by Queener Law | Mar 5, 2018 | Auto Accident, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee
When motorists are driving dangerously because they are drunk, distracted or aggressive, these dangerous drivers should be reported to authorities right away. People who witness reckless drivers should maintain a safe distance from motorists who are driving dangerously. They should have a passenger call 9-1-1, or pull over to call the police themselves as soon as it is safe. Reporting dangerous drivers can help prevent accidents that could result in severe injuries or fatalities.
What to Do When There Is a Dangerous Driver
Calling the police is the best defense against dangerous drivers. When people see drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic, driving aggressively or driving while distracted or appear to be drunk, they should not attempt to follow the dangerous motorist. Doing so could make the situation worse. People should not take pictures of dangerous drivers or provoke them in any way because such actions could lead to road rage incidents. Instead, they should pull over to the side of the road and call the police. If possible, people should try to note the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number. This information can be helpful for responding officers who are attempting to locate the vehicle. Witnesses should also take note of the approximate mile marker or other location indicators and the direction the dangerous vehicle is traveling so they can provide this information to the dispatcher.
People should only report those drivers whose actions are a threat to public safety. The 911 system should not be used to report simple traffic violations. When people witness problematic driving behaviors that are minor and that do not rise to the level of endangering others, they can opt to report what they see by calling the police non-emergency line.
Why Reporting Is Important
While some people may be hesitant to report dangerous drivers to the police, it is important to do so. In 2015, more than 3,400 people were killed and 390,000 were injured because of distracted drivers. During the same year, more than 10,265 fatalities and 290,000 injuries were caused by impaired drivers. If reports had been made, some of those accidents could have been prevented.
by Queener Law | Feb 13, 2018 | Auto Accident, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee
In reaction to distracted and inattentive driving, Mazda has patented a new driver assistance technology that would engage drivers to make the driving experience more fun. The idea behind the technology is that drivers may become bored while they drive, leading them to glance away from the road on their mobile devices or other electronics. The system would use cameras and sensors to determine when a driver was becoming inattentive and then actively engage the driver in order to draw his or her attention back to the road. Instead of artificial intelligence taking over the car, it would use things like speakers to amplify the engine noise or suggest alternate routes with curvier roads that would require people to keep their eyes on the road.
Mazda’s Driver Assistance Technology
The driver assistance technology that was recently patented by Mazda would encourage drivers to keep their focus on the roads by making the experience more fun. The technology would use cameras and sensory inputs to analyze when drivers were becoming inattentive or distracted by measuring reaction times and other factors. When the system senses that a driver is becoming inattentive, it will give tips to the driver about how to improve his or her driving skills. It might suggest ways to accelerate or to turn so that the driver has a better experience. The systems may also suggest more scenic routes that have curvy roads. This is because driving on these types of roads naturally forces drivers to pay more attention to what they are doing in order to remain safe. The technology also might be used to make the engine sound louder so they might be encouraged to slow down their vehicles.
The technology that has been patented by Mazda is only at the patent stage, and it is unclear whether the company has any plans to develop it. The system is an innovative way to tamp down driver distraction. Messages telling people not to text and drive have had little effect, so new technology that would focus on other aspects of the driving experience might be helpful to reduce driver distraction while increasing driver engagement.
by Queener Law | Jan 22, 2018 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
Economically disadvantaged people are much likelier to be killed in motor vehicle accidents than their more advantaged counterparts due to unsafe roads, inadequate safety features in older cars and hindered access to trauma care. This inequality between disadvantaged and wealthier people has grown over time. The largest decreases in deaths have happened among people who have the highest levels of education while the biggest increases in deaths have happened among people who are older than 25 and who have less than a high school diploma.
Fatalities Among Wealthy People Versus Poor
In a study that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers found that motor vehicle fatalities overall fell from 1995 to 2010. However, the poor were much likelier to be the victims of traffic accidents than were people who were wealthier. In 1995, disadvantaged people were 2.4 times likelier to be killed in a traffic accident than people who were wealthier. In 2010, the inequality had increased. Poor people were 4.3 times likelier to die in crashes than people who had more money.
The inequality has also been found in Nashville. From 2008 to 2012, the rate of deaths for pedestrians who lived in areas in which more than 25 percent of the population suffered poverty was 12.6 deaths per 100,000 people. For people who lived in areas with between 15 and 25 percent poverty, the fatality rate for pedestrians was 8.6 deaths per 100,000 people. Nationally, people who lived in areas with less than 15 percent poverty had pedestrian fatality rates of 3.6 per 100,000 people.
The Problem
People who are poor may live in areas with poor road conditions and that have fewer crosswalks, streetlights and other safety features. They are also likelier to own older cars that do not have modern safety features installed in them. Their cars may also be cheaper vehicles that have poor crash test ratings. Finally, poor areas have fewer trauma centers, and poor people may not receive treatment quickly enough after their collisions.
by Queener Law | Jan 8, 2018 | Auto Accident, Tennessee
When a motor vehicle collision occurs in Tennessee, all drivers are required to exchange important information, but some drivers refuse to provide the required information despite the law. The refusal to exchange essential information can be considered a hit-and-run. Victims of car accidents in which the drivers will not exchange their information may be able to enlist the help of law enforcement, an auto accident attorney, or their insurance company to track down the other driver and his or her insurance information.
Why Do Drivers Refuse to Give Information?
Drivers may refuse to provide their information for several reasons. They might not have insurance or a driver’s license. They might also be driving stolen cars or vehicles they didn’t have permission to drive. Some drivers may also already have multiple accidents on their records and withhold information to avoid higher insurance premiums. Finally, some drivers may be reticent to provide their information because they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No matter what the reason might be, it is best for people to avoid getting into a confrontation with the drivers and instead to take action to protect themselves.
What to Do When Drivers Refuse
When drivers refuse to provide their information, people should call the police. They should also remain calm and gather as much evidence as they can. Accident victims should also take photographs of the accident scene that clearly show the damage to both vehicles. Drivers should write down the license plate number, make and model of the other vehicle. If there are witnesses to the accident, they should write down their names and contact information. People should report the accidents to their own insurance companies. The companies may be able to identify the drivers from the license plate numbers and then obtain their insurance information. Even if the drivers will not initially provide their information, they may be more willing to give it when the police arrive. If the driver is uncooperative, people should simply do what they can to gather evidence and wait for law enforcement to arrive on the scene.
by Queener Law | Dec 27, 2017 | Auto Accident, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee
Because car manufacturers tend to design their vehicles to pass the existing safety tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently instituted new tests that rate cars for passenger safety. In the past, manufacturers had focused on driver safety since that was what the tests looked for. The IIHS asserts that it is important to improve passenger safety so that it is equal to the safety standards imposed for drivers.
IIHS Safety Tests
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs tests each year on newly released vehicle models. The tests are influential and let customers understand how safe the different models are so they can make informed purchasing decisions. Because of the importance of these tests, vehicle manufacturers tend to design their vehicles to pass them. In the past, the tests have focused on the safety of drivers. Recently, however, the IIHS has been concerned about making certain that the manufacturers also design their vehicles to be equally safe for passengers. It added passenger-side front crash tests to its safety testing regimen this year.
Test Results
The IIHS tested 13 vehicles with its new passenger side 40 mph frontal crash test. Of the vehicles that were tested, 10 received good ratings from the IIHS. Out of the remaining three, the Volkswagen Jetta was rated as acceptable while the Chevrolet Malibu and the Volkswagen Passat received ratings of marginal. The IIHS recommends that manufacturers optimize the safety of their airbags and headrests to equalize the safety of vehicles for passengers as well as drivers.
While enhanced safety measures won’t prevent all motor vehicle injuries from occurring, they can help to minimize the risks of serious injuries or fatalities when accidents happen. The IIHS designs its tests so that consumers can use the results as one factor in their decisions about which vehicles to purchase. People who are in the market to purchase new cars may now have access to more accurate safety ratings due to the changes. Because car manufacturers are aware that consumers pay attention to IIHS ratings, they might be led to add enhanced features to their vehicles to make them safer for all passengers.
by Queener Law | Nov 13, 2017 | Auto Accident, Colorado, Kentucky, Tennessee
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 90 people die each day in the United States due to motor vehicle crashes. That number is almost double the number of roadway deaths of any other high-income country. Between 2000 and 2013, the U.S. reduced highway deaths by approximately 31 percent. Many analysts agree that vehicle crash fatalities could be further reduced in the U.S. by adopting proven strategies.
Who is at highest risk?
According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), 90 percent of crash-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In high-income countries like the United States, people from lower socioeconomic levels are more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash. Young males are three times more likely to die in a vehicle crash than young females.
Common causes of vehicle deaths
To effectively reduce the number of highway deaths, it is important to understand the causes. Doing so can help individuals, vehicle manufacturers and lawmakers address safety issues to minimize the risk of crashes and prevent serious injuries and deaths when accidents do occur.
- Speed is directly related to both the likelihood of having a crash and the probability that deaths will occur in the accident. A personal injury attorney can advise pedestrians or passengers who have been injured due to speeding of their rights and options.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and other psychoactive drugs accounts for nearly one-third of all U.S. traffic-related deaths. A person driving after taking amphetamines is five times more likely to be in a fatal accident than someone who hasn’t.
- Proper use of safety equipment can significantly reduce fatalities. Wearing a motorcycle helmet reduces the risk of death in an accident by 40 percent. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death for front seat passengers by as much as 50 percent.
- Distracted driving is an evolving problem as new technologies emerge. Drivers using phones are four times more likely to be in a crash. Drivers using hands-free devices are not much safer.
What can be done?
Erin Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., M.P.H. is a team leader for the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Erin says 10,000 lives could be saved every year by eliminating alcohol-impaired driving. An additional 3,000 deaths could be prevented by increasing seat belt usage to 100 percent.
