While riding a bicycle, an individual is open to external elements. Safety protection is limited and therefore riding can be dangerous if bicyclists do not follow safe riding practices.
To continue to bring awareness to bicycle safety and reduce bicycle accidents, we'd like to share some important tips for everyone who rides a bicycle or shares the roads with bicyclists:
Be Prepared
One of the best things a bicyclist can do is be prepared. Bicyclists should make sure their bicycles are well maintained and in good working order, including effective brakes and properly inflated tires. A rider whose bicycle is in good shape helps reduce the chance for some mechanical failure to lead to an accident.
]]> Obey the LawLike drivers, bicyclists have laws governing their use of the roadways. They should obey all traffic signals and signs, ride with traffic rather than against it and use the rightmost lane when possible. Obeying traffic laws is not optional. These laws exist to prevent dangerous situations.
Be Smart
Being smart about one's actions when riding a bicycle can often be the difference between avoiding a catastrophe and being in the middle of one. This is why bicyclists must make their intentions on the road clear so others who share the road are aware and can avoid an accident. Also, it is a good idea to wear brightly colored clothing so riders are highly visible, especially under less than ideal conditions, like at night.
There are no guarantees that bicyclists can prevent all accidents, but following these simple tips could mean the difference between a pleasant ride and a tragic accident.
Related resource: The League of American Bicyclists, "Rules of the Road."
]]>In an effort to spread the message about the joy of riding bikes and increase awareness of safety precautions, events will be held across the country the entire month of May. From May 14 through May 18, many San Diego residents will be participating in Bike to Work Week. Those who register to ride their bikes to work that week through the iCommute website may be eligible to receive prizes. Other events include Bike to School Day on May 9, so kids too can celebrate the environmental benefits of bikes.
]]> Riding bikes has grown into an especially popular trend here in San Diego. According to 2009 survey statistics, San Diego ranks eighth nationally for bike commuting. One of the reasons is the over 300 miles of bike lanes and paths in the city. However,oHowe the more people choose to ride their bikes, the more aware they should be of precautions they can take to enhance safety. For example, riding is riskier at night when visibility is poor. Rider skill level is a factor in the cause of bike accidents, as is alcohol use. In 2010, over 600 bicyclist deaths and 51,000 injuries occurred.Through the events and education presented in Bike Month, hopefully motorists and bicyclists alike will learn to better share the road and reduce bicycle accidents throughout Southern California.
Related resource: League of American Bicyclists, "May is National Bike Month."
]]>In recent years safety enhancements have reduced fatalities among car passengers. However, fatalities in motorcycle accidents have continued to rise since 1997.
A comprehensive study of motorcycle accidents has shown that almost all motorcycle accidents result in an injury. Forty-five percent of motorcycle accidents are serious in nature. Sadly, due to exposure to outside forces and lack of overall safety equipment, like airbags or seatbelts, motorcyclists are 34 times more likely to die in a crash than drivers of passenger cars.
]]> Given the inescapable physical circumstances, the risk to motorcyclists may be inherently greater than that to passenger car drivers, but motorcyclists can take precautions to reduce the risk of accidents and injury.Aside from the basic safe riding practices - not sharing lanes, using proper turn signals, wearing bright clothing, etc. - the number one thing that motorcyclists can do to help reduce serious accidents is use safety equipment.
Helmets and protective garments provide important protection for motorcyclists. Regular use of such equipment can mean the difference between bumps and bruises and more severe injuries or even death.
As anyone who has been involved in accident or close call can attest, safety on the road and preventing injury is as important to an enjoyable riding experience as the bike itself. The best defense to these serious injuries is for everyone on the roads to watch out for motorcycles.
Related resource: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "U.S. Department of Transportation Action Plan to Reduce Motorcycle Fatalities."
]]>And each motorcycle accident results in a number of costs, including medical and emotional.
Most motorcycle riders have minimal protection, making them more vulnerable to their surroundings on the road. Consequently, motorcycle riders can sustain serious injuries from even minor crashes. And the costs of medical treatment quickly add up, from transportation to the emergency room and hospitalization to rehabilitation. Most medical costs of motorcycle accidents are not actually paid out of pocket by accident victims, but rather by other motorists involved in the accident, the government, private insurers and the taxpaying general public.
]]> Motorcycle accidents that result in a lengthy recovery, permanent disability or prolonged pain and suffering will contribute to a decrease in the victim's quality of life. According to studies, a reduction in the quality of life represents 63 percent of the costs associated with motorcycle accidents.As we noted last week, May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and it is important that all motorists have a good understanding of the costs associated with motorcycle accidents.
Drivers of cars and trucks should be careful to watch out for motorcycles to avoid costly accidents. The better that motorcycles, cars and trucks can share the road with each other, the safer California roads will be.
Related resource: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Costs of Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Crashes: A Literature Review."
]]>Cue national Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This year, the month-long campaign led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has the tagline, "Share the Road," and aims at increasing safe riding and cooperation between all motorists in order to help reduce motorcycle accidents and traffic fatalities across the nation.
]]> In an effort to promote roadway safety and keep all motorists safe, motorcycles included, the NHTSA provides the following safety tips for the drivers of all vehicles:In addition, it is important the motorcyclist take safety precautions as well by:
For San Diegans, it is important to remember to share the road all months of the year - not just May.
Source: Traffic Safety Marketing, "2012 Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month."
]]>Construction season results in hundreds of established work zones throughout the state of California, so it is likely that drivers everywhere will encounter a work zone at some point.
During road construction season here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
Slow down. As you approach a road work zone, be sure to slow down and follow the posted speed limits. Don't forget that traffic fines in California double in work zones.
]]> Watch what is going on around you. Often you may have to stop in a work zone, or sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but don't use that time to check your text messages or emails. Workers could be using heavy equipment within only feet of your car. It is important to pay close attention to what is going on near your vehicle.Be patient and plan ahead. It is frustrating to be stuck in traffic because of road construction, but try to prepare for it. If you know that there is a work zone between you and your destination, leave early so that traffic delays do not cause added stress.
Overall, remember, the next time you see a work crew in orange vests, follow these tips in order to help reduce the chance of a motor vehicle accident. Don't barrel through work zones!
Related resource: Federal Highway Administration, "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones: National Work Zone Awareness Week 2012," March 2012.
]]>Because seeing road workers is second nature to many drivers, the national Department of Transportation teams up each year with state and local public works and transportation departments to bring awareness to work zone accidents.
This year, National Work Zone Awareness Week is being observed April 23-27, and the theme is "Don't Barrel Through Work Zones!: Drive Smart to Arrive Alive."
]]> When it comes to fatal motor vehicle accidents annually, California comes in second only to Texas. In 2010, there were over 2,700 fatalities from car accidents in California. Of those, 41 deaths were in road construction work zones.Beyond the safety reasons for drivers to slow down in work zones, the state law for offenses committed in highway construction or maintenance areas should serve as a deterrent. Under the law, fines double for speeding, not yielding the right-of-way, improper lane changes or passing, reckless driving and just generally not following traffic signs and signals.
Check back later this week for some tips for safe driving through work zones.
Related Resource: The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearing House, "National Work Zone Awareness Week 2012."
]]>Mike Watkins, a physicist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, believes a quick reminder of the dangers of cell phone use while behind the wheel might be enough to convince people to pull over or wait until they reach their destination before sending that text.
Watkins has devised a mathematical formula that detects with 99 percent accuracy the erratic patterns with which people punch the keys of their cell phones while driving. Using that formula, software developers conceivably could create an application that would appear on a cell phone whenever it detects those patterns. A simple alert reminding cell phone users that they are using their phone in a dangerous situation might be enough to make them stop. The application could even be programmed to shut down the phone altogether.
]]> Watkins developed his formula with his then-teenage daughters in mind. Indeed, teens are prime offenders when it comes to talking and texting while driving. According to government data, teenage drivers accounted for 16 percent of all car accidents in 2009 involving distracted drivers. If Watkins' idea for a no-texting application comes to fruition, parents could download it onto kids' cell phones to give them peace of mind when they hand over the car keys. Employers could use it to offset liability for employees who make calls or text while driving on company time.Laws in many states, including California, prohibit cell phone use while driving. But as we've mentioned before, despite these laws many people still continue to talk or text and drive. Perhaps such an app would be an additional solution to reducing distracted driving?
Resource: The Columbian.com, "Physicist finds way to detect texting behind the wheel," 3/21/12.
]]>There are a number of other distractions that exist inside cars that can divert a driver's attention from the road. Those alternate distractions include:
According to experts, any distraction that lasts longer than two seconds can potentially become a deadly one.
]]> Aside from cell phones, electronic music players, like iPods and MP3 players, that have hundreds of songs have become one of the most common driver distractions other than cell phones. Scrolling through MP3 players to find the desired song often requires long glances away from the road. Consequently, its level of deadly distraction is distinguishably higher than adjusting the car radio, which drivers can often do without taking their eyes off the road.According to a study, the number of United States car accidents that were a result of distracted driving is on the rise, with a jump from 4,563 in 1999 to 5,870 in 2008. Any distraction that takes a driver's focus from the road can have deadly consequences. Keep your eyes on the road, and try to keep the distractions in the car to a minimum.
Source: CNN.com, "At distracted driving forum, a focus on danger beyond '2 seconds'," 3/30/12.
]]>What are the risks of distracted driving? Several major research studies on distracted driving have found that:
Compared to all age groups, teenagers are most likely to be involved in a distracted driving car crash. In fact, in 2009, 16 percent of teenage drivers were involved in fatal accidents reportedly caused by driver distractions. Nearly half of all teens in the United States admitted that they had been in a car while a driver had been using a cell phone "in a way that put people in danger."
Source: Distraction.gov, "Key Facts and Statistics."
]]>CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said, "Drivers need to ask themselves, 'Is that phone call or text message worth my life or the lives of those around me?' The answer is simple, it's not worth it. Every distraction affects a driver's reaction time, and things can change without notice."
]]> \In an effort to prevent car crashes and distracted driving accidents, San Diego's Zero Tolerance campaign is placing extra law enforcement officers on local roads this week through Friday, April 13. These officers will be looking for so-called "zombie drivers," or drivers who are texting or talking on handheld phones while driving.
A ticket for texting or using a handheld cell phone carries a $159 fine plus court fees. Drivers caught violating the cell phone ban a second time can be fined up to $279.
In addition to the increased local efforts this week, law enforcement authorities will continue to crack down throughout the state for the rest of April. The same month-long campaign in April 2011 resulted in 52,000 people being ticketed under the law - that is four times the average number of tickets issued during the month.
Source: La Jolla Patch, "Distracted Drivers the Focus of April Campaign," 4/4/12.
]]>The resolution to make April National Distracted Driving Awareness Month was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. The resolution was first proposed by the founder of FocusDriven, an organization that supports cell-free driving. After her 9-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a distracted driver, a woman founded the organization in hopes that it would bring awareness to distracted driving.
For the second year in a row, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has joined up with local law enforcement agencies throughout the state of California to implement its "It's Not Worth It!" campaign. According to statistics compiled by the OTS, drivers that use cell phones are four times as likely to get into injury-causing car accidents.
]]> The OTS is working hard to get the word out about how driver distractions are becoming a leading factor in fatal and serious accidents, with cell phones as the number one source of such electronic distractions.In 2010, the state of California saw 2,715 fatal car accidents. It is unknown how many of these involved cell phone use or distracted driving, but 62 percent of Californians stated last year that texting and talking are the biggest traffic safety problems in the state.
Handheld cell phone use by commercial drivers, including drivers of buses, semi-trucks and 18-wheelers, was banned by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2011. In addition to the federal law, the state of California also has its own laws banning texting and handheld cell phone use for all drivers. Additionally, all cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) has been banned for bus drivers in California and for novice drivers (newly licensed drivers under a certain age).
Source: California Office of Traffic Safety, "California's 2012 Distracted Driving Awareness Month FAQs,"
]]>When you combine concerns with speeding with concerns about teen driving safety, you get a deadly combination. And, unfortunately, last night that deadly combination struck close to home on our own Route 52.
According to authorities, two cars filled with teenagers from East County were headed home from a beach party in La Jolla. At some point, the teens in the cars decided to race each other. As the speeding cars passed Convoy Street one of the cars hit a center median, causing it to flip several times before landing on its roof about 100 yards away.
Eyewitnesses told CHP that prior to the car accident, two cars had been racing down the road, zipping in and out of traffic, at speeds over 100 miles per hour.
]]> Two of the teens in the car died in the accident, another two were critically injured and the driver was also sustained minor injuries, according to the California Highway Patrol. The two teenage boys that died (ages 16 and 18) were from Santee. Both had been sitting in the back seat of the car and were ejected as the car flipped.Of the two teenagers seriously injured, one had also been sitting in the backseat but remained in the car, and the other was a passenger in the front seat. Both of the passengers (a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy), as well as the driver, were taken to Sharp Memorial Hospital. The driver was treated for minor injuries.
The teenage passengers are both listed in critical condition. It has been reported that at least one of the teens sustained a serious brain injury. As we noted yesterday, it is very difficult for the brain to heal and serious head injuries usually have a significant life-long impact on those injured and their families. We can only begin to imagine what this family must be going through right now.
Wednesday night's accident was a tragic example of the needless loss of life that occurs when cars travel at high speeds. Our sympathies go out to the families of the teens involved in the accident. It is important for teen drivers everywhere to remember that while racing the car of a friend may seem like fun such actions can have fatal consequences. Please slow down and drive safely.
Source: San Diego Union-Tribune, "2 Santee teens killed in high-speed crash; 3 others hurt," 4/5/12.
]]>In fact, new research has found that 30 percent of teens injured in car crashes suffer head injuries. The most common of these head injuries are concussions, skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
The study, headed by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, examined car crashes involving more than 55,000 drivers and passengers (ages 15 to 19) who were seriously injured in 2009 and 2010.
]]> As large of a hole that a death of a loved one or close friend can leave in your life, dealing with a TBI can be just as difficult. Frequently, it is not often to fully recover from a serious head injury. So when a teen sustains a TBI, it can have a significant life-long impact on the teenager and his or her family.Out of all organs in the body, the brain is the one that is least able to heal, so doctors and researchers point out that it is best to try to prevent brain injuries in the first place.
And to prevent brain injuries, you need to try to prevent car accidents. While that may seem like an attempt at the impossible, safety measures are possible. Two proven measures include prevention efforts like Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs and seat belt use. According to the study, states with more comprehensive GDL laws had fewer teen traffic fatalities.
Source: Insurance Journal.com, "30% of Teen Drivers in Crashes Suffer Head Injuries: Study," 3/30/12.
]]>Despite the apparent safety concern, few people consider traveling a few miles over the posted limit as a need for concern.
But they should.
Increased efforts from state and federal agencies have aimed at cracking down on speeding and speed-related accidents. Much to the dismay of authorities and agency groups, speeding continues to be a safety issue.
]]> Since 2000, deaths resulting from not wearing a seatbelt and drunk driving have decreased, but deaths related to speeding have increased. In 2010, more than 10,500 people died as a result of speeding.Despite this number, it seems that few efforts are actually being made to deter drivers from exceeding the speed limit:
Some cities are attempting to crackdown by using speed cameras - similar to the red light cameras used. The speed cameras take a picture of the plate of a car driving over the speed limit (usually only when it gauges the car to be travelling 12 mph or more over the posted limit). The citation is then mailed to the owner of the license plate. But it is unclear whether the cost of these cameras are offset by their benefits and whether the efforts are a deterrent at all.
Some safety advocates believe that the discussion shouldn't be limited to speed limit enforcement, suggesting that better driver education and traffic engineering are the keys to improving traffic safety. But anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a speeding-related accident knows that any progress at all on this issue is sorely needed in California.
Source: USA Today, "Speeding enforcement falls through cracks with budget cuts," 3/8/12.
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