With an improving economy, sales of motorcycles are up. Harley Davidson recently reported a sales increase of 25 percent in the last quarter. A third of motorcycles sold last year went to new riders. That means there are probably a lot of inexperienced motorcyclists out there this season.
]]> The awareness campaign serves as a good reminder for drivers to watch out for motorcyclists, who can be difficult to see in some situations. They have all the rights and privileges of other drivers, but other motorists often view them as a nuisance.Likewise, riders need to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Authorities in Tennessee have noticed lately that a fair amount of motorcyclists are speeding and darting in between cars on the roads. This can be dangerous for everyone, particularly the motorcyclists themselves.
According to the NHTSA, motorcycle riders are 25 times more likely to die in a crash than a passenger riding in another vehicle. They are also give times more likely to be injured. That's based on data regarding the number of miles traveled in 2009.
Hopefully Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month will help drivers to remember to watch out for not only motorcycles, but also bicyclists, pedestrians or any unexpected roadblocks.
Source: Consumer Reports, "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month reminds drivers, riders to share the road," May 1, 2012
]]>The latest crash happened when a 15-year-old Franklin High School student was driving a golf cart with three teenage friends in the Legends Ridge subdivision, which does not have a golf course. He apparently crashed into a brick mailbox base. He was killed in the crash, while his three friends required hospitalization.
]]> And just a few weeks ago, three high school students were injured after the driver apparently made a fast turn, causing their golf cart to tip over.It's a growing problem, and often driving a golf cart can be against Tennessee law. Under the law, a golf cart operated on public streets must have adequate seat belts, turn signals, a windshield and safety features such as a parking brake. Yet this is not always enforced, and the vehicles are so common in some towns that grocery stores even reserve parking spaces for golf carts.
However, it's important for drivers to register their vehicle with the state and have a proper license. Still, a lot of people don't obey the rules. Authorities can follow up on complaints, and often discourage of the use of carts. Still, some think that more needs to be done.
Source: The Tennessean, "Golf cart culture prevails despite TN law," Josh Adams, May 12, 2012
]]>The study, conducted by AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety, shows that deadly teen crashes, while less frequent than they were back in 2000, are still happening despite an increase in graduated licensing laws.
]]> Data was collected from the government from 2007 to 2010. It reveals that young teen drivers (ages 16 or 17) see a 44 percent increase in the chance of death per mile when there is one passenger under 21 riding in the car with them. The more teens there are, the bigger the risk. Adding one more teen passenger doubles that risk.Conversely, if an adult age 35 or older is riding in the car, the risk of death drops by a whopping 62 percent.
One might ask, "Why"? It seems that if a teen driver's friends are riding in the car, they can be distracting. Drivers may also be more likely to participate in risky driving behavior such as speeding if friends are egging them on.
Graduated licensing laws have likely put a dent in teen crashes over the last few years, but this new data shows that there's a long way to go.
Source: Washington Post, "Study: A teenage driver's risk of dying in a crash goes up sharply with other teens in the car," May 7, 2012
]]>At this time last year, there had been 280 traffic deaths in the state. This year there have already been 313. At least six people died in accidents in a 24-hour period late last week, and there has also been a rash of serious motorcycle accidents.
]]> One thing the DOT is doing about it is putting up signs on busy interstate roads that flash the number of traffic deaths. Officials are hoping that seeing the numbers will be a sobering reminder to motorists to drive carefully.The DOT is particularly concerned about the motorcycle accidents of late, some of which have involved motorcyclists darting in and out of traffic and performing "tricks" such as popping wheelies. A lot of them have been noted to be excessively speeding as well.
According to News Channel 5, the latest motorcycle crash happened late last week when a motorcyclist ran off Briley Parkway near Centennial Boulevard when he apparently failed to negotiate a curve, drove off the road and crashed into a chain link fence.
The other extreme happens too: when motorcyclists are operating their bikes responsibly and drivers of other vehicles cut them off. Whatever the case, too many accidents are happening in the state, and it's hoped the new campaign can help curb such fatal crashes.
Source: News Channel 5, "Roadway fatalities increase in 2012," May 3, 2012
]]>A 21-year-old man was driving a 1991 Chevy Caprice with four passengers, including the 17-year-old victim. The other passengers were ages 8, 9 and 12, respectively. They were all injured in the crash but were wearing seatbelts.
]]> According to the Tennessean, the driver of the Chevy entered the intersection and was struck on the right side by a 1985 GMC truck, which was driven by a 28-year-old man from Springfield. The newspaper described the wreck as a "T-bone" crash. That driver was injured as well but was also wearing a seatbelts.A picture posted to the Tennessean's website shows the two vehicles after the wreck. The entire front end of the truck is smashed, while there is heavy damage to the passenger side of the Chevy.
Two of the children were taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for treatment. There was not a recent update on their conditions, but their injuries were described as serious. The two children with less serious injuries were taken to Vanderbilt in an ambulance.
It appears that no criminal charges or citations are expected to be filed. The cause of the crash wasn't entirely clear.
The teen who died was from Ashland City and was a student at Sycamore High school.
Source: The Tennessean, "Teen dies in Pleasant View wreck," Tim Adkins, May 2, 2012
]]>According to the Tennessean, 28 people have died in motorcycle accidents in Tennessee so far this year. At this time last year, the number stood at 20. There may be a number of factors at play, but law enforcement officials say they have received a slew of complaints about speeding motorcyclists, who can be hard to catch.
]]> One officer in Sumner County says that the department gets complaints nearly every day, but that it's hard to go after a motorcyclist who's going 120 mph. It can also be hard to identify them because their license plates are small and difficult to read from a distance.It probably doesn't help that some motorcycles are designed to allow for speeds of up to nearly 200 mph. Speeding bikes often frighten unsuspecting drivers when the motorcycles weave through traffic unexpectedly.
People who do that are only a small fraction of motorcyclists, police say, but it doesn't change how dangerous the practice is. Aside from speeding and the number of bikes on the road, another possible reason for the increase in fatalities is the unusually warm winter, which allowed more people to be on the roads during decent weather.
While speeding motorcyclists are difficult to apprehend, one driver says that's it's plain unfair that he could be pulled over for speeding when a biker is going much faster. He tells the Tennessean, "You can't sit there and ignore the fact that motorcycle drivers are speeding and weaving in and out of traffic."
Source: The Tennessean, "Motorcycle fatalities zoom upward in Middle Tennessee," Brian Haas and Andy Humbles, April 30, 2012
]]>That might sound far-fetched, but it isn't. High schools in some states are starting to institute breath tests at major school functions to curb underage drinking, and along with it, the number of car accidents related to drunk driving.
]]> Students may argue that it's unfair to treat them like they've already done something wrong, but school administrators are more concerned with student safety. At one high school in another state, the school district superintendent says the school board decided to use alcohol-detection tests after several students at a dance in February were cited by police for intoxication.The school board had actually considered the move before issues arose at that dance. But that likely sealed the deal. So, at this year's prom, students will have to blow into a Breathalyzer before they can show off their dances moves. They are not alone.
At another school, the principal says that such breath tests have been administered at school functions for several years. Not everyone is flagged; students are randomly selected to take the tests. Just the possibility of having to take a test might deter some students from drinking, since getting caught could have serious consequences.
According to the Journal Sentinel, the trend seems to be getting more popular. What do you think? Do students have a reason to be bothered, or should this become standard procedure to curb underage drinking at schools across Tennessee?
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "This year's hottest prom trend: Breathalyzer tests," Erin Richards, March 29, 2012
]]>The technology has been installed on some commercial trucks, and new data shows that the devices are working, at least somewhat, to reduce the number of crashes. That's according to a new study conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
]]> Researchers looked at 20 carriers from 2007 to 2009. The trucks that had the speed limiters installed saw a crash rate of 11 crashes per 100 vehicles. That compares to 16.4 crashes per 100 vehicles for trucks that did not have speed limiters.The data has led the study team to conclude that speed limiters have a substantial benefit for commercial truckers. Researchers also say that the benefits outweigh any drawbacks that might result from speed variations between interacting trucks (those with the speed limiters and those without them).
The ATA is arguing that the data bolsters its argument that all commercial trucks should have speed limiters. It has been lobbying for this for about six years, asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to install the devices on commercial trucks manufactured past 1992.
Such a practice may draw opposition from truckers and trucking companies in Tennessee and across the country if their work process is slowed down.
The new data was released last week by the FMCSA, according to Trucking Info.
Source: Trucking Info, "New study finds safety benefits of limiting truck speeds," March 29, 2012
]]>While there isn't proof of a correlation, that data seems to point to it. Researchers looked at data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from the years 1980 to 2009. They found a pattern of higher traffic deaths on Tax Day when compared with other days.
]]> Over the 30-year period, researchers found 6,783 deaths on Tax Day, averaging out to about 226 each day. That's higher than the 213 per day on a day the week before Tax Day and on a day the week after Tax Day.There are a few possible explanations. One is that stressed drivers, who have perhaps agonized over their taxes, are racing to the post office to mail their returns. Car crashes tend to increase when drivers are not used to the routes on which they are driving, and if tax-filers are not used to driving to the post office, that could help explain the increase.
Still, with the increase in electronic tax filing in recent years, the number of traffic deaths has not gone down. In fact, the practice may encourage people to file last-minute, which could increase anxiety and stress. It's possible that alcohol plays a role in the higher death rate on Tax Day as well researchers say.
Drivers were found to be somewhat less likely than pedestrians or passengers to be killed in these accidents.
Source: Huffington Post, "Deadly car crashes spike by 6 percent on Tax Day: Study," Lindsey Tanner, April 10, 2012
]]>Police are looking for a semi that struck a pedestrian on Interstate 24 near mile marker 145 in Marion County late last week. The fatal truck accident happened when the 48-year-old man, who was from out of state, was standing or walking along the side of the interstate. It's not known why he was there and not in a vehicle. The hit-and-run crash happened just after midnight, according to reports.
]]> Investigators with the Tennessee Highway Patrol believe that the driver saw the pedestrian and attempted to avoid hitting him. At least, that's what skid marks on the road seem to indicate. Even so, the pedestrian was struck, and the truck driver didn't wait around to see if he was alright. Witnesses at the scene say the truck driver fled, apparently continuing west on the interstate.According to News Channel 5, now the Tennessee Highway Patrol is asking for the public's help in locating the big rig driver. The truck may have damage to the front end, and troopers are asking anyone who may have witnesses the crash to contact them.
It's unfortunate that it's come to that. Drivers should always stop after an accident to make sure everyone is okay, and also take responsibility for their actions.
Source: News Channel 5, "THP seeks help identifying semi in fatal crash," April 6, 2012
]]>The suspected drunk driver struck and killed the 23-year-old man and his friend and allegedly left the scene. The man's mother is suing the driver, the vehicle's owner (who was a passenger in the vehicle) and her parents, who insured the vehicle, as well as Jive Printing and its owner, who allegedly sponsored a holiday part where the driver had been drinking prior to the crash.
]]> In the $15 million lawsuit, the woman is also suing Metro Nashville. According to the woman's attorney, the man was her only son, and she had him when she was 40 years old. He was referred to as a "miracle baby."In her lawsuit, the woman is claiming that the printing company held an annual bash at which it encouraged heavy drinking, even handing out shots to people. The attorney for the owner of the company, without having seen the complaint, said he believed his client would not be held liable, according to News Channel 5.
The accident apparently happened in a busy pedestrian area. The woman says more should have been done to prevent such an accident from happening.
The driver and passenger are both facing criminal charges, including vehicular homicide. It's rare in Tennessee for a passenger to be charged with such a crime, but it can happen.
Source: News Channel 5, "Mother of hit-and-run victim files lawsuit," Brent Frazier, April 6, 2012
]]>The move is apparently to prevent dangerous driving and car accidents. The director of Collierville Animal Services says she supports the bill because animals can get under the steering wheel or fall out a window.
]]> Those opposing the bill say that to make having a pet on your lap a misdemeanor is a "stretch." Some also argue that drivers can already be cited for reckless driving under the current law. Still others question why such a bill is introduced. One state senator from Nashville says he's not aware that it's a big problem.In any case, the bill cleared the house but is finding hurdles in the senate. The bill's sponsor reportedly agreed to postpone a vote on the bill for a couple of weeks.
The director of Collierville Animal Services that driving with a pet on your lap simply isn't worth it. For example, she says, an airbag could deploy that could hit an animal directly. According to the Commercial Appeal, she says, "Pet owners need to realize how they are putting their pets, themselves and other drivers at risk for their dog to sit in their lap. It's not worth the danger."
Source: Commercial Appeal, "Driving with a dog in your lap still legal in Tennessee for at least a couple weeks," Richard Locker, April 3, 2012
]]>There's a fine line between trying to help and getting in the way. If there are a lot of qualified people already at the scene to help, maybe it's best to stand back. But if you're the first to arrive and people clearly need assistance, the situation is different. Sometimes just being there to help with someone's comfort can be important.
]]> A doctor at Vanderbilt University recently gave some bystander tips to News Channel 5. He says that being too involved and doing nothing can be equally damaging. It can be hard to strike the appropriate balance. Here are a few of his tips.• Immediately call 911 so that medically trained professionals can respond to the scene as quickly as possible.
• Consider your own safety first. It's admirable to help someone else, but try not to get hurt in the process.
• If you have first aid knowledge and know how to apply it in cases of cardiac arrest or choking, apply it if time is of the essence.
• Don't move an accident victim unless it's necessary to divert further injuries. If a car is burning, then obviously a person needs to get out. But if they are in no danger, it's best to wait for the trained professionals to move someone.
Source: News Channel 5, "First aid tips for Good Samaritans, crash witnesses," Brent Frazier, March 26, 2012
]]>It more likely can be attributed to better safety features and technology available in new automobiles. While that is in itself an achievement, there are still reasons to be concerned about fatal crashes in the U.S.
]]> According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 32,885 fatalities on U.S. Roads in 2010. That's roughly the same number it was in the 1950s and is much lower than it's been in the last couple of decades. In fact, it averages out to 1.1 fatalities per 100 million miles driven.Still, a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that over 10,000 of the fatal accidents in 2010, roughly a third, were caused by speeding. The numbers in that area haven't improved over the last 30 years.
Few states have raised fines for speeders, and many have raised the speed limits on interstate highways, some to as high as 85 mph. Many officials believe states should introduce new laws to counteract aggressive driving.
One area that has improved: drinking and driving. It's not a huge change, but the number of fatalities linked to drunk driving fell by 3 percent when compared with the statistics from the year 2000.
Source: The Car Connection, "Speeding, aggressive driving still cause 1/3 of fatal accidents," Richard Read, March 9, 2012
]]>A 2007 study showed that the increased likelihood of crashes among ADHD teens means that they are actually at higher risk of getting into a car crash than an adult who is considered legally drunk.
]]> As drivers they face a number of challenges, the biggest of which is inattention. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, one investigator notes that the risk of a crash doubles when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road for a mere two seconds or more.That's not all: ADHD is often linked to impulsiveness and risk taking, and teen drivers who have ADHD often speed and overestimate how well they can drive. That doesn't mean that they can't be good drivers, but researchers say that sometimes it's best for them to wait to get licensed until they're older.
One of the heads of the study also says that teens with ADHD who are driving should be taking medication that helps them focus their attention. He says taking stimulants like Adderall or Ritalin can help reduce the number of crashes.
Still, every teenager is different, and their maturity should be considered, whether they have ADHD or not.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "Study: ADHD teen drivers run higher crash risk," March 27, 2012
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