According to American Automobile Association (AAA) “more residents in mountain states will hit the road this Independence Day weekend than last year”.

Before hitting the road on holidays, it is important to plan ahead to avoid road congestion. According to the Washington University in Saint Louis (WUStL), holiday weekends are considered the heaviest times for driving so it is important to prepare for bad traffic. The holiday season also makes people apprehensive and preoccupied so drivers should be more vigilant by giving people more distance and be forgiving when someone does something irritating or absent-minded. Internal uneasiness of a driver is proven to cause serious accidents on the road.

Also, be sure to have your vehicle checked so you won’t be upset by unplanned repairs on the road. Check your engine performance, windshield wipers, oil, brakes, air filter, belts, battery, lights, fluids, tires. Examine tires for remaining tread life. Replace old windshield wipers.

Once you get on the road, drive safely. Since you have your teens or toddlers in the car, it is very obvious that they are the most vulnerable in case of an accident. So avoid risks by shunning drinking before driving. Enjoy your weekend by driving safely and carefully.

The implicit dangers of texting and driving have become common knowledge in American households. Many parents warn their teenagers not to send text-messages while behind the wheel. As teenagers tend to use text-messaging features more often than parents, safety advocates often focus on the dangers of teenagers texting and driving. However, a recent study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project reveals that adults are more likely to text and drive than teenagers. According to Informationweek.com, the study found that almost half of all adults who text-message admit to texting while driving. Conversely, only one in three teens texts while behind the wheel of a car.

Texting motorists aren’t the only problem
The same study found that pedestrians may also find themselves in dangerous situations when they are texting. The study revealed that one in six adults who own cell phones have physically run into another person or object while texting. While an accidental bump might not lead to serious injuries, consider the dangers of focusing on text message while walking in a busy urban environment. Pedestrians engrossed in a text are far less aware of their surroundings, which can prove fatal in cities with heavy auto traffic. A recent article in Time Magazine reports on the hazards of pedestrians texting in urban areas.

Texting is one of the most dangerous distractions to motorists
Several studies in recent years have reinforced the fact that texting is one of the most dangerous hazards on the road. A study conducted by Virginia Tech found that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers who refrain from texting. In some ways, texting is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Studies have found that drivers have a reduced reaction time of 35% while text-messaging. This is more than double the 12% reduced reaction time of drunk drivers. Texting and driving is always a dangerous mix, no matter the street, time of day, or speed of the vehicle. If you are behind the wheel, texting is never safe.

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KSL News has reported some major construction changes along Interstate 15 in Utah County. This construction is accompanied by lane shifts and lower speed limits in the stretch from Lehi to Spanish Fork. The speed limit is now 55 miles per hour for most of this 24-mile stretch along I-15. However, Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) troopers are worried about the amount of drivers who are not slowing down. One officer said he stopped three different drivers within less than hour who were all driving over 85 mph in the construction zone. Speeding in construction zones is dangerous to both workers and other commuters.

Remember that this construction can lead to delays, especially during peak driving hours. If you are going to be driving through the construction zone, give yourself extra time to arrive at your destination so you do not feel the need to drive over the speed limit and endanger those around you.

Speeding is a major factor in traffic accidents.
As any seasoned driver knows, it becomes more difficult to control a vehicle the faster it is going. Furthermore, victims in high-speed accidents are much more likely to suffer serious injuries than victims in accidents at lower speeds. Over the years, state and federal officials have placed speed limits in accordance with research and data to help protect the safety of commuters.

Continue reading " Construction On I-15 Can Lead To More Utah Car Accidents If We're Not Careful " »

A recent article in US News and World Report brought to light some interesting research concerning traffic safety. A study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Societies found a correlation between early classes and auto accidents with teenage drivers. The data suggests that the lack of sleep hinders teenage drivers' alertness and driving precision on their commute to morning classes. The study’s author, Dr. Robert Vorona, an associate professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, said that the amount of sleep teenagers receive often depends on the time they wake up in the morning. In light of the study’s findings, he suggests that high schools consider starting the day later.

Teenagers’ biological clocks work differently than adults’
Dr. Barbara Phillips, of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, agrees with Dr. Vorona’s recommendations. Dr. Phillips asserts that teenagers tend to go to bed later than adults no matter how early they woke up. She stated that teenagers are biologically programmed to wake up and become sleepy later than adults. This makes waking up at 7:30 AM to get to class on time extremely difficult. Consequently, their alertness and reaction speed while behind the wheel is severely hampered.

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Joshua Yazzie, a federal law enforcement officer, was killed in a single-vehicle Utah auto accident on June 7, 2010. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Yazzie was driving his car on the Ute Indian Reservation in Uintah County while on duty. He lost control of his vehicle a mile south of U.S. Highway 40. He overcorrected in an attempt to stabilize the vehicle, causing the car the roll off a 200-foot embankment. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The force of the accident ejected him from the vehicle and he died at the scene. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife and two children as they mourn this tragic loss.

The rate of rollover accidents is increasing
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 1991 to 2001, the rate of rollover fatalities increased by 10%. Although rollover accidents are generally rare, accounting for 3% of passenger vehicle accidents, they account for almost one-third of all accident fatalities every year. In 2001, over 10,000 people died in rollover vehicles, accounting for 32% of all traffic accident fatalities.

A thorough analysis of traffic safety statistics reveals that SUVs are more prone to rollovers. According to the NHTSA “fatalities in rollover crashes accounted for 82% of the total fatality increase in 2002.” Furthermore, 61% of all SUV fatalities in 2002 involved a rollover.

Continue reading " Rollover Car Accident Attorney in Salt Lake City Utah " »

Fifteen-year-old Macala Holloway passed away June 6, 2010 after a difficult battle with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In early February, Macala was struck by a car on the crosswalk at 2700 West in Magna on her way to school. The force of the impact threw her nearly 100 feet, and she suffered serious injuries to her head. She was flown by helicopter to the University of Utah Medical Center in critical condition. Four months later, she passed away from her injuries.

“The sorrow and pain we are feeling right now, we cannot find words to describe it,” said Terry and Rebecca Ewell, Macala’s parents. “Our hearts are breaking – it hurts something fierce. We look at all the things she is going to miss out on. It is not fair; parents should not have to bury their children.”

Utah wrongful death attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are helping Macala's family through the legal steps of a wrongful death claim, but the medical bills and other expenses associated with this case far exceed the driver's car insurance limits. To help with these expenses, Zions Bank set up a charitable fund to assist in paying for Macala’s funeral expenses. Donations can be made at any Zions Bank branch in the name of Macala Holloway.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Terry and Rebecca Ewell as they mourn Macala’s passing. They are amazing parents and have been perfect examples on how to handle such difficult circumstances.

Continue reading " West Valley City Teenager Macala Holloway Dies From a Traumatic Brain Injury " »