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While Massachusetts legislators and driver safety advocates weigh the pros and cons of new laws aimed at older drivers, statistics show that teen drivers are also at high risk for car accidents.

Here in Massachusetts, more 18-year-olds were involved in fatal auto accidents in the past two years than any other single age. In 2008, Massachusetts teen drivers were involved in 22,313 motor vehicle accidents according to data from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. And, according to national statistics, car crashes are the leading cause of death among 15-to-20-year-olds.

The current debate has dredged up bitterness between drivers at both ends of the age spectrum. Last year, drivers age 80 and older accounted for 2% of car crashes. Several recent, highly publicized accidents involving older drivers have caused legislators to reconsider the need for legislation aimed at this demographic.

Lawmakers already enacted legislation in 2007 that inflicted tougher penalties on younger drivers (specifically 16 and 17 year olds), and they say the changes have led to a drop in speeding and reckless driving citations.

Teens drivers at highest risk of fatal crashes, EnterpriseNews.com, July 10, 2009 Continue reading

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According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only about two thirds of Massachusetts drivers are likely to wear a seat belt. Massachusetts has the lowest percentage of seat belt use in the country despite the fact that research has proven the effectiveness of seat belts in saving lives during a car accident.

In fact, three separate Massachusetts motor vehicle accidents during this past 4th of July weekend resulted in a total of seven deaths where seat belts went unused.

Drivers and passengers give a variety of excuses, among them “I only wear one on the highway,” “it’s comfortable,” and “I don’t want to mess up my shirt.” Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced mandatory seat belt legislation in an effort to combat these attitudes.

Bay State’s scorn for seat belts unrivaled, Boston Globe, July 8, 2009 Continue reading

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On Monday morning around 9:17am, a four-vehicle accident in Newburyport, Massachusetts forced the closure of Interstate 95 in both directions for several hours due to a gas spill. The https://www.altmanllp.com/lawyer-attorney-1226003.htmltraffic accident involved a Honda Odyssey, a Toyota Corolla, a Ford Expedition, and a Freightliner gasoline tanker, which was carrying over 10,000 gallons of gasoline.

The crash caused the tanker truck to spill much of that fuel along the road and splayed the tanker across three lanes of traffic. It was not immediately clear how much gas had spilled.

Two people were seriously hurt in the accident, and at least another eight people suffered more minor injuries, according to a State Police spokesperson. The auto accident victims were take to Portsmouth Hospital in New Hampshire and Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport.

The left two lanes of northbound traffic reopened just before 5pm, while the breakdown lane and right travel lane on the northbound side remained closed as clean-up crews worked on the area.

Epic traffic jam in Newburyport after I-95 tanker crash, Boston Globe, Juy 6, 2009 Continue reading

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The Boston Globe recently reported that the number of traffic deaths in Massachusetts dropped between 2007 and 2008, according to federal highway safety officials. Last year, the number of traffic deaths nationwide dropped to 37,261, the lowest level since 1961. In Massachusetts, the numbers dropped from 434 to 363, representing a 16% drop.

The counties with the highest number of traffic deaths were Middlesex and Worcester, which each had 56 deaths or 15% of the total. The number of alcohol-related crash fatalities decreased by 20%, which officials attribute to law enforcement, sobriety checkpoints, and improved driver education.

According to federal officials, early data based on the first quarter of 2009 indicates that the nationwide declining trend may continue.

State traffic deaths fall 16%, following US trend, Boston Globe, July 4, 2009 Continue reading

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A study released last week by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) found that over half of United States highway fatalities are related to poor roadway conditions. According to the report, ten roadway-related crashes occur every minute and contribute to 38% of non-fatal injuries.

More than 22,000 fatalities were attributed to deficiencies in the roadway environment, costing the country more than $217 billion each year. That figure breaks down to $20 billion in medical costs, $46 billion in productivity costs, $52 billion in property damage and other resource costs, and $99 billion in quality of life costs. Massachusetts was among the ten states with the highest road-related crash costs per mile of road.

The study, which is entitled “On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways,” identifies several ways in which transportation officials could improve road conditions to save lives and reduce injuries sustained during traffic accidents. These include adding rumble strips to shoulders, using brighter and more durable pavement markets, replacing or widening narrow bridges, and reducing pavement edges and abrupt drop-offs, among other improvements.

More than Half of Highway Fatalities Are Related to Deficient Roadway Conditions, PRNewswire.com, July 1, 2009 Continue reading

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According to NewsCenter 5, the Masscachusetts Turnpike Authority has given out over 4,000 “non-revenue” transponders, allowing motorists to drive the Turnpike for free, despite the Turnpike Authority’s mounting debt.

Roughly three quarters of those transponders go to state troopers, but many of the others are used by turnpike employees, who pay an annual fee of just $26 in exchange for free unlimited driving throughout Massachusetts with tolls.

In addition, there are reportedly over 200 retired turnpike employees who pay even less ($5/year) to drive the turnpike without paying tolls. Some Massachusetts commuters say this arrangement is unfair, and in fact, the free rides may be ending on November 1 when the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is dissolved, becoming part of the newly-created Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Turnpike Giving Out Hundreds Of ‘Free Rides’, TheBostonChannel.com, July 2, 2009 Continue reading

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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

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A recent Boston subway crash injured 50 people. Fortunately, no one was killed, but the MBTA accident did raise questions about cell phone use among MBTA drivers and train conductors.

However, in Washington, DC last week, a commuter rail accident killed nine people in what officials are calling the worst commuter rail accident in the city’s history. That brings the Metro’s death toll up to 17 people since the Metro opened, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Investigators say emergency brakes were used on the train that rear-ended another train during rush hour on Monday evening. An estimated 75 people were injured in the train accident, which happened on the Red Line between Takoma and Fort Totten Stations. Nine people were killed, among them the operator of the train that collided with another train that was stopped.

The train crash is under investigation, and authorities say they do not know if human error played a role, although it was recommended to the Metro that they replace older trains.

Toll rises to 9 in D.C. rail crash, Baltimore Sun, June 24, 2009
Officials Seek Clues in Train Crash, New York Times, June 23, 2009 Continue reading

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On Monday, an 83-year-old Brockton resident was injured in a pedestrian accident on North Montello Street in Brockton. Adilino Monteiro reportedly suffered a head injury when he walked into the side of car traveling southbound.

According to police, Monteiro was crossing in a westerly direction when a northbound car stopped to let him cross. Then he walked into the front quarter panel and side mirror of a Chrysler.

He was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for medical treatment. As of Wednesday, his condition had been upgraded from critical to fair, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Police said there are no plans to file charges in this pedestrian accident.

Brockton man’s condition improving following Monday pedestrian accident, Enterprise News, June 25, 2009 Continue reading

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In Bourne, Massachusetts, the driver of a truck with a boat attached was injured when his truck crashed into the median strip and woods on Route 28 North. The boat, measuring approximately 25 feet, was being towed by the truck and came off of its trailer as a result of the crash.

The motor vehicle accident occurred at about 4am on Saturday morning. One lane of traffic on Route 28 was closed for about an hour while the boat and truck were removed from the scene of the truck accident. Bourne police and firefighters were on the scene investigating the crash.

The truck driver was transported to Falmouth Hospital. The extent of his injuries are unknown.

Truck with boat attached involved in accident in Bourne, MA, NECN.com, June 20, 2009 Continue reading

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