June 17, 2010 by jameslucas.

By David A Axtell

Urban and suburban drivers today are so distracted with cell phones, stereos, iPods, GPS systems and so many others that driving is no longer the primary focus of being behind the wheel. This is what first responders have to contend with on a daily basis. In addition, first responders find themselves in situations where drivers either refuse to yield the right of way because of these distractions, or simply become scared or don’t know what to do when they see the flashing police lights of emergency vehicles in their rear view mirrors. It is often with great disdain that first responders have to deal with these distracted and downright stupid drivers.

Maybe people just don’t care. Maybe people are so wrapped up in their own lives, that they don’t pay attention. Whatever the reason, it greatly hampers the response times of our invaluable first responders. This can be the difference between life and death, saving a home or letting it burn. Our society today has become so self centered it seems, that it only matters to us if it directly concerns us. Never mind that it could be a situation affecting a friend, a member of their family or even themselves. You never know where that police car, fire truck or ambulance may be headed. Therein lies the rub.

If everyone put down the phones, the iPods, the makeup and focused on what should be their number one priority, driving, first responders would actually find themselves getting to the scene faster and with less drama. But that’s only in a perfect world. Even a close to perfect world would be a welcome relief. Yielding the right of way when an emergency vehicle is responding should not be looked upon as an inconvenience, but with appreciation for the work they do. Someday, it may be you who’s waiting for the police, the fire department or the ambulance and wondering why it’s taking so long.

This article was written by David Axtell of Responder Public Safety Equipment.

Article Source: David A. Axtell

Police Lights Request the Right of Way

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April 23, 2010 by jameslucas.

By David S. Caldwell

Road traffic and congestion is the over population of vehicle on a public road which leads to the crowding of vehicle, resulting in the dramatic decrease of speed and frequent stopping of vehicles on the road. While traffic can be very frustrating, it is also a very dangerous situation. The close proximity of vehicle matched with raised tempers creates potentially hazardous circumstances. By taking some important safety precautions you are better able to protect yourself in heavy traffic and avoid being involved in a car accident.

Common Traffic-Related Accidents

High traffic situations can easily lead to a number of accidents, such as:

· Small collisions, known as “fender benders

· Rear end collision

· Road rage conflicts

· Guard rail or road divider collision

· Side impact collisions

These are some of the most commonly occurring road accidents that happen in traffic situations. They can lead to serious property damage, wrecking and destroying vehicles. However, they also can lead to serious physical injury. From head and neck injuries to post traumatic stress disorder, there are a number of ailments that can negatively impact victims who have been involved in a car accident. Luckily there are steps you can take to avoid being in a traffic accident and those you can take to protect yourself should another driver collide with you.

Tips for Staying Safe in Heavy Traffic

There are a number of steps you can take to navigate safely and make decisions for the wellbeing of yourself and all others on the road. By taking the following measures you are better able to stay safe:

· Uphold a safe following distance, that way you can avoid coming into contact with the car in front of you, should you need to avoid a quickly approaching vehicle

· Stay clam

· Avoid slamming on your brakes

· Avoid sudden acceleration

· Do not swerve in and out of traffic

· Avoid aggression

· Look carefully and use your mirrors before changing lanes

· Give yourself room to safely maneuver, in case you will need to get out of the way of an incoming vehicle

For more information

Being stuck in traffic can be an incredibly frustrating experience. However, it can also be a very dangerous one. By knowing what steps to take when stuck in traffic you are better able to protect yourself and avoid being in an accident. If you would like to know more about road safety or personal injury law, visit www.wpalmerandassociates.com today.

David Caldwell

Article Source: David S. Caldwell

Traffic Safety

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April 14, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Steve Mochel

The good people at Webster’s announced their Word of the Year for 2009 recently and it was Distracted Driving. I know, actually 2 words, but you go argue with Webster.

Distracted Driving has become an epidemic in the US, causing almost 6000 car crash related deaths last year. And that number is probably low because many states don’t yet note whether cell phones were part of the cause of an accident.

The truth is, cell phones are without a doubt the biggest distraction we have in our cars today. According to the Automobile Association of America, 1 out of 2 drivers has been hit or almost hit by a driver talking or texting on their phone.

Did you realize that talking on your phone while you drive impairs you as much, if not more than driving drunk? The research is there and it’s been proven time and time again. And sorry my Bluetooth headset wearing friends, the research shows that hands free devices are equally as dangerous.

If you don’t believe the researchers, maybe you’ll believe Mythbusters Episode 33 - Cell Phones vs. Drunk Driving. Verdict? CONFIRMED!! Actually, talking on your cell phone is worse.

We all know that texting while driving is beyond irresponsible and incredibly dangerous, but every day, we see it happening on our streets. A police officer stopped in the other day and related the story of watching people weave while they drive. “10 years ago,” he said, ” we knew that driver had been drinking. Now, we know they’re texting.” Sobering, isn’t it?

An average text message takes 5 seconds so send, so close your eyes and count to 5. Now would you close your eyes for 5 seconds the next time you’re driving down I-95 or Boston Post Road? Of course not, but that’s basically what you’re doing if you’re DWT (driving while texting).

There are laws that govern cell phone use and texting in NY, but clearly, they aren’t working. The government has begun PSA’s and even launched a website - distraction.gov - to combat the issue. AT&T has launched an Anti-Texting and Driving campaign with heart-wrenching PSA’s.

Utah has actually instituted a mandatory 90 day jail sentence for drivers who are caught texting while driving because authorities there believe it’s as willful an act as driving drunk.

But at the end of the day, it’s really up to us as individuals to decide whether or not we’re going to make our roads safer by putting our cell phones away while we drive.

I know it will be hard - we’re like Pavlov’s dogs when we hear that little chirp or feel the vibration of our phone..We need to be connected 24/7 and can’t wait more than 20 seconds to read the new text message.

So here are a couple of suggestions to help you try and break your Crackberry habit.

First - put your phone out of reach while you drive. Simple I know, but if you can’t reach it, the temptation won’t be as great.

Second - I know you need to be available for your kids and spouse, so get your teenagers (or 3rd grader) to program in specific ring-tones for people you need to speak to on a regular basis. The kids will love it - especially if you let them download their favorite songs - trust me it’s worth the $ 5.00 you’ll spend on ring tones. Then, when you’re driving and they need to reach you, you’ll hear the special ring tone and be able to pull over and safely talk.

Lastly, if you have no self-control whatsoever, there is hope for you. With crisis comes opportunity, and there are apps for your phone that sense (through GPS) when the phone is moving more than 10 mph and blocks incoming calls and texts. Callers go straight to voicemail and texters receive an automatic response that tells them you’re driving and will get back to them when you safely arrive at your destination. My favorite so far is Zoomsafer (it’s on my Blackberry), but just Google “text blocking software” and you’ll find a number of options.

Listen, it’s not going to be easy to break this habit for any of us, but stop for a moment and remember…driving safely isn’t easy. It takes concentration and focus - and you can’t be focused when you’re talking or texting. So please, put down your phone and driver safely.

I’m hoping for Un-distracted Driving as Webster’s Word of the Year 2010…un-distracted is a word, right?

Steve Mochel is the owner of Fresh Green Light, a 21st Century Driving School that recently opened in Rye, NY and will open this summer in Greenwich, CT.

Learn more about Fresh Green Light at http://www.freshgreenlight.com

Article Source: Steve Mochel

3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Stop Distracted Driving

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April 9, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Alexander O Mcgee

Today the number of car accidents is highly increasing. There are many factors that can cause car accidents. One of the most common causes is the unawareness of many drivers about practicing driving safety. Basically, there are some ways that you can apply for practicing driving safety. Just check out the following tips and you will take part for reducing the number of accidents while driving.

The first thing that you can do is to avoid doing bad habits while driving such as using cell phone without hands free, doing make up, or any activities that can disturb you to concentrate on the road. If you are able to fully concentrate on the road, you will reduce the chance of getting accident.

Another thing that you can apply to practice driving safety is to obey the driving laws. You need to avoid speeding since it can potentially lead you to an accident. Just set your car speed normally so that you can drive on the road safely.

Be aware of other drivers is also important. You may be driving correctly but you will possibly find many bad drivers around you. Therefore, it is really suggested for you to be watchful of other drivers.

Moreover, do not forget to check the condition of your car before you go. Make sure that all parts of your car are in good condition so that you will not get any trouble while driving on the road.

After all, by following some tips above, now you can start to practice driving safety. By applying driving safety, you will also participate on reducing the chance of accidents happen on the road.

If you want to control your car speed while driving, you can use radar detector. For more information about it, you can check out http://wirelessradardetectors.org/ that will provide you more information about Bell radar detectors.

Article Source: Alexander O. Mcgee

Tips to Practice Driving Safety

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April 8, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Clair Schwan

When we think of blind intersections, we often think of buildings, trees, walls or other features that prevent us from seeing cars entering the intersection. That’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s simply because the road curves and it’s filled with enough traffic to “screen” out oncoming traffic. Vehicles can create what amounts to a large curved wall that you can’t see beyond.

Think of driving down a winding road with steep mountainous sides. Imagine you’re making a sweeping turn to the right. The sides of the mountain block your view of what’s coming up in the opposing traffic lanes - it’s a blind curve. It’s the same with a line of traffic on a road curving to the right - it can block your view of what’s coming up in the opposing traffic lanes. An accident can result if other vehicles block your view of only one oncoming vehicle.

It all seems obvious, but there’s a catch. Where we get into trouble is at intersections that we are very familiar with. When the intersection is mostly clear, we see no problem at all making a turn across the oncoming lanes of traffic. In fact, we’d be hard pressed to explain why it might be one of the blind intersections out there.

If we let ourselves get lulled into a sense of security when there is no traffic, then we put ourselves in jeopardy when traffic is heavier and we assume that what we can see affords us the same level of awareness as we’ve always been used to at that intersection.

That’s why intersections that we are unfamiliar with are often safer for us to negotiate. We tend to approach these with heightened awareness.

When making turns at intersections that have traffic lined up ahead, consider them to be just like a turn at a blind intersection. Take your time and be certain it’s clear before you venture out into the oncoming traffic lane. It’s much better to be cautious under these circumstances than to regret not being cautious enough.

Clair Schwan is big on safe driving as a means of saving money, and he knows how to save gas too. See all of his frugal and self reliant adventures over at Frugal Living Freedom where the motto is, “…living well, and well within your means…”

Article Source: Clair_Schwan

Safe Driving: Be Aware of Blind Intersections Created by Curves and Traffic

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March 29, 2010 by jameslucas.

By Michael Enfield

The most commonly talked about driving hazard is drinking. Drunk driving billboards and police threats are staples alongside every highway in America. Recently, hazards associated with texting and driving have also gained in popularity, largely because of legislative debate regarding its legality. Not many people speak about the risks associated with fatigued driving; however, sleepy drivers are a serious threat, not only to their own safety, but also to anyone unfortunate enough to be in their proximity.

Symptoms of Fatigue

Drivers are most susceptible to fatigue when driving long distances at night. Driving along interstates that are quiet can lull drivers into an overly-relaxed state. Additionally, eye strain may make focusing or keeping eyes open difficult. Indications that a driver may be suffering from fatigue include:

• Difficulty focusing
• Slow blinks, or blinking excessively
• Unintended lane drifting
• Failure to abide by traffic laws, such as red lights or warning signs
• Memory failure
• Yawning
• Deceleration

If you are suffering from driving fatigue, do not continue driving, as it may lead to a serious or fatal accident.

Statistics

According to reports gathered from across America, driver fatigue is responsible for approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,500 deaths are annually. Additionally, these accidents cause an estimated $12.5 million in property damage and other financial losses.

Generally, these accidents occur whenever a sleepy driver careens off of the road into a ditch or oncoming traffic. Accidents which occur because of fatigue are generally quite serious, as the vehicle may be out of the driver’s control for a substantial amount of time.

Safe Alternatives

There are a number of safe alternatives to driving fatigued. If you are driving alone, exit the highway and get out of your car. Stretch and move around. Frequently, this will help you re-energize. If this does not help, and you are still suffering from fatigue, you may want to consider a caffeinated beverage or energetic music. If you need to sleep, rent a cheap room overnight. If you are driving with another passenger, take turns driving. When one person is driving, the other can sleep.

Liability

If you have been involved in an automobile accident and you suspect that it was caused by a fatigued driver, they may be liable for any damages you sustained, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage.

For more information about how to pursue legal action, consult the Rhinelander auto accident attorneys at Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C.

Michael Enfield

Article Source: Michael Enfield
Driver Fatigue

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