Articles Posted in Driver Safety

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 catching drivers who run red lights.

The bill was filed in Massachusetts’ house and senate and would allow for cameras to take a digital photo of the rear end of a vehicle after it drives through a red light. Drivers would receive a time-stamped copy of the picture and a traffic ticket in the mail. Chelmsford’s police chief says the addition to cameras would improve the flow of traffic and increase safety on the road.

Some worry that the cameras could pose an invasion of privacy. However, violators of the red light law will not receive any merit rating surcharges nor will the ticket count against their driving record.

Chelmsford chief backs redlight camera bill, GateHouse News Service, October 27, 2009 Continue reading

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 to expire.

A statement from Registrar Rachel Kaprielian said “we saved nearly $800,000 a year by eliminating paper courtesy mailings to our customers.” Massachusetts-based Senza Inc. is handing the new notification service, is free to the RMV, because businesses will buy advertising that accompanies the reminder messages.

In order to receive the notification, users must sign up at least 45 days before their driver’s license or ID expires. They can sign up online at www.mass.gov/rmv and will receive an electronic message at least 30 days before the expiration date telling them whether they should renew online or in person and whether their license can’t be renewed at all due to outstanding excise taxes or parking tickets.

You’ve got e-mail — and you’d better renew your license, Boston Globe, October 7, 2009 Continue reading

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 residential areas, drivers should maintain a low speed and be ready to stop quickly if needed.

2. Obey Traffic Signs: This is an important rule to obey in any driving situation, but a national observational survey found that many drivers violate stop signs in school zones and residential neighborhoods.

3. Stay Alert: Avoid texting, talking on a cell phone, or adjusting the radio, because these activities can take your focus off the road and potentially lead to auto accidents.

4. Scan Between Parked Cars: Almost 40% of child pedestrian deaths occur between the hours of 4 and 8 p.m., mostly at non-intersection locations. Pay attention to parked cars, especially when children might be present.

5. Look for Clues: Keep an eye out for clues that children are likely nearby. Signs could include AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, bicycles, and playgrounds.

6. Always Stop for School Buses: Twenty-three million students ride school buses, but the greatest risk is as they entering or exiting the bus. Watch for flashing yellow lights to indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped, and children are getting on and off.

Continue reading AAA’s safety tips : AAA: Drive With Care as School Year Begins, iBerkshires.com, September 1, 2009 Continue reading

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 by police as well as education and media campaigns on seat belt usage for the increase among Massachusetts drivers and passengers.

Currently, Massachusetts law makes failure to wear a seat belt a secondary offense, meaning police officers can only issue a ticket for not wearing a seat belt after they pull over the driver for some other reason. The exception is if the officer sees a child under the age of 12 not strapped in.

However, some legislators are pushing for tougher seat belt laws that would allow officers to stop drivers simply for not wearing a seat belt. They cite the correlation between seat belt usage and lower risk of serious injury in a car accident as the reason for stricter seat belt legislation.

More Bay State residents are buckling up, Boston Globe, August 11, 2009 Continue reading

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 personality” of each city, and Boston’s personality was the “courageous commuter.”

According to TomTom’s findings, this driving personality applies to “bold drivers who do what it takes to overcome the obstacles and complexities of daily driving.” Yes, that definitely sounds like it applies to Boston!

Drivers in Atlanta and Minneapolis also fall under the category of “courageous commuters,” while LA and Houston drivers were classified as “diligent drivers” and those in Chicago and New York were dubbed “neutral navigators.”

Survey: Boston drivers are “courageous commuters,” Boston Globe, July 17, 2009 Continue reading

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 85 and older. Joyce said he hopes that the recent car crashes would provide the impetus for the Legislature to act.

Among those present at a State House hearing yesterday were Nihan Patel, the relative of a 4-year-old who died a day after being hit by a car driven by an 86-year-old woman. The Registry of Motor Vehicles suspended the driver’s license, and Stoughton police cited her for motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation.

During yesterday’s hearing, a 78-year-old Woburn woman was hit “nearly head-on” by an 83-year-old driver. She sustained life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Another bill calls for changes in the licensing of all drivers, not limiting the restrictions to drivers of a certain age.

Lawmakers vow to ‘fast track’ elderly driver legislation, Boston Globe, July 1, 2009 Continue reading

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 pass legislation that would monitor elderly drivers more carefully.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drivers over age 65 will make up a quarter of all drivers by 2025. Other researchers say that drivers pose a greater risk of causing a car accident around age 70 and that risk increases dramatically after age 80. Older drivers are also more likely to be involved in fatal accidents. However, some advocates for the elderly oppose testing targeted at senior citizens because they fear the measure may be discriminatory.

Last week, Governor Deval Patrick supported legislation that would require drivers age 85 and older to pass a road test and eye test every five years in order to renew their driver’s licenses.

Pressure mounts to test elder drivers, Boston Globe, June 8, 2009 Continue reading