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On Monday, the Massachusetts house and Senate approved a new bill that would penalize drivers who do not slow down or move over while driving past emergency vehicles providing roadside assistance. If passed, drivers will receive a $100 fine for failing to comply.

According to a spokesperson for AAA Southern New England, 44 states across the United States already have a similar bill in place. AAA began supporting the “move over bill” after two of its tow truck drivers died in a roadside accident on Route 495 in Norton.

The State Police Association of Massachusetts has also publicly supported the bill, in part because in the last two months five state troopers have been injured by cars as they provided assistance along the side of the road.

The legislation has been sent to Governor Deval Patrick, who must sign, veto, or amended the bill before Christmas Day.

Legislature gives final approval to ‘Move Over’ bill, WickedLocal.com, December 16, 2008 Continue reading

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This holiday season is harder for many Massachusetts families, including a North Shore family whose Dad broke his back in a serious car accident in 2005. The Boston Globe reports that the mother wrote to Globe Santa recounting the life-altering head-on collision that left her husband disabled and unable to work.

According to the mother’s letter, her two daughters, ages 6 and 9, have had to take on many of the household chores because of the chronic back pain that resulted from the car crash. Though the mother has been working as a waitress, the family says it is struggling to make ends meet on one income and a small insurance settlement.

This family will be among approximately 30,000 receiving gifts from Globe Santa. The Globe reports record numbers of requests this year, and urges individuals and groups to contribute to Globe Santa to ensure that all eligible Eastern Massachusetts families receive a visit from Santa this year.

Mom seeks help for family after dad disabled in car crash, Boston Globe, December 15, 2008 Continue reading

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The Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control recently released a report that examines the causes of unintentional injury and death among American children and teens. The report found that falls and motor vehicle accidents top that list.

In fact, over half (60%) of the deaths resulting from unintentional injuries were traffic-related and involved car passenger, cyclists, or pedestrians.

The report also breaks down the overall death rates by state, which illuminates some regional patterns. The northeast tended to have the lowest death rates, with Massachusetts at the lowest rates for children ages 0-14 and the District of Columbia at the lowest rate among ages 15-19. The highest rate of transportation-related deaths was in the South and upper Midwest.

Falls and Car Accidents Cause Most Injuries in U.S. Children, MedPage Today, December 11, 2008 Continue reading

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On Sunday during the season’s first widespread snowfall, more than a dozen auto accidents were reported between 1 and 4am between Northampton and Holyoke. Most of the car crashes occurred on Interstate 91 in Holyoke near exits 15, 16, and 17 northbound and southbound, according to a Massachusetts state trooper.

Several people were taken to Boston area hospitals, but no serious injuries were reported. One driver slid into a parked police cruiser. The trooper had stopped on the side of I-91 to assist with another motor vehicle accident when his car was hit. Fortunately, he was not in the car at the time, so there were no injuries.

On Sunday afternoon, the snow returned, resulting in several small accidents in Franklin and Berkshire Counties. In addition to highway accidents, police in Western Massachusetts reported a few minor car accidents in their area as well.

Snowfall causes flurry of accidents, MassLive.com, December 8, 2008 Continue reading

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With winter descending on New England along with the threat of weather-related auto crashes, some drivers are taking a proactive stance against the hazards of ice-covered roads by enrolling in driver skills development programs.

Programs like the In Control driving school, which offers classes in South Weymouth, North Andover, Seekonk, Worcester, and Cape Cod, teach experienced and beginning driver advanced accident avoidance techniques.

One way to lower the risk of a traffic accident during implement weather is to leave proper space between cars. Leaving one car length for every 10mph will, unfortunately, not allow enough space to prevent a car collision. Instead, instructors recommend that drivers notice when the vehicle ahead passes a landmark alongside the road and ensure that they take a minimum of three second to pass the same object.

This past weekend, under a light dusting of snow, a driver and a state trooper sustained injuries in unrelated car crashes, underscoring the importance of driver safety, particularly during the winter months.

Trooper, Driver Injured In Snowy Crashes, The Boston Channel, December 7, 2008 Continue reading

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A Massachusetts man was taken to South Jersey Healthcare-Elmer Hospital with minor injuries following a two-vehicle accident on Friday around noon. The collision occurred on Yorktown Road in New Jersey, according to state police.

Harvey Wilmore, 41, was a passenger who sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash. Also injured was Eugene Brice, of Millville. The 60-year old was transported to Cooper University Hospital with severe chest injuries following the auto accident.

Police say Brice’s Dodge pickup truck collided almost head-on with a Ford pickup truck driven by Joseph Massey, 34. Massey was trying to make a left-hand turn onto Mannington-Yorktown road when he evidently pulled in front of Brice, who was traveling in the opposite direction.

No tickets had been issued at the scene of the accident, which police say is still under investigation.

Millville man suffers chest injuries in 2-vehicle crash, NJ.com, December 6, 2008 Continue reading

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A recent editorial in the Wakefield Observer by Colonel Mark F. Delaney, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police emphasized the importance of wearing a seat belt. It cited the fact that although research shows that seat belts can avert severe injuries or death in a car crash, about a third of Massachusetts drivers don’t buckle up.

Another trend cited is the fact that teenagers are less likely to comply with seat belt laws. In fact, the article states that compliance among teenagers fell by 10% this year.

In order to combat this troubling trend, the Massachusetts State Police local police departments enforced seat belt usage during their “Click It or Ticket” campaign this past fall. As part of the program, the state police added 464 extra patrols throughout the state, and when officers pulled over drivers, they checked to see that all of the vehicle’s occupants were wearing seat belts.

Tackling seat belt safety, WickedLocal.com, December 6, 2008 Continue reading

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On Saturday, a car accident in Manchester seriously injured a 6-year old boy and resulted in non-life threatening injuries in his grandfather. The grandfather, 64-year old Kubirlal Adhikari, was pushing Maousham Adhikari in a toy vehicle as they crossed Conant Street. The boy suffered serious head injuries after he was hit by a Volkswagon near their Notre Dame Avenue home.

The younger Adhikari was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he was listed in critical condition. However, his father said that the kindergartener’s condition was improving. The family are refugees from Bhutan, and although they admitted that Maosham’s injury has saddened them, it does not make them regret immigrating to the United States earlier this year.

Police have identified the driver of the Volkswagon as 19-year old Joshua Bouchard. They said speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in this auto accident.

Boy, grandpa hurt in city crash, UnionLeader.com, December 6, 2008 Continue reading

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Earlier this week, a Suffolk Superior Court jury reached its verdict in a civil suit involving a Boston woman who was struck by an MBTA bus in 2005 and lost her right leg as a result of the bus accident. Rita Traybman, 61, was awarded at least $3.9 million in a judgment that her lawyer says could the largest of its kind in Massachusetts history.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Traybman was crossing an intersection in Boston’s South End when an MBTA bus struck her from behind, causing massive injuries. MBTA policies and Massachusetts law state that, as a pedestrian, Traybman had the right of way and the driver should have stopped for her.

The bus driver was cited and fined for violating a pedestrian crosswalk. It is unclear whether he is still employed by the MBTA.

Traybman is a Ukrainian immigrant who became a US citizen. At the time of the bus accident, she was her mother’s caregiver. Now on lifelong disability, she is dependent on others for her care.

The MBTA said it is considering filing post-trial motions and possibly an appeal.

Jury awards woman hit by T bus $3.9m, Boston Globe, December 2, 2008 Continue reading

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As the result of a traffic accident earlier this year that injured a graduate student as she was trying to the cross the street, the University of Massachusetts is renewing its focus on pedestrian safety on campus. The ongoing efforts include adding new warnings for motorists and pedestrians on Massachusetts Avenue, which were implemented in November.

Work crews added “PED XING” lettering on the westbound side of Massachusetts Avenue and temporary grooved sections of pavement. These “rumble strips” are aimed at warning drivers as they cross the east and westbound lanes near crosswalks.

Also as a result of the pedestrian accident, the UMass Police Department has ramped up its educational efforts. They distributed door hangers and pamphlets throughout campus building to remind visitors and employees of pedestrian safety. Plainclothes officers are also enforcing traffic laws along Massachusetts Avenue and crossing guards have become a regular feature along that street.

“The sense of urgency was heightened by the accident, but the plans had been in the works for some time,” said Jim Hunt from Facilities and Campus Planning.

Mass. Ave goes pedestrian-friendly, The Daily Collegian, November 26, 2008 Continue reading

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