Potential PA speed limit increase could increase fatal crashes

Sections of the Pennsylvania turnpike and Interstate 380 will be part of a pilot program next month in which the speed limit will be raised to 70 mph. On I-380, a 21-mile stretch was selected for the experimental pilot, which will extend from the Interstate 84 junction in Lackawanna County to the Pocono Pines/Mount Pocono exit in Monroe County. On the Pennsylvania turnpike, the speed limit will be increased on a 100-mile stretch in south central Pennsylvania.

In response to the increased PA speed limit, the Hazleton Standard Speaker reported that a truck and its cargo totaling 80,000 pounds cannot stop for hundreds of feet at 65 mph, and driving faster means it will take even longer to stop. The paper also reported that most of Pennsylvania’s interstates were built during the 1960s and 1970s and designed to accommodate vehicles traveling at maximum speeds of 65 mph. […]

2nd deadly I-81 crash this week claims the life of a Sugar Notch woman

Failure to use seatbelt causes fatal injuries in crash

A second deadly crash occurred on I-81 in northeastern Pennsylvania this week, this one in the northbound lane near the Wilkes-Barre Township/Mountaintop exit. A sports utility vehicle exiting the highway was unable to negotiate the curb and flipped. A passenger who was ejected from the vehicle died of injuries sustained in the accident. The driver also sustained serious injuries in the crash. A third passenger in the vehicle, the only one wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, received only minor injuries.

Each year about 33,000 people are killed in motor vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with 45 to 60% effectiveness, seat belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of death in a crash and saved an estimated 12,174 lives in 2012. […]

Fatal crash on I-81 claims the life of an Ontario woman

A deadly crash near the Dickson City exit of Interstate 81 in Lackawanna County claimed the life of a 58-year old woman from Ontario, Canada on Monday. The woman was in the rear passenger seat of the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire when the vehicle she was riding in struck a stone embankment after swerving off the road, according to police reports.

Although vehicle safety has improved, as well as improved safety measures on our nation’s roadways, the number of car accidents in this country is still staggering. According to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), passenger vehicle occupant fatalities increased in 2012 after they declined six years in a row from 2005 to 2011. 33,561 lives were lost in crashes on our nation’s roadways in 2012 as compared to 32,479 in 2011. Pennsylvania also saw an increase in fatalities in 2012, […]

“What Should I Do If I Get Hit By a Car While Walking?”

In effort to live healthier lives, many people are opting to institute activities, such as walking, running, and jogging into their daily fitness routines. It’s an easily accessible form of exercise, as it can be done just about anywhere—from your neighborhood cul-de-sac to your local park to the bustling streets of your city. But getting around on foot can open pedestrians up to traffic risks.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts report, there were 4,743 pedestrian fatalities and 76,000 pedestrian injuries involving motor vehicles in 2012. The same report states that those stats equal out to about one death every two hours and one injury every seven minutes. Of course, there are plenty of things you can do to ensure your safety while traversing your town on foot:

1) Use designated crosswalks. If the intersection has a walk/don’t walk sign, […]

Tips to Avoid Car Accidents for the Fourth of July Weekend

Besides an abundance of national pride, barbecues, and fireworks, July Fourth weekend also sees a rise in travelers on the road. With this, comes a surge in road traffic and car accidents.

In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Fourth of July weekend is either the deadliest day for drivers or the second-deadliest day, based on data collected for more than 20 years. While weather conditions aren’t much of a factor during the summer months, driving under the influence of alcohol is—and when it comes to Independence Day weekend, it’s the main contributor to these traffic fatalities. “During the 2012 July 4th weekend, in fatal accidents between 9 p.m. and midnight, 59% of the drivers were drunk,” reports the NHTSA. Their research goes on to state that 40 percent of all highway deaths between 2007 and 2011 were caused by drunk driving over this holiday weekend; […]