Tag Archives: crashes

General Safety Issues

PREVENTING WRONG-WAY ACCIDENTS

Has anyone out there come up with the solution to prevent wrong-way accidents?  Probably not, because they are still happening and lives are being lost.  If you do have a suggestion, please send it to us, and we will do a follow-up article on this subject.  It would be good to see how many different ideas we can think of.  One thing that has been suggested for the motoring public to do is immediately report someone driving in the wrong direction to law enforcement.  The law does provide an exemption for cell phone use while driving in case of an emergency. 

If wrong-way driving is seemingly rare, why is it that about 350 people are killed and thousands more are injured every year as a result of people driving the wrong way?  This problem isn’t going away, even though researchers are looking for a way to keep it from happening.   In an attempt to curb a rising number of wrong-way crashes in the Fort Worth area, the Texas Department of Transportation, along with the Texas Transportation Institute, researched the causes of this deadly driving phenomenon.  Their findings were, not surprisingly, that most drivers were under the influence of alcohol or drugs and that most wrong-way drivers entered the highway by getting on at an exit ramp.  Their findings also showed that crashes between vehicles going the wrong way are usually severe and more likely to result in serious injury or death.  Also, they may be more likely to involve elderly drivers, and happen usually at night or early morning. 

A common suggestion is to place road spikes at exit ramps.  This type of barrier has been tested to determine if they could be used at off-ramps to stop vehicles from entering the wrong way; however, this idea isn’t feasible.  The spikes, even modified in shape, do not cause the tires to deflate quickly enough to prevent a vehicle from entering the freeway.  Stubs could also be left to damage the tires of right-way vehicles.  And, as it was pointed out, if you did stop a wrong-way car with road spikes, then you have a stalled car sitting at the exit ramp.  (Of course, that’s  better than on the freeway).

Another approach being tried by the state of Texas is installing sensors in the asphalt on several highway on-ramps that can detect when a car is travelling the wrong way.  The sensors can’t prevent drivers from getting on the highway going the wrong way, but they can send an alert to local police, who could possibly have a better chance of stopping the driver than for a driver to phone in a 911 call.  Florida and New Mexico have installed sensor systems that can detect wrong-way drivers and alert oncoming cars of potential dangers. (Good plan).

The TTI study showed that impaired drivers are looking down at the road in front of their car, and don’t look up, so they don’t see the “Do Not Enter” or “Wrong Way” signs that are displayed about 7-feet high.  The federal government wants to approve 2 ft. high reflective signs, which will also help drivers with poor night vision.  Another possible solution is reflective pavement bumps placed at ramps to indicate the correct direction.  The bumps are arranged to form an arrow that points in the correct direction to travel. 

It is agreed by authorities that elderly or confused drivers on the wrong side of the road, will pull over, once they have realized what’s happening.  Inebriated drivers are not that concerned with signs, or anything else.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, automakers, and other companies are working on a system that is designed to prevent anyone with a blood-alcohol content higher than 0.08 from operating a vehicle.  Then drunken or drugged drivers couldn’t leave their parking spots.  That would eliminate a large number of the crashes that occur.  Hopefully, when this technology is developed, it will become standard on all cars.  Until that scenario comes to pass, we must encourage drivers to have designated drivers when they plan to drink at a party, or stay home!  There may be occasional cases when someone with a health problem cannot get control of their car.  In this instance, it would be better if they had someone else drive them to their destination rather than take a chance.

Lastly, if judges would punish the DUI offenders by keeping them off the streets, we would all be much safer.  Too often, you read a story about an innocent person(s) who lost their life to a driver under the influence, who had already been convicted of DUI more than one time.  Where’s the justice for those victims?   Think about it this way, you wouldn’t want to meet someone going the wrong way in your lane.  We must pay attention when we are driving and avoid any “chance meetings”.

Seriously, please send in your comments and ideas on how we can correct this deadly problem! Thanks.

General Safety Issues

ON THE ROAD – OFF THE PHONE!

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Of all the articles we have presented, please read this one!  Being the last week of National Safety Month, and sponsored by the National Safety Council, this week’s title can have more impact on drivers than anything, if they will pay attention!  The theme is “On the Road – OFF the Phone!”  After reading information that the National Safety Council has to offer, I am now convinced that when I start my car, my cell phone will be turned OFF. Whatever messages I have will be there when I arrive at my destination.  If I need to make a call, I will do it when I am stopped for a soft drink or break and the car is parked. 

We have written about this subject as other bloggers, all in the interest of keeping drivers safe: distracted driving, drunk or drugged driving, texting and driving, and all the hazards of driving a vehicle that can cost your life or the lives of many innocent persons.  In the United States, so far this year, 626,997 (count ’em!) crashes involving drivers using cell phones while driving have already happened.  That’s one crash every 29 seconds!

Although I could use the hands-free device in my car, I really don’t like to use it.  Now, I am finding that hands-free driving is really no safer.  Vision is the most important sense for safe driving.  Many times, drivers using hands-free phones (and those using handheld phones) have a tendency to “look at” but not “see” objects.  There are estimates that show that drivers using cell phones look but fail to see up to 50 per cent of the information in their driving environment.  This is what researchers call “inattention blindness,” similar to that of tunnel vision.  They are looking out the windshield, but they do not process everything in the roadway  that they must know to effectively monitor their surroundings, seek and identify potential hazards, and respond to unexpected situations. (Primarily, because they are too engrossed in their phone conversation!)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 11 per cent of drivers at any given time are using cell phones, (there are more than 285.6 million wireless subscribers in the U.S., many who admit that they regularly talk or text while driving.  The National Safety Council estimates more than one in four motor vehicle crashes involve cell phone use at the time of the crash.  This shows us that cell phone use while driving has become a serious public health threat.  A few states have passed laws making it illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving; this gives the false impression that using a hands-free phone is safe. 

At one time, alcohol and speeding were the leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes; now “distractions” has been added to the list.  Although texting is clearly a serious distraction, NSC data shows drivers talking on cell phones are involved in more crashes.  More people are talking on cell phones while driving more often, and for longer periods of time than they are texting.  In 2008, an estimated 200,000 crashes involved texting or emailing, versus 1.4 million crashes involving talking on cell phones. 

 I recently advised my grandson, who is in the Graduated Drivers Licensing program, to make that a habit.  After learning this information, I am more than convinced that I told him to do the right thing; whether or not he will, is his and his parents’ decision.  However, I am going to turn mine OFF while driving!  I will let my friends and family know that the phone is off while I am driving, and they can leave a message.  That’s one more way to solve the problem; let callers know that you won’t be answering while driving.

Hands-free devices often are seen as a solution to the risks of driver distraction because they help eliminate two risks – visual, looking away from the road and manual, removing your hands off the steering wheel.  However, the third type of distraction can occur when using cell phones while driving, cognitive – taking your mind off the road!  Hands-free devices do not eliminate cognitive distraction.  Cognitive distraction will be our subject for tomorrow.  Till then, hang up, and drive safely!