Drivers in Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia who are using hands-free cellphones should not assume that this automatically makes them safer drivers. Any kind of multitasking while driving means that a person's attention is diverted from the task and increases the risk of an accident. Furthermore, according to a study conducted by the company Lytx, people often use their free hands for smoking, eating, using another device or engaging in other distracting activities.
Safety systems increase risk of car accidents, AAA reports
Freedom from human error is one driving ambition behind the increasing automation of cars. Paradoxically, the path to this freedom may actually increase the risk of human error for Philadelphia drivers. Safety systems relying on sensors are among the latest widespread uses of automation technology. A study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers using two of these sensor-reliant systems showed a greater risk of negligence behind the wheel.
Five most frequent causes of truck accidents
Drivers in Wilkes-Barre and Philadelphia have good reason to be uneasy around large trucks. While the average passenger vehicle weighs 4,000 pounds, an 18-wheeler may weigh some 80,000 pounds. Most collisions with big rigs end badly for those in the passenger vehicles. Below are just five of the most common reasons why trucks might collide with passenger cars.
GM study says automated safety features reduce car crash risk
Drivers in Philadelphia can reduce car crash risks with the help of advanced driver assistance systems. ADAS was the subject of a recent study from General Motors, and though the study focused on GM vehicles, the results have been echoed by other studies covering a broader range.
How negligence is proved in civil lawsuits
When car accident victims in Pennsylvania file lawsuits against the motorists who injured them, their litigation is usually based on allegations of negligence. To prove the civil law tort of negligence, plaintiffs must convince a jury that the defendant was required to take reasonable care and failed to meet this legal duty. They must also be able to establish that their harm was suffered as a direct consequence of the defendant's negligent actions.
How truckers can curb rise in truck crash fatalities
In Pennsylvania and across the U.S., more and more fatal crashes involve large trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported that the percentage of fatal crashes involving one or more large trucks went up each year from 2015 to 2017. The same period saw an increase in large truck occupant fatalities. From 2016 to 2017, there was a rise in fatal large truck and/or bus crashes.
Being lost in thought can be dangerous while driving
Driving on Pennsylvania roads while daydreaming can be more dangerous than doing so while on a smartphone. Erie Insurance analyzed 172,000 traffic deaths over the past five years using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Of those deaths, roughly 10 percent were victims of distracted drivers. The data further revealed that 61 percent of distracted driving accidents occurred because one driver was simply lost in thought.
How common is cellphone use while driving in the Philadelphia area?
Using a cellphone while driving can distract drivers, increasing accident risks. Despite these dangers though, this type of distracted driving remains very common in the Philadelphia area. This is what a recent survey commissioned by Travelers suggests.
