Recently, the National Safety Council surveyed drivers across West Virginia and the rest of the U.S. asking what they would do if their car or phone came pre-set with the ability to block communications while they were on the road. Out of 2,400 respondents, 55 percent said they would keep the blocking technology on while 23 percent said they would deactivate it. This gives hope that many drivers would take advantage of such technology once it's on the market.
What to do after a car accident
West Virginia motorists may wonder what they should do if they ever get in a car accident. The first thing a driver should do is stop the car even if there does not appear to be damage or injuries. However, it's also important to not assume liability or admit fault.
AAA Foundation says distracted driving is a serious issue
Some West Virginia motorists might be engaging in distracting behaviors while behind the wheel even if they disapprove of them. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found in a survey that almost 50 percent more drivers said they talked on a cellphone fairly often or regularly while they were driving compared to those who were asked a similar question in a 2013 survey. However, even though almost half said they had used handheld phones, more than half said they believed talking on the phone while driving was a serious safety issue.
NGA seeks to improve roadway safety
Drivers in West Virginia may be wondering just what can be done to improve road safety conditions. After all, traffic fatalities are now on the rise again after several years of decline. In 2016, there was a nationwide total of 37,461 traffic fatalities, which was 5.6 percent more than the previous year. The increase was felt by 39 states in 2016.
Automobile warning systems can help prevent crashes
Drivers in West Virginia and across the United States may be avoiding collisions and staying safer on the roadways due to automotive warning technologies. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that systems like lane departure warnings or blind spot alerts can play a major role in cutting down the number of car crashes, particularly those that cause injuries. The IIHS study looked at over 5,000 car accidents in 2015 of the type that these systems are intended to prevent.
Distracted driving and how to prevent it
Experts believe that distracted driving may be a cause in the rise in traffic fatalities across West Virginia and the rest of the nation. Smartphones have proven to be one of the most frequent sources of distraction, with 52 percent of users stating in a Consumer Reports survey that they have texted, sent emails, browsed the Internet, and watched videos while behind the wheel.
Drugged driving is a growing concern
While drunk driving receives a lot of media attention for the risks it poses, West Virginia motorists have reason to be concerned about another form of driving under the influence - drugged driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is working to draw attention to this type of reckless behavior.
3 areas of safety to consider when driving in winter weather
With winter well underway, you and many other West Virginia motorists have likely already had your fair share of close calls on the road. Unfortunately, weather conditions can play significant roles in car accidents, and often, those incidents can easily cause serious or even fatal injuries. When individuals behind the wheel also drive recklessly or while distracted, the chances of involvement in a crash increases.
Several factors contribute to many car crashes
For people in West Virginia and across the United States, it's always reasonable to be concerned about a car accident when getting behind the wheel. Every year, over 60 million collisions happen across the country, and numbers have grown in both 2015 and 2016, showing signs of an escalating trend. Car accidents aren't only damaging to property; they can cause serious personal injuries or even death. This means that reducing or eliminating auto accidents is of major concern to researchers and engineers, many of whom study the causes of crashes in order to develop strategies for reducing the number of preventable injuries and accidents.
How Pokémon Go led to an increase in car crashes
Residents of West Virginia should know that the smartphone-based game, Pokémon Go, could be just as much of a factor in distracted driving as texting, talking on the phone and other actions. Although the game's popularity has been waning, millions of people still play it, and reports still come in of players injuring themselves or others because of it.
