Category Archives: Car Accidents

Illinois Department Of Transportation Issues Winter Driving Tips

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Winter is right around the corner and the Illinois Department of Transportation has issued a list of tips to help deal with the treacherous road ahead.

IDOT recommends your vehicle contain the following items this winter. These items should make your life easier and more importantly, much safer.

Your vehicle should be equipped with a winter emergency survival kit. The following items are recommended:

  • Ice scraper, snow brush, rags and paper towels.
  • Jumper cables, basic tool kit, antifreeze, no-freeze windshield washer fluid and extra drive belt(s).
  • Shovel, traction mats or old rugs, tire chains, salt, cat box litter or sand.
  • Blankets and extra clothing including hats, socks, waterproof boots, coats and gloves.
  • Non-perishable, high-calorie food.
  • Candles, waterproof matches and a metal container (coffee can) in which to melt snow into water.
  • Flashlight with extra batteries, flares or roadway reflectors.
  • A basic first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
  • A cellular telephone with a backup power source might be the single most important safety item available. A citizen’s band radio is a good alternative.

    • Have a fun and safe holiday season and be careful on the roads.

    Should you or someone you know become involved in a car accident, truck accident or suffer from a personal injury, then call attorney Aaron J. Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    Teens Texting, Calling And Driving Is A Scary Combination

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    A new Pew Research Report reveals that up to 50% of teen drivers admit to texting and talking on their cell phones while driving.

    According to the study by the Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C, which surveyed 800 teens up to age 17:

    • 75 percent of teens have a cellphone, and more than half of them say they have talked on their cellphone while driving.

    • 40 percent say they have been in a car when the driver used a cellphone “in a way that put themselves or others in danger.”

    • 48 percent of teens say they have been in a car when the driver was texting.

    • More than one-third of teens ages 16 or 17 who text say they have texted while driving.

    FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski already has gone on record with his concerns. “Distracted driving endangers life and property and the current levels of injury and loss are unacceptable,” he sold a U.S. Senate committee last month.

    He cited a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report in 2008 that said driver distraction is the cause of 16 percent of all fatal crashes, which translates to 5,800 people killed, and 21 percent of crashes that result in an injury, which is 515,000 people.

    As I previously wrote, the U.S. Senate is now considering a bill that would completely ban texting while driving. I don’t t think that legislation could come soon enough. The statistics do not lie and apparently teens drivers do not view this as a dangerous activity.

    To read the complete article from the Seattle Times, click here.

    If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident or truck accident, then contact attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    New Law May Require Truckers Take Extra Hour Of Rest

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    CBS Radio 780 in Chicago recently reported that the Federal Government is looking to require truck drivers take an extra hour of rest while on the road. 

    Every year in the U.S. some 700 people are killed and 20,000 others are injured in big rig accidents. Many of them, like the crash in Round Lake, are caused by truckers asleep, or wasted by fatigue.

    It also caused the 1999 Bourbonnais Amtrak derailment that killed 11 and injured more than 100 people.

    Soon, the federal Department of Transportation is expected to require truckers to stop and rest after 10 hours of driving. Now, they can go 11 hours without sleep.

    Truck driver Terrance Shumake conceded, “You do have a lot of guys with the paper logs and they do fudge the log books.”

    It will be interested to see if the Obama administration will make increased truck driver safety regulations a priority. Based on the statistics, it appears that this is an idea that should be looked at closely by lawmakers.

    To read the entire story, click here.  

    If you or someone you know has been involved in a trucking accident or car accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders Urge Safe Driving Over Halloween Weekend

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    The Illinois Traffic Safety Leaders (ITSL) recently posted an article discussing the for drivers and pedestrians over Halloween and what can be done to keep you and your family safe.

    The ITSL reported that  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 58 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night (6 pm Oct. 31 to 5:59 am Nov. 1) involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, which is illegal in every state.

    “One foolish decision can turn a fun Halloween into a real-life horror story,” said ITSL Vice-President
    Mike Rompala.  “There are simple precautions partygoers can take such as designating a sober driver in
    advance or taking a taxi.”

    ITSL also recommends these simple tips:        
            Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
            Before drinking,  please designate a sober driver;
            If you’re impaired, and haven’t designated a sober driver, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family      
    member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely;
            Use your community’s Sober Rides program
            If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement

    If you or someone you know is involved in a car accident or truck accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    Graduated Licensing Requirement For Teens In Illinois Appears To Work

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    Everyone concerned with teen driving safety seem to be in agreement that Illinois’ graduated licensing requirement is a success. Enacted in 2008, the new legislation aims to get teens more supervised time on the road while limiting the number of passengers and distractions in their cars.

    Statistics released by the Illinois Department of Transportation show the law has been quite effective in its first year. From January to October, 60 individuals between the ages of 16 to 19 died in teen related automobile accidents, according to IDOT. For a comparable time in 2007 — the year prior to the GDL’s enactment — automobile accidents claimed the lives of 127 teens.

    Because of the limited number of fatal crashes seen by police departments here, local teen-driving statistics were unavailable.

    In 2008, Illinois joined 31 states by implementing a graduated driver’s licensing program.

    The new legislation — which sprung partially from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s teen driving task force, which began meeting in 2006 — created two stages for young drivers: learner and intermediate.

    Foremost among the new requirements was the tripling of the amount of time from three to six months a teen must spend with a learner’s permit.

    Under the GDL, even intermediate teen drivers — those having passed their driver’s test — are not allowed to drive after 10 p.m. on weeknights or 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. And these newly-licensed drivers are not allowed to have more than one teenage passenger in their car during their first year on the road. The age of teens allowed to use cell phones was also raised from 18 to 19. 

    To read the complete story about Illinois’ graduated licensing requirement, click here.

    Should you or someone you know become involved in an car accident or truck accident, then call attorney Aaron J. Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    AAA Reports That Aggressive Driving Is The Cause Of Over Half Of All Accidents

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    AAA recently posted an article to help define aggressive driving and how it leads to the majority of accidents in the United States. The article points out that some of the studies done on aggressive driving have focused on specific driving behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating, or violating traffic control devices, which are commonly thought of as behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving. Other studies have distinguished between aggressive driving behaviors and driving behaviors that may be dangerous but not necessarily aggressive on the basis of the driver’s intentions. Finally, studies have investigated acts of assault committed by drivers against other drivers with the intent of causing physical harm, which is a criminal act often referred to as “road rage,” and is considered to be distinct from aggressive driving due to the intentionality of the harm that it may cause. In this paper, we focus on aggressive driving, and have not attempted to investigate criminal acts of “road rage.”

    AAA found that based on recent studies and reports that 56 percent of fatal crashes from 2003 through 2007, with excessive speed being the number one factor. They did point out that 56 percent may to some degree overestimate the contribution of aggressive driving to fatal crashes. Although, it is likely that aggressive driving contributes to at least some crashes in which it is not reported due to lack of evidence.

    AAA looked at a FARS Study (2003 – 2007), which showed that sspeeding was the most common potentially-aggressive action by far; nearly one of every three fatal crashes over the period studied involved a driver who was reported to have been exceeding the speed limit and/or driving too fast for conditions. Half of the fatal crashes (53,358, 50.0%) coded as involving potentially-aggressive actions were single-vehicle crashes; 45,021 (42.2%) involved two vehicles, and 8,348 (7.8%) involved three or more vehicles. Of the 45,021 two-vehicle crashes, potentially-aggressive actions were coded for only one of the drivers in 94.5 percent of these crashes and for both drivers in 5.5 percent. Of the 8,348 crashes involving more than two vehicles, potentially-aggressive actions were coded for only one driver in 91.6 percent of these crashes, two drivers in 6.9 percent, and more than two drivers in 1.5 percent.

    The above statistics are somewhat sobering. Speeding and aggressive driving lead to accidents, which often end in fatal results. Often stress in our lives can cause us to grip the wheel tightly and act erratically and drive overly aggressive. I think it is important for all of us to take a deep breath, count to 3 and relax when we feel the aggression coming on.  Why take the chance of hurting yourself or others while on the road.

    If you or someone you know is involved in an accident or has been a victim of road rage, then contact attorney Aaron Bryant for free consultation.  Call today at 312-588-3384.

     

    AAA Launches Heads Up Driving Week from October 5 through October 11

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    AAA has launched its’ “Heads Up Driving” week set for October 5 through 11.  AAA is calling on all motorists to drive distraction-free for the week of October 5 – 11 as part of its inaugural Heads Up Driving Week: Try it for a week, do it for life.

    “The new technologies that help us multitask in our everyday lives and increasingly popular social media sites present a hard-to-resist challenge to the typically safe driver,” said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. “Enacting texting bans for drivers in all 50 states can halt the spread of this dangerous practice among motorists nationwide, and is a key legislative priority for AAA in state capitols.”

    The AAA Foundation and AAA call on all drivers to pledge their participation in Heads Up Driving Week spanning Monday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 11. “We are asking everyone to rethink their driving behavior and take the first step toward becoming distraction-free by trying it for a week and then doing it for life,” said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. By participating, drivers vow to eliminate distractions behind the wheel and sign a pledge committing to distraction-free driving for Heads Up Driving Week and beyond.

    This program by AAA has longterm goals through legislation. AAA is now pushing for legislation to ban texting while driving in all 50 by 2013. Currently 18 states and the District of Columbia have a current ban on texting while driving.

    AAA will lobby nationwide to pass laws in states that lack them and improve existing laws against texting while driving,” said Darbelnet. “We’ll also continue our work through public education, driver training, and other safety programs to discourage motorists from engaging in the broad range of other distractions that tempt them while behind the wheel.”

    I have previously posted about the dangers of texting while driving and how it can lead to a higher rate of car accidents and crashes. It appears that there is a strong lobby nationwide to enact legislation banning texting while driving.  As I have said before, take the time to pull over to the side of the road or a parking lot if you need to check emails or texts on your phone or blackberry.

    If you or someone you know is involved in an auto or trucking accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    Two Studies Confirm Teens With Supportive Parents Leads To Fewer Accidents

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    Philadelphia Children’s Hospital released results to two recent studies that showed teens who communicate with their parents about their driving are involved in less accidents.

    The studies are based on the nationally-representative National Young Driver Survey of more than 5,500 teenagers. The first study shows that teens who said their parents set clear rules, paid attention to where they were going and whom they were with, and did so in a supportive way were:

    • half as likely to crash
    • twice as likely to wear seat belts
    • 71 percent less likely to drive while intoxicated
    • 30 percent less likely to use a cell phone while driving

    These findings are compared to teens who said their parents were less involved. 

    A second study found that teens who reported being the main driver of a vehicle were twice as likely to be involved in a crash, compared with teens who said they shared a vehicle with other family members. Nearly 75 percent of the teens surveyed reported being the main driver of a car.

    “Once they’re behind the wheel, teens have ultimate responsibility for their behavior” says Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, MSEd, co-author of the study. “But kids who said their parents set rules in a supportive way were half as likely to crash compared with teens who saw their parents as less involved.”

    According to the researchers, there are specific things parents can do to keep teens safer around driving: set clear rules about driving; talk with kids about where they’re going and who they’re with; and make sure teens know the rules are in place because you care about them and their safety – not because you wish to control them. This approach may make it more likely they will tell you what is going on in their lives, helping you better follow through on the rules you set.”

    The key here is to talk to your kids, know where they are going and who is riding in their car. Also, it appears that practicing safe driving tactics with you children in the car (like wearing your seatbelt and avoiding your cell phone) will positively influence your children by the time they can drive.

    To read the entire article about the studies, which was released by State Farm, click here.

    If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto or trucking accident, then contact attorney Aaron J. Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384.

    IDOT Reports That Late-Night Driving Is The Deadliest Time On Illinois Roadways.

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    The Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced that drinking and driving and low seatbelt use leads to higher accident rates late at night. Nearly seven out of ten fatalities occurring between midnight and 3 a.m. involve a drinking driver, and less than three out of ten of those who died in crashes during this time were properly restrained by a safety belt.  The picture is completely different during the higher-traffic, daytime hours with less than two out of ten fatalities involving alcohol and nearly six out of ten properly restrained. 

    “Drinking and driving is inappropriate regardless of the time of day,” said Illinois State Police Director Jonathon Monken. “Data tells us the likelihood of being involved in a crash or fatal crash where alcohol is involved increases dramatically at night.  Therefore, the Illinois State Police will focus our efforts on DUI and seat belt enforcement during night time details.”

    According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the midnight to 3 a.m. time frame is the deadliest time on Illinois roads.  For the last four years (2005-2008) in Illinois, more motor vehicle fatalities occurred between midnight and 3 a.m. than any other time of day.  Fatalities occurring from 9 p.m. to midnight were close behind.

    Not coincidentally, the data also shows late night hours have by far the highest percentage of alcohol involvement.  For the last four years (2005-2008), 67 percent of the motor vehicle fatalities occurring from midnight to 3 a.m. involved a drinking driver.

    Equally troubling during the nighttime hours is the fact that motorists buckle up at a much lower rate.  Data shows for the years 2005-2008, the midnight to 3 a.m. and the 3 a.m.-6 a.m. time frame had the lowest belt use involving motor vehicle fatalities with only 27 percent of those who died in crashes properly restrained.  The 9 p.m. to midnight timeframe was second worst with only 32 percent of those who died were properly restrained.

    Remember to keep your wits about you when driving late at night as the data clearly show that there are far more drunk drivers on the road. And, of course, always buckle up no matter what time of day.

    Contact attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation at 312-588-3384 if you or someone you know has been involved in a vehicle accident.

    Safety Advocates Seek More Seat Belt Use

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    Several safety advocates, such as the Governors Highway Safety Association, are making a push for seat belt laws requiring all passengers wear their seat belts.  Currently, only 21 states and the District of Columbia, require all passengers (including those in the back seat) wear their seat belts.

    “If a person in the back seat is not belted and the vehicle is involved in a crash, especially a head-on crash, the person in the back seat can become a human projectile,” says Tom Welch, a state transportation safety engineer for Iowa’s transportation department.  “My real concern is the pattern it puts in place, that the government can tell people what’s good for them,” says James Baxter, president of the National Motorists Association, which opposes all mandatory seat belt laws. “When it comes to my own life, I believe I should be able to make that kind of decision myself,” Baxter says.

    Rear seat belt use was higher in states requiring belt use in all seating positions, according to a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Rear seat belt use in the USA was at 74% in 2008, compared with 83% for front seat belts, according to the May survey.

    Wearing rear seat lap and shoulder belts greatly improves the odds of surviving crashes — for both rear and front seat passengers, NHTSA research shows. Rear seat lap and shoulder belts are 44% more effective in reducing crash fatalities compared with unrestrained occupants in passenger cars and 73% more effective in passenger vans and sport-utility vehicles.

    The statistics don’t lie folks. Remember to buckle up even if you are sitting in the back seat. It will protect you and your loved ones and could help you avoid a traffic violation.

    To read the complete story in USA Today, click here.

    If you or someone you know was involved in a car accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant at 312-588-3384 for free consultation.