5 Dangerous Driving Distractions That Could Kill You

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Today’s vehicles boast state-of-the-art car safety systems to protect drivers from the unexpected. Unfortunately, automakers have yet to find a way to prevent distracted driving, a common occurrence on roadways nationwide. Taking your eyes off the road, even for a second, can end in catastrophe. Teen drivers are the biggest offenders, with six out of 10 car crashes involving distracted driving.

Several common driving distractions can take your attention away from the road. Learning how to avoid these five dangerous behaviors can save not only your own life but also the lives of others.

1. Texting or talking on your phone

Texting is a major driving distraction | Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,142 people were killed in 2019, with distracted driving being the primary cause of the accidents.

The car safety agency reports that the “most alarming distraction” is texting. It claims that “sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

Driving is a task that requires your full attention. According to the NHTSA, any activity that diverts your focus can create a distraction, increasing your risk of crashing.

2. Eating and drinking

According to a Hankook survey, “The survey of 1,021 randomly selected motorists 18 and older and having a valid U.S. driver’s license showed 64% acknowledging they multitask while driving.”

More than 21 percent of the responders admitted to eating while driving. Decide to Drive explains that visual, manual, and cognitive distractions occur when drivers are focused on eating.

Instead of keeping their eyes on the road, drivers are unwrapping food packaging, holding the meal with one hand, using a napkin, applying condiments, and trying to grasp beverages. These tasks make paying attention while driving virtually impossible. 

So, the next time you decide to hit the drive-thru, eat in the parking lot or wait until you get home to dig into your meal.

3. Talking to people in your vehicle

Whether you’re driving the kids to school, taking a road trip, or giving your dog a ride to the vet, vehicle occupants can be distractions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says talking to other passengers can create a dangerous distraction while driving. Some states have even gone as far as to limit the number of passengers young drivers can have. 

The CDC reports that for drivers aged 15 to 17 years old, “fatal crashes were 21% lower when zero passengers were allowed and 7% lower when one passenger was allowed.”

4. Fiddling with the infotainment or navigation system

The latest technology has made infotainment systems valuable tools for assisting drivers. But they can also lead to risky behavior that can increase the likelihood of crashes.

It’s recommended that you set up your navigation system before hitting the gas pedal. A study conducted by AAA found that “drivers take an average of 40 seconds to fiddle around with their navigation, which, if done while moving, is 40 seconds where you are distracted.”

The problem has gotten so bad that automakers have installed lock features to prohibit infotainment system use while driving.

5. Applying makeup, shaving, or performing other personal hygiene tasks

According to Hankook, 3% of drivers are guilty of applying makeup, shaving, or taking care of personal hygiene tasks while driving.

To resist the temptation to fix your appearance while cruising down the highway, keep grooming items out of reach, plan ahead, and pull over if necessary.

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2022 BMW M5 CS vs. Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye: Which Super Sedan Is Faster?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Some may call the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody’s horsepower ‘excessive.’ But then, that’s also what makes Dodge’s muscle sedan so appealing. However, it’s not the only high-power four-door on the market. There’s also the 2022 BMW M5 CS, claimed to be BMW’s fastest, most powerful production car ever. So, which is the quicker car? That’s what YouTube team Throttle House decided to test.

How fast are the 2022 BMW M5 CS and 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody on paper?

2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody | Stellantis

A glance at their spec sheets shows that the 2022 BMW M5 CS and 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody take different approaches to the matter of speed. Yes, both are sedans with forced-induction V8s and automatic transmissions. But whereas the Charger goes down the horsepower road, the M5 CS is more about saving weight. Though to be fair, it also has slightly more power than the M5 Competition.

Metric 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody 2022 BMW M5 CS
Engine 6.2-liter supercharged V8 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8
Power 797 hp 627 hp
Torque 707 lb-ft 533 lb-ft
Transmission Eight-speed automatic Eight-speed automatic
Drive type RWD AWD
Curb weight 4,586 lbs 4,114 lbs
0-60 mph time 3.5 seconds (Car and Driver) 2.9 seconds
1/4-mile time and trap speed 11.5 seconds @ 126 mph (Car and Driver) Unavailable

On paper, then, the 2022 BMW M5 CS is faster to 60 mph than the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody. And it might beat the Charger in the ¼-mile, too. As of this writing, the M5 CS doesn’t have an official ¼-mile time. However, BMW claims it goes 0-124 mph in 10.4 seconds, Motor1 reports. Comparing that to the Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody’s Car and Driver test results puts the BMW ahead.

But the Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody has more tricks than just its 797-hp engine. Being a Widebody model, it has wider tires and wheels than the standard Charger Hellcat for added grip. The Redeye Widebody also has adjustable Bilstein dampers as well as stiffer springs and anti-roll bars. And those last two changes are Charger-exclusive; the Challenger Hellcat Redeye doesn’t get them.

What kind of testing did Throttle House perform?

The side 3/4 view of a green 2022 BMW M5 CS
2022 BMW M5 CS side 3/4 | BMW

It might seem odd to mention handling-focused upgrades in a contest of speed. But that’s because Throttle House didn’t just test these two sedans in a straight line.

To be sure, the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody and 2022 BMW M5 CS did go head-to-head in some ¼-mile drag races. The first two tests were run from a standing start: one with launch control, and one without. And to make things as equal as possible, the second race saw the M5 CS go into RWD mode. Then, the Charger and M5 did a ¼-mile rolling-start drag race.

But before the drag races, Throttle House set a lap time in the M5 CS and Charger Hellcat Redeye on its test track. Co-host Thomas got one warm-up lap in each car followed by five ‘hot’ laps to set the best time. This is where the Charger’s handling upgrades should come in handy.

However, BMW gave the M5 CS more than just extra horsepower and numerous carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic components. In addition to less sound-deadening material and no center console, the M5 CS also has stiffer springs, a lower ride height, and a stiffer rear sway bar than the M5 Competition, MotorTrend says. Its adaptive dampers have also been tweaked and its suspension geometry adjusted. Plus, the M5 CS gets standard carbon-ceramic brakes.

Which sedan is faster: the 2022 BMW M5 CS or the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody?

Out on the track, the Throttle House hosts noted that the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody handles better than the equivalent Challenger. And the sedan managed to go around the track in 1:14.14, roughly two seconds faster than the coupe.

However, the Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody couldn’t keep up with the 2022 BMW M5 CS. The BMW beat the Dodge in all three drag races, albeit only by half a car length in the rolling race. And it lapped the track in 1:10.02, 0.33 seconds faster than the lighter M2 CS. The Charger simply can’t put its power down as effectively without a prepped drag surface.

Admittedly, the BMW M5 CS is significantly more expensive than the Charger. The limited-edition M5 starts at $142,000 before the $995 destination fee. Meanwhile, the Charger Hellcat Redeye Widebody starts at $81,270 before destination. Still, if it’s a question of speed, the M5 CS wins out.

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RELATED: Is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Faster Than the BMW M2 CS?

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Throwback Thursday: The 1999 Honda Civic Si

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Honda built its reputation in the 90s. The late 90s set the scene for Japanese automaker Honda to dominate the 2000s. The Honda Civic would emerge as one of the most popular vehicles in America after years of tweaking the nameplate. The 1999 Honda Civic Si coupe was one of the Civics that changed everything for Honda.

The 1999 Honda Civic Si knew how to party

The Honda Civic | Koichi Kamoshida/Liaison via Getty Images

Honda Civics have improved over time, but some of the nameplate’s fundamental design language has remained constant. Regardless of the model year, for the past two decades, Honda Civics have been compact, affordable vehicles that are reliable and fun to drive. The 1999 Honda Civic Si set the standard for the years of Civic models to come by embodying what the nameplate is all about.

The 1999 Honda Civic Si was the first Si coupe. The B16 VTEC 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine made 160 horsepower. Not bad for a compact car from the 90s. The base price was $17,000. Despite being just as affordable as most compact cars at the time, the Si drove like a performance model.

The 1999 Honda Civic Si brought some much-needed fun to the nameplate and that fun has been an integral part of Honda’s winning formula ever since. This thing could reach up to 8,500 revolutions per minute. Front and rear anti-roll bars, stiff front and rear springs, and a front strut tower brace made the Si handle like a dream.

Is the Civic Si a sports car?

A red Honda Civic Si.
Honda Civic Si | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

The 1999 Honda Civic Si’s trim level stands for “Sport Injection” referring to its fuel injection. Ironically the Civic Si never really fit in with the sports car of yesteryear, and modern iterations wouldn’t necessarily qualify either. Instead, the 1999 Civic Si was a sporty daily driver.

The Civic Si was perfect for everyone, from the young new driver looking for a compact sedan with a little oomph to the middle-aged 9-5 office worker looking to enjoy some great acceleration on the highway after work. It was about as far as you could get from a performance vehicle price-wise but provided more zip to it than most consumers originally expected.

Is the Civic Si rare?

A red Honda Civic Si.
Honda Civic Si | Raymond Boyd via Getty Images

The 1999 Honda Civic Si is extremely rare for a Civic, especially considering its age and the advancements that the automaker has made. Bring a Trailer held an auction for a 1999 Honda Civic Si with 12,000 miles. The compact coupe sold for $24,027. To put that number into perspective, 2018 Honda Civics started at $18,940. The buyer preferred this classic Si over a brand new Honda Civic at the time.

1999 Honda Civic Si models are rare because they represent the start of an amazing run for Honda. The Civic models that followed the ’99 Si solidified the Civic as one of the most popular nameplates in the United States. Over two decades later, the legend of this speedy compact coupe lives on as a part of Honda history. Can another Si ever have the same impact as the 1999 model year?

RELATED: Why the Honda Civic Is a Great Car for the Average American

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Hennessey Debuts 30th Anniversary Exorcist Camaro ZL1

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Since 1991, Hennessey Performance Engineering has been transforming normal cars, trucks, and SUVs into some of the fastest non-supercars around. One of the most attention-grabbing examples from recent years was Hennessey’s extreme version of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, dubbed the Exorcist and limited to 100 examples. As if that wasn’t exclusive enough, the Texas-based tuner has just announced a 30th Anniversary edition of its 1000 hp Camaro that will be even more rare.

What is the Exorcist?

The Hennessey 30th Anniversary Edition Exorcist Camaro ZL1 | Hennessey Performance Engineering

Hennessy launched the original Exorcist a few years back, using the 2017+ or 6th Generation Camaro as a foundation. The name is a play on words and came about as a response to Dodge’s release of the 840 hp Challenger Demon. Hennessey had already reached 850 hp in the Camaro ZL1 with its HPE850 builds, but in the aftermarket tuning world there’s always room for improvement.

Engine bay of the 30th Anniversary Edition Camaro ZL1 By Hennessey Performance
Engine bay of the Hennessey 30th Anniversary Exorcist Camaro ZL1 | Hennessey Performance Engineering

In order to have a real shot at exorcising the Dodge Demon, the Camaro ZL1’s engine needs just a bit more room to breathe. With the new target of 1000 hp, Hennessey Exorcist packages do away with the factory supercharger and replace it with a bigger one, typically a 2.9 liter Whipple twin-screw design.

Alternatively, a roots-type Magnuson supercharger with 2.65 liters of displacement may be used, if a customer requests the option. In either case, the added displacement of an aftermarket blower is the key to moving larger volumes of air and reaching the 1000 hp mark safely. To support the massive increase in power, Hennessey Exorcist packages also include a better heat exchanger, intake system, and ported cylinder heads, among other upgrades.

What is special about the 30th Anniversary Exorcist?

30TH Anniversary Edition Exorcist Camaro by Hennessey Performance
The Hennessey 30th Anniversary Exorcist Camaro ZL1 | Hennessey Performance Engineering

The new models will be serialized with a special 30th Anniversary Edition number plate on the chassis. They also receive unique badging on the front fenders, in addtion to the standard Exorcist stripes and decals on the rear fenders.

Powertrain specs and performance figures remain the same as the earlier model, but only 30 of the anniversary editions will be produced, so these will be the rarest examples in an already limited production run of 100 units. Once all 30 of the anniversary editions are made, production of the Exorcist Camaro will cease, ensuring the exclusive nature of the vehicle.

Multiple options for the Gen 6 Camaro ZL1

Hennessey offers the 30th Anniversary Exorcist as a turnkey finished product in both coupe and convertible form, with the option of converting your own Camaro ZL1 instead. In either case, spectacular performance is the end result, with a quoted 0 to 60 mph time of 2.1 seconds and top speed of 217 mph.

“The Exorcist is the epitome of the American Muscle car and has the off-the-line performance to embarrass almost any car on the planet,” said company founder and CEO John Hennessey. “We’ve been making fast cars faster since 1991, so our 30th Anniversary Exorcist pools all we know into one ferocious supercar slayer.”

With automakers releasing new models for 2021 and 2022, it’s a good bet that Hennessey Performance is already working on the next batch of sleepers, just waiting for a chance to surprise unsuspecting supercar drivers.

RELATED: There’s a Hennessey Ford Bronco and It Might as Well Have 1 Million HP

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