Accidents caused by drunk drivers happen at an alarming rate in the United States. But, a recent study by McGill University in Montreal, Canada has discovered that many DUI accidents are the result of prescription drugs. But what is most interesting, is that the most common aged drivers under the influence of prescription drugs are age 60 and above.
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Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis has been flooding the market with terrifying texting and driving statistics. Studies point to problems like: 1 in 5 drivers text while driving, 80% of accidents are caused by distracted drivers, and ½ million people are injured annually because of distracted driving. These shocking statistics have swept the nation causing 33 states and the District of Colombia to place bans on texting while driving.
Ground breaking research recently published by the professors at the University Of Utah through measurable data extracted from a test simulation solidified the truth of these statistics. University Research says, “In the text-messaging [experiment] participants displayed no impairment during the times when not interacting with their cell phone, but later demonstrated clear impairments in driving performance when interacting with their cell phone.” The numbers show that the risk of getting into an accident while texting and driving increases to 45% as opposed to 9% while driving and talking on a phone.
This alarming research has not fallen on deaf ears. Today a Georgia company announced a partnership with an Irving, Texas, firm to provide software to government agencies and businesses that disables the texting, e-mailing, and web-browsing functions of a wireless phone in moving vehicles. CEO Rowland Day says, “We believe that employers are becoming fully aware of the extension of liability for crashes caused by employees texting while driving.” The software uses the GPS system in cell phone to determine if the vehicle is moving more than 5-10mph and then disables the phones text function. Ford recently announced that some of its 2011 vehicles will be equipped with a “Do Not Disturb” button to block incoming calls and text messages. With this kind of new technology the age of texting and driving may end as we know it.
KSL News reports a rollover in southeastern Idaho that resulted in a wounded Utah passenger. The Idaho State Police indicate that eight passengers from Honeyville, Utah were hurt after a 16-year-old driver curved swiftly and then overcorrected. The car rolled, landing on its top in the middle of the eastbound lane. While most of the passengers only incurred minor injuries, one 74-year-old woman was not so lucky; she suffered a serious neck injury and was rushed to McKay-Dee Hospital. Investigators said that the incident was NOT a DUI and that the woman was the only one not wearing a seat belt.
About 75% (or three out of four) of rollover fatalities are not wearing seat belts, and alcohol consumption is also a prime factor. Turning too sharply and driving over the speed limit are the most frequent causes for rollover accidents. NHSTA's study identifies males under 25 as the most susceptible to experience rollovers. Sadly 600 to 800 people are killed annually because of rollovers.
Based on the alarming rate of rollovers, measures have been taken by car manufacturers to curtail incidents. Car developers unified the special characteristics of a car and a sports utility vehicle, in view of the fact that as an SUV becomes closer to the ground it is considerably safer. This development agreement made by car companies in 2009 hopes to save thousands of lives by producing vehicles that don't include some of the physical factors that contribute to this kind of accident.
When a parent is killed in a car accident, the family members suffer enormous emotional turmoil. This turmoil is known by many as grief. Grief can be defined as "the response you experience as a result of loss. This could be emotional - sadness, anger, disbelief, despair and even guilt and relief are responses that may come with grief."
It can be difficult dealing with grief from the weakened health or death of a parent. If a parent is lost during childhood or teenage years, pain's scar can be felt until the moment of forgetting and moving on is reached. Even when death is expected, grief can seriously impact those left behind. Death is still death, and a parent or loved one has been lost.
In Washington County, just this July 18th, Russell and Emelda Welsh, a couple from Pennsylvania were killed in a crash on Interstate 15. Based on the news provided by KSL.com, a Kia SUV approached an area where traffic was backed up due to construction and a lane closure. Because of the victim's fast driving, he lost control making a semitrailer heading north near Pintura turn sharply into the southbound lanes and hit them head on.
Untimely accidents like these happen and children suffer the most because they grow up dealing with the grief and memory of their parents' death. However, focusing on the grief may only make things worse. The person-at-grief needs to find healthy outlets to deal with stress and emotional attachments. Talking about the problem, learning how to identify and explain your feelings, changing situations or events that activate feelings of depression and stress, proper exercise and diet are all significant actions you can take to deal with these feeling in a healthy way.
When a loved one is lost relatives need to support orphaned children for them to be able cope with the difficulties created by losing a parent. Family members should be on the lookout for depression or trauma symptoms created by the sudden loss of loved ones. A trained grief therapist can help a family with their new responsibilities and relationships after a parent has died.
