At least, that seems to be the safest route, if some amazing test results from a study into teen driving and accident prevention are any indication.

The test involved an in-vehicle data recorder (IVDR) system that monitors unsafe driving events, such as sharp turns, heavy acceleration and abrupt braking. Originally developed by GreenRoad, a San Francisco firm that specialises in trucker safety, the system takes this information and “grades” the driver. Red, yellow and green lights inform drivers how well they are driving at any given time.

The system sounds pretty simplistic, but the data suggests something remarkable. In those cars with the system, dangerous driving events were cut in half.

Impressive, but we imagine angsty teens will still find some way to complain about “the man” and mum and dad’s snooping. Fortunately, there’s an app for that. The system is accelerometer-based, and the software could easily make the jump over to smartphones, said Swedish engineer Per-Olof Svnesk in an article at New Scientist. You’re already secretly looking at your kid’s mobile phone anyway, parents, so why not install a safety app in there while you’re at it? They may even think it’s cool, so no snooping necessary. [New Scientist]

Apparently, four reports of adaptors short circuiting has alerted Sony to a weakness in the insulation, which could pose a shock hazard. So far, no one has been injured, but if you happen to have one of these adaptors, you can contact Sony for a replacement. [CPSC]

Instead of building airbags into plane seats or the bulkhead—that big flat wall at the front of the cabin—AmSafe, the biggest name in the I’m-guessing-not-terribly-crowded commercial jet passenger airbag industry, has hidden them in seat belts: the bag is mounted at shoulder height and connected to a trigger and helium inflation device underneath the seat.

AmSafe’s Tom Barth, pictured here holding a comically oversized seatbelt that’s obviously hiding something, told NPR:

The air bag seat belt looks pretty much like a standard seat belt. People don’t really notice that it’s there.

No need to deny the lumpiness, Tom — I think people will forgive a little bulk if it means they won’t splatter their brains against that floral bulked carpet next time a landing doesn’t go quite as planned.

But alas, the rollout won’t be universal. The FAA regulation doesn’t require airbags per se, as long as aircraft manufacturers can somehow claim that a 16 G impact is survivable by way of padded seatbacks, open space or better seat belts. Only a handful of commercial jets have exploding seat belts airbags today—none of which have even been deployed, by the way—but the regulation, which only applies to new planes, should make these things a common sight. [NPR]

The idea is to teach kids how to bike safely by placing them in a variety of real-world scenarios like “going to school”, “going to the grocery store”, and the like. Targeted for driving schools and educational institutions, Japanese parents can spend some time with their child learning the basics without having to worry for their safety. After a few years, they just might be ready to go outside on a real bike with a helmet and a cocoon of bubble wrap on. [Far East Gizmos via Coolest Gadgets via DVICE]

The LEDs are super bright, and a built-in lithium polymer battery keeps them juiced for about 60 hours. At that point the Spooklight comes off the bike and charges via USB. And this is pretty cool: it will also charge your gadgets (like MP3 players and mobile phones) while you’re on the road.

£55 ($97) is on the pricey side, given you can still just wave your arm to change lanes, but if you ride about at night quite often, it could be a good investment in your own safety. Either way, points for the clever use of the three-axis accelerometer. [50Cycles via Wired]

If the hat determines the driver’s condition to be risky, it relays a warning signal to a computer screen in the cab (and possibly mobile phones as the image above illustrates) recommending rest. Apparently, trials of the hat are being credited with reducing fatalities for drivers at CRC Mining from 40 in 2007 to 27 in 2008. Now CRC is hoping that their technology can be made available to all drivers sometime in the near future. [Metro]

They’ll sell in October for $US30 and come with extra ear caps that tailor toward boys, girls or the Dutch. [Griffin Technology via Gadgenista via Coolest Gadgets]

The device attaches to each side of the ladder and helps improve traction and level control with feet that are fully adjustable. I’m surprised something like this doesn’t already exist—but I wouldn’t be surprised if that changed sometime in the near future. [Tuvie]

The creators of this concept design, Yusuf Muhammed and Paul Thomas of the Royal College of Art, get about $US16,500 to split between them with their school getting the same amount. Presumably, the cash and visibility that they’ve gained from winning the design award will allow them to make the Automist a product we’ll be able to, you know, buy. I just worry that it’ll invite a lot of pranking, but I guess time will tell. [James Dyson Award via FastCompany]

The illiterate low-life went on to mock:

“I have the laptop, phones ok but a bit scratched itll do, tv was rubbish so I left it , ds was a bonus, now to the porn shop, thankyou toshiba is my favourite make”.

The sick scenario is a good reminder not to let your guard slip when it comes to thinking twice about what data you keep on your laptop, and the passwords and security you use to protect it. [Telegraph via TechRadar]