Proponents of the bill claim that these modifications are necessary to improve the efficiency of the trucking industry and also reduce the number of trucks on roads.
Critics contend that larger trucks would not only damage roads and bridges, but also lead to more serious accidents and fatalities. Putting heavier vehicles on the roads would increase the amount of time one of the semis would need to make a stop, which could be extremely dangerous on interstate highways where trucks are traveling at a higher rate of speed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatalities caused by trucking accidents increased 9 percent from 2009 to 2010, the most recent numbers available.
The bill is currently before the House Transportation Committee, which is discussing the item as part of its transportation funding package. A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate, but this bill does not raise weight limits or truck lengths.
Source: Trucking Info, "House Highway Bill Would Allow Heavier Trucks," Oliver Patton, February 1, 2012
]]>Recently, the Chevy Volt has made news for an entirely different reason. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted crash testing on the vehicle. The tests, which would check the vehicle's crash worthiness in the event of a car accident, did not demonstrate anything out of the ordinary at first. However, three weeks after the test was conducted, the car's battery pack caught fire. This also happened in two later Volt crash tests as well.
]]> Officials at the NHTSA performed an extensive investigation to check the extent of the potential dangers to Chevy Volt owners. The agency stated that it felt there was no general defect in the design of the car, and that the changes to the structure of the battery pack proposed by GM would reduce the risk of fire after a car accident.Technology will continue to advance to make these cars more affordable. With hybrids continuing to rise in popularity, it is becoming more likely that vehicles like the Chevy Volt will be where auto makers focus much of their attention throughout the next decade.
With gas-electric hybrid vehicles becoming more common on roadways, the likelihood that they will be involved in accidents will increase. These accidents will provide crucial information to government officials and consumers concerning any potential design problems in the vehicles, so that manufacturers can make any necessary safety improvements.
Source: Reuters, "Probe of Chevy Volt fires closed," John Crawley, Jan. 20, 2012
]]>While there have been countless news stories that have spoken about the dangers of distracted driving, recent research is showing that "distracted doctoring" is becoming a major concern. Smartphones, IPads and other devices supply crucial information to physicians and other health care professionals. Many rely upon this technology to help them create the best treatment plan possible for their patients, but when doctors start using the devices to check email or shop online, things can go wrong quickly.
]]> One study by cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery journal Perfusion reported that half of the technicians in charge of monitoring bypass machines had texted during the surgeries, even though they knew the practice was unsafe. This could potentially subject physicians and medical facilities to medical malpractice claims if problems arise.Those who must perform complex medical procedures are aware of the focus that is required to ensure that these operations are successful. However, as electronic health records have become more common, computers are becoming a critical part of the health profession.
Many facilities have begun to supply their professionals with the necessary equipment to check these records while on the go. Because of the potential for misuse, hospitals have had to put new policies in place to prevent distracted doctoring. Young doctors are especially cautioned, as they have relied upon computers and phones throughout their entire medical careers.
As the amount of attention on distracted doctoring increases, it is hoped that the number of serious accidents that result will decline. Technology will remain an essential part of medicine, hopefully to help patients recover from whatever injuries or illnesses that they may have.
]]>These accidents are serious enough when they involve ordinary passenger vehicles, but are much worse when caused by commercial vehicles. Large 18-wheelers and tanker trucks piloted by inattentive drivers may result in deadly collisions that can severely injure or kill other drivers.
]]> Arizona does not have specific distracted driving rules in place that regulate commercial drivers, but there are some federal agencies that have attempted to address the issue. Late in 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a ban on texting while driving for operators of commercial vehicles. However, the use of cellphones was not prohibited under this particular rule.While this rule was a step in the right direction toward making roadways safer, officials remained focused on banning the use of cellphones while driving commercial vehicles. In October, the National Transportation Safety Board released its report concerning a high-profile fatal truck accident that killed 11 people in Kentucky. Investigators determined that the driver of that truck had received and placed several calls in the moments before the crash, including one at the time of the accident.
After this report, the FMCSA made a new rule that banned the use of a handheld cellphone for drivers of commercial vehicles on interstates. The ban went into effect at the beginning of 2012. Drivers face high fines and loss of their commercial driver's license if caught using a handheld phone while driving, and trucking companies could also be punished if their drivers violate this rule.
]]>According to 2010 accident data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 10,000 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving an intoxicated driver. Arizona had 194 deaths reported in drunk driving accidents, which accounted for 25 percent of all traffic accident fatalities.
]]> While this is a decrease from past years, there are still a number of drunk drivers on area roads. State and federal agencies have made reducing the number of drunk driving deaths a top priority. The U.S. Department of Transportation has kicked off a national DUI crackdown that will run during the winter months.Arizona law enforcement agencies aggressively targeted motorists under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the holidays. Over 4100 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence between Thanksgiving and New Year's weekend, which was an increase over 2010 numbers during the same time period.
Despite the increase in drunk driving arrests, a new law has been passed that will lessen penalties for first-time DUI offenders. Prior to January 1st, first-time DUI offenders would be required to keep an ignition interlock device in their vehicle for an entire year; however, the new law reduces this to six months. This change to drunk driving penalties will be closely monitored. Should the number of drunk driving accidents drastically increase, it may result in the laws being strengthened once again.
]]>The couple spent five nights in their car before trying to walk to safety. Shortly after leaving the vehicle, the wife passed away. The husband continued walking, and was eventually discovered the next day.
The other example involved a 23-year-old college student from Arizona State University. The motorist had left the Phoenix area on December 11th, and eventually ended up outside of Winslow, Arizona. She was stranded on a dirt road for 10 days. Weather conditions were poor, as temperatures were in the single digits with two feet of snow on the ground. U.S. Forest Service personnel discovered her vehicle and helped bring her to safety.
Motorists should use care when traveling on unknown or back roads. If you start to notice the terrain or weather dramatically changing, it might be a good idea to turn back. Phones may not work in such remote areas, so try to notify friends and relatives of your planned route before you leave. Pack a winter survival kit in your car if you will be heading toward rough weather.
If you do get stuck, remain with your vehicle if at all possible. Authorities will be able to spot a car far more easily than they can spot a person walking in a winter snowstorm. Also, frostbite can set in quickly if you are exposed to the elements, and your vehicle can provide shelter from some of these elements.
]]>In addition to texting, eating and other distractions like watching videos on mobile devices or on-board systems, 44 percent of the respondents said they have felt tired while driving, "sometimes even momentarily dozing off," and 25 percent reported that they had driven after having two or more drinks.
The chairman of the Harris Poll, Humphrey Taylor, said these numbers should be especially concerning considering that every 1 percent of the drivers polled represents more than 1.75 million people, reported USA Today.
The study also showed that drivers are aware of the dangers of distracted driving but still do it. For example, 77 percent of the respondents said that texting while driving increases the chances of a car accident "a lot," and 44 percent gave the same answer in regard to talking on a cell phone while driving. Even though there is increased awareness of the problem, concerns remain as drivers continue to engage in distracting and often dangerous behaviors.
]]>There are many violations officers watch for, but Operation Safe Passage focuses on hazardous moving violations such as speeding, following too closely and unsafe lane changes.
In addition to avoiding hazardous situations by driving within posted speed limits, the DPS offers a few tips to ensure travelers reach their destinations safely:
Unfortunately, even when these tips are followed accidents can occur. The holidays are stressful enough without needing to manage the medical care, property damage and insurance issues that often result from motor vehicle accidents.
]]>The Phoenix fatal accident victim was a 38 year-old man whose vehicle was disabled in the HOV lane after getting a flat tire. He was attempting to change his tire when he was struck by a sedan that was also traveling in the HOV lane.
The victim was transported to Maricopa Medical Center. He ultimately died from his injuries.
]]> Arizona "Move Over" LawUnfortunately, this accident could have been prevented if the sedan driver had been following Arizona's "Move Over" law. The law requires drivers approaching a stationary vehicle to move over to a non-adjacent lane in order to give the stationary vehicle safe berth and prevent car accidents. If moving over is not possible, the approaching motorist is required to slow down and proceed with caution.
In addition to stranded or broken-down vehicles, the law applies whenever a police car or other emergency vehicle is pulled-over to the side of the road. If it is safe to do so, drivers must move into the non-adjacent lane so that emergency personnel will have enough space to do their jobs without being put at risk of harm.
Tow-truck drivers are also protected by the law.
Arizona's "Move Over" law has been successful in reducing injuries and fatalities. Prior to the law's passage, eight Department of Public safety officers were killed while performing roadside work. Since the law was passed in 2005, there have been no similar fatalities.
However, there's no way to guarantee that a negligent driver won't cause an accident. Last month's fatality is an unfortunate reminder that we all need to be vigilant and do our part to protect other motorists.
Source: KPHO.com, "Motorists Urged to Heed 'Move Over' Law," Phil Benson, Nov. 30, 2011.
]]>Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are examining the aircraft itself to determine what role it played in the crash. The plane, a World War II era P-51 Mustang, had been extensively modified for speed to compete in the races.
]]> It is unknown if these modifications were what ultimately caused the plan to veer into the crowd. Photos and video of the crash seemed to indicate that the plane had lost its part of its tail, which may led to the loss of control. The investigation also has uncovered a memory card from the aircraft which allow officials to learn more about the accident's potential cause.The plane was flown by James Leeward, 74, who died in the crash. Leeward had owned the P-51 Mustang since 1983, and had completed several modifications to the aircraft. He had extensive experience flying this particular plane, but some are questioning whether he would have been able to quickly react to any problems that may have occurred during the flight.
Officials may also be looking into the role that the event organizers played in the accident as well. The plane crashed into a VIP seating area located close to the race course. Planes would come into this area at a high rate of speed and need to make quick maneuvers to avoid a disqualification. Even skilled pilots have difficulty making these sudden movements, and planes may not be able to respond to the commands.
When tragedies like this happen, there are often a lot of questions that need to be answered to prevent similar accidents in the future.
]]>Unfortunately, school zones can be dangerous places for both drivers and pedestrians. All it takes is one person to become distracted and a serious pedestrian accident or motor vehicle collision may occur. Drivers and students both need to increase awareness while present in these high-traffic areas.
]]> Since school zones were established in Arizona in 1950, the state has made safety in these areas a priority. In order to do this, Arizona has adopted initiatives to engineer safe roads around schools, educate the public about the importance of school zone safety and enforce the law when people in these areas drive above the 15 mile-per-hour speed limit.In order to keep child pedestrians safe as they walked to school, everyone on the road must cooperate. The following are some safety tips that drivers in school zones can use to avoid accidents
According numbers released by Arizona Department of Transportation, the total number of accidents on Arizona roads in 2010 was 106,177; a decrease of over 900 accidents from 2009. The vast majority of 2010 accidents - 73 percent - occurred while the sun was up, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
]]> Along with the decline in the number of vehicle accidents, the numbers of injuries and fatalities were also down in 2010. There were a total of 33,195 accidents that resulted in injuries, injuring a total of 50,110 people (4,600 were suffered incapacitating injuries).The number of fatal accidents fell by over 5 percent from 2009 to 2010. There were a total of 698 fatal accidents in 2010, resulting in the deaths of 762 people. Alcohol was a factor in 30 percent of fatal accidents; however, the number of alcohol-related fatalities fell by over 16 percent from the previous year.
Further, the number of alcohol-related injuries (3,724 injuries) declined by nearly 11 percent from 2009 to 2010. However, alcohol was still a factor in approximately 5 percent of Arizona accidents in 2010 - 5,489 accidents.
While the numbers of accidents, injuries and fatalities are declining on Arizona's roads, an average of 137 people were injured and approximately 2 people were killed every day in 2010. Officials will be focusing on various solutions to this problem in an effort to continue to reduce the number of fatal crashes within the state.
]]>The increased enforcement is clearly overdue, given the high number of bus accidents in the last year. USA Today reports the death of college basketball star Lorenzo Charles in a bus accident in North Carolina in June brings to 25 the number of occupants who died in motor coach accidents since March.
Another recent crash from May involved a motorcoach that was traveling northbound on Interstate 95 in Virginia, when it left the highway and rolled over. As a result of the accident, four passengers were killed and the bus sustained extensive damage.
Other recent, high-profile bus accidents include, a New York accident, which killed 15 passengers and critically injured several others, as well as bus accidents in New Hampshire and New Jersey.
The safety agency has been criticized for the lax enforcement of its orders, however. The company involved in the May 31 crash in Virginia, which killed four people, already had been ordered to cease operations by the DOT. However, it was permitted to keep running buses while it was given time to file an appeal of its closure. After the four deaths, the company was shut down immediately the following week.
Transportation Secrecatry Ray LaHood noted, "We have seen the tragic consequences of unsafe practices - whether it's ignoring fatigue regulations, providing inadequate driver training, or failing to conduct the proper maintenance of a bus or motorcoach," he continued. "We continue using all of the tools at our disposal to get unsafe carriers off the road and hope that Congress will act on our proposal to provide us with the necessary authority to expand our safety oversight."
]]>Led by Harvard economist Amitabh Chandra, the authors of the study examined malpractice data between 1991 and 2005 for 40,916 physicians. Doctors in the study were covered by a nationwide professional liability insurer, and the results were broken down by specialty.
Some practice areas were particularly susceptible to a high rate of malpractice claims; neurosurgeons, for instance, had almost a 20 percent chance of being the subject of a malpractice claim in a given year. Yet, a high rate of claims did not necessarily correspond to more patient payouts: compared to neurosurgery, there were lower proportions of claims involving thoracic-cardiovascular surgery, general surgery and orthopedic surgery, but all three had a higher percentage of claims that ended in payment to a plaintiff.
The amount of indemnity payments also varied widely across specialties. The overall mean and median payments on successful claims were $274,887 and $111,749 respectively. But when subdivided by specialty, mean payments ranged from a high of $520,923 (pediatrics, the medical specialty with the second-lowest claim frequency) to a low of $117,832 (dermatology).
The researchers estimated that by age 65, 99 percent of physicians practicing in high-risk specialties will face at least one malpractice claim; even in low-risk specialties, three quarters of doctors will deal with a claim at some point in their career.
Still, the authors noted that their findings do not necessarily mean most malpractice claims are groundless; on the contrary, they cited research showing that only a small proportion of those harmed by medical mistakes actually file a malpractice claim. Some experts blame patient fears regarding the up-front costs sometimes involved in pursuing legal action.
There could also be a simpler explanation: perhaps doctors are failing to say "I'm sorry." Medical providers have found that offering an apology to patients following a medical mistake has the effect of reducing litigation (one hospital lowered malpractice claims by almost 70 percent over six years following the institution of an "apologize first" policy). Some states are even considering legislation that would allow doctors to issue apologies without the detrimental legal consequences such an apparent admission of fault can sometimes entail.
In light of the new study, doctors can now carefully weigh the potential risks and costs of being sued based on their area of practice. But, perhaps they should also consider how apologizing could improve patient relationships and mitigate exposure to litigation.
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