Multi-prong approach to reduce Pennsylvania distracted driving accidents

Few Pennsylvania texting ban citations written in last year, because of difficulty enforcing the ban.

2013-06-05

June 05, 2013 (Press-News.org) After almost a year in effect, the Pennsylvania texting ban only resulted in 1,302 citations statewide, according to AAA. This number illustrates just how hard it can be for law enforcement officers to enforce texting bans and that reducing the number of Pennsylvania distracted driving accidents requires a multi-prong approach.

In southwestern Pennsylvania, there were not even 200 citations for texting issued. Officers report that they have trouble distinguishing when a driver is making a call or texting. In other states, one creative enforcement effort is to have officers ride on buses to observe drivers from a higher angle to spot signs of texting.

A recent study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that distracted driving contributed to 16 percent of all deadly crashes. The Centers for Disease Control report that nationally nine people die each day because of driver distractions. Distracted driving is not limited to texting, but also includes talking on a phone, inputting an address into a GPS or any other activity that takes a driver's eyes off the road.

Pennsylvania's texting ban was prompted in part by the death of a high school teen who was writing a text at the time of her fatal crash. Answering a text message takes five seconds on average. When a driver diverts his or her eyes from the road for that long, the vehicle can easily travel the distance of a football field. Whether a texting ban alone can reduce the number of distracted driving crashes is however open for debate.

Educational campaigns

In addition to the ban, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently launched a YouTube channel. One of the first videos posted was on the dangers of distracted driving. Other videos will highlight topics such as bicycle and motorcycle safety. Soon the PennDOT channel will also have videos specific to the Pittsburgh region.

Another approach that worked to raise awareness around impaired driving is repeatedly getting out a simple message. Jay Winsten, a professor in Harvard's Center for Health Communication is working with Hollywood writers and actors to incorporate warnings about the risks of distracted driving in television shows. He advocates using storytelling to affect changes in behavior.

The cause of a crash is often hard to uncover

Evidence gathering is important after any car crash where the cause is unknown. Maybe a driver swerved causing an accident. Review of phone records may uncover that texting while driving was to blame for the accident.

When you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury in an auto accident, contact an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney as soon as possible. Witnesses may provide information or cellphone records may show that the negligence of another driver caused the accident, but after time passes, it may become more difficult to access this information. In these cases, monetary damages may be available to cover medical bills, lost wages from missed work and pain and suffering.

Article provided by Berger and Green
Visit us at www.bergerandgreen.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Scott's Law violation can be an aggravating factor in an Illinois DUI

2013-06-05

An Illinois statute known as Scott's Law requires motorists to move over and use extra caution when approaching a police car or other emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Also known as the "Move Over" law, the statute was named in honor of Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was fatally struck by an intoxicated driver while tending to a traffic accident on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Scott's Law requirements for Illinois drivers According to Scott's Law, Illinois drivers must take the following precautions when approaching an ...

Jamie McCourt Asks To Reopen Divorce Settlement With Former Dodgers Owner

2013-06-05

In October 2010, Jamie McCourt received $131 million in a divorce settlement with former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. Now, Mrs. McCourt claims the settlement was based on a fraudulent misrepresentation of Mr. McCourt's worth. At the time of the divorce, Frank McCourt listed the worth of the Dodgers franchise at approximately $300 million when, in fact, McCourt was able to sell the Dodgers for $2 billion. Due to the misrepresentation, Jamie McCourt's attorney has asked the court to set aside her divorce settlement, noting, "Mr. McCourt got about 93 percent of the ...

Criminal tax investigations increase even as CI unit loses staff

2013-06-05

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigations unit released a yearly report showing that the number of prosecutions increased in fiscal year 2012. The increase in criminal tax investigations was noteworthy in part, because the number of people employed in the unit has decreased. In fiscal year 2012, which ended on September 30, 2012, the unit initiated 5,125 investigations. This was a nine percent increase over the prior year. The number of indictments increased 13 percent, while convictions were up 12 percent from the prior year. The total number ...

Upturn in California real estate market increases need for legal help

2013-06-05

A new medical building is going up in Santa Cruz and will be four times the size of its current location. According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, property in the popular Mission Street area is in such high demand that the clinic had to settle for a 20 year lease instead of purchasing the property outright. The expansion of the medical facility is just one of many signs indicating an uptick in the real estate market in California. California's real estate boom Across the state, realtors are reporting increasing demands for industrial, residential and commercial properties. ...

Experts brace for an influx of repeat filings in 2013

2013-06-05

Among the sweeping changes put in place by the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) is a mandatory waiting period between bankruptcy filings. The length of the wait depends both upon the type of the previous filing and the type of bankruptcy protection sought now. For example, under the BAPCPA, there is now an eight-year mandatory wait between Chapter 7 filings, provided an Order of Discharge was entered in the first case, or between a Chapter 11 filing and a Chapter 7. Since there was an influx of first-time filings in 2005 before the BAPCPA ...

New Jersey Superior Court case analyzes palimony laws

2013-06-05

The Superior Court of New Jersey recently agreed to hear a case questioning when contracts allowing for palimony payments are upheld. Palimony, a claim for financial support between a couple that was not married, has been recognized in New Jersey since 1979. In the past, both oral and written agreements were enforced. This changed in 2010, when an Amendment to the Statute of Frauds was passed. This Amendment essentially states that for a palimony agreement to be enforced, it must be in writing, signed by the party promising to make payment and that both parties must ...

Preventing Accidents Resulting From Driving While Intoxicated

2013-06-05

In the United States, driving while intoxicated is the cause of about 30 deaths per day and countless injuries. The victims of drunk driving accidents are often blameless and regrettably fall prey to another driver's irresponsibility. There are many measures being taken by local governments and communities to prevent intoxicated driving accidents, including: - Active enforcement of the legal drinking age and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) laws - Conviction and punishment for drunk drivers, including driver license suspension and revocation - Sobriety checkpoints - ...

Drunk Driving Accidents

2013-06-05

Driving while intoxicated is a serious problem in America and the rest of the world, each year causing billions of dollars in property damage, lost wages, medical bills and more. The total cost of motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2000 was $230.6 billion, with about 80% attributed to intoxicated driving. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, on average, nearly 30 people die every day in drunk driving accidents in the United States. This amounts to one death about every 48 minutes! Yet another frightening statistic from ...

$5,200,000.00 "Bad Faith" Settlement Following $9.3M Verdict on $1.250M Policy

2013-06-05

A $5,200,000.00 settlement was reached 3 months following a substantial verdict reached by GWC partners, Louis Cairo and Michael Fisher, in a head-on collision case that was tried before the Honorable William Haddad in February of 2013. This was an amazing turn of events following a very contested trial that resulted in a fully briefed Motion for Mistrial, with an appeal likely to follow, that was scheduled to be heard by Judge Haddad in the next 4 - 6 weeks. The underlying case involved the death of Luis Ramirez, a 54-year old machine worker, who was killed in a head-on ...

Attend the 11th Annual Back to Chattahoochee River Race and Festival and Enjoy Nearby Lodging at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Perimeter Mall Hotel

2013-06-05

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites N-Atlanta Perimeter Mall Hotel, near Sandy Springs, GA, offers convenient lodging for guests attending the 11th Annual Chattahoochee River Race and Festival. Taking place on Saturday, June 15, 2013, the race begins at Garrard Landing Park and ends at Riverside Park in Roswell. Riverside Park will host the free family-friendly festival, music, and awards presentation. Patrons can enjoy an array of exhibitors that include local artisans and farmers market vendors. Plus, kids are sure to enjoy frisbee dog demonstrations, face painting, ...

What about tritiated water release from Fukushima? Ocean model simulations provide an objective scientific knowledge on the long-term tritium distribution

Multi-prong approach to reduce Pennsylvania distracted driving accidents

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: