As October begins to come to a close, winter weather is just around the corner. Utah’s snowy and icy roads can be dangerous to navigate if you are not prepared and cautious.

By understanding and following a few tips you can help to make Utah’s winter roads a safer place to drive.

Snowplows are one of the best things to happen to snowy roads. They make it possible for drivers to get where they need to go, even if the weather is bad, but they can also be dangerous for drivers. They drive slowly and in blustering snow can be difficult to see, especially if you are traveling at high speeds (slow down to 1/2 of posted speed limit!). Some plows also have “wing” plows, which stretch out wider than the actual plow. Drivers need to look out for these if they attempt to pass or drive next to a plow.

The snow that is displaced by the plow is called a cloud. This cloud is dangerous to drive through and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) specifically recommends to “never pass a snowplow on the right…keep back at least 200 feet.”
UDOT snowplows usually spread salt or other coarse materials on the road and driving too close to them could damage your car’s paint or break the windshield.

Winterizing your car can also prevent risks of winter-related accidents. UDOT suggests that when having your vehicle checked you pay special attention to “good tires, wiper blades, windshield washer fluid and working lights.”

The Utah Department of Transportation provides 24-hour road condition information that can be accessed via phone by dialing 511 (for Utah based phones) or online.

The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm encourage you to take the necessary safety precautions when driving in winter weather. If you or a loved one is injured in an accident as a result of another’s negligence during dangerous road conditions, we can help. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to find out what options are available to you.

Halloween is a pedestrian oriented holiday. There are few other days when more people are outdoors, walking the streets at once.

In response to this, the National Safety Commission released an alert on Halloween safety tips.

It recommends that, as a driver, you find out where and when celebrations will be taking place so you can plan your routes accordingly. This will help you to be consciously aware of the increase in pedestrian traffic.

Driving under the influence has also become an issue of concern on Halloween. In 2010 The Daily Herald quoted a Utah Highway Patrol officer, “Halloween had replaced New Year’s Eve as a day for imbibing alcohol and drugs.”

In response to this, many Utah towns stationed checkpoints looking for people driving under the influence on Halloween night. If you choose to drink, make arrangements so you do not have to drive. If you are lucky enough to avoid an accident while under the influence, it does not mean you will be able to avoid consequences like checkpoints.

Texting and driving or driving with any type of distraction can be especially dangerous on Halloween. Festivities usually begin at nightfall, a time when visibility is already an issue for drivers. Kids are often dressed in dark clothing and are more prone to darting out into streets.

Taking your eyes off of the road on such a dangerous night could quickly become a recipe for disaster. The few seconds it takes to read a text message could make the difference of seeing a child in the road and having time to respond or not.

The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm want you to drive safe on Halloween. Plan ahead and plan smart. In the event that you are involved in an accident, make the choice to call attorneys you can trust. Call us today at 801-506-0800 to receive supportive and compassionate legal service.

Computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University have adopted a system that will determine the safety of driver assistance technologies. These technologies are devices, such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking, which promise to ease traffic on crowded routes and prevent accidents. Proving these automated systems will work efficiently is an overwhelming task.

According to researchers, "The system we created is in many ways one of the most complicated cyber-physical systems that has ever been fully verified formally." They stressed that crashes cost society billions of dollars and too many lives, so automated systems could potentially increase the safety of our highways.

The New Technology

During the past years, many auto companies have started doing research on driver assistance technology that can help drivers avoid accidents in potentially dangerous situations.

The goal is for the system to first auto-sense potential risk so it can then automatically hit the brakes and alert the driver by producing a warning sound and blinking signals. Various components of these technologies include a video camera, a GPS that can pinpoint the location of a vehicle, and the left turn assistant feature that can even bring cars to a complete halt if the system senses danger. Additional technologies include companies being able to remotely control the ignition functions of a vehicle or slowing it down, making something like high-speed police chases considerably less dangerous for all drivers, pedestrians, and bikers that could potentially be at risk in such an event.

This technology is promising for all motorists. These devices, however, always work in function of the user, and unfortunately many still fail to obey and yield to traffic laws and thus put ourselves and others in danger. For that reason, auto accidents will continue to occur. If you have been victim to such an accident, contact the accident lawyers at the Christensen Law Firm at 801.506.0800 to find out how we can help you take back control of your life.

According to a report by KSL.com, there is something new to pay attention to the next time you come to intersection with a left turn signal—flashing yellow arrows. These signals have been installed in a number of other states for years now. Statistics have shown that these signals reduce 30 percent of left turn crashes (for more info, visit www.udot.utah.gov).

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved flashing yellow arrow left-turn displays as a new general standard for lenient left-turn operation. This change is the result of a study, which shows that the new signals: (1) help to avoid crashes, (2) move more traffic through an intersection, and (3) provide added traffic management flexibility. The study considered important concerns such as the needs and abilities of older drivers and pedestrians. The research concentrated on the operational and behavioral characteristics of transport operations and safety.

As Utah’s population swells, UDOT has introduced more and more traffic lights at intersections to decrease congestion. They help improve traffic flows, proving more effective than four-way stop signs, yet some drivers, unfortunately, are distracted enough to not even pay attention to the traffic lights.

If someone has injured you because of failure to obey traffic lights, you need a knowledgeable Utah personal injury lawyer who understands the oft-changing facets of the law. The attorneys at the Christensen Law Firm are familiar with the nuances of traffic law and can help you navigate the complexities of insurance and traffic law. For a free consultation, contact the Utah traffic accident attorneys at 801-506-0800.