Buses About to be Buckled Up

Seatbelts are some of the most important safety feature of a vehicle. During crashes, these safety belts are responsible for restraining one’s body, preventing it from hitting anything inside the vehicle, or getting thrown out of it. This very old technology for a lot of people doesn’t seem to make much sense. However, almost all the other passive safety systems like the airbag, the whiplash protecting headrests, among others will not work properly without the help of the seatbelt.

Absence in Motorcoaches
While seatbelts are available in taxis, the same could not be said when it comes to motorcoaches. According to the information compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are 21 motorcoach and large bus passengers that are killed, while 7,934 people gets injured every year because of motor vehicle crashes. The agency added that the absence of seatbelts on these public transport vehicles is one of the major reasons why such things happen.

Buckling up on Motorcoaches
According to US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, “Safety is our highest priority and we are committed to reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our roadways.” And so, the NHTSA has just issued a final rule regarding the use of lap and shoulder seat belts on motorcoaches. According to this rule, a lap and shoulder seat belts should be made available for each of the passenger and the driver of large buses and motorcoaches. This new rule aims to prevent fatalities and serious injuries among passenger in frontal crashes, or the risk of occupant ejection in cases of rollovers by enhancing the safety of these vehicles. According to studies, seat belt use can reduce fatalities by up to 44 percent an can lessen the number of moderate to severe injuries by up to 45 percent.

This new amendment to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208 will be applied to new, over-the-road buses as well as new, buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) higher than 11,793 kilograms. Exempted are transit buses and school buses. This new rule is in accordance to the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21). So buses that will be manufactured beginning November 2016 will be required to equip the driver and all passenger seats with lap and shoulder belts.

Private Sector’s Initiative
With the announcement of such rules, some companies have voluntarily purchased buses that have seat belts; a move that a Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles is lauding. The Transportation Department continues to encourage the industry to adhere to this new ruling before the mandatory deadline comes. This new ruling, the agency said, is just one of the many initiatives that they will be pushing for to help boost safety on motorcoaches. They said that the people can expert more initiatives as the agency continues to implement the Motorcoach Safety Action Plan.

Staying Safe on the Road with Semis

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On freeways and main thoroughfares, semi-trucks are a common sight. Other names for these large vehicles are transport, semi, tractor-trailers, big rigs, 18-wheelers, or lorry. These behemoths are the prime movers of the heaviest of things from one place to another. Every time you’d go out for a drive on the biggest and busiest interstate roads, you’d normally see one passing by. These are very important parts of a country’s economy as the goods that it carries help move the nation forward.

Scary Semis
Upon seeing one, a person can’t help but get intimidated by these huge vehicles. More than its size, the heavy cargo that these semis carry can overwhelm an average driver driving a regular vehicle. You’d naturally be terrified, just thinking about the consequences should the trailer snap or if its cargo falls on you. These thoughts have basis though as some of the deadliest and nastiest accidents on freeways are caused by semis. Just a few days back, a semi rolled over along the Interstate 80 one early morning. While the real cause of the accident is still unknown, the semi rolling over almost got other vehicles involved with the mishap. Such is just one of the many recorded accidents involving semis every year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 500,000 semis and large commercial vehicles have been involved or have caused traffic crashes in 2010 alone. These recorded accidents have injured more than 100,000 people and killed 5,000 more. That is why a lawyer for auto accident in Los Angeles get more concerned with the safety of people, sharing the roads with this big rig.

Keeping Safe with Semis
Semis, despite its huge size and heavy loads are rather safe. However, some precautions must be taken to ensure that these behemoths will not be involved in an accident. Here are some tips for safety as compiled through the help of an auto accident lawyer in Los Angeles that has handled many cases involving semi-trucks.

Wear your seatbelts. This can’t be stressed enough. One should always wear his or her seatbelts every time they are on board cars. This makes sense all the more while driving on roads with semis. This will help protect you in the event of a collision, lessening the chances of you getting badly injured.

Be conspicuous and keep distance. Driving huge semis is such a chore. That is why you should help the driver by staying visible and staying away from blind spots. This way, there would be lesser chances of you and your vehicle getting entangled with these trucks.

Be a responsible, defensive driver. The best safety system of a vehicle is its driver. The more responsible and defensive driver you are, the safer you and your passengers are on the road.

Semis may be dangerous but these are a part of your life as a commuter. And so, an attorney for auto accident in Los Angeles says that we can’t do anything much about the presence of these giants on the road. The only thing that we can do to stay safe is by doing everything that is necessary to avoid a collision or minimize the chance of collisions from happening. This way, you can enjoy driving around while sharing the road with these semi-trucks.

101 Freeway Crash Leaves 6 with Different Injuries

Almost every single day, hundreds of motor vehicle accidents are recorded in the State of California. These mishaps are causing the state hundreds of thousands worth of damages to property, thousands of injuries and death. These do not only affect drivers and passengers of the vehicles plying by the roads. It also involves pedestrians, innocent passersby that do not have anything to do at all with the situation.

Car Sparks Huge Accident

It only takes one irresponsible driver or a badly-maintained vehicle to spark a huge accident on the road. Especially on the freeway where motorists are travelling at high speeds, avoiding accidents are just harder than the usual. For example, one car was traveling early morning on the northbound lane of the 101 Freeway at Oak Street. Initial investigations revealed that a car collided with another vehicle. For reasons yet undisclosed, the three passengers of the car, one of which received severe, life threatening injuries were badly hurt and was rushed to the Ventura County Medical Center. Three more victims were brought to the Community Memorial Hospital in the area. Good thing, the fuel tank of the car that got semi-ruptured in the accident did not explode. Crews were able to prevent 40 gallons of fuel from entering a nearby storm drain, preventing what could have been an even more deadly accident. It took hours for CalTrans to be able to clean up and assess the condition of the road.

Avoiding Motor Vehicle Accidents

Yes, accidents happen at times when one least expects it. However, doing the necessary precautions can help a lot in helping minimize the chances of these mishaps from happening. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impaired and distracted driving remains on top of the list of reasons why motor vehicle accidents happen. The condition of the road and the vehicle also plays a huge role as to why mishaps occur.

What to Do When Accidents Strike

Your safety is the most important thing to consider. That is why you have to go and ensure your safety first above everything. Documenting pieces of evidence is also important as this would help should you decide filing a claim against the other party whom you collided. Hiring an attorney for auto accident in los angeles
to help you prepare and file a claim, and represent you in any legal proceedings can help you avenge what has happened to you, get the justice that you need, and make the negligent and irresponsible people held accountable for their actions. There might be no fool-proof way of staying away from such accidents. However, equipping yourself with the right information and tools can help you stay on top of the situation and have things working in your favor.