NHTSA’s Reminders Regarding Sharing the Road with Motorcyclists

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The month of May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. It is a national initiative that seeks to encourage motorists and motorcyclists to look out and “share the road” with each other, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is one of the many traffic safety organizations to spearhead the said awareness campaign.

Statistics from the NHTSA shows that despite the decrease in auto accident deaths in the United States over the years, mishaps involving motorcycles otherwise increased, especially during the past 14 years. The only exception was in 2009, where there was a 16-percent decline.

Part of the NHTSA’s aim this Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is to provide motorists the knowledge as to how to deal with motorcyclists on the road. As such, the federal traffic safety agency has a list of reminders for drivers to help prevent motorcycle deaths and injuries. Here are some of them:

• Avoid distracted driving. This will prevent collisions with motorcyclists and other further tragic consequences.
• Use signal lights before changing lanes or merging with traffic. That way, motorcyclists will be able to determine which lane to position, therefore avoiding collisions.
• Check rear view and side mirrors while entering or leaving a lane. A motorcyclist can be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot, which is why the motorist must check both mirrors before making a turn at the intersection or while changing lanes.
• Provide motorcyclists the right of way. Give the motorcyclist enough time to turn left or right on an intersection or making a lane change before proceeding.
• Always look out for road hazards. What may seem to be a minor inconvenience for a motorist may be a major one for a motorcyclist. The latter may change speed or adjust position upon encountering road hazards such as potholes, gravel, and wet and slippery surfaces, among others.
• Allow distance when following a motorcycle. This is recommended since motorcycles stop quicker than most vehicles, especially when they make a maneuver or a full stop.

Meanwhile, every Los Angeles auto accident attorney agrees with the NHTSA’s reminders, likewise advising car, truck, and other four-wheeled vehicles to watch out and share the road with other motorcyclists.

Avoiding Rain-induced Car Mishaps on the Road

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Time and again, the government has been making repeated calls for motorists to be very careful when out on the road driving. Just last year, excessive rains in the Southern California have caused multiple accidents. The drivers and victims of these vehicles may have already talked with a Los Angeles car accident attorney for insurance claims.

These accidents were due to the continuous rains that happened in the SoCal area last year. As it is, rains can cause the roads to be slippery. Water on roads cause hydroplaning that leaves a vehicle with little or no grip at all.

This consequently leads to loss of traction and ultimately accidents. So does this mean that one has to stop driving when it is raining? Of course not! All you have to do is follow these very useful tips that will let you drive through the most torrential downpours minus the accidents.

• Slow down. When the roads are wet, chances are it is more difficult to put the vehicle to a stop. Driving slowly gives you more time to slow your vehicle down, helping you avoid mishaps.
• Stay in the middle lanes. Rainwater tends to pool on the road’s outer lanes. This lessens the chances of your vehicle hydroplaning.
• Give enough driving distance to the vehicle in front of you. This gives you more time to react, slow down, and steer your vehicle away from accidents.
• Try to drive on the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you. These tracks have probably less water, enabling you to enjoy much grip.
• Stop tailgating. It doesn’t only give you less time to react when the vehicle in front of you suddenly slows down. The water mists from the vehicle in front of you impairs your vision.
• Be alert. Watch out for brake lights and other things on the road. This lets you do the right things that needed when emergency situations arise.
• Employ engine braking. Take your foot off the accelerator to slow down instead of using the brakes. Brakes can lock up your wheels, causing you to lose grip. If you need to slow down, use the brakes with minimal braking force.
• Turn your headlights, fog lights, and/or the hazard lamps when raining. This increases your visibility on the road, letting you steer away from road hazards and helps others avoid you.
• Never drive through water if you can’t see the ground through it. If it is moving, your car could be swept. If it is not, your vehicle might stall.

The thing is these accidents could have been avoided if the drivers have only exercised proper driving habits. Officer Adam Eggleston of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), in an interview with the ABC said that “we believe it was just the rain” and warned drivers to “really reduce speed”. So follow the above-mentioned tips to ensure your safety when driving through the heaviest of downpours.

California Car Accident Statistics and Causes of Road Accidents

  

If numbers do not lie, California indeed is nearly synonymous with car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, the State of California recorded the most number of traffic fatalities among U.S. states. Out of the 42,642 total deaths caused by car accidents, some 4,236 people were killed in California.

In a separate data, the NHTSA reported that in 2009, almost 4,000 people were killed in California due to road accidents.

Below is the ranking of California counties in terms of road accident fatalities in the year 2006:

1. Los Angeles County – 799 deaths
2. San Diego County – 303 deaths
3. Fresno County – 155 deaths
4. Sacramento County – 128 deaths
5. San Francisco – 42 deaths

Meanwhile, the following is the breakdown of California fatal car accidents by vehicle type in 2009:

•    Cars – 1,275 deaths
•    Sports utility vehicles (SUVs)/Pickup trucks – 622 deaths
•    Pedestrians – 563 deaths
•    Motorcycles – 383 deaths
•    Large trucks – 27 deaths

There are various reasons why road accidents are common in California. The following are some of the common causes of fatal California car accidents:

Intoxicated driving – It is estimated that every 525 minutes, a person gets killed in an alcohol-related road accident in California. In fact, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), in 2009 alone, about 950 people were killed in California alcohol-related road crashes.

Distracted driving – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the year 2009, more than 5,400 people were killed in road accidents caused by distracted drivers. It is estimated that more than 15 people are killed and more than 1,200 get injured in the United States each day due to distracted driving.

Drowsy driving – The NHTSA reports that approximately 100,000 car accidents happen every year due to drowsy drivers. Sleepy driving accounts for around 40,000 injuries and some 1,550 deaths every year.

Speeding – According to the DMV, about 28.4 percent of all fatal road accidents in the State of California in 2008 were caused by speeding or violation of speeding laws.

In this light, California drivers who do not want to be part of the unfortunate statistics should always put safety on a pedestal.

Also, Los Angeles motorists or pedestrians who get injured in a car mishap should promptly contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney in order to properly and timely claim for personal injury damages from the liable parties involved. Under the law, car accident victims have the right to claim for economic and non-economic damages from people who caused their injury and inconvenience.