Articles Posted in Car Accidents

The National Traffic Safety Board has updated its “most wanted” list of driver and traffic safety improvements, focusing again on vehicle safety issues also commonly discussed on our Tennessee Injury Attorney blog.

From seat belt enforcement to distracted driving among teen drivers, the NTSB recognizes that state governments are uniquely qualified to both pass and enforce legislation that reinforces Board safety recommendations. And that education and empowering drivers helps reduce incidence of Tennessee car accidents.

Among other concerns, the NTSB would like to see more motorists buckling-up and using age-and-size appropriate child restraints. Of course, avoiding distractions – such as using a cell phone, reading, applying makeup, or disciplining an ill-tempered child – while driving is something all drivers should do. With that said, young and inexperienced drivers are far more likely to be involved in a distraction-related fatal Knoxville car accident than older, more experienced drivers.

Young male drivers – aged 15 to 19 – are far more likely to be killed in a Tennessee car accident than females, although death rates for both sexes are on the decline since reaching a peak in 2004, the Tennessee Department of Safety reports. And, as is believed by the NTSB, TDOS knows that passenger restrictions for our younger drivers translates into lives saved. In a recent five-year study of Tennessee teen driving trends, the TDOS found that teen drivers with five or more passengers were almost two times more likely to be injured and almost 10 times more likely to be killed than teen drivers traveling alone.

What the NTSB “most wanted” list recognizes is both the advances and shortcomings of each state while urging legislators to enact laws that promote safe driving. The NTSB recognizes the efforts of the Tennessee legislature in the following areas:

~ distracted driving: Tennessee has enacted some of the strictest distracted driving laws in the country. The state Graduated Drivers License program, passenger restriction limits and interactive wireless communication law each meet Board safety standards.

~ child occupant protection: Tennessee joins 29 states requiring all child passengers age 8 and younger to wear seat belts, including using appropriate safety devices, be they a car or booster seat.

~ motorcycle safety: Tennessee joins 12 other states that have enacted a universal helmet law.

~ primary seat belt enforcement: Tennessee has enacted a partial primary seat belt law, requiring seat belt use for front-seat occupants only. It is NTSB’s recommendation that the law be extended to cover all vehicle occupants. “Primary” enforcement means a cop can stop a driver solely upon visual confirmation that front-seat occupants are unrestrained.
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You are encouraged to speak to elderly loved ones about the importance of safe driving this week and throughout the holiday season in an attempt to reduce the risk of Knoxville car accidents.

With the retirement of the baby boomers, the number of older drivers is expected to increase by 70 percent over the next two decades, according to the National Safety Council, which is promoting Older Driver Safety Awareness Week this week.

In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported a total of 180 fatal traffic crashes involving drivers age 65 and over in Tennessee. This equates to 13% which was higher than the national average at 11.1%. Furthermore, 15.1% of fatalities in traffic crashes involved drivers 65 and over, this too higher than the national average of 14.8%.

As drivers age, they want to cling to their driver’s license and the freedom that it brings them. According to an article by Detroit News, federal officials are predicting by 2030 that there will be almost twice as many elderly drivers (57 million) on the roadways than the 32 million drivers on the roadways today. For the first time since its inception, the National Transportation Safety Board is going to delve in to safety issues concerning the age of drivers — some 78 percent of those over the age of 70 still have their driver’s license.

The NTSB is looking into a couple of safety items for aging drivers. First is an inflatable safety belt that would help a more fragile driver or backseat occupant in hopes that chest injuries would be less likely to occur. A second approach is changing road structures so that left turns are easier to maneuver.

Tennessee’s approach to safer roads with elderly drivers is to educate and train by offering a number of programs that help assist as a driver turns age 60. According to Johnson City Press there are programs like defensive driving courses, CarFit (measures problem’s an older person faces when sitting in driver’s seat), and mature driver (offers insurance discounts once an aged driver passes the program). CarFit is a free event and is advantageous because the elderly drive their own car and are tested for vision, mobility, and operation of the vehicle.
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As the busiest travel weekend of the year unfolds, heavy congestion is anticipated across Tennessee highways the next few days, the Jackson Sun reports. Tennessee roads are expected to see passage of more than 900,000 travelers this holiday weekend.

With the hopes of reducing delays along the highways, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has halted all highway construction projects as of noon Wednesday with work resuming Monday morning.

In addition, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be running randomly located sobriety checkpoints and driver’s license checks. On Wednesday the THP hosted a 12-hour seat-belt awareness campaign. There will also be an increased THP presence on state roadways. Extra officers will be patrolling the state through the holiday to assist stranded motorists, enforce traffic laws, and support traffic flow.

Knoxville car accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday with family, friends and loved ones. We would then like to remind drivers and passengers that along with more traffic – and slick weather conditions that include severe thunderstorms and sleet or snow – comes an increase in the risk of a Tennessee car accident. According to Clarksville TN online, in 2009, there were eight fatal Tennessee car crashes during the four days that make up the Thanksgiving holiday and 10 people were killed.

To keep drivers safe this holiday season, the Tennessee Department of Safety offers a few simple tips:

~ Before you hit the road, prepare your vehicle for an emergency situation. Make sure you car is in good working order and keep an emergency safety kit handy. THP recommends your safety kit include: a flashlight, jumper cables, a first aid kit, an empty gas can and reflectors. Water, non-perishable snacks, a pair of gloves, a warm blanket and a change of clothes.

~ Have a travel plan and share your itinerary with a trusted friend.

~ Make sure your cell phone (and your car’s battery) are fully charged.

~ If you need assistance or see a stranded motorists, dial *THP (*847) and let a dispatcher know the location and what type of assistance is needed.
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Nearly half of all drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel and 1 in 10 say they have done so in the last year, according to a new study released by the AAA Foundation for Highway Safety.

And 1 in 4 of those admit they have driven in the last month while so tired they could barely keep their eyes open. Our Knoxville, Tennessee car accident lawyers urge you to speak with your family about safe driving habits as we head into the holiday travel season.

“Many of us tend to underestimate the negative effects associated with fatigue and sleep deprivation and, conversely, overestimate our abilities to overcome them while driving,” said Kathleen Marvaso, vice president, AAA Public Affairs. “This data underscores the importance of educating drivers on the simple, yet effective steps they can take to prevent a possible tragedy. Unfortunately, too many drivers have adopted the ‘I’m tired, but I can make it’ mentality, often to their own peril or to the peril of others.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1 in 6 fatal crashes involve drowsy driving, leading to more than 5,500 traffic deaths each year.

“When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is very dangerous. Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, contributing to the possibility of a crash,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. “We need to change the culture so that not only will drivers recognize the dangers of driving while drowsy but will stop doing it.”

Safety tips for Tennessee drivers include:

-Get at least six hours of sleep the night before a long trip.

-Stop driving if you become sleepy — a tired driver could fall asleep at any time.

-Travel at a time when you would normally be awake.

-Stay overnight instead of trying to drive all the way through.

-Schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles.
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