Last week, police and registry inspectors caught at least 76 Massachusetts drivers for allegedly failing to stop for school buses picking up or dropping off student passengers. The annual event has been called “Operation Yellow Blitz” and is aimed at reminding those drivers that they must stop when a bus’s…
Earlier this week, Chelmsford’s police chief told the Board of Selectmen that a traffic safety bill being considered on Beacon Hill is gaining support. Chelmsford selectmen and law enforcement officials say they support the bill, which would allow the Massachusetts town to install cameras at intersections in the hopes of…
Last December, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) stopped sending paper reminders about driver’s license renewals to save money. Now Massachusetts drivers can sign up for a free service that allows the RMV to notify them by email or phone or text message when their driver’s license is about…
This week, members of Massachusetts’ Joint Committee on Transportation heard testimony about two bills that relate to traffic safety. The first, dubbed Ryan’s Bill after a 16-year-old who died in a motorcycle accident, would require driver’s education for motorcyclists between the ages of 16 and 18. Currently, Massachusetts law does…
According to a recent study, hybrid cars are a greater risk to pedestrians than vehicles with internal combustion engines because of their quieter engines. Blind pedestrians are especially at risk, because they rely more heavily on auditory cues. In fact, a blind woman in Kansas City last year had her…
With students heading back to school, AAA Southern New England is urging drivers to take extra care to prevent car accidents involving children. As part of their Drive Carefully Campaign, AAA is offering 10 key tips for motorists: 1. Slow Down: Because of increased foot traffic in school zones and…
A study funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security discovered that the number of people in Massachusetts wearing seat belts increased from 67% in 2008 to 74% this year. State officials announced this finding yesterday. Massachusetts’ director of highway safety for the executive office cites enforcement efforts…
This may come as no surprise to most drivers in Massachusetts, but a recent survey conducted by the Concord-based TomTom Inc. found that Boston motorists are the most likely to use their horns when someone cuts them off. TomTom studied drivers in seven American cities to find out the “driving…
Yesterday, Massachusetts legislators vowed to “fast track” legislation regarding older drivers in light of several recent auto accidents involving older motorists. Senator Brian A. Joyce has twice introduced legislation that would put greater scrutiny on older drivers. His proposal mandates vision and road tests every five years for all drivers…
Like many other states, Massachusetts does not mandate testing for older drivers aside from eye tests, which are required every ten years for all drivers. However, two recent Massachusetts car crashes involving elderly drivers have highlighted the issue of retesting older drivers and lawmakers are now under increased pressure to…