West Virginia residents may be surprised to know that at least one person dies every day in the United States because of car crashes caused by distracted drivers. About 100 people are injured every day for the same reason. Automakers are trying to attack driver distraction by using artificial intelligence and visual monitoring technology.
Tips for safe winter driving in West Virginia
[The order instructions say "within the first paragraph of each blog or the title."]
AAA: end of DST heightens risk for drowsy driving
Drivers in West Virginia may have noticed how they are drowsier after the end of daylight saving time than before in spite of the additional hour of sleep they enjoyed. There is a good reason for this: The body has its internal clock disrupted by the change, so one will naturally feel tired while the body readjusts.
Lawmakers taking notice of uptick in pedestrian traffic deaths
Modern vehicles have generally reduced fatalities for people traveling inside vehicles throughout West Virginia and nationwide. The latest statistics about traffic fatalities, however, show that pedestrians and bicyclists are not faring so well. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, pedestrian deaths went up by 3.4% in 2018 compared to the previous year. As a result, legislation is developing in the U.S. House of Representatives and some states to address the problem.
Newer pickups neglect passenger safety, says IIHS report
West Virginia drivers who own modern two-row pickup trucks should know about some crash tests done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS performed both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal collision tests to see how the two sides can withstand a collision with a vehicle or other object. The results were uneven, with passengers seeing an increased chance of injury/death than drivers.
NTSB: limos should require lap and shoulder belts for all
If they intend to take a limousine somewhere in West Virginia, people should know what the current safety standards are like for these vehicles. Many limousines are modified to the point that they can be considered mid-sized trucks. As a result, they are exempt from the seating and seat belt standards that apply to traditional vehicles.
Tips for preventing car crashes in West Virginia
Some 40,000 people died in car crashes in 2018. While this represented a 1% decrease from the previous year, the number is still high. Car crashes also led to 4.5 million cases of injury last year. With one person being injured in an auto accident every seven seconds, it's more important than ever to practice safe driving. Below are five simple tips to consider.
Parents are concerned about teenage distracted driving
West Virginia residents may be interested in learning what a recent study revealed about distracted teen drivers. Most parents know that when a teenager gets their license, they are excited to be behind the wheel, but parents are concerned about their child using safe driving practices. This is why recent research has caught the eyes of some parents.
Red-light running crashes lead to 939 deaths in 2017
There were 939 deaths resulting from red-light running crashes in 2017: the highest that the number has been in a decade. In 65% of these crashes, it is someone other than the offending driver who dies. Reckless, impatient and distracted drivers in West Virginia and across the U.S. are to blame for this trend, but that doesn't mean that others can do nothing to protect themselves.
Study shows majority of drivers still driving distractedly
A study conducted by Liberty Mutual Insurance indicates that aggressive and distracted driving habits vary by the geography and age group of the driver. Despite widespread campaigns to combat distracted driving in West Virginia, the phenomenon is still a major problem. According to a Liberty Safe Driving Expert, anything that draws the driver's attention away from the immediate task of driving is dangerous, including hands-free technology.
