Driver Safety

August 12, 2015

Smartphone Apps Aim To Help Reduce Texting While Driving Accidents

Texting and driving is extremely dangerous, and in some states the action is even illegal. The number of vehicle related accidents that can be directly tied to phone distraction is on the rise. However, a few up-and-coming phone applications have been developed in an effort to combat these accidents from occurring at such a high volume. A range of different options allows drivers and cellphone enthusiasts to select the app they feel best suits their needs while they are on the road. As Boston car accident lawyers we often see what can happen when a driver briefly takes his or her eyes off the road. Sometimes it can be a minor fender bender other times it can be catastrophic.

For those of you who struggle with completely disconnecting yourself from your phone while you travel, app developers are hoping they can lend you a hand (figuratively and literally) to assist in your debacle. Keeping both hands on the wheel and remaining alert and attentive are the most important things you can do while you are driving. The first of these options provided for hands-free driving is an app by the name of Auto SMS. This application is described as being an auto-response to both text messages and phone calls received while traveling in your vehicle. Auto SMS will automatically respond to all phone calls and text messages received when the application is set to a “text-to-speech” setting. In addition to responding to your messages, the application also has the ability to read the text messages aloud to you so that you are aware of who is contacting you and what the matter is regarding. Auto SMS has a variety of settings that you can adjust to best suit your needs, offering you the ability to auto respond to certain people at certain times and the manner in which you would like to respond to these individuals. Continue reading

August 11, 2015

Driver Fatigue Looks To Be A Big Factor In Tracy Morgan Accident

by Altman & Altman

Driver fatigue may be a huge contributing factor in accidents that take place nationwide. An accident that took place just last year could have been the direct result of a driver who had simply been on the road for too long and wasn’t as acutely aware of his surroundings as he should have been. Comedian Tracy Morgan was one of the victims of this particular accident—he suffered head trauma from the accident as well as a broken leg and broken ribs; he was also in a coma for two weeks due to the extent and severity of the injuries he suffered. One of the other passengers in the limousine that was carrying Morgan and friends that was struck during the accident was a fellow comedian by the name of James “Jimmy Mack” McNair, who subsequently died from the injuries he sustained during the crash.

The accident occurred on a New Jersey turnpike that was under construction at that time. A Wal-Mart truck operated by driver Kevin Roper of Jonesboro, Ga., slammed into the back of the limousine carrying Tracy Morgan and his friends. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has stated that Roper had reportedly been awake for over 28 hours when the accident occurred—an issue that may have impaired Roper’s ability to react clearly while on the road. In addition to the driver fatigue Kevin Roper may have been suffering, he was also in excess of the 45 MPH speed limit posted in accordance with the construction zone he was traveling through before striking the limousine. The NTSB has indicated that due to the excessive speed Roper was traveling at, he started a chain reaction involving 21 individuals in 6 vehicles after colliding with the back of the van-like limousine. Information about the additional individuals who were involved in the accident and the injuries they sustained was not immediately divulged. Continue reading

August 7, 2015

Hail Storm Causes Extensive Damage to Massachusetts Motorists

by Altman & Altman

The severe weather experienced throughout the Boston area last Tuesday has caused widespread damage on a variety of levels. Power lines and trees have fallen down and some people have suffered injuries due to the intense nature of the storm. Certain parts of the state experienced heavy rain and wind that reached over 75 MPH. Other areas of Massachusetts experienced an overwhelming hail storm that has left many vehicles damaged in the aftermath.

Reports have indicated that 2 inch hail crashed down in parts of Massachusetts during the intense storm that was brewing on Tuesday. The hail storm that took place that day is the largest hail storm that Boston has seen since about 1950, according to the weather related data that has been recorded since that time. If residents of these Massachusetts towns left their cars out in the open to brave the elements—they’ll be able to tell you just how extensive this storm was. Jackie Shelton, a resident from an undisclosed nearby town, said in a report that she believed that the windows of her car were going to give way during the heaviest part of the storm. Thankfully, her windows withstood the pummeling but the remainder of her car wasn’t as lucky. Ms. Shelton’s vehicle is now covered in dents as a result of the hail storm, and she’ll have to look into having the dents removed at an auto body now that the weather has returned to normal. Continue reading

July 10, 2015

Volvo’s New Front Car Seat- Is It a Good Idea? Some Don’t Think So…

by Altman & Altman

Volvo, one of the safest brands in car manufacturing, has recently proposed an idea that may not live up to their gleaming safety reputation. In their new XC90 Excellence Model, Volvo is introducing the idea of a car seat placed in the front seat of the car where the passenger seat once was. While the car seat is rear facing, the idea of having it placed in the front seat at all is an alarming idea for drivers who are also parents. The law has always been that children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the front seat of the vehicle, period. But Volvo believes they can challenge that idea with this new model.

A spokesperson for Volvo has said that the primary reason children under the age of 12 are prohibited from sitting in the front seat of the car is due to the fact that the passenger side of the vehicle contains an airbag. In the new XC90 model, Volvo has removed the front passenger airbag, therefore making it, to their standards, safe for the baby to be placed there. The spokesperson went on to say that the front seat of the car is just as safe as the rear seat of the car. But many people who have children are uneasy with that idea; mainly because they don’t find it, or know it, to be true. Continue reading

February 27, 2015

Vehicle-to-Vehicle Technology May Be Coming Soon According to MIT Review

by Altman & Altman

“What if your car warned you seconds before an accident, giving you enough time to swerve or slam on the brakes—maybe even save your life?”

That’s exactly the promise Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology is promising to drivers. The breakthrough technology seeks to enhance safety on roadways, and according to the MIT Technological Review, we could be seeing the new software in cars as early as 2017.

According to an article published by Boston.com, the number of car crashes has steadily declined (with the exception of 2012) since 2006.

Advocates of the new technology believe that the number of deaths will only decrease once the new technology has been implemented into cars. Once fully functional the V2V system will connect drivers travelling near each other, allowing cars to gather information on what the other car is doing even if the driver can’t see them or is not paying attention. Debra Bezzina, senior project manager for UMTRI, says the new technology seeks to target 82% of collisions—which would garner a major impact for drivers.
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February 25, 2015

While Drunk Driving Decreases, Drugged Driving Continues to Rise

by Altman & Altman

It’s a warning most adult drivers have engrained in the heads: “Don’t drink and drive.”

The nation’s decades-long campaign against drunk driving has proven effective in making roadways safer, but a new study finds that as drunken driving has decreases, drugged driving continues to increase. With the decriminalization of marijuana in some states, including in Massachusetts, and illicit drug use at an all-time high, drug-intoxication on roadways seems to be more prominent. This news has prompted safety watchdogs as well as lawmakers to raise new questions on how to make roadways safer. Groundbreaking new studies studies released by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have broken down the data.

Published by the NHTSA, the Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers study uncovered the number of drivers with alcohol in their system has declined by nearly one-third since 2007, and by more than three-quarters since the first Roadside Survey was published back in 1973. And while these numbers reflect progress made combatting unsafe drivers, the same survey found a drastic increase in the number of drivers found using marijuana and illegal substances while driving. In a 2014, for example, nearly 25% of drivers tested positive for at least one drug that could affect their ability to drive.

In a press statement, NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind said, “America made drunk driving a national issue and while there is no victory as long as a single American dies in an alcohol-related crash, a one-third reduction in alcohol use over just seven years shows how a focused effort and cooperation among the federal government, states and communities, law enforcement, safety advocates and industry can make an enormous difference. At the same time, the latest Roadside Survey raises significant questions about drug use and highway safety. The rising prevalence of marijuana and other drugs is a challenge to everyone who is dedicated to saving lives and reducing crashes.”
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January 31, 2015

Monday Promising More Inclement Weather: Tips for Staying Safe on the Roads

by Altman & Altman

After what promises to be an exciting weekend with the Patriots in the Superbowl, many New Englanders are yet again, going to have to brace themselves for heavy snowfall on Monday morning. With the added layer of snowfall the streets (which are still in the midst of cleanup from last Tuesday’s storm), we at Altman & Altman would like to offer some reminder tips (sourced from Boston.com) on how to keep you and your family safe on the roads this winter.

1. Remove snow from your entire vehicle before hitting the roads

This is one of the most crucial steps every driver should take before hitting the roads after it snows.

December 19, 2014

NHTSA Reports 326 Massachusetts Traffic Deaths in 2013

by Altman & Altman

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reporting a decline in both the number of Massachusetts motor vehicle crash fatalities as well as how many occurred in total in the U.S. According to the figures for 2013, there were 326 traffic deaths in the state last year, which is a decline from the 383 fatalities in 2012. Alcohol was a factor in 118 of the Massachusetts traffic deaths in 2013.

Nationally, the country lost 32,719 people in roadway crashes in 2013. This is also a decrease from the 33,782 traffic deaths from the year previous.

Overall, between 2012 and 2013, the U.S. saw a reduction in deaths and injuries of truck occupants, passenger car occupants, pedestrians, and young drivers, as well as in accidents where alcohol was a factor.

November 21, 2014

46.3 Million to Hit Roads Thanksgiving Weekend: Tips You Need to Know to Protect Your Family

by Altman & Altman

With the average gallon of gas costing $2.85-at its lowest cost for the entire year and down 43 cents from this time last year-car group AAA says travelers can expect more traffic on the roads as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

AAA projects that nearly 46.3 million people will travel a distance of at least 50 miles from home over the weekend (defined as Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 30), a 4.2% increase from last year-the highest anticipated volume since 2007, before the economic downturn the year after.

“Americans are more optimistic about the future as improvements in several key economic factors, including employment, GDP and disposable income, are boosting consumer confidence and the desire to travel,” says AAA president and chief operating officer Marshall Doney, as reported by USA Today.

According to AAA, nearly 90% of holiday travelers, or an estimated 41.3 million, will travel by automobile. Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to be at the highest level since 2007, with 3.55 million people flying to their destinations, AAA says (USA Today).

For those driving to get their turkey fix, INRIX’s Thanksgiving Travel Forecast says it will take at least 25% longer to get there this year.

According to INRIX analyst Jim Bak, the Wednesday pre-Thanksgiving rush hour is expected to begin about two hours earlier than on a typical Wednesday. He recommends drivers avoid traveling between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to skip the worst delays.
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August 29, 2014

Boston Drivers the Worst in the Country & Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling this Holiday Weekend

by Altman & Altman

A new study published by Allstate Insurance has confirmed what many already know: Boston drivers are some of the worst in the entire country. The study, published this week, reported that the city’s drivers were the second-riskiest in the country based on the average number of reported crashes and the average years between car accidents-roughly 4.4 years.

Places like New York, Chicago, and even Los Angeles (surprisingly) ranked lower than Boston, among another 195 cities. Chicago’s drivers got in an accident roughly every 8.2 years; and New York City 7.8. While the data seems a bit surprising, given the higher volume of traffic in both the Windy City and the Big Apple, one thing cannot be disputed: the “unique” (for lack of a better word) road system in our city which many attribute to why there are so many accidents.

Unfortunately, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States according to the CDC; with more than 2 million adult drivers and passengers treated in emergency departments annually. The economic and lifetime impacts of car accidents is also substantial; with crash-related deaths and injuries among drivers and passengers costing around $70 billion.
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