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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

Police in Ste. Anne seized 10 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop early Saturday.
Manitoba stories

A routine traffic stop for alleged traffic violations has led to criminal charges for two North Carolina men. Police in Clinton, North Carolina claim that a 20-year-old man was driving while impaired early Wednesday morning on Clinton’s Main Street. After law enforcement made contact with the driver and his 20-year-old passenger, both men ultimately were arrested on charges more serious than a minor traffic violation.

While the driver was arrested on suspicion of DWI, the passenger in the vehicle reportedly had six outstanding warrants against him. Authorities have also charged the passenger with a new criminal offense, alleging that the young man was in possession of roughly .12 grams of methamphetamine, which police say was discovered during the incident.

It is not clear from the media what evidence authorities are relying upon for the North Carolina DWI charges being sought against the 20-year-old driver. It should be noted that a person under the age of 21 can be charged with underage DUI based upon evidence of any amount of alcohol.

Similarly, a young driver can face DWI charges based upon the per se legal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol concentration under North Carolina law, or law enforcement’s testimony that a driver appeared to be impaired by alcohol or some other substance while driving.

Typically, the more common-law style of DWI prosecution may involve testimony related to driving conduct, the officer’s observations during a traffic stop and in field sobriety exercises. Chemical test results may also be involved in the more traditional style of DWI prosecution.

Source: Sampson Independent, “Traffic stop leads to drug arrest, DWI charge,” Sherry Matthews, Jan. 9, 2013

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

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

Driver rehabilitation services allow drivers to work with specially trained driving instructors. Driver rehabilitation services in fact offer many things, including:

1) Driving evaluations. As drivers get older, driving ability may become a concern. While many drivers drive safely well into their senior years, some senior drivers develop medical conditions which affect their ability to drive. Since everyone ages differently, it can be difficult to determine exactly when driving ability starts to decline. Professionals offering driver rehabilitation offer evaluations for senior drivers and any drivers concerned about their driving ability. These evaluations can help pinpoint issues and problems before a North Miami car accident occurs. Driver rehabilitation professionals can also make suggestions, such as exercises for flexibility or new driving techniques to help drivers cope with changing needs.

2) Specialized driver training for new drivers. New drivers who have medical conditions or physical issues which affect driving often need different driving instruction than those who do not face these challenges. Driver rehabilitation services can offer specialized new driver training for those who are in wheelchairs as well as for new drivers who face learning disabilities or other issues which could affect driver training.

3) Specialized driver training for experienced drivers with different needs. Health conditions can sometimes change an experienced driver’s ability to drive safely. For example, a North Miami spinal cord injury patient may need to learn to drive all over again with reduced mobility. Someone who has suffered a stroke or other serious illness may also need to re-learn to drive with different abilities. Driver rehabilitation can help with these issues.

4) Specialized equipment training for new drivers and their families. Someone who has suffered from a serious illness and needs a wheelchair or other devices needs to learn how to use those devices when driving. Family members may also need to learn how to drive someone who is in a wheelchair or uses other medical devices. Driver rehabilitation can help teach these skills.

5) Assistance with accessibility features for vehicles. After a serious injury or medical condition, drivers sometimes need to use accessibility features to drive safely. Driver rehabilitation professionals can help drivers determine which accessibility features and devices can help – and how to use these features most effectively.

Driver rehabilitation can help any driver who has suffered an illness or injury which affects their driving ability. These services can cost considerable amounts, however. If the injury which has affected your driving was caused by negligence, contact a North Miami personal injury attorney to see whether you may be able to seek compensation to help pay for medical costs, driver rehabilitation costs, car accessibility features, and other costs related to your injury.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

The morning school run is a high-risk time for Davie car accidents. With plenty of people on the road trying to get to school and then to work, there’s often congestion, frayed tempers, and therefore a high risk of Davie traffic accidents. To reduce your risk of accidents during this time of morning, make sure that you:

1) Talk to your child about pedestrian safety and distracted walking. If your child walks to school, you can help your child prevent a Davie pedestrian accident by teaching your child to stay safe. Walk the route to school with your child, pointing out any possible dangers and reviewing the safety tips that are relevant for the walk. In many cases, children like listening to music or texting while they walk. Make sure that your child does not do this, as distracted walking can cause your child walk out into traffic.

2) Give yourself plenty of time if you are dropping your child off at school. If you are driving your child to school, you can help prevent Davie traffic accidents by giving yourself additional time. While this may mean getting up earlier, it can also help prevent the speeding and aggressive driving that are all too common during the school rush.

3) Be alert for others – including buses, pedestrians, and kids on bikes – sharing the road, especially close to the school.

4) Use good communication skills. When dropping your child off at school, make sure that you make eye contact with pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists to ensure that you are visible and that you are communicating well with others who share the road with you.

5) Stay focused. While texting and driving is not illegal in Florida, any form of distracted driving can be extremely dangerous to you and your child. Distracted driving leads to many Davie truck accidents and traffic accidents each year, so put your mobile devices away and focus fully on the drive to school rather than on distractions.

6) Follow speed limits. Speeding significantly increases your risk of a collision.

7) Drop your child off in a safe zone. Your child is at risk if you drop them off where there is a high traffic volume and fewer pedestrian areas. If your school has a drop off zone that allows you to deposit your child right at a pedestrian area, this is often the safest possibility. If this is not an option, drop your child off in an area with good pedestrian walkways, easy access to the school, and low traffic. If it is difficult to find such an area, encourage your child’s school to create a safe drop-off zone.

Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As I’ve mentioned in past posts, six years ago Mothers Against Drunk Driving changed their "Mission Statement" from one of preventing drunk driving to a dual goal: preventing drunk driving — and underage drinking (regardless of driving).  See, MADD Continues Shift Toward Prohibition.  Clearly, the focus is on alcohol rather than on preventing injuries or fatalities.  

Interestingly, MADD has been silent as the greater danger increasingly appears to no longer be from alcohol:  statistics now clearly point to distracted and drowsy driving as greater threats on the highways.  See, for example, Most Dangerous: Drunk, Drowsy or Distracted?

Now let’s add one more type of impaired driving to the scale: drugged driving….

Driving on Drugs Skyrockets, Drunk Driving Drops

Phoenix, AZ.  Dec. 21 –  East Valley DUI Task Force officers almost need to be chemists to keep up with the concoctions used by impaired drivers. Drug arrests are soaring while alcohol arrests are declining.

The job of nabbing impaired drivers is becoming far more complicated, with drivers under the influence of not only alcohol but prescription and illegal drugs, said Mesa police Sgt. Dave Meicke, a supervisor of this year’s crackdown.

He said drug arrests by one of the nation’s longest and largest DUI task forces have increased from 13 percent in 2002 to 59 percent this year.

Meicke attributes the change to steady progress on education about the hazards of driving under the influence, more officers trained to recognize drug impairment and more people abusing prescription and illegal drugs…

Perhaps MADD’s focus should be on preventing injuries and death on the highways — rather than on Prohibitionist attacks on the evils of alcohol.  
 

DUI BLOG

Asheville, North Carolina police say a 23-year-old mother is facing a number of charges following a traffic accident that occurred Wednesday. Law enforcement reportedly claims the woman was driving while impaired at the time of the crash. News reports do not indicate what substance police believe was involved in the incident; however, the woman is accused of drugged driving, based upon prescription medication.

Police claim an officer at the scene of the traffic accident determined the woman was under the influence based upon the medication she was taking. News reports do not indicate how the officer made the determination. However, police say a blood test was taken after the accident.

In addition to the DWI charge the woman reportedly is facing at least five other serious charges related to the incident. The young mother reportedly was traveling with her two children in the car on Wednesday. Police claim the woman rear-ended another vehicle. She faces charges of misdemeanor child abuse in conjunction with the DWI charge.

Law enforcement claims the woman was driving with a revoked license. In North Carolina, there are a number of different ways a driver can face a license suspension or revocation. In addition to being suspended or revoked due to allegations of DWI, North Carolina law allows for the state to suspend driving privileges for missing a court date or accumulating too many points on a driving record.

The woman also faces charges for failure to reduce speed, failure to register a vehicle and one count for not having car insurance. The woman reportedly was booked into the Buncombe County Jail and is being held on ,000 bond.

Police claim the two young children in the woman’s vehicle and those in the other vehicle involved in the collision suffered minor injuries. None of the people reportedly required hospitalization after the traffic accident.

Source: WYFF Greenville, “APD: Mom Om Medication Charged After Wreck,” Sept. 29, 2011

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

A sergeant with the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team in Iredell County says he observed a 1994 Chevrolet commit a minor traffic violation. The officer says a piece of equipment on the car was malfunctioning. The sergeant reportedly decided to make a routine traffic stop to investigate the alleged violations. Any Greenville DWI defense attorney frequently sees routine traffic stops for minor traffic or equipment violations expand to DWI related incidents.

In Monday’s incident, the officer says he approached the driver of the 1994 Chevrolet and explained his reasons for making the traffic stop. The officer asked the 25-year-old driver to step out of the Chevrolet and take a seat in the patrol car. Once inside the patrol car, the officer reportedly began writer out warning citation for the alleged traffic and equipment violations.

The sheriff says that while seated in the patrol car, the officer detected a strong scent of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The sheriff says the driver appeared to have bloodshot eyes and his face was flushed. The sergeant says he asked the 25-year-old how much he had had to drink.

The 25-year-old allegedly admitted to drinking a 32 ounce beer roughly 45 minutes before the traffic stop. Law enforcement says the driver admitted to drinking a beer around 10:30 a.m. on that same day. The officer told the driver to take roadside breath test on an alco-sensor. The sheriff says the driver measured .12 on the alco-sensor. The 25-year-old was placed under arrest on suspicion of DWI.

Law enforcement claims the driver did not have a valid license at the time of the arrest. The 25-year-old is accused of driving with a suspended or revoked license. Law enforcement says the 25-year-old has a separate DWI charge pending that allegedly occurred six months ago.

Source: WBTV, “DWI suspect began drinking at 10:30 am, sheriff says,” 15 Mar 2011

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

A Brandon man is charged with assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop.

Winnipeg Sun – Manitoba