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Teen drivers may be more at risk when it comes to car collisions in Pembroke Pines and other communities, according to researchers. The culprit, according to many experts, is that young drivers have less driving experience than older drivers and may not yet have honed the skills necessary to avoid traffic collisions in Pembroke Pines or their communities. This may be one reason why teen drivers have higher accident rates.

There are many ways that experts claim parents can help their teen drivers stay safer while they develop their driving skills:

• Get extra lessons for teens with driving instructors
• Limit teen driver’s driving privileges and only gradually add privileges as the teen develops their driving skills
• Set firm rules about no cell phone use, no passengers, and no additional distractions that can lead to road accidents

The University of North Carolina has an additional idea. The university has developed an app, Time to Drive, for teen users. The iPhone app allows teens and parents to set goals in order to gain specific driving experience and driving skills. Teens and parents can track progress as young drivers gain experience with bad weather, interstate driving, nigh driving, and other skills. The app is not intended to be used when driving; drivers open it after driving to log experience and the app works in the background as someone drives. According to senior research associate Arthur Goodwin, Time to Drive encourages teens to get driving experience in a range of situations.

There are other apps and devices on the market aimed at teen drivers, too. A free distracted-driving app for teen drivers is available from Esurance and Cellcontrol. The app prevents drivers from getting or sending texts while the car is in motion. OrigoSafe is a device that prevents a driver from starting their car until their phones are docked. The system is an ignition interlock system and does not require a monthly cost.

DriveCam is similar to a nanny cam and allows parents to keep an eye – literally – on their teen drivers. The camera sends out alerts if a teen drives beyond a certain area or swerves or speeds. The cam service is offered by Sprint. Sprint also offers a pay-per-month Sprint Drive First service. This service disables a driver’s ability to text when their car is moving more than 10 mph.

Do these devices and apps help to prevent car and pedestrian accidents in Pembroke Pines and other communities? In some cases, it may be useful for drivers to get a reminder to turn their cell phones off when driving. In the end, however, it may be more useful for teens to learn to turn their own cell phones off behind the wheel. For parents, these apps and devices, however, can help provide some peace of mind and can be another tool in helping to prevent distracted driving.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A new study out of Oregon and Portland State Universities has concluded that left turns are among the riskiest pedestrian areas. Researchers have found that permitted (also known as unprotected) left turns are especially risky. These types of left turns are created to ensure a steady flow of traffic, but if the study’s authors are correct, that speedy traffic comes at a price: more car collisions in Hollywood and other cities.

The study, published by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, determined that unprotected left turns lead to traffic accidents for a few reasons:

1) Poor motorist habits. According to the researchers, motorists who are turning left at permitted turns are 4-9% less likely to check for pedestrians when completing their turn when compared with motorists making other types of turns.

2) Confusing signals. Each city in the US – and even different cities within the same state – have different signals for unprotected left turns. According to personal injury attorneys in Hollywood and other communities, this lack of consistency can lead to confusion and can increase the risk of pedestrian accidents in Hollywood and other communities. Some experts have recommended one universal permitted left hand traffic sign be adopted to reduce confusion and reduce the risk of collisions.

3) Poor pedestrian habits. In many car and truck accidents in Hollywood and other communities, when pedestrians are involved they may bear some of the liability for the collision. Researchers with the Federal Highway Administration found that pedestrians are more likely to be injured when crossing in marked crosswalks rather than unmarked areas. According to some experts, this may be because pedestrians feel much safer in marked crosswalks and may take fewer precautions.

4) Unprotected left turns encourage cars to turn quickly. According to the study published by the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, drivers making a permitted left turn often need to move quickly in order to complete their turns, and this speed can mean that they do not take the time to check for pedestrians.

According to a 2010 NHTSA report, 13% of all traffic deaths in 2010 were pedestrian fatalities. That means that year about 4280 pedestrians died in traffic collisions. Experts agree that in many cases these deaths are preventable and could be avoided with better motorist habits.

Some experts believe that permitted left turns should be converted into protected left turns in order to reduce instances of traffic accidents. Others argue that better signals or traffic signs would help prevent pedestrian fatalities. Most experts do agree that some changes need to be made to prevent senseless fatalities and injuries.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

A new study out of Canada has found that opioids – even in low doses – can increase the risk of traffic accidents. According to the study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, motorists who took doses as low as 20 milligrams of opioids a day had a 21% increased risk of car-accident-related injury. Motorists with higher doses of the drugs had an even greater chance of being involved in a car accident. For example, patients prescribed 100 to 199 mg a day had a 42% greater chance of being in a car accident.

Opioids are a class of drugs commonly used to treat pain. Codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and the fentanyl patch are all examples of opioids. One concern for the study’s authors is that opioids are being prescribed increasingly often to help patients manage chronic and acute pain. Unfortunately, these medications have side effects that can affect alertness, which can lead to traffic accidents. What does this mean in terms of car accidents in Coral Gables and other Florida cities? It means that if you are taking any prescription medication, you should take some precautionary measures to help prevent a traffic accident in Coral Gables or your Florida community:

1) Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about medication you are prescribed. The medication may have side effects that can affect your ability to drive. Discuss side effects and when it is safe for you to return to driving.

2) Visit the same pharmacy for all your medication needs and get to know your pharmacist. Look for a pharmacy that keeps track of your medication and can alert you when your medications may interact and produce more side effects. Also, speak with your pharmacist. Often, a pharmacist can give you important information about medicine safety and possible side effects to look out for.

3) Limit driving or hang up the keys until your body has adjusted to a new medication and your doses are stable. When you first start a new medication, you may notice more side effects and your doctor may be adjusting the dose to ensure that you are getting the right medication. According to Dr. David Juurlink, this can be one of the riskier times for being involved in an accident, because your body is still getting used to the substance. You can help avoid a car accident or pedestrian accident in Coral Gables or your community by only returning to driving when it is safe to do so.

4) Let your pharmacist and doctor know about any over-the-counter or natural medication you are taking. Some all-natural vitamins and supplements and over-the-counter medications can also have serious side effects that can increase your risk of a car accident or truck accident in Coral Gables or your community. Natural and over-the-counter medications can also interact with your prescription medication, so discuss everything you are taking with your doctor and pharmacist.

5) Keep an eye on your symptoms – they can lead to injury, too. In some cases, the symptoms of the condition you are treating with medication can put you at risk of an accident. For example, if you are in chronic pain, your mobility may be limited and this can affect your driving. In some cases, symptoms can develop if you are allergic to your medication, and these reactions can affect your ability to drive. Discuss symptoms with your doctor and pharmacist when evaluating your ability to drive safely.

6) Make sure you are getting adequate rest. Some researchers have speculated that patients who are in chronic pain may be at increased risk of car accidents because they are not sleeping well due to their condition. There have been many studies showing that fatigued driving can lead to car accidents and truck accidents in Coral Gables and communities across the country.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Road trips are something of a rite of passage and many new teen drivers love the idea of heading for the open road during summer vacation. If your teen driver hopes to try a road trip this summer, here are some ways you can help your teen avoid a Miami car accident while on the road:

1) Make sure your teen has the driving skills to handle a road trip. If your teen just recently got a driver`s license, he or she may not have the experience to easily avoid Miami truck accidents and traffic accidents. Consider having your teen take additional lessons and defensive driving lessons before the road trip.

2) Help your teen plan a safe road trip. Talk with your teen about passengers. A few additional passengers can help your teen stay safer on the road, but too many passengers may be a distraction. Discuss passengers and the safest routes to take on the road. Talk to your teen about the supplies they need to take for a safe road trip. These might include a first aid kit, a cell phone, maps, and other supplies.

3) Make sure your teen knows how to stay safe. Set some ground rules to ensure that your teen does not take unneeded risks, such as driving distracted. Give your teen an option to get home safely. For example, make it clear that you will come get the group, no questions asked, rather than risk having your teen drive under the influence or drive in dangerous conditions. Arrange a regular check-in time when your teen can call in to let you know he or she is safe. Consider arranging a GPS device with your teen so that you can keep track of the car`s route.

4) Get your teen`s car checked. A well-functioning car can reduce the risk of a Miami traffic accident because a well-maintained car responds correctly. Take your teen`s car to a trusted mechanic to ensure that the car is in good enough condition for a road trip.

5) Have back up plans. Make sure that your teen knows what to do if plans change. If there is a road closure or another problem, for example, make sure that your teen understands alternative routes to take. You don’t want your teen lost and driving in unfamiliar areas.

6) Consider extra insurance. If your teen will be headed outside of US borders or state borders, make sure that he or she has extra car and health insurance in case there is a problem.

7) Take a practice run. Consider driving along with your teen as your teen takes a longer drive. This will reassure you about your teen`s driving ability before he or she takes the trip. If you notice any problems – such as distracted driving or a need for more driving lessons – you can address these issues before the trip.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Technology has always been instrumental in helping to prevent car accidents and injuries. The seat belt, one of the simplest forms of technology introduced to early cars, is still one of the best ways to help prevent brain injuries and head injuries in a Hollywood car accident. Each year, car manufacturers roll out new safety systems to help prevent accidents and injuries. Could the newest technology be instrumental in helping prevent Hollywood traffic accidents even more? The Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue seems to think so.

The Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue has reviewed a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology which allows cars in the same area to use a wireless system to communicate with each other. This can help cars communicate with each other about direction of travel, speed, and location of each vehicle. This in turn helps cars communicate about when an accident is likely to happen and warn drivers ahead of this time. The technology can even brake if the driver does not respond in time. It also warns drivers of cars in their blind spots.

With this system, if one car cuts another car off, for example, the technology signals loudly to the drivers, so that both drivers can respond in time to avoid the accident. The technology also signals loudly if a driver attempts an unsafe lane change or is about to enter an intersection where an accident is very likely. Since the technology can tell where other cars are, it can estimate when it is unsafe to enter an intersection due to another car’s speed and travel direction, for example.

While the technology might not be as effective in preventing Hollywood drunk driving accidents and Hollywood pedestrian accidents, there is a suggestion that it could be very effective in preventing the most common car accident types. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration predicts that this type of technology could help prevent or minimize an impressive 80% of car accidents involving sober drivers.

Some of the new technology allows not only cars to communicate with each other, but also allows cars to communicate with school zones, traffic lights, and work zones. V2V technology along with this new technology is known as V2X technology. Implementing the technology could still be many years away. In addition to the possible cost factors that car manufacturers need to consider, there are also cyber security and privacy concerns that need to be addressed with the new technology. While many auto industry experts say that the technology is the next big safety feature breakthrough, more regulations need to be in place, say experts, to ensure that the private information that cars would gather would not be abused.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Currently, Florida is one of only three states with no booster seat laws. Most other states have legislation in place making it mandatory for parents to place children over the age of four in booster seats. California has one of the toughest laws, requiring children over the age of four to use booster seats until they are 4 feet 9 inches high or until they are eight years old (whichever comes first). The car club AAA and legislators have been pressuring Florida to pass a booster seat law, arguing that such legislation would help prevent injuries to children involved in car accidents.

The idea behind age-appropriate safety restraints is based on the premise that car safety systems – including car seat belts and air bags – are designed for adults. In fact, these same safety systems, which can help prevent an Aventura brain injury for an adult victim of a car accident, can be life-threatening to children. Since children are smaller, air bags that deflate in an accident can easily suffocate them or cause head injuries. In an Aventura car accident, seat belts can cut into a child’s neck and cause serious injuries. That is why age-appropriate safety restraints are needed.

However, the laws surrounding child safety restraints can be confusing. Small babies are placed in rear-facing infant car seat. Eventually, a child is graduated to a harnessed rear-facing seat and then to a forward-facing seat. However, when children should move from one restraint system to another is not entirely clear. Car seats are based on height, weight, and the age of a child. Since children grow at very varied rates, a child may exceed the weight measurements for a safety seat but still meet the age and height requirements for a different seat. This can be quite confusing to parents trying to make the safest choice for their children.

Most experts agree that children at some point should be placed in a booster seat. This is a cushion that elevates the child so that airbags and seatbelts cannot harm the child in the event of an accident. Some booster seats also come with backrests and armrests. All models are strapped into the car with the car’s seat belt. However, there is a wide range of disagreement about how long a child should be placed in a booster seat. Georgia has a law requiring all children between the ages of four and eight to be placed in a booster seat while in a car. Some experts, however, argue that children do not fit correctly and safely into an adult seat belt until they are ten or even twelve years old.

An adult seat belt that fits correctly goes across the thighs. If a seatbelt cuts across the stomach, as it does on many children, and the car is involved in an Aventura car accident, the belt can cause internal injuries. The upper part of the seat belt should be positioned across cross the center of the wearer’s chest. For smaller adults and children, the seat belt cuts across the neck, potentially causing life-threatening injuries if the car is in an Aventura traffic accident. A booster seat raises a child so that the seat belt is positioned safely. Models with head rests and back rests also cushion the head and protect it in an accident. According to SafetyBeltSafe USA, correct booster seat use for a child who does not fit correctly into a seat with a seatbelt can help reduce childhood Aventura personal injuries by as much as 45 percent in the event of an accident.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

If you have a new teenage driver in your household this year, bear in mind that Halloween can pose a higher than usual risk of Miami car accidents. If your teen is out and about on Halloween, he or she will have to contend not only with night driving, but also with lots of children in costume running around. Unfortunately, some children do get overly excited on Halloween and may run out into traffic. Drivers who are out on this night need to be extra cautious. New drivers may not yet have the skills to deal with the added stress and dangers of Halloween driving. To ensure that your new teen driver is safe on the roads, consider:

1) Discussing the dangers of Halloween driving. If your teen will be out and about driving on Halloween night, make sure that he or she understands that Halloween is a riskier night than usual, simply because of the larger number of children out on the streets. The higher level of pedestrian traffic increases the risk of Miami pedestrian accidentshttp://www.flaxmanandlopez.com/lawyer-attorney-1118456.html. Talk to your teen about the dangers, and work together to find a solution that will help keep your teen safe on the roads. Get your teen to come up with their own ideas for staying safe – teens are more likely to follow safety rules if they propose them.

2) Ensure that your teen will be turning off all mobile devices while driving on Halloween. Halloween is no time to be texting and driving or talking on a cell phone and driving. On this night, drivers, especially, need to place their entire focus on the road. Ensure that your teen understands the dangers, and is willing to turn off their mobile device before getting in the car.

3) Make sure your teen has get home safe plan in case they attend a party where there is drinking. Many Halloween parties for older teens do involve drinking, and like all holidays, Halloween night can mean a higher risk of Miami drunk driving accidents. To avoid a serious injury, ensure that your teen knows that they can call you or a friend to get a safe and sober ride home – no questions asked. Make sure that your teen also has enough cab fare to get home safely as well.

4) Be wary of Halloween pranks and where your teen is going on Halloween. Unfortunately, many older teens do engage in risk-taking activities on Halloween night. Smashing pumpkins, playing pranks, and even toilet papering houses can lead to aggressive confrontations and even personal injury. Make sure that your teens understand the dangers of risk taking. If you’re not sure about your teen’s safety on Halloween night, consider arranging an event or party at home.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

We’re happy to announce that students at Texas Christian University have launched a new campaign there to prevent college binge drinking.

Their campaign, VITALS, stands for Vomiting, Incoherence, Temperature, Absence of color, Low breathing and Seizure. The campaign’s goal to educate fellow TCU students on the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and what needs to be done in situations where alcohol poisoning is afflicting their peers. Their campaign is based on the work done by students in the 2009 NSAC Competition, sponsored by The Century Council. After the competition ended, we decided to give students the funds to actually implement the campaign that they planned. Previous campaigns have been conducted at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, University of Alabama, University of Ohio, and George Washington University (in progress).

We look forward to seeing the work that the VITALS campaign comes up with. To read more about the campaign, check out the press release hosted on TCU’s website.

Century Council Blog

From The Globe and Mail

There is no greater source of stress for most teens than heading back to school.

This anxiety affects kids of all types – from slackers to perfectionists, jocks to prom queens. It is true for kids who struggle at school, get poor grades and have few friends. But it’s also true for academically and socially high-functioning kids. September is a major transition for everyone (parents included).

Every teen feels their problem is unique, that no one has ever felt quite like they do. But, I’ve found that their worries generally fall into three categories (and some teens may worry about all three.)

Century Council Blog

From The Globe and Mail

There is no greater source of stress for most teens than heading back to school.

This anxiety affects kids of all types – from slackers to perfectionists, jocks to prom queens. It is true for kids who struggle at school, get poor grades and have few friends. But it’s also true for academically and socially high-functioning kids. September is a major transition for everyone (parents included).

Every teen feels their problem is unique, that no one has ever felt quite like they do. But, I’ve found that their worries generally fall into three categories (and some teens may worry about all three.)

Century Council Blog