In The News

Published on: March 5, 2024

Record Driving Rates Spur Fears of Spike in Car Accident Risks

Just over a month into 2024, and road transportation authorities are already reporting record driving volumes across the United States. As historically seen, high rates of driving typically translate into a higher rate of car accidents.

According to the Department of Transportation, in 2023, US drivers took to the roads in record numbers, traveling 3.263 trillion miles. That was a significant increase of 2.1% and a new yearly record. Overall, according to transportation authorities, road travel across the country last year increased by 67.5 billion miles with an increase of 2.2% in December. Travel is back not just to pre – pandemic levels, but also higher than the levels recorded before 2020.

There have been a couple of solid reasons for the increase in vehicular traffic. Foremost has been the return to the workplace for many American workers. Employers are terminating their work from home phases, and companies are actively encouraging their employees to return to offices. In an uncertain job market, many employees have chosen to obey the call to return to the workplace, rather than insist on a work from home arrangement. That has meant more congested car traffic in Georgia and across the country. Holiday traffic in 2023 was also at significantly high volumes, and many Americans who had been limited by their ability to travel since 2020 chose to travel during holidays to meet family and friends. Adding to the desire to travel by road has been significantly lower gasoline prices. Low gas prices typically translate into higher road travel for Americans.

Published on: March 1, 2024

Atlanta Council Members Considering a Ban on “Right on Red” Laws

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

If a group of Atlanta Council members has its way, motorists will no longer be able to make a right turn when they are at a red light. The move is linked to concerns about the risk of car accidents involving pedestrians.

The so- called Right on Red laws were enacted across the country back in the 1970s in the midst of a fuel crisis. The law allows motorists the right to make a right turn at a red light, provided they stop first and it is safe to turn. However, authorities found out very quickly after the laws were passed, that while the laws did not really do much to increase fuel efficiency, they did increase the risk of car accidents involving pedestrians when drivers made right turns at red lights. Even back in the 1970s, officials found that there was a higher risk of auto accidents involving pedestrians in these areas.

Recently, however, there have been efforts across the country to get these laws repealed or banned. According to transportation safety experts, these laws do contribute to large numbers of car accidents every year involving pedestrians, and many of these auto accidents result in catastrophic personal injuries to the pedestrians. Now, a group of three Atlanta Council members also has proposed a ban on such right turns at red lights in certain areas in the city. The three Council members are proposing a ban on these actions in Midtown, Downtown and Castleberry Hill. These are busy areas that are chock full of entertainment venues and cultural attractions, and see large volumes of pedestrian traffic. According to the Council members, it is important to keep these areas thriving, and that can happen only when the laws make it safe for pedestrians to walk in these neighborhoods.

Published on: February 26, 2024

How Passengers can Prevent Distracted Driving Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

If you are driving in a car with a driver who is texting at the wheel, then your chances of being involved in an auto accident increase significantly. However, there is much that you can do as a passenger to avoid car accidents caused by distracted driving.

Most motorists are aware of the dangers of texting while driving, but unfortunately, that does not necessarily prevent many of them from using their texting devices while driving. Georgia has laws that ban sending or receiving text messages while driving, but there are far too many drivers who abuse cell phone privileges behind the wheel. However, passengers may have a big role to play in helping reduce the incidence of such behaviors.

Insurance provider Erie recently consulted with a psychologist, and provided tips for passengers who see the driver of the car texting while driving. It is imperative that you speak up when you are traveling in a car and you see the driver texting while driving. Erie’s advice is that you negotiate with the driver. Tell him that if he or she really needs to be on his cell phone, you can take over his driving duties while he continues with his text messaging or cell phone conversation. This makes the driver aware that you are uncomfortable with the fact that he is texting while driving, and also gives him an alternate option that allows him to continue texting while ensuring everyone’s safety.

Published on: February 22, 2024

Feds Phase Out Witty Highway Safety Signs

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The federal government is not amused by the witty highway safety messages that are posted on several highways across the country, including in Georgia, to prevent auto accidents. The federal government has banned these humorous electronic safety messages across the country.

The Federal Highway Administration, which is in charge of regulating the nation’s massive network of highways, recently released a 1000 – page manual which also includes rules for the design of safety signs. The manual makes it clear that it considers these messages to be distracting. Rather than preventing auto accidents, the FHA believes the messages make car accidents more likely.

Over the past few years, several states including Georgia, have attempted to attract motorist attention to highway safety issues by posting humorous safety messages that use wordplay, a pun-friendly style or references to pop culture to grab eyeballs. Georgia transportation safety experts experimented with these witty signs, and in 2020, held a contest to find the most humorous sign ideas. Winning entries included gems like You Look Great, But the Selfie Can Wait, Better Late Than Never, and our favorite If You Missed the Exit, It’s OK, We Made More Up Ahead, and began flashing on several highways after these were picked out of hundreds of entries. Over the next few months, however, many of these messages may simply be phased out as a result of the new federal rules.

Published on: January 19, 2024

Why Night Shift Work can Increase Car Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Sleep experts have always known that night shift workers are at a higher risk of being involved in a car accident. A new study finds even more conclusive proof that night shift workers are at risk of a number of sleep disorders that can increase their risks of being involved in a car crash.

The study was conducted in the Netherlands where Dutch researchers found that out of all the patients involved in the study, more than 51% suffered from at least one sleep disorder. The researchers focused on more than 37,000 workers who were questioned about their work patterns and sleeping habits. The researchers screened participants for 6 common sleep disorders including insomnia, hypersomnia or excessive sleeping, sleep apnea and other sleep – related breathing disorders, sleep walking, sleep – related movement disorders and sleep – wake disturbances. They found that 51% or at least one third of the participants suffered from at least one sleep disorder and 13% of all participants suffered from at least two of the sleep disorders for which they were screened.

Among those who did night shifts, whether regular night shifts or rotational night shifts, 26% reported at least two or more sleep disorders. Consistent and regular night shifts seemed to be the most dangerous for workers with many of these workers reporting lower than optimum hours of sleep. About 50 percent of the workers who were on night shifts reported that they often slept for less than 6 hours a day. The ideal sleep duration for an adult is 8 hours everyday.

Published on: January 15, 2024

Experts Recommend In-Vehicle Speed Limiters to Prevent Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A coalition of stakeholders is recommending that vehicles come equipped with speed limiters that would help motorists drive at safe speeds and reduce the number of auto accidents caused by speeding.

The Road to Zero Coalition is a group of stakeholders including automakers, regulators, safety experts and other organizations that are committed to not just envisioning, but also bringing about a scenario with minimal car accident wrongful deaths by the year 2050. Progress towards reducing the number of car accidents has been slow, and has, in fact, reversed over the past few years as fatality numbers have soared across the country. The situation became even more dire during the pandemic as the number of car accident wrongful deaths across the country skyrocketed during this period of time. Speeding is being blamed as one of the primary reasons for the increase in car accident deaths not only in Georgia, but across the country. Experts believe that motorists who became use to speeding on empty roads during the lockdowns have not yet adjusted to larger traffic volumes following the end of the pandemic and easing of travel restrictions. This has contributed to a spike in the number of people being killed in car accidents.

These car accident wrongful deaths are very preventable because they are mostly due to human error. Speeding, for instance, accounts for approximately 30% of all car accident deaths in the country. Curtailing speeding, therefore, is on top of the priority list for the Road to Zero coalition which recently called for the use of Intelligent Speed Assistance systems on all cars. These systems can alert the motorist when he or she is travelling at speeds higher than the posted speed limits. The system makes use of GPS software and other technology in order to identify the posted speed limits on the route and sound audible alerts if the driver does not apply the brakes. In some cases, the system can even intervene to reduce speed limits automatically by reducing power to the engine in case the motorist fails to act by applying the brakes.

Published on: January 11, 2024

Multiple Car Accident Deaths Reported Across Georgia over Thanksgiving

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

First responders attended to multiple victims of car accidents across Georgia over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Across Georgia and the country, law enforcement authorities were reporting record volumes of traffic. More than 55 million Americans are reported to have travelled over the holiday weekend. Unfortunately, as is often the case, large volumes of traffic make for greater numbers of auto accidents. In Georgia, the scene was no better as more than 23 accident fatalities were confirmed over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This year, the holiday weekend stretched from 6:00 pm on Wednesday to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Apart from the 23 wrongful deaths, numerous other persons are reported to have suffered personal injuries in these car accidents. At least one busy interstate had to be shut down for 7 hours after a car accident involving an 18 -wheeler and an SUV. At least five out of the 23 fatalities occurred in a single car accident.

Published on: January 4, 2024

Is it Time to End Right on Red Laws to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents?

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A decades-old law that was meant to manage fuel shortages is coming under the spotlight in states like Georgia, as experts consider ways to reduce the number of pedestrian accidents around the country.

The so-called “right- on-red” law allows motorists in Georgia and several other states to make a right turn at an intersection even if the light is on red as long as the intersection is clear. The law provides American motorists with a unique privilege, and comes as a result of a law that was passed in the 1970s as the country grappled with fuel shortages. That was when an oil embargo pushed oil prices to record levels, necessitating the passing of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Some other states had passed similar right to turn laws a few decades earlier.

The laws continued to remain in place even after the oil embargo ended and fuel prices returned to normal. It is a privilege that American motorists now do not even think twice about, and it is only now in the face of skyrocketing pedestrian accident deaths that experts are asking if it is time to retire a law that is possibly at least partly responsible for the increasing number of people being killed in pedestrian accidents, especially at intersections.

Published on: December 25, 2023

GHSA: Dip in Fatal Teen Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

There is good news for teen motorists – a category of drivers that is traditionally one of the most at risk groups for car accidents. The Governors Highway Safety Association in a recent report announced that there has been a significant drop in the number of fatal car accidents involving young motorists.

The Governors Highway Safety Association recently released the findings of a new report titled Young Drivers and Traffic Fatalities: 20 Years of Progress on the Road to Zero. The report finds that there was a 38% drop in the number of fatal car accidents involving teenage drivers since 2002. During the same period of time, there was actually an increase of 8% in the number of fatal car accidents involving older drivers above the age of 21. There was also a significant 45% drop in the number of teen car accident wrongful deaths during the same period of time, compared to a spike of 11% in car accident deaths for older drivers above the age of 21. Traditionally, teenage drivers have had a car accident wrongful death rate that is four times higher than for drivers above the age of 21.

A number of factors could possibly have impacted this significant drop in fatal car accidents involving teenage drivers. The Governors Highway Safety Association makes note of the fact that teenage drivers are driving at lower volumes than they used to in 2002. The organization also believes that this has contributed to just a very small percentage of the staggering drop in fatal teen car accidents. The Governors Highway Safety Association believes that much of the drop has to do with the fact that so many states like Georgia now have solid Graduated Drivers’ Licensing programs in place. These programs place significant restrictions on a teenager’s ability to drive independently including restrictions on the ability to drive at night and drive with teenage passengers in the car. However, most of these Graduated Drivers’ Licensing programs apply to drivers below the age of 18, and the report recommends that states extend these programs to drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 in order to reduce those accident risks further.

Published on: December 11, 2023

Drowsy Driving Linked to 100,000 Car Accidents Every Year

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Motorists driving while fatigued or sleepy cause as many as 100,000 car accidents every year. This November, the National Sleep Foundation is marking Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of driving while sleepy.

The National Sleep Foundation commemorates the first week of November every year as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to coincide with the end of daylight savings time. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that as many as 100,000 car accidents every year are caused by drivers who are too sleepy or fatigued to drive. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of all American motorists admit to regularly or consistently driving while sleepy. About 20% of American drivers admit to having operated a motor vehicle while sleepy at least once in the past year. Clearly, there are far too many people who feel comfortable driving a car when they are simply too tired or sleepy to do so.

Some categories of motorists may be at a greater risk of drowsy driving than others. For example, motorists between the age of 16 and 25 are at a higher risk of driving while sleepy. Male motorists may also be much more likely to find nothing wrong while driving in a sleepy condition compared to female drivers. Shift workers and commercial drivers like long haul truck drivers may also be at higher risk of not getting enough sleep resulting in drowsy driving. Apart from these business travelers as well as persons suffering from medical conditions like sleep apnea are also at a higher risk. Apnea is a sleep condition that causes a person to suffer from respiratory interruptions during sleep at night which causes the person to be fatigued and sleepy in the daytime. Sometimes, drowsy driving is the result of taking medications like anti -depressants and antihistamines that may have sleepiness as a side effect.