Phoenix-Mesa, AZ Personal Injury Blog

Recently the Arizona legislature rejected a proposed bill that would have banned drivers statewide from texting while driving. Though a similar ban is in place in 20 other states, the bill did not pass, losing by a 31-28 vote. Despite the belief by many that texting or other types of inattentive driving practices cause motor vehicle accidents, it appears that several arguments made against passing the bill were the deciding factor.

Despite the decision by Arizona lawmakers, most safety advocates agree that driving while distracted is dangerous and could result in a potentially fatal auto accident. When a driver does not clearly focus on the task of driving, the likelihood of an accident increases. According to the National Safety Council, there are 200,000 accidents a year as a result of texting. A statewide law in place that would prohibit drivers from texting while driving would likely result in fewer accidents and less loss of life.

To highlight and bring awareness to the "critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives," the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has developed a list of "advocacy priorities." Called the "Most Wanted List," this compilation of initiatives covers many modes of transportation from cars and semi trucks to aviation and buses.

Items on the Most Wanted List that pertain to America's roadways include:

Truck Driver Fatigue - To prevent truck driver errors caused by fatigue, the NTSB promotes several safety measures. The NTSB believes hours-of-service limits and programs designed to identify and treat sleep conditions such as sleep apnea will save lives.

Insurance costs for teenage drivers are some of the most expensive, as parents of teenagers will attest. A new study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports those higher insurance rates finding that new drivers are more likely to be involved in auto accidents.

Teenage car accidents account for 30 percent of all car accidents even though teens represent only 14 percent of the total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death among 15-to-20-year-olds.

Whether as a daily form of transportation or as an escape on the weekend, riding a motorcycle is common for many Arizonans and others throughout the Southwest United States. However, because of their size and open design, riders are at high risk of injury when motorcycle accidents occur.

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) offers "Ten Things All Car & Truck Drivers Should Know About Motorcycles," more than 50 percent of all motorcyclist fatalities result from accidents involving other vehicles. And, several of the other "things" provided by the MSF may indicate the common causes of motorcycle-vehicle accidents, including:

• Motorcycles, because of their size, are easily hidden in vehicles' blind spots
• Motorcycles size makes them appear to be further away than they truly are
• Motorcycles are able to reduce speed in ways that do not involve the use of their brakes, such as downshifting or letting off the throttle, and do not engage brake lights
• Motorcycles are not able to stop or brake quickly and safely in inclement conditions

The holidays can be a wonderful time to catch up with family and friends - but it's also considered among one of the most dangerous times of the year to travel by car as well.

With so numerous motorists on the road, there are many dangers that are associated with holiday travel. Factor in higher alcohol consumption and it gets even more dangerous.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Thanksgiving is the most deadly holiday for travelers. It may be surprising to some that it is not New Year's Eve or Christmas.

While not the deadliest, Christmas and New Year's are two holidays that see a massive increase in the number of automobile accidents, especially since alcohol consumption is often a huge part of these celebrations. This can make for dangerous road conditions and even more accidents than on any other single day. Nearly half of all fatalities on New Year's Eve involve alcohol. According to a Forbes report, Christmas day is the fifth most dangerous holiday with an average of 414 deaths per year since 1982.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently partnered with the Arizona Trucking Association to put on Safe Driver Week in Arizona. A large number of both commercial and passenger vehicles traveling on interstate highways were inspected during the middle of October. Highway patrol officers and ATA staff also taught safety courses warning of the causes and dangers of distracted driving.

During the campaign, patrol officers inspected over 1,400 commercial vehicles and issued 224 citations. In addition, 12 percent of the inspected commercial vehicles were taken out of service as well as 14 percent of the drivers.

Being in a car accident brings all manner of physical, emotional and financial stress. If another driver caused the accident and he or she does not carry auto insurance, the stress can rise quickly.

No driver should be without insurance. Indeed, Arizona law requires drivers to carry minimal auto insurance. Unfortunately, however, not all drivers abide by the law, and this can leave the victims of those drivers without traditional methods of recovery.

Distracted driving - which occurs when people take their hands off of their steering wheels, take their eyes off of the road or think about something other than driving - is increasingly becoming a problem on America's roads. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, someone is killed in a distracted driving related accident every 23 seconds.

Distracted Driving and Employers

The cost of distracted driving is not just personal. Over the years, accidents caused by distracted driving have become the number one reason for occupational fatalities - and for this reason, companies needs to take this trend seriously.