Teenage drivers in the U.S. often overestimate their level of driving experience. That false confidence in their driving abilities puts them at risk for accidents and personal injuries. The finding is a result of new research published in a recent edition of the journal Pediatrics.
Continue Reading...Although many people with mild dementia (such as in early Alzheimer's Disease) may initially be able to drive safely, their driving skills predictably decline over 1 - 2 years to a level that often leaves them unsafe to drive. The finding is the result of new research published in a recent edition of the journal Neurology -- the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Continue Reading...Conventional wisdom may hold that drunk drivers are habitual drinkers, but new research shows that people who get drunk only on occasion account for almost half of all DWI offenses. This latest study, published in a recent issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, draws its research data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey -- a survey involving interviews with more than 350,000 adults living in the U.S. each year.
Continue Reading...Contrary to popular belief, pregnant women should wear seat belts, not only to save themselves in the event of a car accident but also to save their fetuses. The finding is the result of recent research published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. According to the study, almost 200 fetuses each year -- half of all fetal losses in motor-vehicle crashes -- could be saved if pregnant women wore seat belts properly.
Continue Reading...Mild traumatic brain injury is often followed by post-concussion syndrome, but brain injuries, it turns out, aren't the only traumas which predict the neurological condition. The finding is the result of new research published in a recent edition of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Continue Reading...Simply listening to a caller on a cell phone while driving may distract the brain enough to contribute to an accident. The finding is the result of a new study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University and published in a recent edition of the journal Brain Research.
Continue Reading...A head injury traumatic enough to cause unconsciousness can result in widespread, permanent destruction of brain tissue. The finding is the result of research recently published in the journal Neurology -- the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology -- and helps to explain why some people who suffer Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) often experience irreversible personality changes following their injuries.
Continue Reading...This month is Brain Injury Awareness Month -- a time designated for building public awareness and promoting education regarding brain injuries and their prevention.
Continue Reading...Winter weather in the DC Metro Area and elsewhere can take a toll on aging streets and roadways. Potholes caused by freezing water can quickly turn well-traveled streets into dangerous obstacle courses. Road crews repair many of these holes in late winter or early spring, creating a temporary hazard of an entirely different sort. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds motorists to watch for road workers this season and to drive carefully through areas where service crews are making repairs. The organization offers the following tips for motorists to ensure the safety of road workers and drivers, alike:
Continue Reading...Although many states do allow the use of cell phones while driving, in the District of Columbia, it is illegal to use any kind other than a hands-free device. For each offense, drivers are fined $100.00 for violating this law, in effect since July 1, 2004.
Motorists who talk on wireless phones while driving tend to drive slower, forgo opportunities to pass slow-moving vehicles, and generally take longer than other drivers to reach their destinations. Overall, people who talk on the phone while driving have the cumulative effect of congesting traffic. The finding is the result of recent research conducted at the University of Utah. , and presented at the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board.
Continue Reading...Chronic medical conditions require a variety of routine medications. Unfortunately, many of those medications are known to cause drowsiness, sap energy and slow reaction times in drivers. In most areas of the U.S., it's necessary to drive to remain independent -- to get to the grocery store, the doctor, to visit friends, and even to get to work. Because our ability to drive safely can be affected by prescription medications and our health, in general, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers the following facts and tips regarding safe driving for individuals who take multiple medications:
Continue Reading...According to the National Safety Council (NSC), traffic death rates triple at night, on average. Nighttime driving is both more difficult and more dangerous than many drivers realize -- for drivers of all ages, but particularly for older drivers, who can't see as well in the dark, and for younger drivers who are more likely to attempt to drive while impaired. By preparing your vehicle for night driving, and adhering to the following guidelines, provided courtesy of the NSC, you can minimize some of the inherent dangers of driving in the dark:
Continue Reading...The Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) -- a private-public coalition formed to fight drunk and drugged driving in the metro area -- has announced the kickoff of its 2007 Holiday SoberRide Program. Beginning on December 7th, and ending on January 1st, inebriated drivers in the metro area will be able to request a free cab ride (up to $50 in value) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., by dialing 1-800-200-TAXI, or by dialing "TAXI" from any AT&T wireless phone.
Continue Reading...We have addressed the dangers associated with teen driving many times here on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog. While awareness is important, awareness alone won't solve the problems associated with dangerous teen driving. Partners for Safe Teen Driving is a program that enables schools and communities to help their teens become safer drivers. The program was co-created by the Prince William County Public School System, the Virginia Department of Education, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Virginia Association of Driver Education and Traffic Safety. Four school systems in Virginia have already implemented successful programs based on the step-by-step approach outlined on the partnership website, and taken steps toward improving the safety of their roads and their teenagers.
Continue Reading...The holiday season is a period of increased highway travel for many metro area families, and also a season of unpredictable inclement winter weather. Before you take to the roads this winter, take time to familiarize yourself with the following winter driving safety tips, courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
Continue Reading...This holiday season will bring an increase in highway travel as metro area residents commute to family gatherings and embark on shopping trips. Unfortunately, that increased traffic is also projected to bring a corresponding increase in traffic accidents and fatalities. More than 900 people currently die on Virginia's highways each year -- an average of three per day. In response, the Virginia Deprtment of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) have created and co-sponsored the website SafeVAHighways.Org -- an educational effort to slow the state's escalating fatality rate and save lives.
Continue Reading...The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in conjunction with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has kicked off a one-week campaign called "Operation Safe Driver." The event, which runs from October 21 - 28, is designed to prevent trucking accidents, which are caused by negligent commerical drivers and negligent non-commercial drivers, alike. The objectives of the campaign are as follows:
Continue Reading...The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a new federal initiative to develop multi-state interstate highway corridors, including truck-only lanes, to decrease congestion and prevent truck accidents along six interstate routes, including Interstate 95, from Florida to the Canadian border. Interstate 70, terminating at Baltimore, will also receive federal funding for improvements.
Continue Reading...Many families will soon hit the road for one last summer trip or vacation, but many will overlook one of the most important safety considerations of all, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) -- the condition of their vehicle's tires. Proper tire condition (including proper inflation) can improve your vacation in the following ways:
Autumn foliage and milder temperatures will inspire many motorcyclists to take to the roads in greater numbers over the coming months. Understanding and anticipating the behavior of motorcyclists and other drivers can help prevent accidents and fatalities. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) encourages everyone on the road to "S.E.E." their surroundings:
"S: Search for factors in the area
E: Evaluate the potential risks and options
E: Execute with control and precision"
Continue Reading...More than a quarter million defective Chinese tires are being recalled by New Jersey-based Foreign Tire Sales, because they lack a gum strip -- a band of rubber designed to keep the steel belts from separating. Belt separation can cause the tires to split apart at high speeds, and the flaw has already resulted in some fatalities. The tires were sold under the brand names Westlake, Compass and YKS from 2004 to mid-2006, and were marketed for use on SUVs, trucks and vans. About 1,100 of the tires were sold in Virginia, but none are known to have been sold in Maryland or DC.
State laws mandating the immediate license suspension of any driver who fails a breathalizer test have a deterrent effect on drunk driving and save approximately 800 lives each year, according to a new study published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. The study also found that license suspensions which occur after conviction of the offense have relatively little deterrent effect. The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP), is one of the most comprehensive examinations of the efficacy of drunk driving laws ever conducted.
Continue Reading...Physician-based counseling of patients regarding the proper use of seat belts and admonitions for driving while intoxicated do not lead to demonstrated improvements in behavior or public health, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Research conducted by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found that while physician counseling causes no apparent harm, the benefits attributable to it are generally negligible. The group recommends that physicians and their patients may be better served by using office visit time to focus on other preventive care issues.
Continue Reading...Drunk driving contributed to a graduation day auto accident that killed four local teenagers on June 14th, according to a new Washington Post report. A half-empty gallon of vodka, a six-pack of beer and a small amount of marijuana had previously been recovered from the Interstate 395 accident scene by police. Recently released toxicology results confirm that the driver was legally drunk and under the influence of marijuana at the time of the accident, when she apparently steered her Volkswagen and four passengers into the path of a tractor trailer on a highway ramp, killing all but one. Police are trying to determine how the minors obtained their alcohol.
Continue Reading...Bicycling is a healthy, environmentally-friendly, low-cost way to commute and it can be enjoyable recreation, as well. While safety equipment such as helmets and reflective clothing can help you avoid crashes and injuries, knowing the traffic rules for cyclists in your jurisdiction and developing your cycling skills can also contribute to your safety. Maryland, Virginia and D.C. laws all require bicyclists to be familiar with street signs and markings, and to follow the rules of the road -- as well as other rules that apply in off-road situations. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association, in conjunction with the D.C. Department of Transportation and Arlington County, Virginia, publishes a booklet entitled "Safe Bicycling in the Washington Area," which lists relevant bicycling laws and travel tips by jurisdiction.
Continue Reading...As the new academic year begins, many metro area kids will resume walking to school each day. While walking is great exercise, it also puts people at risk for pedestrian injuries. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that young children face a particular risk, because they move quickly and are unaware of many dangers. The agency offers the following facts regarding injuries to preschoolers:
The first legal challenge of Virginia's Civil Remedial Fees (Abusive Driver Fees) in Northern Virginia has been filed on behalf of Charles Mason, a U.S. Navy Veteran who was recently ticketed en route to his Navy Reserve drill duty. According to a Washington Post report, Mason, who has an excellent driving record, was in uniform when he was ticketed by a Virginia state trooper with no radar gun on Interstate 395 at 7:25 am. Mason maintains that he was not speeding, and that in fact, other cars were passing him. He was cited for driving 75 mph in a 55 mph zone, an offense that could cost him $1,050. Judges in Richmond and Henrico County have already declared the fees unconstitutional, because they apply only to Virginia residents. Those rulings apply only to their respective jurisdictions, however. Mason's attorney is also arguing that the fees are unconstitutional. His case is scheduled to be heard in Arlington General District Court on Monday, August 13th, 2007.
A Federal Appeals Court has struck down a Bush administration regulation allowing truck drivers to spend more hours on the road per day and week, and to spend less time resting before the official "re-start" of their work week. According to Public Citizen, the non-profit public interest group, this is the second time the proposed rule has been struck down by a unanimous 3-judge panel (for a total of six different judges), and for the same reasons -- because it fails to account for the added fatigue drivers would face under the expanded limits, and because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) gave no opportunity for notice or comment on the new rule, and inadequately explained the methodology of the research that was purported to justify a change in the previous standard.
Ford Motor Company has announced a voluntary expanded recall of 3.6 million vehicles due to fire safety concerns stemming from faulty cruise control switches. The recall now includes more than a dozen models of vehicle built between 1992 and 2007.
In January 2005, the company had recalled approximately 6 million vehicles with similar cruise control switch problems. According to Ford, newly-affected owners will begin receiving notices of the expanded recall on August 15, 2007.
Owners with immediate questions regarding the recall are instructed to call (888) 222-2751.
Ford's latest recall involves the following vehicles:
Continue Reading...Wherever the open road may lead you on vacation this summer, you'll get there safer and less stressed if you take time to prepare before pulling onto the highway. Edmunds.com offers the following ten Summer Travel Tips to keep in mind prior to traveling:
Continue Reading...The increased presence of camping, boat and motorcycle trailers on the nation's highways throughout the summer creates unique driving hazards for motorists.
Interstate 95 was recently the scene of a truck accident that claimed the life of a 14-year-old North Carolina boy, whose family was towing a camping trailer behind their Ford pickup. A wind disturbance from a passing tractor-trailer caused the camper-trailer to fish tail and the pickup driver to lose control. The incident has been covered widely by local media outlets.
Continue Reading...Plans to allow Mexican truck traffic on U.S. roads earned the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) a failing report card from safety groups this week. Public Citizen has reported that members of Congress, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a trucking trade association and many other organizations presented some unfavorable opinion poll results to the agency in a recent press conference.
Local News4 has reported that four teenage girls were killed in a Beltway crash Thursday night, just hours after two of them had graduated from West Potomac High School. A fifth girl was hospitalized. Reports indicate that their 2002 Volkswagen convertible was traveling in a restricted zone on an Interstate 95 ramp when it was struck by a tractor-trailer. Though alcohol is not yet known to have played a role in the accident, alcohol was discovered in the Volkswagen. Police say the truck driver is unlikely to be charged.
The presence of young drivers on the roadways increases during summer months, and parents play an important role in ensuring their safety and reducing motor vehicle fatalities. In light of this, the National Safety Council (NSC) recommends that parents educate themselves about the risks that inexperienced, young drivers face and keep the following statistics in mind:
To become certified to teach the new driving course, visit the NSC website.
If you or a family member has been involved in an automobile accident, please contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at 202-463-3030 for a free consultation. If you would like to receive our complimentary electronic newsletter, please click here.
Continue Reading...DC, Maryland, and Virginia authorities will focus more intently on aggressive driving infractions in the metro area as part of the Smooth Operator program – an initiative to curb unsafe driving.
For the purposes of this campaign, aggressive driving is defined as, “…a combination of unsafe and unlawful driving actions, which demonstrate a conscious and willful disregard for safety. Aggressive driving includes such offenses as tailgating, unsafe lane changes, speeding, running red lights and stop signs, following too closely, improper passing and failing to yield the right of way.”
According to promotional literature for the Smooth Operator program, aggressive driving has become a problem in the metro area, in part, because:
Do you recognize this image? It's the new logo for the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever. The Click It or Ticket campaign has helped create the highest national seat belt usage rate of almost 82 percent. As indicated by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) seatbelt charts for 2006, jurisdictions with stronger belt enforcement laws continue to have higher rates than those with weaker laws.
According to the NHTSA, the current promotion is aimed at raising awareness of the extra dangers of nighttime driving. Seat belt usage declines substantially at night, increasing the risk of being killed in a crash by three times the daytime rate.
“It’s alarming that fewer people are buckling up at night, a time when the odds of being killed in a motor vehicle crash triple. This year, law enforcement officials will be ticketing violators who are not wearing their seat belts, especially during the evening hours,” Administrator Nason said.
The NHTSA study found that in 2005, more than 15,000 passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes between the nighttime hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and nearly two-thirds of those killed were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Additional NHTSA survey data indicate that nighttime seat belt use is often 10 percent lower than the nation-wide average 82 percent daytime belt use.
“The annual Click It or Ticket campaign has helped increase seat belt use for over a decade, but despite these gains, too many of our family and friends continue to die on our roadways,” said Nason. “Not wearing your seat belt, day or night, is a huge and unnecessary gamble.”
As recently reported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, attorneys representing several safety advocate groups challenged proposed regulations that apply to the number of hours truck drivers may operate their vehicles. The safety advocates, which include Public Citizen, urged a Court of Appeals to overturn a rule issued in August 2005 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (MCSA).
The proposed rule dramatically increases the number of hours that truckers may drive without a break and the number of hours truckers may drive per week. According to Teamsters General President, Jim Hoffa, " There is no excuse for such blatant disregard for the health and safety of the highly trained men and women who are responsible for negotiating big rigs throughout our country."
Traffic deaths have increased to the highest level since 1990. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the increase was due to more motorcycle and pedestrian deaths.
43,443 people were killed on the highways last year, up 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It was the highest number in a single year since 1990, when 44,599 people were killed.
Continue Reading...MedPage Today, a daily medical news service for physicians, reports that a new study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found patterns of sleep apnea in truck drivers. People who suffer from sleep apnea get lower quality sleep because they are awakened several times during the night. This means that while the afflicted person may be in bed for eight hours, he or she may only be getting five hours of real sleep.
When the participants took driving tests, those who suffered from sleep apnea had motor skills impairments consistent with drunk driving. Of the truckers with sleep apnea, one-third of them also experienced attention lapses comparable to intoxication.
While investigators caution readers not to jump to conclusions because of the small sample size and the self-selecting nature of the study (meaning that those who experienced sleep problems would be more likely to sign up), it deserves more investigation.
State and Federal Regulations require that truck drivers carrying more than 26,000 pounds or hazardous materials must first obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the State in which they live. However, in many states, those driving “light” trucks and vans are only required to obtain a regular driver's license.
Continue Reading...Have you ever wondered how long the truck driver speeding up behind you at 75 m.p.h. has been on the road? Most trucking companies pay by the mile, so the driver will make more money if he drives further and faster. However, relatively recent federal regulations have been put in place to make the roads safer for everyone by limiting the number of consecutive hours a truck driver can be on the road.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, which regulates truck drivers, mandates that a driver can drive straight for 11 hours or work up to a 14 hour shift (which includes rest stops and breaks for food). Additionally, no driver may work more than 60 hours in a 7 day period or 70 hours in an 8 day period, unless they have had 34 straight hours off in that time.
Here are a few tips to help keep you safe around 18-wheelers:
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