St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Missouri officials are going to need more than a law on record to stop drivers from texting or from using a cell phone behind the wheel. A recent report, conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), studied more than 350 scientific papers that looked into distracted driving trends and car accidents in Missouri and elsewhere over the last decade.

Our St. Louis car accident attorneys believe this report may be useful to Missouri lawmakers, who have only banned texting for drivers 21-years-old and younger. We currently don't have a state law banning cell phone use either, so if you're over the age of 21 you're allowed to text, update you facebook and even tweet behind the wheel.

"You know, that part isn't really surprising," said Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "We have known all along that just passing a law by itself isn't going to make a difference."

This theory has been proven time and time again as laws enforcing seat belts and battling drunken driving were backed by highly visible enforcement. Only when enforcement efforts are increased do we see a higher rate of compliance by local drivers.

The GHSA report has been titled "Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do" and is meant to help state decision-makers take the best route of action when they decide to create and enforce texting or cellphone bans.

This information isn't finalized though. There aren't a ton of absolutes regarding this new epidemic.

"Despite all that has been written about driver distraction, there is still a lot that we do not know," Harsha said. "Much of the research is incomplete or contradictory. Clearly, more studies need to be done addressing both the scope of the problem and how to effectively address it."

The GHSA report encourages Missouri police to start keeping more detailed information and records regarding driver distractions.

Aside from enforcing laws that our state already follows, the report suggests that Missouri:

• Use pavement "rumble strips" to alert drivers when they start to drift out of their lane. Luckily, Missouri is one step ahead of this suggestion as we already use these strips.
• Encourage all employers to develop policies and programs that discourage distracted driving on the job and in company vehicles.
• Evaluate distracted driving laws and programs from other states. Looking over how others are doing it will help to provide us with information we can use to create effective countermeasures.
• Enact a texting ban for all drivers.
• Make it illegal for novice drivers to talk on cellphones while driving.

According to Distraction.gov, there were nearly 5,500 people killed on U.S. roadways because of traffic accidents that reported the involvement of a distracted driver in 2009. Another 448,000 people were injured in these accidents. With the proper traffic laws and effective enforcement to back them up, we can help to save lives on our Missouri roadways.

Continue reading "Governors Highway Safety Association Targets Distracted Driving Car Accidents in Missouri" »

A new crash study is looking for volunteers. The Naturalistic Driving Study, the world's largest study of its kind, is looking for 3,100 drivers to participate in a study to collect data by recording driving behavior during crash and near-crash situations, according to Forbes.

Researcher will be using two years of this data to then develop countermeasures intended to save lives before a car accident in Missouri or elsewhere occurs.

"Collision prevention is the central goal of the study" said Ken Campbell, chief program officer overseeing safety for the Strategic Highway Research Program, which is part of the non-profit Transportation Research Board. "And the driver is the key to prevent collision."

Our St. Louis car accident attorneys understand that this type of study may just have the power to stop car accidents before they happen. This study is different, because researchers will be using monitoring equipment to document how drivers interact with a number of traffic conditions and roadway designs. Previous studies have only focused on countermeasures used to protect drivers and passengers after collisions happen. This study is looking at the driver, who is the primary cause of most accidents.

During this two-year study, researchers will install recording equipment into 3,100 vehicles. These cameras will tape forward and rear views and the driver's face and hands. This data will be held in a storage box, which is about the size of a text book, and will be retrieved by researchers every four to six months.

"You can't just look at collisions or near collisions to know what risk factors are. It's that comparison with what the driver is doing when there is not a safety-related event that tells you what the risk factors are," said Dr. Campbell.

Researchers will then use this data to aid the development of safety improvements in a number of safe driving concerns, including road design, cars and driver training programs. The first area of focus in this study will be on accidents at intersections and accidents where the driver runs off the road.

So where is this study being held? The Transportation Research Board is looking for study participants in Buffalo, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Durham, central Pennsylvania and Bloomington. Drivers can either participate for one or two years. They will receive $500 for each year they participate. Participants must have a valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and an approved vehicle.

"This study is long overdue and has the potential for providing the most comprehensive look at why highway crashes occur," said Peter Kissinger, president and chief executive of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a nonprofit research and educational organization that provided technical advice for the study. "It is unprecedented in its scope and approach. It will be a wonderful supplement to other ongoing and planned traffic safety research efforts. My only disappointment is that the transportation research community didn't initiate the study several years ago."

Continue reading "New Crash Study Aims to Prevent Car Accidents in Missouri Before they happen" »

The Fourth of July is the number one holiday for alcohol-related fatal car accidents, according to MSN.

Missouri law enforcement, including the Springfield police, will be teaming up with a number of agencies to aim their enforcement efforts towards drunk drivers over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to Ozarks First. Officers will be setting up a number of DWI checkpoints throughout the area from July 1st to July 4th to bust those who drive under the influence of alcohol.

Police are joining forces to help keep motorists safe on our roadways and to reduce your risks of being involved in a car accident in Missouri over the holiday weekend.

Our St. Louis car accident attorneys understand that holidays are a deadly time to be on our roadways. It is estimated every year that hundreds of Americans die because of alcohol-related traffic accidents. This upcoming holiday, Independence Day, has continuously ranked as the top holiday for deadly accidents. It's has even proven to be deadlier than New Year's Day.

"Driving while intoxicated is simply not worth all the consequences," said Captain Ronald S. Johnson, commanding officer of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol. "Our message is simple and unwavering, You Drink and Drive, You Lose."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and 25 years of research, Fourth of July almost always tops the list for the most dangerous holiday on our roadways. Statistics over the past 25 years show that, on average, about 50 percent of all fatal traffic crashes on the Fourth of July were related to alcohol.

Back in 2008, which are the latest statistics available, nearly 500 people died in car accidents during the three-day Independence Day weekend. Out those fatalities, more than 40 percent died as a result of alcohol-impaired driving.

When people think of drunk driving and holidays, they may think of New Year's Day, or late on New Year's Eve. For this reason, a number of motorists stay off the roadway. However, most people don't associate drunk driving with the Fourth of July. And with millions of people expected to be on the roads this Fourth of July weekend, the risk of an accident is real.

"Drunk driving is a major public safety threat that still claims thousands of lives every year," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in a recent media release. "Many states continue to step up their efforts to get drunk drivers off our roads, but the numbers tell us we have to do more."

These types of accidents can obviously be devastating because of the injuries, or fatalities, involved. But what is equally frustrating is how preventable they are. Please drive safely and designate a driver or stop someone you're with from driving if they are intoxicated. Paying a few dollars for a cab, train or sub ride is worth it to save someone's life.

Continue reading "Fatal Springfield Car Accidents Common on Fourth of July " »