PA Drivers Should Call 911 to Report Dangerous Texting Drivers

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have continued to provide information to educate drivers of the dangers of texting while driving.  The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that nationwide almost 25 percent of car crashes involve cell phone use and nearly 1.3 million crashes each year can be attributed to cell phone usage while driving. If you are a focused, defensive driver, however, the USA Today reports that you should get away from distracted drivers to help prevent yourself from becoming one of these statistics.

According to the USA Today, police not only recommend distancing yourself from the offensive drivers, but also suggest calling 911 if you believe the drivers are a danger to others.  Auburn Police Division Capt. Tom Stofer told USA Today that drivers should give a wide berth to texting drivers — and to call 911 in the worst cases.

“If I was a citizen and if I saw an extreme case, […]

Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Are Targeting Aggressive Drivers

Pennsylvania law enforcement will be out in force until August 16 targeting aggressive drivers on PA highways.  In a partnership with PennDOT, the PA State Police, the Montgomery County Health Department and Buckle Up PA are taking on dangerous drivers on the highways through the statewide aggressive-driving campaign.

According to a press release issued last week by PennDOT, law enforcement will be focusing on motorists who exhibit key aggressive driving behaviors including tailgating, speeding and running red lights.  Last year, police issued 142,013 aggressive driving-related citations across the state.

Philly.com reports that inPennsylvania, aggressive drivers caused 6,300 crashes in 2011, killing 168 people.

PennDOT has been actively targeting aggressive driving through its Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project. The project is funded through $2.3 million in federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The NHTSA notes that aggressive driving has become a serious problem on our nation’s roadways. […]

Deadly Pennyslvania Accident Serves as a Reminder of the Importance of Seatbelts

A deadly car accident in Wells Tannery last month serves as a reminder that seatbelts are not an inconvenience – they can be lifesavers.  Two teens died and two were seriously injured when the driver of their car apparently lost control sending the vehicle off the roadway and into several trees.  Sadly, none of the four occupants were wearing a seatbelt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that while the use of seatbelts saved 356 lives in Pennsylvania in 2010, another 136 could have been saved if all of the people had buckled up. The NHTSA reports that 868 people (aged 5 and over) died in PA accidents in 2010. Of those, 273 were properly restrained, whereas 505 did not have their seatbelts on at the time of the crash.

JustDrivePA.org maintains key educational material on its website related to seatbelt usage. […]

Pennsylvania Drivers Asked to be On the Lookout for Joggers

Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise among Americans. In fact, according to Running USA, there are over 35 million recreational runners in the United States.  Although there are numerous health benefits to running including, weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, natural stress relief and increased strength, runners also risk serious injuries from being struck by a vehicle.

Just this month, a 20-year-old woman was jogging in Blooming Grove, just 35 miles east of Scranton, when she was struck and killed by a car, according to news reports.  The driver apparently intentionally ran his vehicle onto the shoulder of the highway and struck and killed the woman as she jogged on Route 507. Although this was an extreme case, it does serve as an example of the dangers Pennsylvania runners face when running on the roadways and highways. […]

PennDOT Offers PA Residents Key Safety Resources

Although you may have heard of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in regards to road construction projects throughout the state, PennDOT is also tasked with keeping the Pennsylvania roadways safe through various programs and campaigns.  As part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April, PennDOT launched “Just Drive PA,” a new initiative aimed at improving safety on Pennsylvania roadways.

According to a PennDOT notice:

The ‘Just Drive’ slogan reinforces that distractions, driving impaired and other unsafe driving behaviors have no place on our roadways.” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. “It reinforces the need to drive properly, wear seat belts, look out for other travelers and always avoid distractions. Remember “when you’re behind the wheel, your biggest and only responsibility is to focus on safe driving.”

“The Just Drive PA website, www.justdrivepa.com, features a “Distracted Driving” […]