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California Passes Bill Making All Smartphone Use While Driving Illegal
On Monday, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law that will make it illegal to use or even hold a smartphone while operating a motor vehicle in California. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2017 and is intended to reduce collisions and fatalities related to cellphone use while driving. A press release […]
Doctor Touts Benefits of ‘Dutch Reach’ to Save Lives of Bicyclists
One of the dangers of riding a bicycle in an area where people parallel park their cars is that cyclists are in danger of being hit by drivers’ car doors when they open them. In fact, a Somerville, Massachusetts woman recently died when she ran into a car door while on her bicycle. That is […]
Survey: Distracted Drivers Still Think They Are Safe Drivers
A new survey from auto insurance comparison website Everquote indicates that there is a troubling disconnect between drivers’ beliefs about how safe they drive and their behavior. According to a survey of 2,300 motorists, more than 95 percent of respondents said that they feel they are safe drivers. Unfortunately, half of those drivers admitted that […]
Four Injured in Hit-and-Run Crash
On August 11, an SUV impacted a Honda sedan on North 16th Street, causing the car to flip sideways onto the sidewalk, collide with a parking lot gate, and slam into a pedestrian crossing signal. The Honda was severely damaged, and its four occupants, including a two-year-old boy, were taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center […]
Drowsy Driving Caused 5,000 Deaths on American Roads Last Year
A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) shows that drowsy driving is a growing problem on American roadways. Researchers found that drowsy driving caused 5,000 deaths in 2015 and there are approximately 382,000 drowsy-driving accidents every year. The report states that an estimated 83.6 million U.S. adults are chronically sleep-deprived. A third […]
NHTSA Stands by Self-Driving Cars, Even After Fatal Crash
The federal government will continue efforts to speed up the development of self-driving cars, even after a fatal car accident involving a self-driving Tesla in May, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Chief Mark Rosekind. Car industry insiders have questioned whether Tesla vehicles and other self-driving cars give drivers a false sense of […]
“Sixth” Sense for Avoiding Accidents Fails when Drivers are Texting
Texting while driving affects a driver’s visual, cognitive and manual abilities. A new study now suggests that a driver’s “sixth sense,” which can aid in adapting to difficult situations, is ineffective when a driver texts while behind the wheel. The brain keeps part of a driver’s attention on the road even while distracted by other […]
Deadly Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents Rise in Sacramento County
Last year, 44 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in vehicle collisions last year, up from 38 fatalities reported in 2014. Data indicates the most dangerous time of day for pedestrians is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and for cyclists it is between 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. A recent California traffic safety study revealed that pedestrian […]
Textalyzer Could Reduce Distracted Driving
In a new bill recently introduced in New York, lawmakers assert that texting while driving is as unsafe as drunk driving and needs to be treated as such. The bill proposes law enforcement use of a new Textalyzer device to deter distracted drivers. Current law requires a warrant for law enforcement officials to obtain cell […]
Del Paso Heights Residents Pursue Safer Vehicle Speeds
Vehicles speeding through the residential streets of Del Paso Heights have prompted action from concerned residents who want the city to install speed bumps to help combat the problem. Reckless driving, including excessive rates of speed, can endanger the lives of both motorists and pedestrians. Vehicles speeding through Del Paso Heights have become so common […]
California Mother Talks to Teens About the Dangers of Distracted Driving
A mother from Oakdale has made it her mission to discuss the dangers of distracted driving with area teens, as she and her husband still mourn the loss of their teenaged daughter who died while texting and driving. Bonnye Spray tells the story of her daughter Amanda’s tragic accident nearly every week with the hopes […]
Pedestrian Deaths Increasing in the United States
For the first time in 26 years, pedestrian fatalities in the United States have increased. Currently, car-versus-pedestrian accidents account for 15 percent of all traffic-related deaths annually. Projected data indicates this number is not likely to drop anytime soon, unless changes are implemented to increase pedestrian safety near high traffic areas. A report published recently […]