Posts Tagged ‘Hang’

Making the Difficult Decision to Hang up Car Keys to Prevent a Homestead Car Accident

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

According to statistics, seniors in Florida will make up 27% of the state’s population by the year 2030, making it the greyest state in the US. Gail Holley of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Safe Mobility for Life program says that more needs to be done to ensure that drivers know when they must hang up their keys in order to prevent car accidents.

According to the AAA, some drivers develop conditions such as arthritis and other conditions which impair driving. Others take medication with severe side effects. In some cases, drivers can operate a car safely into their 90s. In other cases, drivers in their 30s and 40s are dealing with chronic conditions that affect their ability to avoid a car accident. Therefore, it is not age alone that determines driving fitness. However, drivers who are elderly are more at risk for many serious illnesses and may have conditions such as osteoporosis, which can contribute to serious and fatal injuries in the event of a traffic collision.

The AAA suggests that family and friends speak privately to someone who may be having problems driving. According to the organization, it is important to avoid making demands or lecturing the driver. This can be a challenge, since in some cases a driver may be in denial about their situation. If the driver has never gotten a ticket and still has a perfect driving record, for example, they may be reluctant to admit that they have developed some driving challenges. It is also important to discuss transportation alternatives. Many drivers in Florida are reluctant to surrender their driving privileges because they fear losing independence. It may be important to discuss alternatives such as shuttles, taxis, and other resources (as well as their costs) to reassure a driver that they will still be able to get around when they need to.

If you have a friend or loved one who you believe may be an at-risk driver, it is important to take steps to help them before they are injured in a Homestead car accident. Offering alternatives and discussing their medical condition can help. Keep in mind that it is not only the elderly who may have trouble driving due to a health condition. A younger driver with a chronic health condition may still be at risk of causing a Homestead truck accident or Homestead motorcycle accident if their condition affects driving ability. If you yourself have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, discuss your with your doctor and ask how your condition will affect your driving ability. It can be frightening to have a health concern and even more frightening to contemplate giving up your car keys due to a health condition. However, it is important to make the right decision in order to avoid a Homestead traffic accident.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

National Cell Phone Courtesy Month Is a Good Time to Hang Up on Distracted Driving to Prevent Hollywood Car Accidents

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month. Founded by author Jacqueline Whitmore in 2002, National Cell Phone Courtesy Month was designed to make cell phone users more polite about use of the devices. National Cell Phone Courtesy Month is intended to raise awareness about the importance of not yelling into cell phones in public and not using cell phones in inappropriate public areas. However, National Cell Phone Courtesy Month can also be used to raise awareness about the dangers of cell phones use.

Only eleven states currently do not have bans on cell phone use and texting while driving, and Florida is one of these states with no prohibitions about the use of cell phones behind the wheel. While legislators have tried to pass laws banning cell phone use by drivers in recent years, however, these bills have not passed into law. In 2011, Governor Rick Scott vetoed proposed legislation which would have mandated that the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles teach drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. Municipalities and communities also cannot pass their own distracted driving laws under current Florida laws. As a result, in Florida distracted driving is not legislated and it is up to individual drivers to make the right choice to drive undistracted.

There are studies which have concluded that driving distracted can lead to accidents in the same way that drinking and driving can lead to Hollywood drunk driving accidents. In fact, the response times for distracted drivers and drunk drivers is similar, according to researchers, which is one reason why distracted drivers are more at risk for a Hollywood car accident.

Despite the wide-spread media attention about the dangers of distracted driving and despite the research, many drivers continue to drive distracted. One possible reason is that many distractions have become so commonplace that many drivers do not see the danger. Many professionals are used to speaking on a cell phone all day, so they simply carry on using their mobile devices while in the car. Many cars currently made also include touch screens, mobile device docks, and other features which can pose a distraction. In addition, many cars include technology to allow hands-free talking and dialing, so that drivers can continue to use their cell phones without having to use their hands. Unfortunately, some studies have suggested that hands-free devices are also distracting and can also lead to Hollywood traffic accidents since they still take the driver’s attention from the road.

Since it is well documented that distracted driving is dangerous and since there are no laws in Florida to prevent it, fashioning distracted driving as an issue of polite driving may make sense. In many cases, distracted driving is dangerous because it can lead to a driver cutting someone off, for example. Preventing distracted driving not only ensures that drivers are more polite on the roads – which in itself could prevent Hollywood car crashes caused by road rage – but also ensures that all drivers and pedestrians stay safer.


Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog