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Among commercial truck drivers, distracted driving is the second leading cause of fatal crashes. Hands-free cell phone use is often touted to prevent drivers from becoming dangerously distracted behind the wheel, yet, it may also be interfering with safe driving. One recent study found a surprising and risky connection between hands-free phone use and other distracting behaviors.
According to research conducted by trucking technology company, Lytx, nearly one-quarter of drivers who engage in one risky driving behavior engage in other dangerous driving behaviors at the same time. That includes drivers who opted to use their phone hands-free. Lytx cautions that when hands-free chatting is combined with other habits that interrupt the driver’s attention and concentration, drivers increase their risk of a crash by 100 percent.
Drivers may not realize how quickly reaching down to grab something in the passenger seat or adjusting the radio can cause a crash. In as few as two or three seconds of a driver looking away from the road, they can veer out of their own lane into oncoming traffic.
Common driving distractions include:
When a truck driver attempts to do multiple activities at once, the risk of a distracted driving accident increases exponentially. Because distraction is not only about what the driver’s hands are doing, it is also about where their mind is; Lytx stresses that hands-free devices are not a perfect solution. Drivers who are concentrating on their hands-free phone call are not focused on the life and death decisions they make when operating a multi-ton vehicle. They are more likely to speed, tailgate, and make sudden stops while they are deep in conversation.
Knowing how dangerous multi-tasking can be for truck drivers, owners and operators are taking steps to raise awareness about hands-free distractions and other hazards, which include:
The unfortunate reality is, if you are the victim of a distracted driving truck accident, you are much more likely to be seriously hurt than if you were hit by a passenger vehicle. Commercial trucks bring more force into an accident. That force is absorbed by your body, increasing the likelihood of devastating head, neck, and spine injuries. To prevent distracted driving accidents, every truck driver needs to fully focus on operating their vehicle.
If a distracted driving accident with a commercial truck left you with life-altering injuries, it is time to speak with a Delaware truck accident lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow. We work tirelessly to hold reckless drivers responsible and pursue the damages victims deserve. For a free consultation, call us at 302-427-9500 or contact us online today. With offices located in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Elsmere and Seaford.
For many parents, handing over the car keys to their teenage children leads to feelings of apprehension, especially those first few times. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motor vehicle crashes are the main cause for teen deaths in this country; the teen fatality rates are three times more than for older drivers.
Once school lets out, the summer months present more driving opportunities, and teens must be experienced and prepared for unforeseen circumstances that can occur while they are driving. With teens driving to their summer jobs, weekends away, and driving at night, the roads can become quite dangerous for these young drivers. Though every new driver is required to pass written and road tests, extra support and practice can be helpful.
In order to instill safe driving habits in their teenage children, parents should be closely involved throughout the driver education process. This is key to decreasing the risk of accidents during the summer and throughout the year. Even though they are at the age when they relish their freedom, teenagers are still influenced by their parents and will absorb this useful knowledge.
Each state has its own set of teenage driving laws. Many have a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program, which eases them into full driving privileges. They start with a learner stage, which entails supervised driving before their driver’s test; intermediate, where some unsupervised driving permitted; and full privileges with a standard driving license. Parents should familiarize themselves with these stages. GDL laws also include restrictions such as limited driving hours, number of passengers in the vehicle, and cell phone usage.
Parents should also consider the type of vehicle their teen will be driving. A large truck or powerful sports car may not be the right choice; something smaller and closer to the ground is more manageable. Drivers should also understand the basics of vehicle maintenance, such as checking tire pressure and fluids. Cars can overheat in high summer temperatures or break down, which can be problematic if the teenager is far from home.
The importance of wearing a seat belt cannot be stressed enough. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drivers wearing seat belts reduce their chances of getting seriously injured in an auto crash by half. There are also new technologies that parents can use to monitor their teen’s driving behaviors, including driving speeds and locations.
Teenagers are faced with endless distractions when driving, especially in the summer. The necessity of keeping cell phones turned off, music turned down, and having other passengers stay calm should be reinforced. Reducing the amount of night driving is also important, since that is when a large percentage of teenage driving accidents occur.
Parents should also remember to strongly discourage driving under the influence and speeding, while encouraging a respect for other drivers who share the road. Naturally, parents should also set a good example by exhibiting these safe behaviors themselves.
Parents need to be especially vigilant when their teenagers start to drive, and we can help if you or anyone in your family needs a qualified Wilmington car accident lawyer. Call Rhoades & Morrow at 302-427-9500 or complete an online form today for a free consultation. Located in Wilmington, Milford, and Bear, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Elsmere and Seaford.
The Delaware Office of Highway Safety and the Delaware State Police joined forces and came up with an innovative plan to cut back on distracted driving and seat belt violations in Delaware. A Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) truck was stationed at a roadside and was used to report incidents of these violations. Information about drivers, vehicles, and types of violations were sent to law enforcement officers who then went to stop the vehicles. The 19 citations included marijuana possession, child restraint and seat belt violations, and cell phone use while driving.
Since 2011, Delaware has followed a hands-free cell phone law, which prohibits drivers from using hand-held devices while driving. If caught, drivers receive a $100 fine for first offenses, and subsequent offenses can cost up to $300. The Delaware State Police and Office of Highway Safety’s Public Information Officer emphasized the state’s zero-tolerance distracted driving policy. She added that non-traditional operations, like the DelDOT vehicle, are being used to ramp up education as well as enforcement for those breaking the law.
A 2016 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that distracted drivers caused 3,450 deaths nationwide. These numbers have been steadily increasing in Delaware and throughout the country since 2012. Studies also show that drivers between 16 and 24-years old show more cell phone usage than other age groups. Other causes of distraction include eating and drinking, grooming, turning to look at an accident, talking with another passenger, and not paying attention.
It is important to stay focused when behind the wheel. One of the best ways to do this is to click on a seat belt, and either put away or use the Do Not Disturb feature for electronic devices before turning on the ignition. Any passenger that sees their driver using an electronic device should ask them not to use it while driving. If you must take a phone call, pull over to the side of the road.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a distracted driving accident, contact the Bear car accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow today. We will hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries so that you can focus on your recovery. For a free case evaluation, contact us online or call us at 302-834-8484. Located in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, Delaware, we serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Elsmere and Seaford.
Distracted driving kills thousands of people every year. In fact, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), every day 100 are injured and at least nine people are killed in motor vehicle accidents due to distracted driving.
The NSC has declared that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and a great time to remind everyone about the dangers of driving while not paying attention to the road.
Distracted driving car accidents happen when drivers are trying to multitask. Many things can cause distractions while driving, and everyone has probably been guilty of engaging in at least some form of distracted driving at one time or another.
Examples of distracted driving include:
Distracted driving accidents, although common, are 100 percent preventable. Practicing a few of these safety measures can help reduce your chances of being involved in a car crash:
If you were injured due to a distracted driver, you need a lawyer that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. The Wilmington car accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow represent victims injured in distracted driving accidents. For a free consultation, contact us online or contact us by phone at our Wilmington office at 302-427-9500, our Bear office at 302-834-8484, or our Milford office at 302-422-6705. We proudly represent clients in Elsmere, Seaford, and across Delaware.
Cell phones and driving do not mix. Yet it is almost irresistible for people to use their cell phones while driving. Some technologic advances have been made to develop hands-free calling to minimize risk of distraction from dialing.
Chances are these have helped avoid some car accidents. But distracted driving from use of cell phones for texting and social media has more than offset any advances from hands free technology.
Delaware banned use of hand-held phones while driving in 2012. But this has not deterred many drivers from using their cell phones. The Delaware office of Highway Safety has noted that in the past five years distracted driving crashes have skyrocketed. From 2013 to 2017 there were 224 crashes involving a distracted driver using a cell phone. Sadly, seven of those crashes involved fatalities.
The trend is being repeated throughout the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that in 2015, about ten percent of total highway deaths were related to distracted driving. Among twenty-somethings, that percentage is more than double the national average. About 27 percent of highway deaths among these young drivers are due to distracted driving.
There are some tell-tale signs of a driver using their cell phone. These include lane departures, running a stop sign, running a red light, or being slow to evade impact. Investigators look for these signs when evaluating the crash site.
In addition, crash investigations now include accounting for cell phones, and determining whether they were being used when the crash occurred. If there is probable cause that distraction factored into an accident, an investigating officer can get a court order to examine cell phone records. This allows them to determine if the device was in use during the crash, and reveals when text messages were sent or received.
A spokesperson from AAA Mid-Atlantic observed that more and more people recognize the dangers, yet they are still driving while distracted by using their cell phone. Delaware is planning on increasing its enforcement presence in order to reduce incidents of distracted driving.
In a recent enforcement campaign, unmarked vans on Route 1 in Dover were deployed to spot offending drivers. Thirty tickets for illegal phone use were issued over a two-month period.
In another campaign in Rehoboth Beach, officers wrote 16 citations for cell phone and safety belt infractions in just one afternoon. First offense fines are up to $100.00.
The Delaware Office of Highway Safety has granted funding to 14 police departments throughout the state for future patrols. These are considered necessary due to the excessive number of serious crashes being caused by cell phone use distraction.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, contact an experienced Delaware car accident lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow. A free consultation can be scheduled by completing our online form or calling us at 302-427-9500. We serve clients throughout the state of Delaware from our offices in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, including the communities of Elsmere and Seaford.
Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday to many Americans. It is a time when we make an extra effort to see family and celebrate our good fortune together. To many, that means driving.
Nearly 43 million Americans will take to the road for the holiday. Many of them will be driving for 50 miles or more.
Take the time before you go to consider the following safety tips to help avoid car accidents on a road trip.
Make sure your car is ready for the trip. A small effort to perform a maintenance check can avoid a big inconvenience later.
Tires, Tread and Fluids: Check tire pressure and tread depth. One trick for checking tread depth: place a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head toward the tire. You should not be able to see the top of Lincoln’s head.
Check oil, wiper fluid, and gas. Fill them up before you leave.
Weather: Check the forecast before you leave. Weather this time of year is unpredictable. Particularly in the northeast, this can help reduce the risk of driving on slippery and hard to see black ice.
Know Where You are Going: Distracted driving accounts for more and more accidents each year. Be sure you know the route and have directions at the ready without needing to fiddle with your phone or a map while driving.
Use a GPS navigation system if you have it. In addition to providing directions, they can also locate gas stations or restaurants on the route. Most GPS systems can also alert you to traffic disruptions and congestion and suggest alternative routes.
Expect traffic: Thanksgiving is the most heavily traveled holiday of the year. You will not be on time if you do not account for traffic. Add a buffer of time for the traffic and you will not be stressed or late. Consider traveling at off-peak times to avoid the worst of it.
Rest: Drive when you are alert and well rested. If you lead a stressful life, you may need to make an extra effort to get a good night’s sleep the day before you travel. Driving while tired can have an impact similar to driving while intoxicated. Reaction times, concentration, and coordination can all be compromised if you drive tired.
Avoid Distractions: Two seconds of distraction has been correlated with doubling the chance of an accident. Focus on the road to make sure you see what is coming and can react accordingly.
Seatbelts Save Lives: Everyone in the car should wear a safety belt, especially small children, who should be properly buckled into compliant car seats. Safety belts reduce the risk of fatalities by 45 percent.
Plan Ahead: Have a game plan for spending a long time in the car. The more prepared you are for the trip, the better. Particularly if you are traveling with kids. They can get bored or cranky on long trips. Anticipate this and have adequate water, snacks, games, music, and allow for rest stops.
Take these few precautions to ensure you can enjoy your visit with family and/or friends this Thanksgiving.
If you have been injured in a car accident, the Bear car accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow are ready to assist you. You can get a free consultation by completing our online form or calling us at 302-834-8484. We serve clients throughout the state of Delaware from our offices in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford.
As families attend pool parties, BBQ’s, and prepare to send their kids off to college, the languid days of summer can easily lull us into a happy state of complacency. However, when it comes to our teenagers getting behind the wheel this summer, the sentiment should be anything but.
On average, 260 teens are fatally injured in car crashes each month during summer. This is an increase of 26 percent compared with the other months of the year. Because teen drivers are already three times more likely than experienced drivers to be involved in a fatal crash, adding risky driving behaviors to the mix is a daunting prospect.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has named distracted driving one of several risky driving behaviors. Unfortunately, in 2016 distracted driving claimed almost 4,000 lives. Teens were the largest group of distracted drivers reported at the time of the fatal wrecks.
When most of us think of distracted driving, we assume the definition is limited to texting or talking on the cell phone. However, distracted driving includes eating, changing the radio station, engaging with the GPS, and even talking to others in the vehicle. Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road. When it comes to an inexperienced driver, even something like talking to passenger can put lives at risk.
The rates of fatal accidents caused by teen drunk drivers are declining. Teens caught driving with alcohol in their system can face jail, fines, and loss of license. For those under 21, a Delaware law enforcement officer can issue a DUI for a BAC of .02 percent.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is involved in an ongoing campaign to educate all Americans about the dangers of risky driving. By forming partnerships with state and local police, the NHTSA works to enforce distracted and drunk driving laws.
Parents can join this fight to save lives and help their teens stay safe this summer by keeping the lines of communication open:
If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving or drunk driving accident, contact the Wilmington car accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow. To schedule a free consultation, call 302-427-0099 today or contact us online. From our offices in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford Delaware, we represent individuals and families upstate and downstate Delaware.
Have you ever checked your GPS or map on the way to a new location? Changed the radio station on your car radio while cruising down the road? Turned to answer a question posed by a passenger while driving? If so, you have engaged in distracted driving.
Most drivers have heard the warnings related to the dangers of texting or talking on a cell phone while driving. Traffic safety experts now hope to raise awareness on all types of “distracting driving” activities, which include:
Distracted driving occurs any time a driver takes their eyes off of the road, or is mentally engaged in a task other than driving. When drivers even temporarily lose sight or focus on the road ahead, they are engaged in distracted driving.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 9 people each day are killed in an automobile crash involving a distracted driver.
With over 480,000 drivers handling their cell phones or other electronic devices while driving at any given time in the United States, the problem of distracted driving continues to be a significant safety risk. Research conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute states that drivers are 3 times more likely to get into a motor vehicle accident when distracted by a cell phone while driving.
In response to the problem of distracted driving, car manufacturers are reexamining the functionality of infotainment systems and the mental demands they place on drivers. To complete an infotainment system task requires a driver’s visual and cognitive attention.
When a vehicle’s infotainment system allows the driver to perform tasks unrelated to driving, such as browsing the internet or checking social media, it increases the risk for distracted driving. AAA research indicates that of the 30 infotainment systems in new 2017 vehicles tested, 12 systems generated a “very high” demand on the drivers, while 11 systems creating a “high” demand on the driver.
Recognizing the dangers associated with distracted driving is the first step in reducing the frequency of this driving behavior. Many traffic safety advocacy organizations, such as the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, are launching research and public education campaigns to warn drivers of the risks associated with distracted driving.
Drivers should remember that even the five seconds it takes to send a text, travel time equivalent to crossing a football field, could cost someone their life.
Recognizing that cell phones are a major cause of distracted driving, several cell phone apps also have been developed to help fight distracted driving. Many drivers have taken a “Distracted Driving Pledge” to pull over to the side of the road before checking a map or sending a text message.
If you have suffered injuries in a car accident caused by distracted driving, you may be entitled to compensation. To speak to an experienced Bear car accident lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow about your litigation options, call today at 302-834-8484 or submit an online inquiry form. From our offices in Bear, Wilmington, and Milford we serve injured workers throughout the state of Delaware.
When high winds strike, the vehicles that are impacted the most are trucks. Their large size essentially transforms them into sails that catch the wind and can result in the truck being blown over or off the road. A truck accident caused by wind may cause catastrophic injuries to the occupants of nearby passenger vehicles and some accidents may be fatal.
Truck drivers are used to spending their days on the road in different weather conditions, but they have a responsibility to be aware of upcoming weather events that may present a danger to themselves and those around them. While they cannot control the weather, they can choose not to drive through dangerous conditions. Tractor trailers that are empty present a grave risk in high wind conditions as an empty trailer makes the truck much more susceptible to a rollover.
There are many factors that contribute to a high wind truck accident. Truck drivers and trucking companies are highly regulated and must meet strict federal and state safety standards that include the following:
Failure to comply with safety regulations can constitute negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company. If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be eligible for compensation, but be aware that liability in a truck accident can be complicated. The driver, the owner of the truck, and the trucking company will attempt to shift blame away from themselves to avoid paying damages. Working with an experienced truck accident attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Holding a truck company liable for your injuries can be an uphill battle. Contact an experienced Wilmington truck accident lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow, LLC who will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve, so that you can concentrate on your recovery. Call us at 302-427-9500 to schedule a free consultation about your case or contact us online. From our offices in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, Delaware, we assist injured victims throughout the state.
If you have not seen Pulse technology yet, you are likely to see it soon. Instead of a standard, solid brake light, Pulse technology features, as its name implies, a pulsing light mounted in the center of a car’s regular brake lights.
When you are behind a car fitted with a Pulse light, if the vehicle slows or stops, the flashing Pulse light should grab your attention. The human eye is able to detect flashing lights more quickly than solid lights. This helps in making the roads safer for everyone and reducing the number of rear end collisions.
Many dealerships are installing this potentially lifesaving, third-party technology.
Pulse is an award winning, patented collision avoidance system. It is designed to be used in any vehicle (car, truck, or potentially even motorcycle) manufactured after 1991. The Pulse light flashes four times when the fitted vehicle slows or stops. It can be installed in vehicles with LED or regular incandescent lights, and it works with any 12-volt system.
Thirty-seven percent of all car accidents are rear end collisions. Further, not all of these accidents are minor fender benders. Some result in serious multi-car pileups. Twenty-eight percent of rear-end collisions are serious enough to result in a “total loss” of the vehicle (meaning the cost to repair exceeds the cost to replace the vehicle).
Both the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have found that 90 percent of rear end collisions could be avoided if the “trailing” driver had just one more second of warning. Because the human eye is able to detect flashing lights more quickly than a solid light, Pulse gives trailing drivers the extra one second edge that they need.
A recent study conducted by the NHTSA has found that Pulse technology actually increases trailing drivers’ reaction times by 40 percent. A similar study by auto-manufacturing giant Daimler Benz found that Pulse lights give the trailing driver 20 extra feet of reaction time if they are travelling 65 miles per hour.
Although many dealerships are installing Pulse on all new vehicles, anyone with a car or truck manufactured after 1991 can get Pulse at almost any car dealership. The Pulse technology is about the size of a stick of gum, and adds about $5 to the average monthly car payment. This makes it a fairly valuable investment when considering the safety benefits that it provides.
Pulse is currently working with a number of auto insurance underwriters to see if the installation of the technology can qualify for a discount in insurance premiums.
It has happened to most of us at one point or another. You are sitting in traffic, minding your own business, when you are unexpectedly hit from behind by a driver who was not maintaining a safe following distance, and likely not paying attention. If you have been injured in a rear end collision, or any type of car accident, we can help you to obtain compensation for your injuries and property damage. With offices located in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, the Wilmington car accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow offer flexible appointment times, including evenings and weekends. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at 302-427-9500 or contact us online.
