Rise in Seat Belt Use: Something to be Thankful For

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Among the many blessings that we received last year, and that was the fact that seatbelt use among Americans hit record-highs, particularly during Thanksgiving weekend. According to one of the recent reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), use of seatbelts has reached an all-time high of 86 percent in 2012.

Based on the NHTSA’s yearly National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), seatbelt use has been on the rise since 1994. Just last year, the use of seatbelts in the United States was recorded at 84 percent before hitting this record-breaking milestone. In the many years of the NOPUS, the NHTSA has noticed that there has been an upward trend with the use of seat belts among vehicle occupants in the US.

Highlights of the NHTSA report

Three out of the four regions in the country saw increases in seat belt use in this latest report. Specifically, the one that enjoyed the biggest improvement is the southern region of the country, in which seat belt rose to 85 percent in 2012; a 5-percent increase from the previous year.

Meanwhile, people living in the western parts of the country still have the highest percentage of seat belt use at 94 percent, a 1-percent increase since 2011. However, the Northeast area of the United States saw no increase in the use of seat belts despite the NHTSA’s efforts in promoting them.

Additionally, seat belt use remained high in states that have primary belt laws. In these states, a law enforcement operative can issue citations to erring motorists. This is deemed more effective than requiring additional traffic violations before any form of disciplinary action can be meted to offenders.

NHTSA’s reaction

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland thanked the agency’s state and local partners for the success of its various campaigns for seat belt use. The ‘Click It or Ticket’ program has been making steady gains in belt use year after year. He added that these successes will be vital in finding more ways to come with “multi-faceted approach”; that is through the “enactment of good laws, the effective enforcement of said laws, and an effective public information drive and awareness”.

To begin with, some 32 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have passed primary laws that require the use of seat belts. On the other hand, another 17 states have come up with secondary laws. So far, the only state so far that has not enacted a primary or secondary seat belt law is New Hampshire. However, the state’s primary child passenger safety law applies to all drivers, as well as passengers under the age of 18.

So would you still risk not wearing your safety belts and be a victim of severe injuries caused by accidents? Would you still want to end up seeking the help of a Los Angeles car accident lawyers to help you seek for damages brought by these injuries? Or would you rather find something to be thankful for in the next Thanksgiving Day for staying safe by adhering to the NHTSA’s plea of simply wearing your seatbelt? Well, the choice is yours, my friend.

Quick Review of California Bicycle Law

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Bicyclists in California have rights and responsibilities just like any other motor vehicle drivers. However, despite this, some bike riders in the State are not fully aware of their rights and liabilities under the law, and because of this, accidents occur. It is a must for any biker to ensure his or her safety on the road, and one way to do it is to understand the law governing bicyclists.

Bicycle Lanes Are Your Friend

California is one of the states with most number and longest bicycle lanes in the country. Efficient use of bike lanes can lessen the cases of bicycle accidents in the State. As defined by the California Driver Handbook, a bike lane “is shown by a solid white line along either side of the street, four or more feet from the curb. The white line will usually be broken near the corner and the words “BIKE LANE” will be painted in the lane.”

Bike lanes are considered to be the safe haven of bicyclists when in roadways which is why they need to use it properly in order to avoid any traffic mishap. Consequently, it is a must for motor vehicle operators to recognize and respect bike lanes so as to avoid causing accidents.

The following are the eminent responsibilities of vehicle drivers concerning bicycle lanes as determined by California traffic laws:

• Consider designated bike lanes as other regular traffic lanes
• If there is a biker on the bike lane, never turn into the lane
• Never obstruct or block bicycle traffic by lessening the required width for bike passage
• Leave enough space for bicyclists in order to avoid traffic collisions
• Look out for bicyclists passing through before opening car doors
• Allow sufficient clearance and room for bikers’ movement

Your Responsibilities As A California Biker

Bikers have the responsibility to ensure their and other road users’ safety. According to California Driver Handbook, the following are the responsibilities of bicycle riders:

1. Ride efficiently – This includes riding the appropriate bicycle and riding responsibly. Bikers must only ride a bicycle that is well-maintained and free from any malfunctions. Furthermore, bicyclists must never ride under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs as per VC 21200.5.

2. Wear helmet – Under VC 21212, riders under the age of 18 are legally required to wear their bicycle helmets when riding. Adult bikers are also strongly advised by authorities and Los Angeles lawyers to wear helmet to avoid head injuries when an accident occur.

3. Be visible – Typically, motor vehicle drivers cannot visibly notice bicyclists when on roadway. Because of this, it is a must for riders to be visible. Bicyclists are advised to wear bright colored clothing and to install bike lamps.

Ways to Claim for Compensation

Road accidents in California do not only involve car collisions because every year hundreds of pedestrian accidents also occur in the State. According to statistics, roughly 60,000 people are killed annually due to pedestrian mishaps in the United States. Furthermore, children and the elderly people are at most risk for being fatally struck while crossing streets.

Pedestrian accidents in California may be prevented if people realize the most common causes for such mishap. The following are determined common factors that usually result in fatal pedestrian accidents:

·         Distracted driving

·         Failure to comply with traffic rules such as speed limits

·         Failure to respect pedestrians using designated crosswalks

·         Driving under the influence of alcohol

·         Pedestrian’s failure to follow traffic signal

·         Jaywalking

·         Inattentive walking

Pedestrian accidents may be prevented by following simple steps, and these include:

·         Comply with traffic rules

·         Give pedestrians the right of way especially when at school zones

·         Do not drive while using cell phone or other personal electronic devices

·         Slow down when passing by crosswalks

·         Never drive intoxicated

·         Be cautious when driving around places with many pedestrians

·         Do not attempt to walk on undesignated crosswalks

Pedestrians who get injured or harmed due to the negligence of a driver should consult with a California lawyer so as to learn about the appropriate legal step to take. Under the law, motorists who fail to provide reasonable care to others may face personal injury lawsuit.

Legally speaking, people who sustain injuries due to negligence of another have the right to assert for personal injury claim. If proven negligent, the liable party may have to provide compensatory payments to the victim. Compensatory damages may include payments for financial losses of the victim such as hospital bills, loss of income, and medications.

Filing for a personal injury lawsuit is generally complicated undertaking which is why it is suggested to contact with a California lawyer first before filing a claim.