Articles Posted in Car Accidents

Florida doesn’t have a single law on the books that says that drivers cannot drive and text message at the same time. Deputies in Collier County have found a way around it though. They’re citing drivers near Pine Ridge Road for failing to pay attention at the wheel, according to NBC2.

This enhanced enforcement comes at a good time, too, considering it’s National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012! Every April, the National Safety Council celebrates this campaign in hopes of raising awareness in drivers about the dangers, risks and consequences associated with distracted driving and to help to reduce the risks of needless car accidents in Naples and elsewhere.

“Are they texting and driving? Are they doing something that will take their attention from the road? If it impacts their driving, we’ll give them a citation for careless driving,” a sheriff’s spokesperson said.

Our Naples car accident lawyers understand that texting while driving is not illegal in the state of Florida. In fact, Florida is one of the few states that has yet to enact such law. Still, officers in Collier County say that they’ve found a way to hold distracted drivers accountable — careless driving citations. Deputies target this driving behavior because we’re seeing all too many accidents in the area because of texting drivers. Recent studies have concluded that texting behind the wheel increases a driver’s risks for an accident by nearly 25 times.

And that’s exactly what texting and driving is. It’s careless driving. It’s throwing risks, dangers and consideration out the window and riding along with increased risks for accidents.

With the increased efforts in Collier County comes National Distracted Driving Awareness Month 2012. During this year’s month-long event, safe driving advocates with the National Safety Council (NSC) are urging drivers across the county to take the pledge to drive distraction free! We’re urging drivers to take the pledge and were urging them to pledge for longer than just a month. Distraction-free driving should be a lifetime commitment.

Take The Pledge!

-Pledge to keep the phones and the electronic devices out of the driver’s seat.

-Pledge to speak up if you’re riding with a driver who is engaging in distracting activities behind the wheel.

-Pledge to talk with your family and your friends about the risks and dangers that are associated with distracted driving.

The NSC estimates that there were more than 3,000 people who were killed in distraction-related car accidents in the U.S. in 2010. That means that about one out of every four accidents involved a distracted driver. And those were only the ones that officers knew about. Experts believe these numbers to be much higher.

Do your part to help make our roadways safer for everyone and take the pledge!
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A four-car accident in Fort Myers at the foot of the Caloosahatchee Bridge sent three victims to Lee Memorial Hospital. What’s most alarming about this accident is that it was completely preventable. After a sedan ran a red light, an SUV was T-boned. After those two vehicles slammed into each other, the wreck was pushed into two other vehicles that were stopped at the intersection. Officers have issued the driver of the sedan for running a red light, according to The News-Press.

That’s not all. Another accident landed two people in the hospital after a red light-running van slammed into a pickup truck. This second accident happened just before 10 a.m. at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Palm Beach Boulevard. The driver of the van has also been cited for running the red light.

Our Fort Myers car accident lawyers understand the fear that’s associated with crossing through some of Southwest Florida’s intersections. Cars zoom through these intersections and you’re never too sure if one is going to stop or not. According to the Governors Highway Safety Administration (GHSA), the state of Florida has permitted red-light cameras throughout the state. These cameras can snap a picture of your tag and the traffic control device you disobeyed. Drivers who are busted can be fined nearly $160.

According to PhotoEnforced, there is only one red light-camera in Fort Myers. Naples is a different story, where Collier County officials recently made a decision to approve a new contract with American Traffic Solution. The new contract keeps these red-light cameras in the city for another 10 years. Commissioners voted 3-2. Cameras were first installed in the city back in 2009, according to Naples Daily News.

“When asked if we still need this program, the majority of people still said yes,” Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. “And I notice when I am on the road that, even at the intersections where there are no cameras, more people are approaching those intersections more cautiously.”

In 2011, reports indicate that these cameras caught only between 1 and 1.85 drivers a day violating traffic signals. Right now, many say that the 19 that are installed at 12 intersections aren’t doing enough to improve intersection safety.

Because of a state law enacted back in July, municipalities are prohibited from paying camera vendors on a per-ticket basis. Now, American Traffic Solution will be paying more than $28,000 to run their cameras. The fines collected will be split with the state.

From April 2009 through December 2011, the camera company issued more than 765 tickets.

According to Rambosk, these cameras help to save the county money. He says that if the county didn’t have these cameras, then he would have to hire another four or five officers at about $100,000 a year. Cameras are more affordable.

Residents didn’t agree to pay the company for another 10 year of services. Vinny Angiolillo, a candidate for sheriff, says that the company has taken far too much money from the county and we’ve yet to see any significant reductions in accidents as a result. He says it’s not worth it.
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Blind spots are getting bigger and bigger in our cars, trucks and SUVs as consumers demand for more fuel efficient vehicles. With better gas mileage come more aerodynamic vehicles. Unfortunately, we may not be getting rear-view cameras in new-model cars as soon as we thought.

Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) halted a rule requiring these cameras because officials felt that more research, study and data analysis was needed before this big move, according to CNN Money. These cameras, under the originally proposed rule, would have been mandatory in all new-model cars by 2014. Unfortunately, residents, more specifically kids and the elderly, will continue to face risks of injury associated with backover car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere.

“This is devastating news,” said Janette Fennell of KidsAndCars.org
Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that there have been more than 10 documented backover accidents recorded by KidsAndCars.org already in the first seven weeks of 2012. These accidents are serious and take the lives of far too many innocent pedestrians and cyclists. These accidents can be prevented with improvements such as back-up cameras, and with increased awareness on the part of both drivers and pedestrians.

As you may remember, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act was passed several years ago with the back-up camera requirement as a centerpiece of the legislation. This act was named after a 2-year-old kid who killed when backed over in his own driveway by his father.

Initially, the rule was to be set by the end of February. The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) called for rear-view cameras to be mandatory on all passenger vehicles by 2014.

We were on the road to safer technology, but then Ray LaHood with the U.S. Department of Transportation released a notice stating that while significant progress has been made in this technology, there is still more that needs to be done to meet the initial proposal’s requirements. Now, we anticipate that the DOT could potentially issue a final rule by the end of 2012, according to Boca News Now.

According to KidsAndCars.org, about two children are killed every week in these kinds of accidents. An additional 50 suffer injuries.

Here’s how the rule was supposed to work: Ten percent of cars, trucks and SUVs would have to be sold with rear-view cameras by 2012, forty percent by 2013 and one-hundred percent by 2014.

“Every vehicle has a blind zone immediately behind the rear bumper. It can be five feet or 50 feet, depending on the car’s styling. Lost in that space might be a fire hydrant, a pet, or even a child,” said Ami Gadhia, senior policy counsel for Consumers Union.

Each year, these kinds of accidents take the lives of more than 225 people. These accidents also injure another 18,000 a year. Children under the age of 5 and elderly residents account for about 75 percent of injury vicitms.
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“Driverless cars” may be on our roadways sooner than we think. There are already signs of this kind of technology on our roadways now. Many experts believe that the “driverless car” will gradually appear on our roadways, advancing one driving technology at a time, according to CNN Money. Many believe that this technology will help to significantly reduce the risks of car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere.

Right now, Google is running some tests on vehicles that can drive set routes with minimal driver instruction, but these cars aren’t ready for our roadways just yet. Experts believe the first “autonomous driving” systems will really only be used on certain roadways, such as interstates. For many, “driverless cars” equate to roadway safety, and that’s why some are pushing hard for this technology, according to Bryant Walker Smith, a Stanford Law School who has previous written about these “driverless cars.”

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys understand that 90 percent of car accidents are the result of driver error. Only about 10 percent of accidents are blamed on other factors, such as roadway defects and weather conditions. While the technology of these “driverless cars” continues to improve, we find it important to point out that technology does have its errors, and virtually nothing can replace cautious driving habits.

We just need to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving habits and urge friends and family members to take driving seriously. One wrong move can cost you your life. Until technology creates a way to completely eliminate the risks of car accidents, we’re asking all drivers to make safety a number one priority behind the wheel.

“How long are we willing to wait and let people die before we move to the autonomous car?” said Smith.

New-car technologies already available in vehicles:

-Pre-crash warning systems.

-Electronic stability control.

-Active cruise control.

-Autonomous steering.

-Pedestrian detection.

-Automatic parallel parking systems.

Nady Boules with General Motors (GM) says that the company has been adding safety features to their cars for quite some time now, adding more little by little and making the “driverless car” even more of a reality with every advancement.

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication is another technology that’s getting a lot of attention from researchers and media. This is a system that is being designed to allow vehicles to talk to one another, to talk to road signs and lights and to identify road hazards. Reportedly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is going to rule next year on how to move forward with this new technology.

And all of these new features might not only be available in new-model cars. As a matter of fact, the technology that’s currently being tested is about the size of a cigarette box and may be able to hook up to cars of all makes, models and years.
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These days, it seems many people practically live out of their vehicles, which is likely why so many cars and trucks are equipped with so many features. Many new-model cars have built-in phones, text messaging devices, access to the internet and high-tech GPS devices.

While drivers may be pleased with the convenience of newer cars, government officials are growing ever more concerned. Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made a recommendation of new guidelines for car manufacturers to follow when it comes to in-car distractions. Officials want these devices to shut off when the car is moving to help reduce the risks of car accidents in Bonita Springs and elsewhere, according to The News-Press.

Newer cars allow many conveniences – everything from seat temperature adjustment to assistance with directions. All these conveniences come at a price – an increased risk of car accidents. Our Bonita Springs car accidents attorneys know that these devices, designed to make each ride easier, are a partial contributor to why car accidents are the top killer for Americans. While offering convenience, in-car technology can also be quite distracting. Keep your priorities straight at the wheel and keep your eyes on the road.

Since 2002, automakers have been operating under their own safety regulations regarding in-car technologies. Some safe driving advocates would argue that roadway safety and driver distractions aren’t on their current list of priorities.

That’s why the NHTSA is stepping in and suggesting new regulations.

“We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by today’s American drivers,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.

One of the problems expected to arise from this new recommendation is the passenger’s involvement with these devices. Some would argue that passengers can safely operate GPS devices while a driver is driving. Even if there’s no passenger, some think that drivers will just bring along their own portable GPS device to override the one that’s been shut off by the car. It’s a tricky situation and it’s tough to get around.

The new guidelines from the NHTSA are geared toward SUVs and passenger cars. They would exclude in-car safety electronics like lane change warning systems, collision warning systems and GPS devices as long as they’re not being altered while the car is in motion.

Strickland says that if GPS devices are taken out of cars and there are more crackdowns on these devices, then drivers will be forced to resort back to paper maps, which we all know isn’t really safe at all.

Regardless of what technologies may or may not be available in our vehicles, it’s still of utmost importance that drivers stay focused on the task at hand — driving. Driver awareness and caution is still our number one defense against accidents in South Florida.
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You may want to slow it down the roadways. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) recently announced it is kicking off a new safety campaign to bust aggressive drivers as authorities work to help reduce the risks of car accidents in Naples and elsewhere.

Troopers with the FHP will be combing roadways throughout the state for drivers who tailgate, who change lanes unsafely and for those who speed, according to The News-Press. To help to spread the message of this campaign, the FHP is putting up billboards and running public service announcements (PSA) on the radio. That’s not all though. They will also be conducting events at community centers and at local schools to help to educate drivers about the risks associated with aggressive driving.

Driving can be irritating sometimes. Even our Naples car accident attorneys can get frustrated behind the wheel. With rush hours, accidents and seasonal traffic, the roadway can be stressful. Luckily, there are ways you can reduce your tendencies to become aggressive behind the wheel.

According to the FHP, nearly 90 percent of accidents are the fault of drivers, as opposed to inclement weather or some other factor. With the new aggressive driving campaign, troopers are hoping to reduce the risk of fatalities and injuries.

The campaign will be taking place from February 27th through 29th.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is “the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” Aggressive driving is a traffic offense. Road rage is a criminal offense.

Officials predict that about 7,000,000 accidents happen in the U.S. every year. A good number of these accidents are believed to be caused by an aggressive driver. According to the American Automobile Association, nearly 15,000 people have been either injured or killed since 1990 in accidents caused aggressive drivers.

In some cases, the behavior many drivers condemn is what they end up doing themselves. According to the AAA Foundation’s Traffic Safety Culture Index, nearly 80 percent of drivers said that aggressive driving is a serious traffic safety problem. Still, most of these drivers reported habits behind the wheel that were defined as aggressive.

About half of all surveyed drivers admitted to exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph in the last month. Nearly 60 percent admitted to speeding through yellow lights, more than 40 percent admitting to honking their horn at other drivers, more than 35 percent to pressuring other drivers to speed up, more than 20 percent to tailgating and nearly 10 percent to knowingly running red lights.
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Despite the overwhelming evidence proving that texting while driving is dangerous, these types of distraction-related car accidents in Fort Myers continue to be a serious problem. The Florida Legislature, with Republican super-majorities in each chamber, has continued to shoot down anti-texting laws one after another. Currently, there are 35 states that prohibit drivers from texting while driving. Florida is not one of them. The state’s lawmakers often turn down these safety bills because they say that it equates to government intrusion in citizens’ lives. That could all soon change.

Senate bill 416 is making its way through committees. So far, there have only been two votes against it. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota. The House version, House Bill 299, hasn’t gone anywhere, according to The News-Press.

Our Fort Myers car accident attorneys have been there: Driving in the car, aggravated with a swerving driver who is doing nothing more than looking at his cell phone. It’s a common sight on roadways throughout the state. Yes, the state of Florida has a reckless driving law, which in some cases can be applied to texting drivers. But that kind of law doesn’t carry enough muscle to get drivers off of their phone, with their attention back on the road.

“There are already laws on the books that make it illegal to drive unsafely,” said Jim Harper, director of information policy studies for the libertarian Cato Institute.

Legislators say they’re not against roadway safety, but they are against an intrusive government. According to Harper, it would be like making laws for every silly little thing drivers do. He adds that after the invention of vehicle cup holders, there was increase in the number of traffic accidents. Still, lawmakers didn’t run out and outlaw cup holders.

A spokesman for Gov. Rick Scott said he has not yet taken a position on the issue, though Scott typically pushes for minimal government regulations.

Back in 2010, Scott told AAA that distracted driving of all kinds needs to be discouraged. He pledged to work alongside lawmakers to make policies that address distracted driving. Scott’s wife was once hit by a driver who was texting at the wheel.

Under the bills, texting while driving would be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer can’t cite you for it unless you are violating another traffic law, such as speeding or weaving.

Drivers who are busted would have to shell out $30 for a first violation and $60 for a second. If a texting driver causes an accident, he or she can get 6 points on his or her license. Twelve points on your license in a year results in a 30-day license suspension.

In the first 10 months of last year, there were roughly 171,540 car accidents reported in the state of Florida. About 150 drivers in those accidents, accounting for less than 1 percent, were allegedly texting while driving.
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Over the last decade, more than 170 police officers in the U.S. lost their lives in the line of duty when they were struck by a vehicle while responding to an emergency.

Thousands more officers suffered a serious injury in similar scenarios.

This summer will mark 10 years since the “Move Over” law took effect in Florida as part of an effort to reduce first responder injuries resulting from car accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere in the state.