Category: Vehicle Accidents

Dangerous Driving Reports

October 7, 2013  |  Jon P. Erickson

Traffic accidents and fatalities are up after years of declining. A recent article in Consumer Reports entitled “Crash Course on Car Safety” indicates that accidents and fatalities are continuing to rise. The Consumer Report article reported that the number of death and injuries in motor vehicle accidents in 2012 saw a 5{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} rise after over 5 years of declining numbers. It reported that in 2012 there were 12,872 deaths where the deceased was unbelted, 9,944 deaths where speed was the main factor in the accident, 9,878 deaths of occupants of motor vehicles where the driver’s were intoxicated, and 3,331 deaths identifying distracted driving as the major cause. There were suggestions as to what could be done to bring these numbers down. Most are just common sense, but it did suggest that advances in motor vehicle safety technology can go a long way in reducing the numbers i.e. speed sensors in motor vehicles, ignition interlocks, cars with easy to use and good control systems, and improved voice-command systems. There are of course some simple things we all can do such as slowing down, wear your seat belts, wear a helmet when on a motorcycle, don’t drink and drive and don’t use hand held phones while driving. The article also suggested five easy ways to…

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Texting and Driving Dangers

May 28, 2013  |  Jon P. Erickson

I recently read an article that stated that “texting is now the leading cause of death for teen drivers.” The article was based on a study done for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study contains data that supports that texting while driving has become an even greater hazard for teenagers than drinking and driving. Minnesota law prohibits operating a motor vehicle while “using a wireless communications device to compose, read or send an electronic message while the car is in motion or a part of traffic.” A violation is a misdemeanor crime. This law applies to juveniles as well as adults. Minnesota law also prohibits any driver under age 18 to use a phone for any purpose while driving. The days between Memorial and Labor Days have been called the “100 deadliest days for teenage drivers.” A coalition of our country’s largest wireless carriers have joined in a national advertising campaign to discourage mobile users from texting while driving during these upcoming 100 days. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are all joining this campaign which they call “It Can Wait.” Here is AT&T’s Don’t Text While Driving Documentary: Let’s all pause and join them in reminding our teenage drivers that “It Can Wait.” You can also find out more information…

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Sad Tragedy Reminds Us to Buckle Up and Be Safe

April 10, 2013  |  Jon P. Erickson

There was a tragic motor vehicle accident this past weekend just north of Minneapolis where eight members of a family were in a van that was struck by another car. The accident caused four members of the van to be ejected from the vehicle. Those four were not wearing seat-belts, and three of them were killed. The fourth is still in critical condition. A lieutenant of the Minnesota Highway Patrol is quoted as saying: “The fact can’t be ignored that if they had worn seat belts, it could have ended in a different result.” It was further noted that in the last three years 352 of 864 traffic deaths in Minnesota had victims that were not wearing seat belts. This is 41{a0c01d20c42349884e67ff80c137866b0a9fe47aaae8f8a86a605a369ae487c3} of the deaths in these accidents. These deaths were all likely preventable! There was a second accident over the weekend in the metro area where a woman crashed her car into a tree, and was killed. She also was not wearing a seat belt. BUCKLE UP…seat belts save lives!

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