Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

“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.