Drunk Driving

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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. […]

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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” page highlighting Pennsylvania’s new anti-texting law and the dangers of distracted driving. […]

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PA Drivers Have Opportunity to Participate in PennDOT Survey

Our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys have continuously urged PA drivers to drive safely when on our highways.  We also strive to present articles regarding safety initiatives and campaigns aimed at improving highway safety.  Now, Pennsylvania residents have the opportunity to be heard regarding the efficacy of the state’s traffic safety enforcement and their peers’ driving behaviors.

PennDOT has published its Highway Safety Planning Survey online at www.JustDrivePA.com.  The survey questions focus on several key safety initiatives: seat belt use, impaired driving, speeding, motorcycles, distracted driving.  Each state is required to complete this survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Residents have until July 27 to complete their feedback.  The survey is anonymous, although information is maintained on gender and zip code of residence.

Palmer-Forks Patch reports that more than 3,500 people responded to last year’s survey.

According to PennDOT’s website, more than 1,200 people die in traffic crashes in Pennsylvania each year.  […]

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Pennsylvania Fourth of July Car Accident Statistics Point to Risky Behavior

Pennsylvania State Police released the traffic accident statistics from the long Fourth of July weekend. Sadly, too many people lost their lives due to risky driving behaviors such as drunk driving and not buckling up.

According to the press release, nine people were killed and 312 people were injured in a total of 845 Pennsylvania car crashes during the Fourth of July holiday driving period.  Seven of those killed were not wearing seat belts.  85 of the car crashes were alcohol-related, including four of the fatalities. During the same period, state troopers arrested 432 people for driving under the influence.

“I’m disappointed that so many drivers still get behind the wheel after drinking,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said. “And it’s clear that far too many people don’t buckle up when they travel. The numbers illustrate once again that risky behavior, such as drinking and driving or not wearing a seat belt, […]

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The IIHS Suggests Toughening Up Pennsylvania’s Graduated License Program

Pennsylvania’s graduated licensing (GDL) program has been identified by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as one of the best GDL programs in the nation.  In a recent study, the IIHS honed in on five components of GDL’s that can improve safety among teen drivers.  Although PA meets many of the requirements, there is still room for improvement.

In March, we offered detailed information about the GDL after the USA Today did a featured story on teen driving.  In 2010, Governor Tom Corbett tightened the restrictions for teen drivers by enhancing the GDL.  However, the IIHS believes that by adding even stricter requirements in Pennsylvania, the state could see a 27% reduction in teen accidents.

In 2010, there were 27,149 crashes involving drivers between the ages of 16 and 20.  There were 57 car crash deaths in accidents in 2010 that involved a 16- or 17-year-old driver. […]