Accident Prevention

Published on: June 2, 2025

Calls for Preventing Pedestrian Accidents at Night

While a Congressional hearing considers the safety impact of daylight savings time changes, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is calling on lawmakers to focus on reducing the risk of car accidents involving pedestrians after sundown. Car accidents involving pedestrians often involve very serious personal injuries and wrongful deaths.

It is no secret that pedestrian accident risks increase significantly during low visibility conditions like during night time. A person’s risk of being struck by a car is far higher when he or she is walking in the dark, compared to when he or she is walking in the daytime. There have been congressional hearings recently to analyze the impact of daylight savings time changes on both motorists as well as pedestrians, and simultaneously, calls from some quarters to eliminate daylight savings time changes altogether, because these changes increase car accident risks. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is calling on lawmakers to focus on a much broader issue instead – the fact that both motorists as well as pedestrians are at risk during low visibility conditions, regardless of daylight savings time changes.

Low visibility simply makes it harder for motorists to see pedestrians in time to avoid hitting them. For this reason, it is important for pedestrians to avoid walking in the dark as much as possible. If you must walk around after sundown, make sure that you are wearing reflective clothing that makes it easier for drivers to spot you. Avoid basic mistakes like walking around in dark-colored clothing. Reflective fluorescent jackets and hats are the ideal clothing to wear in the dark. Look into reflective tape that you can fix on your clothes. Remember, the more visible you are, the more likely a motorist will see you in time to avoid hitting you.

Published on: May 28, 2025

Smartphone Tech Could help Prevent Distracted Driving Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Using a smartphone while behind the wheel of a car significantly increases your risks of being involved in an auto accident. However, your smartphone is also likely to come with technology that actually reduces the risks of a car accident, but most motorists do not use this important technology.

Many smartphones now come with technology that reduces the distractions that come with using a smartphone in the first place. For example, many smartphones now come with “Do not Disturb” features that drivers can activate when they begin driving to avoid having to deal with answering phone calls and replying to text messages while driving. Such technology is proving to be very useful. In fact, a new study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that this technology can be very helpful in reducing distractions and preventing auto accidents.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted the survey and found that younger drivers, who are much more likely to use smartphones while driving, are also the most likely to be aware of such technologies in their smartphones. Older drivers are not as likely to be familiar with Do not Disturb features and other apps that can help eliminate distractions at the wheel. However, far too many drivers continue to drive without activating these technologies in their smartphones.

Published on: May 23, 2025

Georgia Invests in Auto Accident Prevention Efforts

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The state of Georgia recently allocated $2.5 million for personal injury and car accident prevention efforts across the state in the form of several grants.

We definitely need greater investments in the field of auto accident and personal injury prevention in order to help reduce the number of people fatally or seriously injured in auto accidents every year. That means investments in awareness and education campaigns, planning and infrastructure, updating of records and databases, and updates to existing medical and emergency care systems. The recent grants announced in Georgia target several different areas that have long required attention.

The Georgia Department of Public Health has announced an investment of more than $1.7 million in the Injury Prevention Program’s Child Occupant Safety Project. This program promotes the safety of child passengers in automobiles across Georgia, helping provide car seat installation advice and guidance to thousands of parents and caregivers across the state. Child passengers are some of the most vulnerable passengers in any auto accident, and this grant will provide more funds to make sure that training is available not just to parents, but also to medical and health care professionals, emergency responders, firefighters and law enforcement officers. The goal is to make sure personal injuries to these vulnerable passengers are minimized or avoided all together.

Published on: April 24, 2025

Three Things to Do to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

In 2023, according to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 people were killed in car accidents caused by distracted drivers. The month of April is dedicated to commemorating the importance of preventing these car accidents, and is the right time to learn how best to protect yourself against these auto accidents.

According to statistics by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2023, 3,275 people were killed in distracted driving-related car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration includes a number of activities under the term “distracted driving”. These activities include texting and talking on the cell phone while driving, adjusting the radio, taking selfies, applying makeup, smoking and drinking while driving.

The large number of wrongful deaths that are caused each year by distracted drivers in auto accidents is the reason why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration dedicates a special month as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This April, you are likely to see more content on social media and around you dedicated to making people understand the dangers of being distracted while driving, and encouraging motorists to avoid using their cell phones and avoid distractions while behind the wheel. You are also likely to see more law enforcement officers enforcing Georgia’s laws against using cell phones while driving.

Published on: March 18, 2025

Safety Group Calls for “30 by 30” Auto Accident Wrongful Death Prevention Strategy

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With hopes for a complete elimination of traffic accident wrongful deaths over the next decade fading swiftly away, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is calling for the adoption of a more practical and achievable short term strategy towards the attainment of the goal. Given the number of wrongful deaths which occur in car accidents, any reduction will be welcomed.

“Vision Zero” is a policy that originated first in Sweden where it was adopted by that country’s parliament with the goal of eliminating all auto accident wrongful deaths and bringing the total number of people being killed in car accidents down to zero over the next decade. That idea caught on quickly around the world as many governments announced their own plans for reducing car accident wrongful death numbers in their countries. The US too was quick to adopt the idea. The US Department of Transportation laid out the policy in detail in its National Roadways Safety Strategy in 2022. That policy outlined the framework of a plan to help eliminate the number of car accident wrongful deaths on our roads through a number of strategies, including better roads, safer vehicles and better drivers.

However, progress towards achieving zero fatalities has been very slow or minimal at best. In fact, the goal seems to be getting further and further out of reach. In 2022, for instance, the year in which the administration announced the National Roadways Safety Strategy, more than 42,500 people died in auto accidents across the country. That was an increase of nearly 30% from 2014, a mere 8 years earlier.

Published on: March 4, 2025

Enforcement is Key to Preventing Auto Accident Wrongful Deaths

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Enforcement of traffic laws, including those against drunk driving and speeding, need to be a major part of any auto accident prevention program by state and federal governments. These are the types of traffic law violations which lead to very serious car accidents resulting in catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful deaths.

The role that traffic enforcement can play in accident prevention tends to be a controversial topic. However, a recent piece in The Atlantic calls for increasing traffic enforcement in order to help reduce the number of people involved in serious auto accidents. The article refers to experiments in other states that have chosen to decrease traffic enforcement, consequently leading to an increase in the number of car accidents and accident – related catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful deaths in these states.

Many car accident prevention programs these days focus heavily on the role of road design in preventing car accidents. However, there are many types of accidents that are not impacted or hindered by optimum road design. For example, a large part of the spike in auto accident wrongful deaths in recent years is linked to the increase in the number of car accidents occurring at night. Many of these auto accidents are speeding- related car accidents or drunk driving auto accidents that have very little to do with road design. These accidents are often connected to low levels of traffic enforcement. Simply put, if these speeding drivers and drunk motorists are fined for violations and taken off the streets, we are more likely to see a decline in car accident numbers.

Published on: January 31, 2025

Georgia DOT Working to Prevent Car Accidents This Winter

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With treacherous weather and road conditions this winter, the Georgia Department of Transportation has been working overtime to keep roads safer for motorists and to help drivers understand the various auto accident risks they face while driving.

Driving conditions in Georgia have become progressively worse in December as winter has set in, making roads slippery and covering them with treacherous black ice. Black ice is a very dangerous condition that often results in auto accidents every winter. Transportation officials are warning motorists to look out for black ice, especially as they travel over bridges and overpasses. Look out also for fallen trees or power lines, due to stormy and windy conditions this winter.

The Georgia Department of Transportation also wants motorists to know that department dump trucks will be dumping salt and gravel on icy roads. If you see one of these trucks, avoid following too close to the truck. The tires might kick up gravel that could actually shatter your glass, injuring you or your passengers. Instead, leave a gap of at least 100 feet between your vehicle and the truck.

Published on: December 11, 2024

Plan Ahead to Avoid Drunk Driving Car Accidents This December

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The month of December sees some of the highest numbers of drunk driving car accidents in the year, thanks to the Christmas and New Year holidays. No wonder then that December is marked as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

Data suggests that the number of drunk driving car accidents on our roads is actually increasing every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, based on data from 2021, alcohol -related car accident numbers in December were the highest that they have been in 15 years.

All 50 states have laws in place that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol. In most states, the legally acceptable blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08. In fact, many agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board have gone on record calling for a further reduction in the blood alcohol concentration limit to .05. In spite of these laws against drunk driving, however, far too many motorists feel comfortable driving after having consumed alcohol, and those numbers increase in the month of December.

Published on: November 13, 2024

Avoid Car Accidents This Thanksgiving Holiday

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the deadliest holidays of the year with law enforcement agencies recording thousands of car accidents during these 4 days.

Thanksgiving ranks right up there with New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo as one of the most alcohol -intense holidays of the year. There is a special tradition attached to Thanksgiving which makes it even more strongly linked to alcohol – related car accidents. The Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday, typically called Drinksgiving or Black Out Wednesday, ranks as the single biggest drinking day of the year. More alcohol is consumed on this Wednesday than on any other holiday. This means that as you set out for your Thanksgiving break, you are likely to be sharing the road with people who are highly intoxicated on alcohol after having drunk excessively the previous day.

It is not just drunk drivers that motorists need to be extra cautious of during Thanksgiving. Statistics show the incidence of all other types of dangerous driving behaviors including speeding and distracted driving also increases over this holiday weekend. This combination of drinking, being distracted by mobile phones and other passengers in the car as well as speeding to get to their destination on time makes for an ideal combination that increases the risks of being involved a serious car accident. Bear in mind that the Thanksgiving holiday is also when emergency responders and hospital emergency rooms are stressed to their limit which means that if you are involved in a serious car accident, help might be delayed.

Published on: November 1, 2024

GHSA Launches New Initiative to Prevent Distracted Driving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The Governors Highway Safety Association is collaborating with a major insurer to make it more accessible for Americans to prevent distracted driving auto accidents. A new website is part of this effort to help reduce the incidence of distracted driving on our streets.

The Governors Highway Safety Association recently announced a collaboration with State Farm Insurance. The initiative includes a website called GenerationDistractionfree.org, and the aim of the initiative is to empower parents and guardians to raise a new generation of motorists who will be less addicted to technology and distractions at the wheel.

Parents have a huge role to play in molding their children’s driving skills. Distracted driving is a major killer on American roads, and contributes to more than half of all car accidents recorded in Georgia every year. These are alarming statistics, and it is clear that government- led initiatives and legislation have limited impact in reducing the incidence of distracted driving. This is why the Governors Highway Safety Association Highway is bringing the topic of distracted driving into American homes.