Risky Driving by Teen Drivers

Posted on behalf of Daniel L. Clayton, selected as the ‘Nashville Best Lawyers Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year’ for 2012, in motor vehicle accidents

Any parent of a young, newly-minted driver knows that teen drivers are a high-risk group – and as a result, adding them to a car insurance policy can double, or even triple, the rates that they pay.
In order to determine why this is the case, the U.S National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted a study that observed the driving habits of 42 new teenage drivers in Virginia, as well as their parents, for 18 months. Before the study began, the NIH installed participants’ cars with internal and external cameras, GPS devices, and systems that collect data on when the cars accelerated and how many miles the cars were driven.
After observing participants for 18 months, the NIH found that:

• there were 37 crashes among the study’s teens, and 2 accidents that involved the adults
• the teen drivers were involved in 242 near-accidents, compared to the 32 near-crashes that involved their parents
• the more experience that teen drivers gained, the fewer near-accidents they were involved in – although they did not come close to reaching the near-accident rates of the adults during the time of the study
• teens were five times more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving too fast and making rapid turns and hard stops
• after teen drivers were involved in an accident, or a close call, it did not deter them from engaging in risky driving behaviors

The study, which was published in the October 2011 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, used a unique methodology that gave researchers insight they may not have otherwise had, says the NIH.
“This is the first naturalistic or objective assessment of teenage risky driving,” said lead researcher Bruce G. Simons-Morton in a statement. “Sadly, it points out the teenage driving dilemma, which is that newly licensed drivers of all ages, but particularly teenagers, are a high risk for accidents early on.”
Why Teen Drivers Get Into More Accidents
In addition to engaging in risky behaviors, teen drivers are less likely to accurately assess how dangerous a situation is, which causes them to proceed normally in cases where they should use more caution. They also tend to drive during nighttime hours, which increases the risks of being in an accident. And when teenagers are involved in car crashes, they are more likely to sustain serious personal injuries because they tend to avoid using seat belts.
Source: “Why Teen Car Insurance is Expensive: They’re Bad Drivers,” Fox News, 1/6/12

Tags: motor vehicle accidents, teen drivers

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Reducing Distractions for Commercial and Truck Drivers

Posted on behalf of Daniel L. Clayton, selected as the ‘Nashville Best Lawyers Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year’ for 2012, in motor vehicle accidents

According to research conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers of commercial vehicles are three times more likely to be involved in a crash if they are reaching for a cell phone or similar object. That accident risk increases to six times more likely if the drivers are dialing. It is clear; when drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses take their eyes off the roadways, the outcomes can be deadly.
To decrease distracted driving accidents stemming from cell phone use, the FMCSA and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) have issued a joint final rule banning drivers from use of hand-held cell phones while operating commercial motor vehicles.
When announcing the new regulation last fall, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.”
Effective January 3, 2012, the new rule carries stiff federal penalties for drivers and companies who violate the law. For each offense, drivers will face a civil penalty of up to $2,750. If a driver commits multiple offenses, s/he may be disqualified from operating commercial vehicles. More specifically, drivers who commit two serious violations within a three-year period will be disqualified for commercial driving for at least 60 days. With three or more violations in three years, the penalty extends to 120 days of disqualification.
In addition to federal efforts, states have stepped up to stop distracted driving, too. Though no state has completely banned the use cellular telephones, many states have enacted laws preventing the use of cell phones in certain commercial vehicles such as school buses and motor coaches.
Carrier companies who fail to enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) will not go unpunished. Specifically, companies that allow drivers to use hand-held mobile devices while driving may be fined up to $11,000.
The mobile telephone rule allows drivers of commercial vehicles to use hands-free devices including wired or wireless earpieces to initiate, answer or end a call by touching a single button. Drivers are also allowed to use other push-to-talk communications equipment as long as it does not require drivers to remove their eyes from the roadways and allows them to communicate without having to hold, dial or reach for the device.
Source: “Starting Jan. 3, Commercial Drivers Banned from Hand-Held Cell Phone Use,” Business Fleet, 12/28/11

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