Drunk Driving

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Drunk driving a factor in 1/3 of traffic fatalities

A 2014 national drunk driving enforcement crackdown called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” goes into effect across the country from August 13 to September 1. Drunk driving is one of the deadliest and most often committed crimes. Although it is preventable, it has become a serious epidemic in our country.

The New York Daily News reported that just last week, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s mother and cousin were hit head on by a drunk driver. Luckily both survived the horrific collision. Every day in America 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. In 2012, there were 10,322 fatalities in crashes involving a drunk driver, 31% of the total traffic fatalities for the year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There were nearly 300,000 drunk-driving related injuries that same year.

1,168 children ages 14 and younger were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012. […]

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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, […]

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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; […]

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The Dangers of Driving Drowsy

Driving impaired doesn’t have to mean driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It can also mean driving while drowsy—a practice that leads to more than 100,000 crashes each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of this total, 40,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths are reported. In fact, a study showed that driving while being awake for 18 hours was the same as driving with a blood alcohol level of .05. Driving after being awake for 24 hours was equal to a blood alcohol level of .10—a level of .08 is legally drunk.

As with drunk driving, sleep-deprived driving also inhibits a person’s reaction time, judgment, and vision; causes problems with information processing and short-term memory; decreases awareness, and increases aggressiveness.

Unfortunately, in the commercial truck driving culture, getting behind the wheel, despite a lack of sleep, […]

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Cost of car crashes shows importance of safety measures

According to a new study released by the U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the price tag of car crashes comes at a heavy burden for Americans at $871 billion in economic loss and societal harm. This includes $277 billion in economic costs, nearly $900 for each person living in the U.S., and $594 billion in harm from loss of life and the pain and decreased quality of life due to injuries.

The study was based on 2010 statistics, which included a staggering 32,999 motor vehicle crash fatalities, 3.9 million non-fatal injuries, and 24 million damaged vehicles. We all know that no amount of money can replace the loss of a loved one or the pain and suffering when you are critically injured in a car crash. These figures show us the importance of a greater investment in vehicle safety, […]