emergency communication systems to be activated during the test.

The James City County Police are joining with other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to help save more lives by strongly enforcing all traffic laws, especially seat belt laws around the clock.

The 2013 National Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization kicks off May 20 to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.

According to preliminary 2012 DMV Highway Safety Office statistics, there were a total of 774 fatalities in Virginia attributed to traffic crashes. Of those, 305 were unrestrained at the time of the crash.

Of the total unrestrained fatalities, 25 percent occurred between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

The highest time period for unrestrained deaths (84 killed) was from crashes occurring between 6 p.m. and midnight.