Sadly, the GHSA reports that statistics from the first half of 2011 show that there is a good chance the eight-year decline is over.
Using data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the GHSA reports that there was an 11 percent increase in the number of teen-driver fatalities (defined as 16- and 17-year-olds) during the first six months of 2011 as compared to the first half of 2010. According to GHSA numbers, 16-year-olds car accident deaths rose by 13 over the previous year - a 16 percent increase - and the number of 17-year-old driver fatalities rose by eight over the previous year - a 7 percent increase.
]]> While less than half of the states indicated that teen fatalities were on the rise, the GHSA reports that Florida, North Carolina and Texas saw significant increases in the number of deaths. According to the report, there was no change in the number of teen-driver fatalities in California between 2010 and 2011.According to the GHSA, the rise in teen fatalities comes as the overall car accident rate declined by 0.9 percent when comparing the same time periods.
Dr. Allan Williams, formerly of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, speculates that the decrease-benefit states saw from implementing GDL programs may be wearing off. Dr. Williams also says the improving economy might be a contributing factor to the increase number of fatalities, as more teens may be able to afford to drive.
While the final numbers for 2011 are not yet available, the early indications show that the number of teen driver fatalities rose in 2011.
Source: "Fatal Teen Driver Crashes On the Rise," ehstoday.com, 2/21/12
]]>The proposed safety standards are limited to electronic devices that are not necessary to safely operate the vehicle and would apply to devices that cause undue distraction by taking the driver's eyes off the road or occupying a driver's hands for more than a brief moment.
]]> LaHood's proposal recommends that the nation's automakers design the built-in electronic devices to automatically prevent the driver from using them while the vehicle is in motion. The proposal was a compromise for LaHood, who originally wanted a ban on the built-in devices.The proposal is the latest round of regulations that address the problem of distracted driving, prompted by the need to reach younger drivers--the most inexperienced drivers and the most likely users of wireless devices. A recent report shows an increase in the number of teen drivers losing their lives in car accidents in 2011.
The number of deaths in 2010 from distracted driving was 3,092. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation thinks that is a conservative estimate, as drivers are often reluctant to admit to using electronic devices while driving and there is a lack of witnesses in many cases.
Source: "Distracted Driving Rules: Transportation Department Proposes Guidelines Limiting Technology Built Into Cars," Huffington Post, 2/16/12
]]>The study conducted by the national transportation research group TRIP ranked the states according to the number of fatal accidents involving seniors, and California ranked third - the rankings included both seniors killed in accidents and seniors being involved in accidents that killed other drivers or passengers. According to TRIP, only Texas and Florida had more recorded fatal car accidents than California, the state with the most senior drivers.
]]> An article in the Auburn Journal speculates that there could be a number of reasons as to why the number of fatal car accidents involving seniors in California is so high.Rod Gross of the AARP posited that the amount of traffic on the state's roads could be a contributing factor. He notes that traffic requires drivers to multitask as they drive, and multitasking can become more difficult as we age and our mental processing abilities slow.
The article also speculated that the "hurried" nature of Californians could be a contributing factor. Often, seniors drive in a cautious manner, which can mean slower, and this frustrates already hurried drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2009 over 5,200 seniors (aged 65 and older) were killed in traffic accidents nationally. This number represents 16 percent of all fatal car accident victims in a group that only makes up 13 percent of the United States' total population and 15 percent of all licensed drivers in 2008.
Source: "Calif. seniors may be at risk on the road, study says," auburnjournal.com, 2/26/12
]]>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is considering whether or not to require automobile manufacturers to include black boxes, also known as event data recorders (EDRs), in new vehicles. If this technology is installed into automobiles, it will create a record of an accident that will allow law enforcement to piece together how an accident happened and who was at fault.
EDR technology has been installed in cars with airbags since 2006, but the NHTSA proposal would require manufacturers to use more sophisticated systems in their products in order to collect more data. According to the National Research Council, the more robust versions of this evolving technology would be particularly helpful in cases where there is a malfunction in the electronics system of an automobile.
]]> "Failures associated with electronics systems - including those related to software programming, dual and intermittent electronics hardware faults, and electromagnetic disturbances - may not leave physical evidence to aid investigations into observed or reported unsafe vehicle behaviors," the National Research Council said in a statement. "Similarly, many errors by drivers using or responding to new electronics systems may not leave a physical trace."However, critics of the proposal believe that this is too intrusive and black boxes may be used to keep tabs on consumers. Some are concerned that the enhanced data can be used by automobile dealerships, car insurance companies and even law enforcement to track the movements of drivers.
But those who support the use of enhanced ERD technology say that it's invaluable when investigating an accident, and can yield information that may save lives if a crash was caused by faulty vehicle systems and technologies.
"It's about trying to understand what a particular system's performance did before a crash," Everest continued. "In a great many cases, we can use data to understand whether it had any merit to it or not."
Source: 'Black boxes' may soon be mandatory for all cars," NYDailyNews.com, 1/20/12
]]>Statistics document that U.S. teens are four times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic accident ─ making car accidents the leading cause of death. The two new studies ─ both published in the Journal of Adolescent Health ─ explain how passengers affect a driver's performance before a crash.
A study of 198 teen drivers by behavioral researcher Jessica Mirman at Philadelphia's Children's Hospital found that most teens understand the risks of driving and follow the rules set by their parents. Yet the small percentage of teens identifying themselves as "thrill seekers" did not accurately perceive their driving risks and reported that their parents did not closely monitor their time behind the wheel. This group was most likely to drive with several passengers in the car.
]]> Researchers in another study analyzed 677 teen drivers involved in serious collisions nationwide, comparing likely driver distractions and risk-taking just before the accident. Some teens had passengers and some were alone. It found that distraction by passengers contributed to crashes in both male and female teen drivers. Among those who reported being distracted by passengers before the crash, 71 percent were boys and 47 percent were girls.The study also indicated that teen males driving with passengers were almost six times more likely than males driving alone to perform illegal maneuvers and more than twice as likely to drive aggressively before a crash. Aggressive driving was not a factor for female drivers.
"It's critical that parents stay involved in their teens' driving beyond the learner permit phase," said State Farm research director Chris Mullen, in a story in AJC.com. "This includes continuing to monitor their driving activities and to review ways teens can be safe drivers and passengers."
Source: "Distracted Teen Driving: The Hazards of Having Friends in the Car," Time, 1/25/12
]]>In January 2012, a new study published in the journal Injury Prevention reported that accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones have tripled in less than a decade. Looking at numerous sources, researchers found that there were 116 fatal or serious-injury accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones (accidents involving cell phones were excluded) in the United States from 2004 to 2011.
]]> Researchers indicate that hearing potential dangers could be more important than seeing those potential dangers. They found two factors that may contribute to "headphone use and pedestrian injury": sensory deprivation and distraction (also called "inattentional blindness").The Sacramento Bee published highlights of the findings of the study, including:
•· An increase to 47 accidents in 2010 and 2011 from only 16 accidents in 2004 and 2005
•· 70 percent of accidents were fatal
•· 55 percent of accidents involved trains
•· The average age of victims was 21-years-old
•· 68 percent of the victims were male
•· 67 percent of the victims were under the age of 30
•· In 74 percent of accidents, eyewitnesses stated pedestrians were wearing headphones when involved in the accident
•· In 29 percent of accidents, eyewitnesses reported hearing sirens or horns prior to the accident
According to the researchers, the study does not, however, indicate a correlation between headphone use and the risk of pedestrians suffering accidents.
Source: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/4192228/study-suggests-hazards-of-wearing.html
]]>Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department acted quickly to get the family out of the car. The Navy Seabees also stepped in to help, using a forklift to stabilize the car.
]]> Appearing on Good Morning America, Fire Chief Ray Navarro said, "This was a complex situation. We had a vehicle with occupants trapped on the bridge and hazmats under the bridge. The teamwork and courage and abilities and skills all came together. And we focused on rescuing those trapped inside."As of Sunday's report, the mother was in fair condition, the 10-year old in serious condition and the baby was home with family members. According to a Santa Barbara firefighter, proper installation of the car seat saved the baby's life.
This dramatic situation has made news across the country and people are applauding the heroic efforts of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Navy Seabees. While car accidents like this one are rare, California fire departments and other rescue workers are daily heroes, working quickly to save lives after serious auto accidents.
As California personal injury lawyers, we understand the tremendous value of emergency crews. Sometimes, we have the fortune of working with police and fire departments to understand how a car accident occurred and develop the evidence necessary to determine fault and recover compensation for our personal injury clients.
Source: ABC News, "California Ravine Rescue: Emergency Workers Speak Out," Kevin Dolak, Katti Gray, Jan. 16, 2012.
]]>Proposed changes to the HOS rule would create marginally tighter restrictions on how many hours drivers can spend behind the wheel, how much time they must spend off duty and other factors that influence whether commercial driver's license holders become overtired. Not surprisingly, some trucking industry groups have taken a hard stand against overdue safety measures that could affect their profits.
]]> Representatives of safety advocate groups recently sent a letter to a key federal official to counter claims from the American Trucking Association. The Association claims that the proposed new hours of service rules are not necessary due to recent evidence of semi crash reductions. A range of hard data provided in the letter shows why changes to HOS rules should lead to safer highways, fewer truck accidents and a reduction in serious injuries and wrongful deaths:Political give and take in Washington keeps meaningful reforms on the table and allows enduring threats to motorists to carry the day from New York to Los Angeles. By holding trucking companies, negligent truck drivers and other responsible parties accountable for the tremendous harm caused in truck wrecks, California truck accident lawyers secure justice for clients that our federal bureaucracy can be slow to deliver.
Source: Truck Safety.org, "Letter to The Honorable Cass Sunstein," Dec. 2, 2011.
]]>Commenting on the new campaign, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated, "Teen drivers are particularly vulnerable to distracted driving, which is why we are making an effort to ensure they understand the dangers."
The campaign, which will run through December 2011, consists of two new public service announcements (PSAs) that will air in approximately 525 movie theaters and on an estimated 12,000 screens atop gas pumps around the country. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) release, the two PSAs will target teenagers through the use of images of shorthand that teens often use while texting.
]]> While texting and driving is extremely dangerous - drivers who text have a risk of getting into a car accident that is 23 times higher than drivers who are not distracted, according to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) - it is not the only form of distracted driving. The NHTSA defines distracted driving as "any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving," which includes:VTTI research shows that drivers will divert their eyes from the road an average of 4.6 seconds when texting (either sending or receiving a text). In distance, this equates to the length of a football field at 55 mph. For all drivers, but especially young, inexperienced drivers, taking their eyes off the road for this distance can have devastating results.
And, according to NHTSA statistics, the distracted drivers most likely to be involved in fatal accidents are teens. That is why the OMG public service announcements are so important.
Source: NHTSA, "U.S. Department of Transportation Unveils 'OMG' PSA to Warn Teens About the Dangers of Distracted Driving," Nov. 28, 2011.
]]>The IIHS evaluated booster seats on how well they fit four- to eight-year-old children who outgrew forward-facing child-safety seats but who must be raised up to fit behind a seat belt properly, reported USA Today.
Proper positioning of seat belts is vitally important because of the risk of serious personal injury to children from the seat belts themselves during car accidents. If a seat belt does not cross the child's lap and shoulder correctly, the belt can cut into internal organs in a crash.
]]> In the IIHS report, 41 of the 83 booster seats tested received a "check fit" rating that instructs parents to double-check the fit of a seat belt because the seat did not reliably place children in the proper position. In contrast, 36 of the booster seats tested received "best bets" or "good bets" ratings because they consistently put children in safe positions.Six booster seats were so ineffective that the IIHS recommended that parents and caretakers avoid them:
Importantly, children four- to eight-years-old using booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a car accident than those wearing seat belts without a booster seat, according to USA Today. Therefore, parents and caretakers should ensure they always use booster seats with young children to properly place them behind seat belts.
Source: USA Today, "Many Car Booster Seats Fail Fit Check," Jayne O'Donnell, Oct. 13, 2011.
]]>According to research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "connected vehicle" technologies can reduce up to 80 percent of vehicle crash types attributable to non-impaired drivers. The technology is especially effective in reducing crashes that occur at intersections or while changing lanes.
]]> The pilot program involves closed-track testing of cars outfitted with "vehicle-to-vehicle" communications systems that alert drivers when a hazard is present. For example, the communications systems will warn a driver if it is unsafe to pass, if another vehicle has stopped suddenly or if a collision is imminent.The Department of Transportation is inviting members of the public with no prior knowledge of connected vehicles to participate in the pilot. Californians will have a chance to test the vehicles in January 2012.
Program Represents Change in Safety Strategy
The connected vehicles program represents a change in safety strategy for the DOT.
Previously, the government's strategies have been geared toward improving vehicle safety in a way that would help motorists survive a crash. However, even though traffic fatalities are at historic lows, over 32,000 people are still killed in car accidents each year.
The pilot program is all about testing technologies that can help motorists avoid a crash in the first place. Thankfully, the future of this technology looks bright - so far, the pilots have been largely successful and testers report that connected vehicle technology is intuitive and simple to use.
No technology can completely erase the consequences of another driver's negligence. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact an experienced California personal injury attorney who can help protect your rights.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "U.S. Department of Transportation Hosts Research Clinic to Test 'Connected Vehicle Technology,'" Oct. 19, 2011.
]]>The campaign is an attempt to mimic similar past campaigns that successfully targeted big tobacco and drunk driving. Advertising campaigns can be very useful tools, especially when the laws aren't strong enough to stop people from texting while driving. For example, in California, texting while driving is against the law; however, violators of the law need only pay twenty dollars for a first offense and fifty dollars for each subsequent offense.
]]> Frequent warnings that distracted driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving also haven't convinced the public to stop texting while driving. In fact, it appears many people know that texting and driving causes car accidents, but continue to do it anyway.In a study by SADD and Liberty Mutual, more than 50 percent of high schools students admitted to texting while driving. And many of them learned it from their parents: a study from State Farm found that the majority of parents talk on their cell phones or send text messages while teaching their children how to drive.
There needs to be a change to the culture that says texting behind the wheel is okay. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been a strong, national voice in the fight against distracted driving. Along with the ad campaign, he is pleading parents to set a good example and keep our kids safe by putting down our cell phones while driving.
Source: USA Today, "New Campaign Targets Texting While Driving," Larry Copeland, Oct. 28, 2011.
]]>Thankfully, this is no longer the case. A study released last month by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that safety measures adopted by the auto industry in 2003 have greatly reduced the rate of fatal car accidents between SUVs and smaller vehicles.
]]> In total, 32,788 people died in car accidents in 2010. This is the lowest number of total fatalities in the United States since 1949.The study detailed a number of redesigns that have helped reduce fatalities in collisions between SUVs and smaller vehicles. The most important has been the lowering of SUVs' front bumpers. This helps to prevent "submarine" type accidents, where the smaller vehicle gets lodged underneath the SUV.
Drivers Can Help Protect Themselves by Choosing Cars Carefully
However, the study also revealed that the decrease in fatal accidents is due, in large part, to new safety features that have become increasingly popular on vehicles large and small. Drivers are much less likely to die in a motor vehicle accident if their vehicle has front and side airbags and electronic stability control.
Drivers wishing to protect themselves and their families from the dangers of car accidents are well-advised to choose a vehicle that has this trio of safety features. Although these features greatly increase occupant safety, they cannot be found on all vehicles. Front airbags have been standard for quite some time, but side airbags will not be mandatory until 2013. Electronic stability control (ESC) has been offered on new vehicles for several years, but will not be required until the 2012 model year.
Drivers should be careful when choosing a new or used vehicle and should make sure to ask about all of the safety features. This study clearly shows that new technology is about more than just the latest fad - it can mean the difference between life and death.
Source: The Washington Post, "Safety Features Reduce Deaths in Crashes Between Cars and SUVs, Study Says," Ashley Halsey III, Sep. 28, 2011.
]]>Signs on the back of trucks warn drivers, "This truck makes wide right turns." However, the signs are not enough to prevent right turn truck crashes. According to the Los Angeles truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Kottler & Kottler, as well as safety advocates throughout the country, we must do more to protect people from serious truck accidents, especially since technology is available that does just that.
]]> New Technology Available to Reduce Right-Turn Truck AccidentsVolvo Trucks has developed a system that helps truck drivers monitor the blind spot on the passenger side of their vehicles. Ultrasonic sensors, laser scanners and warning systems help to notify truck drivers when pedestrians, cyclists or cars get too close.
While the systems may reduce truck accidents involving right turns, they are only in their infant stages. We can only hope that the government will eventually require such safety systems on all trucks.
Keeping Safe: Avoiding the "No Zones"
While technology can help alert truckers to cars on their right-hand side, everyone should take steps to prevent truck accidents. If a truck is making a right turn, try to avoid driving on the right side of the truck.
In all circumstances, make sure to give trucks plenty of room to maneuver and stay out of truck blind spots ("no zones"). One third of all truck accidents happen in these zones. The no zones include the areas immediately in front and back of a truck as well as zones around the cab of the truck. If you cannot see the truck driver in his or her side mirrors, you are likely in a no zone.
Let's all do our part to make the roads safer for everyone.
]]>Most of these fatal back-over accidents are avoidable, especially with new car technology such as backup camera systems. Most rearview backup cameras are small cameras mounted on the back of vehicles. Their images are displayed on the dashboard, allowing drivers to see what their rearview mirrors cannot.
As Los Angeles car accident lawyers, we see the emotional turmoil that parents and other family members go through when a loved one is killed in a fatal accident. Safety should come first. Since backup cameras can prevent deaths - especially deaths involving the most vulnerable members of our society - it follows that all cars should have this new technology.
]]> Federal Legislation to Require Backup Cameras on New CarsLate 2010, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a safety regulation that would require all vehicles to have a backup camera or similar device by 2014.
The Department of Transportation made this proposal in reaction to the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, which was named for a 2-year old boy who was accidentally run over by his father. The Act requires the Secretary of Transportation (currently, Ray LaHood) to issue safety standards to reduce the amount of car accidents involving children. It specifically names rear view backup cameras as a principal way to make our roads and driveways safer for children.
The regulations would require backup cameras in:
Not surprisingly, automakers are concerned about the financial impact this federal rule would have on them. In particular, they want more time to comply with it because of the cost of installing the car backup cameras (which could reach $2.7 billion).
More than 200 people commented during the regulation's public comment period and NHTSA asked for an extension to review the comments before finalizing the regulations.
Purchasing Your Own Backup Camera, Protecting Your Family
What if your car doesn't have a backup camera? Backup cameras are relatively cheap add-on items. They can be purchased and installed on existing cars for less than $200. Our law office recommends that everyone consider buying and installing one on each of their cars, especially people who have small children.
Source: NHTSA Press Release, "U.S. DOT Proposes Rear View Visibility Rule to Protect Kids and the Elderly," Dec. 3, 2010.
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