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This year, California introduced a law that allows cars that that can drive without driver input to be tested on the California’s highways. There is a great deal of interest in the cars, which use a range of sensors as well as cameras and computer programs to drive in a variety of conditions with no input from the driver. Advocates of the cars say that the cars will even allow the visually impaired to drive since the cars will do all the “seeing” for the driver.

Advocates also claim that the cars will reduce car accidents since the sensors and programs can respond much more quickly than human drivers and are not prone to human error. Some even believe that the cars will take care of the problem of distracted driving, since owners will be able to text and engage in other activities while the car drives for them. However, will the new cars eventually reduce the risk of Miami traffic accidents – or contribute to the city’s accident rates?

Developers of the cars, which include Google technology, say that the cars have been tested for years now and the only accident in 300,000 miles of road tests was a minor rear-end crash that could be prevented in the future by installing heat-seeking technology in the trunk to detect approaching cars.

Critics weigh in

Critics of the cars are skeptical, noting that technology is imperfect and since computers and computer programs develop glitches or crash unexpectedly, the risks with a car fueled with this type of technology could be significant. After all, computers crash regularly and software is known for developing bugs and other problems that create crashes on personal computers. Drivers in an automated car are actually encouraged not to watch the road and may not notice a problem in time to stop a Miami car accident. Manufacturers of driverless cars have pointed out that the test cars in use have hundreds of thousands of kilometers of error-free driving on record.

Some critics also point out that if the cars become widespread they could put many professions, including car mechanics and traffic police, out of work. The financial impact of this could be significant. Manufacturers of driverless cars point out that driverless cars could actually make police and law enforcement authorities more effective, as time would be freed up to pursue other cases.

Cars raise questions about safety

In addition, the possibility of driverless cars raises the question of driver training and education. Will these cars allow the driving age to be lowered? How will drivers be tested to ensure that they safely drive a car that does not require their interaction? Currently, most states do not have laws about driverless cars and do not permit these cars on the road. However, since manufacturers of driverless cars claim that even blind drivers would be able to drive the vehicles, it raises questions about how drivers would be evaluated for safety. In addition, there are some questions about how roads could safely be shared between driverless cars and traditional cars. Would sharing the road lead to more Miami truck accidents and car accidents?

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Car manufacturers have been introducing new safety features to market their products and to create safer roadways. From seat belts to air bags, safety features help prevent injuries when a car is involved in a Miami car accident. However, the latest wave of safety features for cars is aimed not just at preventing injuries, but also at preventing accidents from occurring in the first place.

One of the latest of these features has exciting implications for possibly preventing Miami pedestrian accidents in the future. The new features include what are known as advanced safety vehicles (ASV) as well as specially-developed car bodies that reduce the impact when pedestrians are hit.

One system, the Eye Sight system, used in Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. cars, sounds a large alarm when the car approaches too closely to an object or a person. If the car continues to move forward, the device automatically applies the brakes slightly. If the driver still does not move to prevent a car accident, the car automatically brakes at a distance from the object. The system works in conjunction with a camera and sensors. When the car approaches any object too closely, the device automatically acts to prevent a collision. The device may be less sensitive in bad weather and may not work in cases where pedestrians jump in front of a car suddenly, however.

Some models of cars in Japan already have the system as of 2008 and an updated version of the Eye Sight system was released in 2010. The system was developed as part of a larger effort to develop ASV cars, an imitative supported by the then- Transport Ministry in Japan in 1991. Among other developments created as a result of that initiative are devices which sound an alarm if a car swerves. That device is developed to wave fatigued drivers if they nod off at the wheel.

Another development involves increasing the shock absorbency of car hoods and increasing the space between the hood and the engine. These innovations are meant to reduce some of the injuries which occur in pedestrian accidents. In these accidents, fatal injuries mostly occur when pedestrians sustain injuries by crashing through the hood into the engine. The new developments are meant to reduce this type of fatal injury.

While manufacturers and experts agree that the new devices will not prevent all accidents and are no substitute for good driving, the devices are intended to help drivers. Currently, only luxury cars have the features. This means that in Japan less than 1% of cars have the special features. However, if the devices prove useful in preventing car crashes and injuries, they may eventually become more standard on both sides of the Atlantic. They may eventually help prevent Miami traffic accidents and injuries as well.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

According to an investigative report by the Sun Sentinel, at least 21 people in Florida have been seriously injured or killed by speeding police vehicles since 2004. In some cases, the speeds do not seem justified. In 2008, 20-year-old Erskin Bell Jr. was left severely brain damaged when a police car rear-ended his vehicle at 104 mph. A subsequent investigation showed that the police officer behind the wheel, Mark Maupin, was not responding to a call and was not taking part in a pursuit when he lost control of his police car. Maupin had a history of accidents and speeding violations on the job, but after the Bell accident the only punishment he received was to lose his license for 90 days. Maupin was also injured in the crash.

According to the Sun Sentinel investigation, seemingly unnecessary speeding is one of the most disturbing trends when it comes to Florida car accidents involving police cars: in most of the 21 cases involving a serious car accident with a police car, the officers involved were responding to a routine call or were simply driving too fast. In most cases, they were not speeding due to an urgent situation. The investigation also found that police officers involved in these 21 accidents tended to face low criminal sentences, ranging from no jail time to no more than 60 days in jail, even when the car accidents they caused were fatal.

The problem of speeding police cars also causes a heavy toll for police officers. Of the people killed by police cars between 2004 and 2011, seven were police officers. In some cases, their vehicles were traveling as much as 61 mph above the posted speed limit at the time of the accident. Obviously, the Sun Sentinel report is disturbing, as many of these accidents that lead to serious accidents appear to be highly preventable.

There is no doubt that law enforcement personnel do a terrific job in keeping communities safe. They work tirelessly to uphold the law and help individuals. In many cases, they risk their lives for others. In some situations, police officers and other emergency vehicles do need to speed. If they are chasing someone who is dangerous or trying to get to a life-threatening situation, speed of course can save lives. And emergency responders do get special training to ensure that they do get to emergency situations quickly in order to save lives.

At the same time, when families lose loved ones due to the situation described by the Sun Sentinel, these types of losses can be devastating and angering. These accidents can cause serious injuries, including Fort Lauderdale brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fatalities. In many cases, victims who have been injured by emergency responders face tremendous challenges when it comes to recovering compensation for injuries and other costs. Community governments and their employees are protected and have teams of experienced attorneys working for them. If you have been injured in a Fort Lauderdale car accident, it is important to speak with a qualified Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney who can defend your rights and can seek compensation for your injuries, so that you do not have to bear the burden of medical costs and other expenses yourself.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Dr. Howard Shaffer, one of the two researchers responsible for the CARS study, was kind enough to share his thoughts on the briefings:

On Tuesday, Dr. Sarah Nelson and I left our offices at the Division on Addictions and traveled to Capitol Hill to brief Congressional staff and Federal Agency personnel about our Computerized Assessment and Referral System (CARS) program. During our teaching day in Washington DC, we spoke to more than 100 people about this innovative assessment program. It was an easy task to teach people about CARS because we believe that this project will change the way our nation and the world deals with repeat DUI offenders.

Our research shows that almost all of repeat DWI offenders evidence alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence. Perhaps surprising to some is that the majority of these people also have a variety of underlying mental health issues that often precede addiction. Currently, DUI treatment programs often lack staff with expertise in identifying these mental health issues. Consequently, DUI treatment is not optimally matched to the needs of offenders. We believe that, if we can better identify the problems behind the deadly behavior, we can match treatment to these needs for this group of offenders who pose such a deadly risk to others on our nation’s roadways. This four-year CARS project is now underway. Learn more about these presentations and other resources and publications on our website, Division on Addictions.

Century Council Blog

Hope. I love that word. I cherish the concept. I treasure the feeling. There were so many days after my daughter was killed by a drunk driver that I felt buried in the dark hole of despair, when I could see no possibility of light. It was a difficult climb to the surface, one I could never have made on my own. One person who held the light on for me until I could see it myself was my MADD victim advocate, always there to care, listen, and support.

Anger also accompanied my despair. I was furious with our society. How could we allow this violent crime to exist? It is so preventable. It is so unnecessary. I became vocal, actively participating with MADD to get “tougher” laws, believing that would become a deterrent so more folks would decide to drive sober or have a sober designated driver. Sadly, after a few years I became disheartened. The number of America’s family members killed by drunk driving stayed relatively the same. My hope was waning. In fact, I was downright discouraged.

Some people continue to drive drunk because they can. Interestingly, because all the education and deterrents and punishments do not seem to stop the drunks from driving, we now have the development of advanced technology that will turn the cars into the cure.

Today my hope is renewed. We are living in the time when the vaccine to this horrible disease of drunk driving and the destruction it leaves in its path is being created and tested. Right now….as you read this….it is happening!

JT Griffin, MADD’s Senior Vice-President of Public Policy, and I recently were privileged to visit the laboratory where it is being researched in Boston. Bud Zaouk (the gentleman with the dark hair you see in the photos) graciously educated and escorted us through the facility. It was inspiring.

The technology is called Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety, or DADSS. It is a technology that will integrate a passive sensor into the vehicle, being able to detect the precise amount of alcohol in the driver’s system. If that driver is at or above the legal limit of 0.08 BAC, the car simply will not start, or be driveable. The performance specifications are set at an extremely high level. It must perform absolutely accurately, precisely, reliably and work in a very short time (millisecond). This is now being tested for vehicle integration and consumers will have the option of purchasing a car with it already part of the package – much the way we had the option of having air bags in our vehicles years ago when they became available. It will not be mandated.

The DADSS is not to be confused with today’s alcohol ignition interlock systems that convicted drunk drivers are sometimes required to place in their vehicles. They certainly are an effective tool in reducing drunk driving. In states requiring those for all convicted drunk drivers, fatalities caused by drunk driving have been reduced by over 30%. However, they are calibrated at a lower level of 0.02 BAC, because a person convicted of drunk driving is not allowed to have any alcohol while driving.

DADSS program is studying two prototypes. One is distant spectrometry, which uses infrared sensors that are triangulated on the person in the driver’s seat. The other uses tissue spectrometry, which uses near infrared light that will perhaps be imbedded in the start button or the gear shift.

It was astonishing to have the mechanisms explained and demonstrated, indicating how very close we are to having this become part of our everyday reality…which means to me, to have the cars be the cure…which means that there will be a day when the car will simply not allow a person to drive it when impaired by alcohol at or above the legal limit.

The DADSS project is funded by our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. MADD is now urging Congress to support the ROADS SAFE Act, which will lengthen the time of funding this important research.

THIS WILL SAVE SO MANY LIVES. This is my hope. I hope it becomes your hope. Do call or email your Congressperson and tell them you want them to support this life-saving legislation. It very well could save the life of someone you love.

Warmly, Jan Withers

National MADD President

Blog to Eliminate Drunk Driving

I’ve posted in the past about ignition interlock devices (IIDs) — those small, cheap breath testers that are installed in a car’s dashboard and require periodic breath tests from the driver for the engine to function.  See, for example, Will Ignition Interlock Devices End Drunk Driving?.  I’ve also written about how these devices are unreliable and even dangerous on the highways.  See, Ignition Interlocks: Dangerous But Profitable.     

I’ve written about how MADD has been lobbying hard for mandatory installation of these IIDs in all vehicles, their CEO even claiming that they will "eliminate drunk driving once and for all".  See, All U.S. Cars to Have Ignition Interlock Devices? and Finally: An End to Drunk Driving.  And I’ve shown that MADD’s own IRS returns show that three of the six largest contributors to the organization are Nissan North America, Daimler Chrysler and General Motors — all of  which stand to make fortunes from installing these devices.  See, The Truth About Ignition Interlock Devices.    

Following is a Washington Post story from a couple of days ago, showing how IID manufacturers are now also using lobbyists in Washington to get bills passed requiring IIDs in all cars.

Steering Hill Leaders to Drunken-Driver Devices


Wash., DC.  July 10 –As House leaders prepare to roll out a massive six-year highway funding bill, among the many interests watching with anticipation are a handful of businesses that have pressed for a requirement that could take them from cottage industry to multimillion-dollar market overnight.

The campaign by the manufacturers of in-car devices to test blood alcohol levels is representative of a particularly successful model of lobbying in which for-profit businesses align with altruistic activist groups to implement government regulations that create a captive market for their products.

A bill that would withhold up to 5 percent of each state’s highway funding unless that state requires such as device in the cars of all convicted drunken drivers was introduced in the Senate in February by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, New Jersey Democrat, and last month in the House by Rep. Eliot L. Engel, New York Democrat.

For the past 18 months, lobbyists for "ignition interlocks," as they are called, have jockeyed to inject a provision into the crevices of the transportation reauthorization bill, a tentative outline of which was released Friday by Rep. John L. Mica, Florida Republican…

The Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers hired lobbyist David Kelly, a former chief of staff and acting administrator at the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration. Mr. Lautenberg’s former chief of staff, Tim Yehl, now lobbies for Ignition Interlock Systems of Iowa…

 The manufacturers are taking a page from a well-worn playbook: lobbying campaigns in which private companies advocate for government requirements that would make them rich by aligning with activist forces who provide moral pronouncements that are appealing to politicians and – once on the table – the public…

We all know what happens when corporate lobbyists start handing out big money to the politicians.  Now add the huge political clout of MADD….  

Expect to have an ignition interlock device in your car in the near future — whether you want one or not.

(Thanks to Robert B. MacLean.)
 

DUI BLOG

In the wake of their recent success in requiring mandatory ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in the cars of drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has been planning the next push: requiring IIDs in all cars. In other words, no car could be sold in the U.S. without devices which would require you to pass a breath test every time you wanted to start the vehicle.  See All U.S. Cars To Have Ignition Interlock Devices?

I’ve posted in the past about how such devices are, at best, inaccurate and problematic. See, for example, Will Ignition Interlock Devices End Drunk Driving?  These are not the expensive, constantly-calibrated high-tech machines used in police stations, but rather assembly-line equipment made by car manufacturers, subject to endless sources of false readings and failures — which can, ironically, cause accidents.  See Ignition Interlock Devices: Dangerous But Profitable.

And I’ve documented that 3 of MADD’s 6 biggest corporate contributors are auto manufacturers who stand to make big profits from mandatory IIDs (another of the 6 major contributors is MADD’s telemarketing company).  See The Truth About Ignition Interlock Devices..

MADD is now finally making their push for federal legislation.  And based upon past successes with legislators unwilling to oppose MADD, the their chances are good.  In today’s news:

MADD Lobbying for Device to Keep Cars From Starting in Driver is Intoxicated


Dallas, TX.  Nov. 15 — …Now in its 30th year, MADD has a new plan and wants to end drunken driving for good. The nonprofit is pushing for the development of alcohol-sensing technology that prevents cars from starting if the driver is intoxicated.

Some say the group is going too far. The million proposed federal legislation to develop the technology has led to the latest round of charges that the group is "neo-prohibitionist."…

And the American Beverage Institute, a restaurant industry group, criticized MADD’s fund-raising techniques this year. MADD relies heavily on expensive telemarketing, which led to poor marks from two charity watchdog groups…

MADD is lobbying Congress to pass an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act to provide the million needed over five years for the sensor technology. Cars would not start if the driver has a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, at .08 or higher…

MADD’s top critic, the American Beverage Institute in Washington, D.C., says the group is now going after social drinkers.

"They are no longer a mainstream organization," said Sarah Longwell, the institute’s managing director. "Many of their policies are extremely fringe at this point."

The institute fears the alcohol sensing technology will be used against people just having a drink or two.

"When they talk about alcohol sensing technologies, ultimately what it does, it eliminates people’s ability to drink anything before driving," Longwell said. "It’s not about drunk driving anymore, it’s about trying to demonize any drinking prior to driving."…

 
Would you trust Detroit to mass-manufacture sophisticated breathalyzer technology for your dashboard?
 

DUI BLOG

Being in a Florida car accident or truck accident is often difficult enough. After such an accident, you may face serious injuries as well as trauma, lost income, and huge medical bills. If your accident involves a government vehicle, however, you have some added challenges and you may wish to consult a qualified Florida personal injury attorney about the accident.

In most Florida car accidents, if someone’s negligence has caused the accident and you have suffered serious injuries and losses, you can bring a legal action against that person (or, more correctly, their insurance provider) in order to recover the costs of your injuries and losses. In the case of a government vehicle, however, the situation is more complicated because state, federal, county, and city governments all enjoy what is known as “sovereign immunity” or “government immunity.” This doctrine, and the legal decisions passed down from courts about this doctrine over the years, have limited the instances in which the government and government employees can be sued in personal injury accidents and other types of accidents.

There are many government vehicles on Florida roads all affected by this doctrine. If you are in an accident with a firefighter, police officer, mail carrier, ambulance driver, your legal claim may be effected by government immunity, even if the government employee was clearly at fault. In these cases and in any case involving a government vehicle, the incident is generally governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which provides some waiver of the government’s immunity – but only in cases where employees are negligent within their employment.

There are other things which can affect your claim against a government in the event of a Florida car accident involving a government vehicle. For example, the burden of proving driver responsibility will be much higher in these cases. You will need a very experienced Florida personal injury attorney who can very definitely prove that the government employee was negligent and at fault. If you have been injured in a Florida pedestrian accident or car accident with an emergency vehicle, your case will also be more complex. If your are injured by an emergency vehicle while the vehicle is trying to get to an emergency, you will face additional challenges because these vehicles are given additional latitude. You may need to prove serious negligence in these cases – such as proving that the emergency vehicle did not correctly use sirens and emergency lights at the time of the accident. Again, an experienced Florida personal injury attorney may be invaluable in such cases.

If you have been involved in a Florida car accident with a government vehicle, you may also need to file an administrative claim with the government before pursuing your legal claim. There is a time limit on when you must do this. In most cases, you must file the administrative claim within 30-180 days of the accident. Failure to file the administrative claim in time can affect your ability to recover damages, so it is essential to contact a good attorney immediately after your accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog