Category Archives: Driving Safety

AAA And The Humane Society Offer Safety Tips When Traveling With Your Dog

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Nothing is more important to many people than their dogs. Man’s best friend deserves their owner’s constant attention, and this sometimes includes while driving. The problem is that providing too much attention to your dog, while driving, can cause distractions and often lead to car accidents .

AAA prepared a recent study about dog owners and their travels and offered some safety tips. AAA’s survey of dog owners found nearly 60 percent admitted to engaging in distracting behavior while driving with their pets. This included petting, letting Fido sit on their laps, playing, or giving food and water. Experts say taking your eyes off the road even for a few seconds can cause a crash. An unrestrained dog could become a projectile – a 10-pound dog in a 50 mph crash can exert 500 pounds of pressure, the AAA said. Also, if you’re in an accident, an unsecured, traumatized dog will create problems for emergency responders trying to help.

To help prevent these distractions and hopefully leading to a safer ride with fido, AAA and The Humane Society offered the following tips: purchase a restraining harnesses for dogs; keeping your dog in the back seat; and nixing the head out of the window routine. And, if you’re driving with a cat, the Humane Society suggests a carrier.

Fido rules but not always in the car.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident  or Chicago truck accident , the call Chicago car accident attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation  at 312-588-3384 or go to the firm website at www.blgchicago.com

Study Shows Illinois Falls Short With Teen Drivers

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A study prepared by by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, gave Illinois high grades in all areas accept for teen drivers.  The entire study was put together by a coalition of groups from the insurance industry, law enforcement and consumer organizations. It grades states on the passage of laws that address teen driving, distracted driving, drunk driving, seat belt use and motorcycle helmets.

Illinois did receive high marks for recent legislation, including its’ complete ban on texting while driving. Secretary of State Jesse White pushed for the graduated driver licensing programs for teens last year which increased driving time with parents, reduced nighttime driving and restricts the number of passengers in the teen’s car. Secretary White says we are seeing the difference with a 52% reduction in teen driving deaths.

 

“We’re proud what we’ve been able to do. There’s a lot more to be done. Even though we’ve been able to enjoy a 52 percent reduction in loss of lives, we want it to go down to zero,” said White.

To claim the top spot, advocates recommends the teen drivers start learning at 16. Currently, 15- year-olds can get a permit. Also, experts encourage reducing nighttime driving for teens even further to 10 p.m. on weekends too. Currently, it’s 11 p.m. on weekends.

It will be interesting to see if Illinois legislators pass a graduated license program for teens. Stay tuned.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then call attorney Aaron Bryant for a free consultation 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.