It's no secret that many people consume excessive amounts of alcohol to welcome in the new year, so it should come as no surprise that New Year's Day has been named the deadliest day for alcohol related traffic accident deaths. This is a major part of the reason AAA recently announced its support for devices that help monitor those who have been convicted of drunk driving.

To ensure that anyone, even a first-time offender, who has gotten behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated does not repeat their actions, AAA believes anyone who has been charged with drunk driving should be required to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) that would prevent them from using their vehicle if they're intoxicated
. IIDs have been proven to reduce the risk of repeat offenses and keep drunk drivers off the road.

AAA is not the only organization showing its support for such devices, as the National Transportation Safety Board is also standing behind these helpful devices as an excellent way to curb drunk driving.

"Safety can be improved by requiring ignition interlock device use for all first-time DUI offenders," Anita Lorz, the NTSB's traffic safety and community programs manager, told the Los Angeles Times. "… However, simply mandating the device is not enough. We need to ensure that judges actally order IID use and that there is effective oversight and enforcements to ensure offenders have the devices in place on their vehicles."

The technology can be installed on nearly any vehicle, so drivers can still choose which car they'll be driving. They can find a safe, reliable model at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which carries a wide selection of makes and models at affordable prices.

Now that Christmas, Hanukkah and other winter holidays are over, most people are stocking up on champagne, noisemakers and silly hats to ring in the New Year. Since this holiday is so commonly celebrated with late night parties where people are drinking alcoholic beverages, it also means that the likelihood of car accidents increases in the hours leading up to and following the stroke of midnight on January 1. According to a report conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2007, New Year's was the winter holiday with the most traffic fatalities between 2001 and 2005.

Designate a Driver
If you are planning to indulge in a glass or two of champagne this New Year's Eve, you should also organize a contingency plan to get home from your party safely. Leave the car at home, so you don't even have the option of getting behind the wheel, and call a taxi or use another transportation service. You can also choose someone in your group of friends to be a designated driver and ensure everyone arrives home safely once the festivities are over.

Be Cautious Behind the Wheel
If possible, you may want to avoid driving on New Year's Eve and in the wee hours of New Year's Day. However, if you have chosen to be the designated driver or you need to be on the road for other reasons, you should pay more attention to other drivers than usual. Watch for dangerous behaviors such as swerving and fluctuating speeds that could indicate they may be inebriated. Even if a car seems to be fine, you may still want to keep your distance so you have plenty of time to react if something happens.

Following these tips can help keep you safe this New Year's Eve, but if you do get into an accident, the experts at New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center can help get your vehicle back in working order.

Distraction behind the wheel is a serious issue for all drivers, but technological advances, such as voice commands and hands-free phone connectivity are helping to reduce the risk of distraction-related accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 18 percent of all accidents in 2010 were affected by distractions. This includes everything from texting or talking on the phone to eating and taking your eyes off the road to check a display screen in the car.

Many studies focus on the risk that distractions can create for younger drivers, but aging motorists need to be considered as well, as approximately 10,000 adults turn 65 every day. As people age, their sensory abilities may wane, making it even more dangerous for them to use in-car technologies.

However, a recent study by automotive technology company Agero Connected Services found that voice activated technology can help senior drivers stay safer on the roads. When compared to drivers between the ages of 18 and 30, those aged 65 to 75 demonstrated similar driving capabilities while using voice technology.

"Using either a speech-only interface of a speech interface combined with brief glances to a display screen helped senior drivers improve their driving and leveled the performance gap between the two generations," explained Tom Schalk, vice president of voice technology for Agero.

Without speech recognition technology, seniors only detected 74 percent of peripheral signals in a driving test. This number rose to 94 percent with the introduction of voice activated technology, comparable to the 95 percent rate for younger drivers without the technology.

This feature can be found on some older vehicles, but can also be installed as an aftermarket accessory to make any car safer. Older drivers can find the ride they want at New Jersey State Auto Auction, which carries a wide selection of makes and models.

The holiday season is a time filled with cheer, friends and celebrations, but New Year's Eve is also full of dangers, especially on the road. A recent survey by Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance revealed that roughly 12 percent of teen drivers admitted to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol on this holiday. Even though 49 percent of surveyed teen drivers indicated they believe New Year's Eve is a dangerous time to drive, it is still essential for parents to talk to their kids about the risks as well as good behaviors to ensure they are safe while ringing in 2013.

"There are approximately 3,000 teenage driving-related deaths a year, a third of which involve alcohol," said Dave Melton, a driving safety expert and managing director of global safety for Liberty Mutual Insurance. "Parents have to play an active role in preventing underage drinking. Talk to your kids before New Year's celebrating begins and make sure they understand the importance of making smart, and possibly life-saving, decisions."

The risk of being involved in a crash is typically higher around any holidays, especially on New Year's Eve. More people are celebrating with alcohol, which increases the risk of encountering drunk drivers. The weather can also be an important risk factor to consider, as there is a chance that roads could be icy. These are both crucial points for parents to discuss with their teens before the holiday to ensure everyone can safely enjoy the celebrations and start 2013 on a good note.

In addition to discussing driving safety and good behaviors behind the wheel with teen drivers, parents can be sure they are safer on the road by putting them behind the wheel of a reliable vehicle. New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of makes and models to choose from, all of which are CARFAX certified.

Alternative fuel vehicles have been available for nearly a decade, but sales have been slow for the better part of this time period. Recent research conducted by Mintel, a data analysis company, has found that hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles have been growing increasingly popular this year. In fact, the data shows that sales of these types of vehicles increased an impressive 73 percent, making the segment the fastest growing in the industry for the year.

"New midsize hybrid models, such as the Toyota Prius v and Chevrolet Malibu Eco, have proven popular with consumers, in particular families, who want to buy green without sacrificing other features that fit their lifestyles," said Colin Bird, an automotive analyst at Mintel. "The segment will grow even further in 2013, with the launch of several new models, including the full Ford Fusion Hybrid series and the Honda Accord Hybrid, which will fulfill a wider variety of needs than conventional compact hybrids. Midsize plug-in hybrids will also enter the mainstream in 2013, with the introduction of the Ford Fusion
Energi and the Honda Accord Plug-In, which will further improve mainstream acceptance of this still fairly novel powertrain segment."

While there are many new alternative energy vehicles on the horizon, drivers who are looking to purchase used cars have a number of options to choose from. The Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and a variety of hybrid models have been on the market long enough that they are starting to turn up on used lots. Drivers in the New York/New Jersey area can check out the selection of hybrids like the Toyota Prius at NJ State Auto Auction. Every model on the lot is CARFAX certified, so whether car shoppers find a hybrid or a fuel efficient gas-powered car, they'll be able to drive away with confidence.