Munley Law Blog

At Long Last, Better Underride Guards on Tractor-Trailers

New underride guards to help prevent fatalities in the event of a crash

How about some good news? After years of pressure from safety advocates, semitrailer companies are making changes.

For the first time, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has issued the “Toughguard” rating to semi-trailer manufacturers who pass the new underride guard crash tests. Five of eight of the largest North American semitrailer manufacturers earned top honors.

An underride guard is the metal bumper on the rear of a tractor-trailer, designed to keep smaller cars from going underneath the truck in the event of a rear-end crash. However, underride guards frequently prove ineffective, breaking or buckling in a collision. When they fail, cars slide under the rear of the trailer, crushing the cabin, as in the photo below. As you can see in the picture, vehicle occupants stand little chance of survival. […]

Free Motorcycle Safety Courses for Pennsylvania Riders

Spring will be here before we know it. That’s why PennDOT wants motorcycle riders to brush up on safety before the season starts.

Whether you’re a newly licensed rider, an experienced biker, or getting back on the bike for the first time in a while, the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program (PAMSP) offers courses for riders of all skill levels. The PAMSP offers free training for PA residents with a motorcycle license or learner’s permit. Learner’s permit holders who successfully complete the necessary safety course will be issued a motorcycle license.

Riders in Northeast PA can find courses in Dunmore, Nanticoke, and Lake Ariel. To find one near you, click here.

Motorcycle Safety Tips

As with driving a car, there are certain basic safety rules that all bikers should know. Exposed to the elements and less visible than larger vehicles on the road, […]

As Crash Deaths Reach 40k, Adults Drive Worse Than Teens

Who are the riskiest drivers on the road?

While teenage drivers have the highest chances of dying in a car crash, they are not the worst drivers. According to a new study from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,  young adult drivers report engaging in dangerous driving behavior more than any other age group. They found that about 88% of young adults (age 19-24) admitted to speeding, running red lights, or texting while driving in the last 30 days.

Older adults (25-39) weren’t far behind, at 79%. Among drivers 40-59 years old, 75% owned up to these bad behaviors. Teenagers? Just 69%.

Nearly half of drivers 19-24 years old reported driving through a light that had just turned red when they could have stopped safely. They appear twice as likely as other age groups to type a text while driving. […]

FTC Faces Lawsuit Over Used Car Recall Dangers

If you’re looking to buy a used car, how do you know if a vehicle is safe? Thanks to the Takata airbag recall, it’s become more complicated than ever before.

Consumer groups sued the Federal Trade Commission earlier this week for dangerously misleading used car buyers. Last year, the FTC reached a decision with General Motors and two major used-car chains allowing dealerships to advertise used cars as “certified pre-owned” even if they had an outstanding recall making them unsafe to drive. The lawsuit aims to overturn this decision.

Consumer safety groups filing the lawsuit include the Center for Auto Safety, Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and three of its state counterparts. They argue that the ruling leaves used car buyers vulnerable to potentially deadly defects.

The matter is further complicated by the immense volume of auto recalls in recent years. […]

Report of State Safety Laws: PA Gets Failing Grade

The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have released their annual report card of state safety laws. The report highlights 15 recommended laws regarding occupant protection (seatbelt use, motorcycle helmets) impaired and distracted driving, teen drivers (graduated licensing and age-based restrictions), and child passenger safety.

Best and Worst States for Traffic Safety

The report granted states a green (best), yellow, or red (worst) rating, based on their adoption of recommended optimal traffic safety laws. This year, in a record low, only five states earned a green rating:

• Rhode Island
• Delaware
• Washington
• Louisiana
• Oregon
• District of Columbia

Seventeen states were assigned a red rating. The five worst:

• South Dakota
• Wyoming
• Arizona
• Missouri
• Montana

Pennsylvania’s Safety Laws Need Improvement

So how did PA do? […]