RECENT ARTICLES

Spring has definitely sprung. That means longer, warmer days — which many plan to spend exploring the open road on a bike. But before peddling off into the sunset, experts say a check-up is in order — for the bike. Bikes that have spent the winter in storage will need [...]

Human Bites are Hazardous Too — Forget Fido, Human Bite Wounds Also Require Prompt Treatment

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES When a dog bites a man, there’s no question about the proper medical treatment, but when a human bites another human many doctors may not know where to begin. Mike Tyson articles aside, researchers say there’s been few studies about how to effectively treat human bites, [...]

Is It Safe to Tote a Tyke on Your Bike? – FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

Fewer kids are injured in bicycle-towed trailers than in child-mounted bicycle seats, and their injuries are also less severe, according to a report in the April issue of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. “But before the trailers can be recommended over child seats, more surveillance is needed,” [...]

Getting to School Safely — FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

Yearly, an estimated 7,000 children are injured in school bus-related incidents, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Thirty-one were killed that year — more than half killed as they approached or were leaving the bus, says Heather Paul, PhD, executive director of Safe Kids. The problem: the “blind spot [...]

Kids’ Eye Injuries From BB, Paintball Guns Spike – FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

(HealthDay News) — While BB and paintball guns may seem like harmless child’s play, new research shows eye injuries among kids using them have shot up nearly 170 percent since 1990. “These injuries happen in an instant, and can have significant lifelong effects,” said study author Dr. Gary Smith. The [...]

Intoxication a Major Teen Road Risk — Nearly 1 in 3 High School Seniors Admit Driving or Riding With Someone Who’s Been Drinking or Using Drugs

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES In a new survey, almost a third of last year’s high school seniors admit driving after drinking heavily or using drugs, or riding with someone who had done so. That figure is down from 35% in 2001 but hasn’t changed much since 2004. “This behavior is [...]

Get Guns Out of the Home, Pediatricians Say – – FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

The physicians who take care of America’s children have offered a prescription for what they consider an epidemic of firearm deaths. The 55,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its policy to urge in the strongest possible terms that guns be removed from America’s homes. Previously, the group had [...]

Now Showing on Children’s TV: Unsafe Behavior – FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES

A new study finds that children’s TV programs often show characters defying safety rules and getting away with it: running into a street without looking, riding in a car without a seat belt, bicycling without a helmet. Accidents are the leading cause of death and disability among children in the [...]

Teen Drinking Carries Lifelong Risks — If a person starts drinking alcohol at a young age, before age 21, that can lead to even more problems down the road, both literally and figuratively.

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES In fact, the earlier a person starts drinking, the higher the risk of car accidents and unintentional injuries as adolescents and young adults, according to a report in the Sept. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.Drinking before the age of 21 also [...]

Avoidable Injuries Continue in Winter Sports – High-speed snowmobile and ice hockey collisions often result in injury to the head, neck, and spine

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES High-speed snowmobile and ice hockey collisions often result in injury to the head, neck, and spine, according to two reports in the March issue of Pediatrics. Doctors call for education, legislation, and sportsmanship to help reduce injuries and deaths among children. Snowmobiling is a very popular [...]

Mellow Music May Help Stave Off Road Rage – The sooner you tune in, the better, study finds

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES A quick switch to mellow music in the car may make you a safer driver, researchers say. Promptly changing to soothing music is the most effective way to calm down while driving in stressful conditions that could trigger road rage, found the study published in the [...]

Caffeine Reduces on-the-Job Mistakes; Drive safer too? – A Cup of Coffee Can Help Shift Workers Improve Performance, Cut Down on Errors, Researchers Say

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Bleary-eyed shift workers appear to make fewer mistakes on the job when they consume caffeine, such as a cup of coffee or a caffeinated energy drink, researchers report. Shift and nighttime work can sometimes disrupt the body’s natural clock, or circadian rhythm. This can lead to [...]

Driving Deaths Up After Super Bowl – Don’t Let the Post-Game Drive Home Be Your Last

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Don’t forget to buckle up and drive defensively on your way home from that Super Bowl party on Sunday. Researchers say the telecast causes a post-game increase in driving fatalities and puts many inattentive, tired or drunk drivers at serious risk. A new study in the [...]

New E-scooter Study Highlights Need for Infrastructure Improvement, Rider Training

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement for attribution to Pam Shadel Fischer, Senior Director of External Engagement, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) WASHINGTON, D.C. – A study on e-scooter injuries released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provides critical context regarding why riders are injured. The data highlight the [...]

New Study Shows Tragic Impact of Turning Roadways into Speedways

Statement by Jonathan Adkins, Executive Director, Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Drivers are addicted to speed, and we unfortunately see the deadly results every day on roadways across the country. The auto industry has made tremendous gains making vehicles more crashworthy, but this new study from AAA and the Insurance [...]

Driver, Keep Your Eyes on the Road, Hands Behind the Wheel

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Patricia Pena knows first hand how devastating a cell phone can be in the hands of a motorist who isn’t paying attention. More than a year ago, Patricia’s 2 1/2-year-old daughter Morgan was killed after the Pena’s family car was broadsided by another vehicle. That driver [...]

Chantix Nixed for Pilots; Caution for Truckers, Bus Drivers – Government Officials Eye Safety of Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES The quit-smoking drug Chantix is being grounded for pilots and air traffic controllers, and Chantix use may be reason for medical examiners to disqualify interstate truckers and bus drivers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruled on Wednesday that “Chantix was no longer acceptable for use by [...]

U.S. Accidental Deaths Increasing

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES The CDC today warned that the leading cause of death before middle age is on the rise. A total of 625,328 people in the U.S. died of unintended injuries during the years studied. The top causes of unintentional injury deaths are traffic accidents, poisoning (mainly drug-related), [...]

Fifteen-Passenger Vans May Roll When Fully Loaded

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES The popular 15-passenger vans often used to ferry nursing home residents and college athletes have a potentially deadly tendency to rollover when they’re filled to capacity. An analysis prepared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that the big vehicles with 10 or more [...]

Fountain Frolicking Can Be Fun, but Dangerous

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Running through a sprinkler on a hot summer day is a childhood rite of passage no kid should miss. But running through one of the interactive fountains spouting up at community pools and parks around the country may warrant more caution. A new report from the [...]

States Ramp Up Traffic Safety Initiatives Ahead of Deadly Summer Travel Season – As traffic volumes rise, State Highway Safety Offices increase efforts to protect road users

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With more Americans returning to the road and millions expected to take summer road trips, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is alerting motorists that State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs) and their partners are stepping up programs to make sure the nation’s roads are safe for everyone. [...]

Road construction accidents increase even as COVID-19 keeps drivers away

Sixty percent of highway contractors reported motor vehicles crashes on their work zones over the past year. Here is what state officials and contractors are doing about it. When lockdowns swept the nation last year but construction work was deemed essential, many state DOTs saw a golden opportunity to fast-track [...]

As Traffic Comes Roaring Back, Four States Receive Grants to Stop Drug and High-Risk Impaired Driving

Source: GHSA GHSA and Responsibility.org to award more than $157,000 in highway safety grants WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the seventh consecutive year, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org) are awarding grants to help states keep Americans safe from alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers. [...]

Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto are less distracting to drivers when compared to built-in vehicle infotainment systems

Source: AAA While many of today’s infotainment systems create potentially unsafe levels of distraction by allowing drivers to perform complex tasks like programming navigation or sending a text, CarPlay and Android Auto were 24 percent (5 seconds) faster on average than the vehicle’s native system when making a call and [...]

More than 80 Percent of Older Drivers Aren’t Talking About Driving Safety – Most families and physicians wait too long to talk with older drivers about their safe driving ability

Source: AAA Nearly 83 percent of older drivers report never speaking to a family member or physician about their safe driving ability, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Of the small percentage of families who do have the often difficult conversation, 15 percent do so [...]

Seat belts are the oldest form of occupant protection, with Volvo patenting the first rudimentary seat belt in 1889

Source: GHSA However, it wasn’t until 1968 that the federal government required seat belts to be installed in all new passenger cars. U.S. seat belt use rates have steadily increased over time. In 1994, the observed national seat belt use rate was 58%. In 2019, belt use had reached 91%. [...]

Think You’re In Your Car More? You’re Right. Americans Spend 70 Billion Hours Behind the Wheel

Source: AAA Americans spend an additional 20 minutes driving each week compared to 2014, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Over the course of the year, Americans collectively spent 70 billion hours behind the wheel- an eight percent increase since 2014. Each week, drivers travel [...]

Loose Helmets Tied to Worse Teen Concussions – High schools should have athletic trainers check players’ head gear for proper fit, doctor says

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES High school football players wearing loose helmets suffer worse concussion effects than players whose helmets fit properly, new research suggests. Young athletes with loose helmets had the highest rates of concussion symptoms, such as drowsiness, hyper-excitability and sensitivity to noise. Their concussions also lasted longer and [...]

Kids May Not Handle Motorbikes Safely – Best to Wait Until Kids Get Driver’s Licenses, Say Researchers

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES “Children should not operate motorbikes until they are old enough to obtain a motor vehicle driver’s license, which occurs at a minimum of 16 years of age,” write Wendy Pomerantz, MD, MS, and colleagues. The doctors don’t blame the bikes. Instead, they question whether kids [...]

Even Small Amounts of Alcohol May Impair Driving – Study Shows a Link Between Car Accidents and Drivers With Less Than Legal Limit for Alcohol in Blood

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Driving with a buzz can be as dangerous as driving when you are fully intoxicated, a new study suggests. The blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit in the U.S. is set at 0.08%, but levels well below this legal limit are associated with car accidents that cause incapacitating [...]

Slips, Falls, and Other Accidents Send 2,600 Older Adults to ER Each Year – Elevator Injuries Common Among Elderly

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Elevators may be one of the safest forms of transportation, but a new study shows they can be a potentially dangerous location for accidents and injuries among the elderly. Researchers found more than 2,600 older adults wind up in the emergency room each year as a [...]

Regular Exercise and Stretching Can Help Older Drivers Keep the Keys Longer – New AAA research shows fatigue and poor physical functioning are leading factors that cause older adults to stop driving

Source AAA New AAA research shows fatigue and poor physical functioning are leading factors that cause older adults to stop driving WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 25, 2019) – New research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that increased fatigue and poor physical functioning are leading factors that can result [...]

Red Light Running Deaths Hit 10 Year High – New AAA Foundation data analysis finds more than two people are killed every day in red light running crashes, including drivers, passengers,

Source: AAA More than two people are killed every day on U.S. roads by impatient and reckless drivers blowing through red lights, according to data analysis performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The most recent crash data available shows 939 people were killed in red light running crashes [...]

Taking Multiple Medications Can Increase Crash Risk for Older Drivers

Source: AAA Nearly 50 percent of older adults report using seven or more medications while remaining active drivers, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. An evaluation of the medications people are taking found that nearly 20 percent of older drivers are using medications that generally [...]

‘E-scooters’: Zooming Can End in Scrapes, Breaks

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES On a recent midweek afternoon, during Atlanta’s unforgiving rush hour, two boys zip down a sidewalk on a Lime-brand motorized electric scooter. The smaller of the two stands in front, his hands close to the center of the handlebars. The taller boy reaches around him to [...]

AAA Cautions Consumers: Don’t Buy the Hype – New Research Shows Automaker Marketing May Lead to Overconfidence, Misunderstanding

Source : AAA Motorists using active driving assistance systems, which combine vehicle acceleration with braking and steering, tend to overlook safety limitations when the branding and marketing used to sell it suggest an “automated” driving experience, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Researchers found consumer [...]

Vehicle Accident Deaths Cost States Billions – CDC Says Costs for Medical Care and Work Loss Were Highest in California, Texas, and Florida

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes cost an estimated $41 billion in the U.S. in medical and work-loss expenses in the CDC’s most recent annual estimate. The estimates are from 2005, the most recent year for which cost and crash data are available. The analysis shows [...]

GHSA and Distracted Driving Survivor Advocates Team Up to Reinforce the Need for Comprehensive Approach to Driver Inattention

Source GHSA The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and StopDistractions.org are teaming up to reinforce the critical role of equitable enforcement in effectively combating distracted driving. The two organizations are calling on states to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes high visibility enforcement of primary texting and hand-held cellphone bans, [...]

Bad Behavior: Drivers Know It’s Wrong, But Many Do It Anyway – New research shows crash-involved drivers admit to risky driving behaviors

Source AAA The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s latest research finds drivers who have been in at least one crash in the past two years are significantly more likely to engage in risky behaviors like speeding or texting, even when they think the police may catch them. After three months [...]

Driver Education Programs May Not Aid Elderly – Safety Education Programs Don’t Make Elderly Drivers Safer

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Educational programs designed to help elderly drivers improve their skills may not make them safer drivers or help prevent future accidents a new study shows. Researchers say that drivers over age 60 have among the highest rates of car crashes per mile driven of all age [...]

AAA Finds Active Driving Assistance Systems Do Less to Assist Drivers and More to Interfere

Source AAA AAA automotive researchers found that over the course of 4,000 miles of real-world driving, vehicles equipped with active driving assistance systems experienced some type of issue every 8 miles, on average. New automotive engineering research finds 73% of performance issues were related to lane centering ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. [...]

Survey Says: Men Are More Aggressive Behind the Wheel – AAA urges motorists to keep their cool

Survey Says: Men Are More Aggressive Behind the Wheel – AAA urges motorists to keep their cool as research shows differences between men and women regarding aggressive driving behavior Source AAA Data gathered by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety confirms the perception that men tend to speed, tailgate, merge [...]

Many Driving on Pot, Even With Kids in the Car – Many people may drive with marijuana in their system

(HealthDay News) That’s the upshot of a new study of drivers in Washington state, where recreational pot is legal. In roadside tests of more than 2,000 drivers, researchers found that 14% of those with a child in the car tested positive for THC, the component that creates marijuana’s “high.” In [...]

Reminders on Child Risks From Auto Air Bags

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Although many consumers realize that lifesaving auto air bags pose safety dangers to children, a national group says that public awareness may be slipping. The Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign, an industry/government coalition, said today that it is launching a TV public service announcement [...]

Drugs and Alcohol Kills More Teens – The primary causes of injury deaths were motor vehicle accidents

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES HealthDay Report (HealthDay News) — A perfect storm of murder, addiction and carelessness has fueled a recent and troubling increase in deaths among U.S. children and teens, a new government report shows. The total death rate for those aged 10 to 19 rose 12 percent between [...]

Communities Attack Extreme Drinking From All Sides — and Win

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES It takes a village to reduce the excessive drinking that often leads to car accidents and assaults, a new study suggests. When combined, several community-based efforts aimed at reducing such drinking do indeed reduce alcohol-related car accidents and assaults, California researchers report in Wednesday’s issue of [...]

No Safe Way to Text and Drive for Teens -Texting or Even Thinking About Texting While Driving Linked to Car Crashes

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Texting or even the thought of texting on a cell phone while driving may be distracting enough to cause a car crash for teens. Two new studies suggest that teen drivers who text with their cell phone in any position or even think about texting are [...]

Drug May Drop Risk of Falls For People With This – Those who took rivastigmine in study were 45 percent less likely to have an accident

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES A widely used dementia drug shows potential in reducing the risk of falls among Parkinson’s patients, new research suggests. “With the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells, people with Parkinson’s often have issues with unsteadiness when walking. As part of the condition, they also have lower levels [...]

Seniors’ Falling Injuries Are Preventable

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Eleanor Kusel never gave much consideration to the bumps in the sidewalks or the rugs lying on the floor of her apartment. But after the 75-year-old San Franciscan fell and fractured her pelvis while getting out of a car, she began to notice the many hazards [...]

Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety

Source GSHA Walking and biking are healthy, environmentally friendly transportation options. More people are walking and biking to work, cities are implementing micromobility programs (shared bikes and scooters) and transportation planners are increasingly taking pedestrians and bicyclists into account when making infrastructure improvements. Unfortunately, pedestrians and cyclists are at an [...]

Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Source: GSHA Alcohol impairment – or drunk driving – is a factor in nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities. In 2018, 10,511 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver, 29 percent of all fatalities.1Drive Sober State and local law enforcement officials work year-round to identify alcohol-impaired drivers and [...]

Is Raising the Speed Limit Worth the Risk? – New AAA and IIHS crash tests reveal that modest speed increases can have deadly consequences

Source AAA Drivers want to save time, and local transportation agencies want to improve traffic flow, but at what cost? With posted speed limits increasing on roadways around the country, a vehicle’s ability to protect drivers in crashes is in doubt. Small speed increases can have huge effects on crash [...]

Pedestrian Deaths Soar in 2020 Despite Precipitous Drop in Driving During Pandemic

Source: GSHA Projected fatality rate for people walking spiked 21% for largest ever year-over-year increase as dangerous driving and traffic violence plagued U.S. roads WASHINGTON, D.C. – New data from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) projects that 2020 had the largest ever annual increase in the rate at which [...]

Risky Driving Behaviors of Drivers Who Use Alcohol and Marijuana – AAA Survey Finds Users of Both Admit Variety of Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Source : AAA People who use both alcohol and marijuana are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road – they are significantly more likely to speed, text, intentionally run red lights, and drive aggressively than those who don’t, according to data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. [...]

Type 1 Diabetes Driving Mishaps Common – Type 1 Patients Have Twice as Many Accidents, Violations as Type 2 Patients and Non-Diabetics

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Driving accidents and traffic violations are twice as common among people with type 1 diabetes as in people with type 2 diabetes or those without the disease, suggests a new study that explains why: One in three people with type 1 diabetes surveyed say they had [...]

Rubbernecking Distracts More Than Phones – Cell Phones Rank Sixth on List of Causes of Accidents

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Chatting on a cell phone while driving may have gotten a bad rap in recent years as a common cause of car crashes, but a new study shows cell phones can’t hold a candle to good, old-fashioned rubbernecking when it comes to causing a highway [...]

Engine Exhaust Linked to Childhood Cancers – Study Shows Living Close to Bus Stations Carries Biggest Risk

Source: WebMD Engine Exhaust Linked to Childhood Cancers – Study Shows Living Close to Bus Stations Carries Biggest Risk Know Your Chemical Hotspots – Bus Stations Carry Biggest Risk Childhood cancers are strongly linked to exposure to engine exhaust in unborn and newly born children, say British researchers. Researchers aren’t [...]

Cell Phone Use While Driving Increases Crash Risk

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES In response to growing evidence that motorists’ use of cell phones increases crash risk, two municipalities have passed ordinances limiting their use. As similar legislation is proposed nationwide, the cell phone industry has launched a public education campaign. In September, Brooklyn, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, [...]

The Most Dangerous Place to Drive?- The South Has the Highest Rate of Traffic-Related Deaths; Lowest Rate in the Northeast

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Driving may be more dangerous in the South than any other place in the country, the CDC says. In 2005, the latest year for which statistics are available, 45,520 deaths in the U.S. were related to motor vehicles, according to the CDC. The Northeast had the [...]

Child Car and Bus Safety: Beyond Seat Belts and Safety Seats

June 14, 2021

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Buckles and car seats aren’t enough to ensure that children are riding safely, according to a panel at the 127th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association. The child restraint needs to be appropriate for the child’s age and size. Seat belts need to be [...]

Back to (Driving) School: More Crashes and Convictions for Teens that Skip Driver Ed – AAA Foundation research reveals opportunities to produce smarter, safer drivers

June 14, 2021

Although vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for teens, fewer new drivers are participating in what used to be considered a rite of passage – driver education. State funding and requirements for these programs have declined over recent decades, leaving uneducated teen drivers vulnerable on America’s roads. New [...]

Trading the Car Keys for a Bus Pass – Tips for Older Drivers

June 14, 2021

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES The light turns red and traffic stops. A mother eases her baby’s stroller off the curb and starts across. Without warning, a stopped car roars to life and leaps into the intersection, missing her infant by a hair. The shaken mother confronts the driver, a woman [...]

Diabetics With Low Blood Sugar at Risk for Driving Accidents

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Diabetics with even mildly low blood sugar — hypoglycemia — can find their driving performance seriously impaired, leading to more missed stop signs, inappropriate braking, fast driving, and sudden-stop crashes, according to a small study in Diabetes Care. What’s more, when drivers don’t take immediate corrective [...]

Accidents at the Fair: ‘No One Plans for This’

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Briley Reynolds and her sister Kayla fell 40 feet from a Ferris wheel car at a county fair in Tennessee last year. Nearly a year later, the physical effects of that fall remain, especially for Briley, who was 6 at the time. No one plans for [...]

A Perfect Storm? COVID-19 Restrictions Ease – New AAA data examines ten years of fatal teen crash rates during the summer

Nationwide, more than 8,300 people died in crashes involving teen drivers from 2008 to 2018 during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s more than seven people a day each summer. The combination of schools closed, activities curtailed, summer jobs canceled, and COVID-19 restrictions [...]

ATVs Behind Spike in Kids’ Injuries – All-Terrain Vehicle Accidents Are Increasingly to Blame for Amputations, Spinal Injuries in Children

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Accidents involving all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have caused a sharp increase in childhood injuries, often very serious ones, new studies show. The number of amputations and spinal injuries caused by ATV accidents involving children has jumped in recent years, and some deaths have been reported, according to [...]

Excessive Sleepiness Plagues Many Americans – Study Shows 1 in Five U.S. Adults Reports Excessive Sleepiness

June 10, 2021

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES About 20% of Americans complain of excessive sleepiness, a new study shows. It’s a finding that raises concerns about public safety and the potential for accidents and injuries. Research at Stanford University finds that not only do 19.5% of U.S. adults report moderate to excessive sleepiness, [...]

AAA Reveals Top Driving Distractions for Teens – Research from AAA Foundation Finds 60% of Teen Crashes Involve Distraction

June 10, 2021

Over the past five years, more than 5,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period starting at Memorial Day when teen crash deaths historically climb. As the summer driving season begins, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is releasing a follow-up [...]

Top Reason for Teen Spine Injuries: Not Wearing Seat Belts

June 10, 2021

By Robert Preidt – HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, May 20, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Two-thirds of spinal fractures suffered by American children and teens occur in car crashes when they aren’t wearing seat belts, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed data on more than 34,500 U.S. patients younger than 18 who [...]

17,000 School Bus Injuries Yearly – Number of Kids Hurt 3 Times Higher Than Previously Thought

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Strains, sprains, lacerations, contusions, abrasions, fractures, traumatic head injuries … No, these aren’t football injuries. They’re injuries to children riding school buses. Each year, 17,000 U.S. kids are sent to emergency rooms because of such problems, a new study estimates. That’s three times the number previously [...]

Summertime Blues: The Return of the 100 Deadliest Days for Teen Drivers – AAA Reminds Parents to Model Good Driving Behavior for Their Teens When Behind the Wheel

Nationwide, more than 7,000 people died in teen driving-related summertime crashes from 2010 to 2019. That’s more than seven people/day during these 100 Deadliest Days – the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day – compared to the rest of the year (six people/day). According to previous research from the [...]

Americans Feel Unsafe Sharing the Road with Fully Self-Driving Cars – New AAA survey reveals that Americans still leery of a driverless future

Ellen Edmonds Manager, AAA Public Relations A new report from AAA reveals that the majority of U.S. drivers seek autonomous technologies in their next vehicle, but they continue to fear the fully self-driving car. Despite the prospect that autonomous vehicles will be safer, more efficient and more convenient than [...]

Car Crashes Top Spinal Cord Injury Causes – Auto Accidents Rank First for Kids, Especially Those Not Wearing Seatbelts

FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Motor vehicle accidents are the top cause of spinal cord injury in kids, a new study shows. The researchers urge kids to wear seatbelts to help prevent such injuries. “Motor vehicle accidents are by far the No. 1 cause of pediatric spinal cord injury within [...]

Car Booster Seats Cut Injury Risk for Kids

Study Shows Kids in Side-Impact Car Crashes Benefit the Most From Booster Seats FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES Booster seats with proper belt positioning significantly reduce the risk of injury in children aged 4 to 8 who are involved in traffic accidents, a new study shows. The research reinforces previous studies [...]

Self-Driving Cars Stuck in Neutral on the Road to Acceptance

Source AAA AAA finds only 12% of drivers would feel safe riding in a car that drives itself A new AAA survey on automated vehicles reveals that only one in ten drivers (12%) would trust riding in a self-driving car. Even more Americans – 28% – don’t know how they [...]

Drivers should know if they are sharing the road with self-driving test vehicles

Ellen Edmonds Manager, AAA Public Relations eedmonds@national.aaa.com Over the next two years as on-road pilot programs and testing increase, self-driving vehicles will continue to move from novelty to closer to reality, meaning more drivers are likely to encounter them. Regulators must establish guidelines that ensure self-driving test vehicles are identifiable [...]

Vehicle Technology: False Sense of Security?

Greg Brannon, Director Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations Ellen Edmonds Manager, AAA Public Relations eedmonds@national.aaa.com Today, nearly every new vehicle comes equipped with at least one vehicle safety system like automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assistance. These systems are designed to improve the driving experience while providing additional safety [...]

‘Drugged Driving’ on the Rise in U.S.

June 7, 2021

Marijuana accounted for third of drugs found in systems of drivers killed in accidents FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES More Americans are under the influence of drugs while they drive, even as drunk driving rates decline, new research shows. In the report, 38 percent of drivers killed in accidents who were [...]

Airbags Don’t Pose Eye Injury Risk

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Eye Injuries Rare Following Car Accidents Involving Airbags An airbag may very likely save your life during an automobile accident, and contrary to popular belief, it won’t do so at the price of your eyesight. A new study shows the risk of eye injury [...]

Multiple Sclerosis Can Cause Danger Behind the Wheel

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News People with multiple sclerosis may be at greater risk of accidents because of slower reaction times, according to research reported in the April 24 issue of Neurology “Most people can see how physical factors can affect driving performance. But our results indicate that [mental] [...]

Heart Problems Prompt Fainting Behind the Wheel

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News People involved in car accidents that occur under mysterious circumstances may have passed out at the wheel due to a common, but often undiagnosed, heart condition, according to researchers at Yale University.The researchers are specialists in testing used to diagnose irregular heartbeats and other disorders in [...]

Head Injuries Up After Helmet Law Repeal

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News In Pennsylvania, Head Injury Deaths From Motorcycle Crashes Rise by 66% Head injuries from motorcycle crashes rose after the repeal of motorcycle helmet laws in Pennsylvania, a study shows.The study’s researchers found a 66% increase in motorcycle-related head injury deaths and a 78% increase in [...]

High Visibility Protects Motorcyclists

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Reflective Clothing, Light Helmets, and Headlights Reduce Crash Risks Conspicuous motorcycle riders are more likely to arrive at their destination safely and without injury, a new study shows. Researchers found wearing reflective clothing, a white or light colored helmet, and using headlights during [...]

‘All-Age’ Helmet Laws Save Young Motorcycle Riders

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Study Shows Helmet Laws Are Most Effective for Young if They’re Enforced for Youths and Adults Youth-specific motorcycle helmet laws may be hurting the young people they are designed to protect. A new study shows the rate of serious brain injury among youths [...]

E-scooters

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News On a recent midweek afternoon, during Atlanta’s unforgiving rush hour, two boys zip down a sidewalk on a Lime-brand motorized electric scooter. The smaller of the two stands in front, his hands close to the center of the handlebars. The taller boy reaches [...]

Fatal Pot-Linked Crashes Up After WA Legalization

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Experts say Washington state’s experience could be a lesson for rest of country FROM THE WEBMD ARCHIVES The number of fatal car crashes involving marijuana more than doubled after Washington state legalized the sale of the drug, a new study finds. Marijuana became [...]

Whiplash

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Whiplash is defined as injuries to the neck caused by an accident. After a whiplash accident, the intervertebral joints (located between vertebrae), discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged. What Causes Whiplash? Whiplash is caused by an abrupt backward [...]

Main type of car accident injuries

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Here are main type of car accident injuries: 1. Soft Tissue Injuries Soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons, and spinal discs. Some symptoms of a soft tissue injury include: Soreness or pain Muscle stiffness Headache Tingling in extremities 2. Head Injuries Traumatic brain [...]

Get Enough Sleep

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Better rest up before any long holiday drives. Drivers with six hours or less of sleep and those who work night shifts are at a relatively huge risk for crashing, according to research results unveiled yesterday. Researchers from the AAA Foundation for Traffic [...]

TYPES OF COMPENSATION IN A PERSONAL INJURY CASE

Source: Internet If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident, you could collect compensation for your losses. We can help you by gathering the crucial evidence proving your case and damages, determining all at-fault parties in your case. 1) Punitive damages, are infrequent and generally imposed [...]

Having the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation might be risky

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Having the common heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation might be risky if you get into a car accident, a new study suggests. Atrial fibrillation is a quivering or irregular heartbeat. Researchers report the condition is linked to higher chances of dying if you’re [...]

Epilepsy Causes Few Fatal Car Accidents

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Of all the hazards on the road, epileptic drivers aren’t very likely to cause a fatal wreck. In the U.S., 86 drivers per year died as a result of crashes caused by seizures from 1995-1997, according to experts at Johns Hopkins University School [...]

Impact of Car Accidents Can Be Long-Lasting

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Approximately every 10 seconds someone in the U.S. is injured in a motor vehicle accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fortunately, most accidents are not fatal, but even minor ones can cause long-term anxiety as well as fears and phobias [...]

U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Rose in 2020, Even Though Driving Declined

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Despite the fact that Americans have been driving less during the pandemic, pedestrian deaths per mile in the United States spiked 20% in the first half of 2020, new research shows. The culprits? Increases in speeding, distracted and impaired driving, and other dangerous [...]

Drug Could Be a Lifesaver for Accident Victims

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Study Shows Inexpensive Medicine Called TXA Could Treat People Who Suffer Blood Loss The lives of between 70,000 and 100,000 trauma victims worldwide could be saved each year if they were given access to a cheap, widely available, and easily administered medication, a [...]

Seniors Get Run Over More In Crosswalks

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Most Don’t Realize They’re Walking Slowly Seniors are more likely to die in pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions than people in other age groups. And a new study finds crosswalk markings don’t seem to do any good and may even increase the risk of pedestrian-motor [...]

Crash Rate Falls When People With ADHD Take Meds

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Hallmarks of the disorder — including inattention, impulsivity — raise accident risk, researchers say If you have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study suggests you would be wise to take your medication if you want to lower your chances of getting into a [...]

Drivers With ADHD: Higher Risk for Crashes?

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Drivers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are nearly 50 percent more likely to be in a serious car crash, a new study suggests. Further, men with ADHD can dramatically decrease their risk of traffic accidents if they take medication for their condition, the Swedish [...]

DELAYED BACK PAIN AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News If you’ve been in a car accident, like a rear-end collision, you know it’s a stressful event that causes a strong reaction in the body. Your body cranks out the adrenaline and endorphins when the car accident happens. These naturally occurring chemicals in [...]

Bicycle Riders Still Not Getting the Message Helmets Save Lives

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Bicycle accidents result in more than half a million emergency room visits and approximately 800 deaths in the U.S. each year, with a large percentage of fatalities occurring among children. Most of these serious injuries and deaths could be easily avoided, but experts [...]

Summer Risks vs. Realities

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Recall, for instance, the summer of 2001, which Time magazine dubbed “The Summer of the Shark” after 50 swimmers were attacked off the coast of the U.S., and three died from their wounds. The next summer brought alarming reports of the rapid spread [...]

Principles of Bicycle Safety

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Common resources include an experienced rider, parent, or community program. Often, however, initial training involves simple instruction from parents on balance and pedaling. Proper supervision of younger riders is a prerequisite. In fact, it is recommended that younger children ride only in enclosed [...]

Bicycle Helmet Laws Work

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Kids may consider wearing a bicycle helmet “uncool,” but a new study shows that safety laws requiring it really do work. They significantly increase helmet use by the most vulnerable population — children under 16. But another study shows safety gear doesn’t prevent [...]

Bicycle Safety

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport. With more than 100 million bicycle owners, the popularity of bicycling has reached an all-time high. Along with increased use of bicycles comes the [...]

Traffic Accidents Are Top Cause of Teen Deaths

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News More Than a Third of U.S. Teenage Deaths Are Due to Motor Vehicle Accidents Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for America’s teenagers, accounting for more than a third of fatalities in this age group every year, the CDC says [...]

Driving Soon After Stroke May Be Risky

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Recent survivors more likely to make errors and have collisions in simulated tests After a stroke, driving skills may be impaired, two new studies suggest. The small studies found that drivers who survived a recent stroke were more likely than other drivers to [...]

Drowsy Driving Causes 1 in 5 Fatal Crashes

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Teens and young adults, shift-workers and people with sleep disorders face greater risk Nearly 84 million sleep-deprived Americans take to the roads every day. And, drowsy driving was a factor in crashes that claimed about 5,000 lives last year, a new report shows. [...]

Do Energy Drinks Plus Alcohol Equal More Injuries?

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Mixing caffeine-loaded energy drinks and booze could be a recipe for trouble. That’s the word from a new study that says the popular party duo ups the odds someone will get hurt. Researchers in Canada analyzed results of 13 prior studies. Most reported [...]

Passengers May Have A Lethal Effect On Teen Drivers

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Teenagers, for the most part, are very social creatures. They like to congregate — on corners, in cafeterias, and in cars. But when it comes to packing a car with friends, the more, the deadlier, according to a new study. “The more passengers [...]

Spring Time Change Tied to More Fatal Car Crashes

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News Turning the clocks ahead one hour in the spring and losing an hour of sleep increases the risk of fatal car crashes, new research shows. For the study, the researchers analyzed data on nearly 733,000 fatal car crashes that occurred between 1996 and [...]

What’s the Most Dangerous Day to Drive?

Source: WebMD Archive and Healthday News 40,000 in U.S. Die Each Year on the Road, Weekends Are Deadliest Imagine a plane full of people crashing, killing everyone on board, every single day. That’s how many people die on America’s roads daily, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. “Motor [...]

CAR ACCIDENT CLAIMS LAWYER: WHY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE

Finding a Car Accident Claims Lawyer A good lawyer should always instruct their client not speak to either their or the other car’s insurance company. Why? The simple reason is that neither insurance company is interested in assisting the client. Why Car Insurance Is Necessary, but Not Enough When you [...]

CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER ADVICE: UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGES

Hidden Limits What many clients do not understand is that the settlement of a case against another driver can depend on the limits of insurance of the other car. Minimum Coverage is not Enough Unfortunately, California law prescribes that a car needs to only have $15,000 in insurance. For catastrophic [...]

NEWS: INSURANCE COMPANIES’ ATTEMPT TO FURTHER LIMIT YOUR COMPENSATION THROUGH AB 2429

Assemblywoman Ana Caballero has proposed legislation to the California legislature to further protect insurance companies from having to pay monetary compensation when a person has been injured. AB 2429 seeks to do so by requiring claimants to provide insurance companies with irrelevant/personal information and excessive time to respond to demands [...]

WHAT TO DO IF THE UBER OR LYFT YOU ARE RIDING IN CRASHES WITH ANOTHER CAR

We have all heard about passengers in Uber or Lyft vehicles getting the runaround from insurance companies when it comes to their medical expenses. Despite these reports, ridesharing is increasingly popular, especially in major cities. So what should you do if you are a passenger in an Uber or Lyft [...]

HOW THE FREEWAY SERVICE PATROL CAN HELP YOU

If you frequent Los Angeles County roadways, you have likely seen the Metro Freeway Service Patrol trucks. In fact, you may be one of the more than seven million drivers the Freeway Service Patrol has assisted over the past five years. In partnership with Caltrans, Metro, and the California Highway [...]

THE TRUTH ABOUT PET BITE INJURIES

Across the United States, households have all sorts of pets. While the topic of pet bite injuries often leads to dog bites, the fact is that pet bites can include a wide variety of animals. In turn, these bites can lead to an assortment of injuries and possible side effects. [...]

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WAS INJURED AT A SPORTS VENUE?

Attending a sports event is exciting. The energy flowing through massive venues is palpable. For sports enthusiasts, visiting a sports venue is an unbelievable adventure. Unfortunately for many spectators, the field, court, or track isn’t the only place where injuries can happen. In 2018, researchers at the University of Alabama [...]

DOES MY IMMIGRATION STATUS MATTER WHEN FILING A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM?

Immigration status is one of the main reasons why injured victims often refrain from taking legal action. Here at Century Park Law Group, we are commonly asked if immigration status matters in personal injury matters. The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no”, though ultimately, [...]

CAN YOU FILE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT?

Law enforcement officers of all ranks are given a great deal of discretion when it comes to managing situations. The goal is always to protect the safety of everyone around them, including any suspected criminals. Unfortunately, sometimes suspects and bystanders are injured in law enforcement activities. In such cases, you [...]

WHAT TO AVOID WHEN DEALING WITH THE OTHER DRIVER’S INSURANCE COMPANY