New Red Light Law Takes Effect in Pennsylvania

Yesterday, a new red light law went into effect in Pennsylvania.  Our Philadelphia car accident lawyers have done a breakdown of what the new law means and how it applies to you.

Under the new law, drivers may go through a red light under certain circumstances. For instance, if the light appears to be broken, or if the sensor appears to be malfunctioning, drivers may legally pass through the light.

The law was originally created with motorcyclists in mind. In many cases, traffic lights are activated by sensors under the pavement that detect when a car approaches an intersection and trigger the light to turn green. Unfortunately, the sensors don’t always pick up on motorcycles, and so the light does not change. The new law aims to offer a practical solution to this problem.

Red light law and safety

Some people have expressed safety concerns regarding the new red light law. […]

What’s between a close call and a crash? Your brakes

3 ways to check the status of your brakes

What does that sound mean? An unusual noise is one of the most common signs that your brakes may need attention.

According to AAA, your brakes are the most important safety system on your vehicle. It’s true that a properly working brake system can mean the difference between a close call and a crash. Over time, brake systems become worn and brakes just don’t work like they did when they were new. Regular brake inspection and maintenance can help keep them in good working order and keep you safer.

How to tell if something’s wrong with your brakes

1. Listen – Does your car make a grinding or scraping noise when you apply the brakes? If so, take it in for an inspection immediately. That sound can be a sign that your brake pads need replacing. […]

Help prevent a traffic jam this Labor Day weekend

If you are traveling this Labor Day weekend, you may be bracing yourself for an inevitable traffic jam. Nothing kills your excitement for a long weekend like getting stuck in stop-and-go traffic. And, Labor Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. That also makes it one of the most dangerous.  Crowded highways and frustrated drivers can make a deadly combination.

Analysts expect this year to be especially busy, with the lowest Labor Day weekend gas prices since 2004. With these numbers in mind, the National Safety Council estimates that 483 will die on the roads this weekend.

Here are some weekend travel tips to make your road trip a little easier.

How to help prevent traffic jams and car accidents

Did you know – not every traffic jam is caused by  a car accident or road work. […]

Traffic Deaths Continue to Rise in 2015, 2016

Traffic deaths in the U.S. are rising at an alarming rate.

In 2015, fatal car crashes increased 7.2% from the previous year. And, preliminary numbers for the first half of 2016 show a 9% increase over the same period last year.

So far this year, more than 19,000 people have lost their lives in car crashes, and an additional 2.2 million have suffered injuries. Given these numbers, the National Safety Council estimates that this year could be the deadliest Labor Day weekend in 8 years.

Why are fatal accidents up so much, and what can we do about it?

On one hand, cars are getting safer. Safety equipment and technology have improved remarkably over the last decade, with many life-saving features now standard on new models. Yet traffic deaths continue to climb.

According to National Safety Council CEO Deborah Hersman,  […]

Self-driving cars may be here sooner than expected

The future of self-driving cars may arrive sooner than expected.

Ford said last week that the company plans to mass-produce fully autonomous vehicles by 2021.

Other automakers and tech companies have begun testing self-driving cars  that provide a level of autonomy, within limits, while still allowing the driver to take over if necessary. These kinds of vehicles are equipped with an “autopilot” mode, or crash-avoidance technology.

The cars Ford expects to introduce in the next five years, however,  will be truly driverless, and will have no steering wheel, gas pedal, or brake pedal.

Self-Driving Cars and Safety

Ford proposes that these vehicles will revolutionize transportation and improve safety on the road. Critics of self-driving cars are concerned that there are factors that an autonomous vehicle simply cannot predict or respond to, and that the technology may be vulnerable to glitches or hacking. […]