Costa Mesa auto accident and product injury legal blog

Red-light running crashes resulted in a 10-year high in fatalities with 939 people dying in them in 2017. California residents should know that more than two people die every day in this country in red-light running crashes. Yet a AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index shows that there is a disconnect between what drivers think and what they do. Eighty-five percent acknowledged that red-light running is wrong, yet nearly a third admitted to doing it in the past 30 days.

To better enforce traffic laws, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recommends the use of red-light cameras at those intersections with a discernible pattern of traffic violations and crashes. In large cities, cameras can reduce the rate of fatal red-light running crashes by 21%. They can cut the rate of all fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14%. Local governments must ensure, of course, that the cameras are calibrated periodically and that signs are posted notifying drivers about the cameras.

California drivers of all ages continue to drive while using their phones to send texts and emails or browse the internet. Despite widespread campaigns highlighting the dangers of distracted driving, people continue to take their minds and eyes off the road in order to pay attention to their smartphones. A survey by Liberty Mutual Insurance highlighted that drivers across the country consider themselves to be safe drivers while engaging in unsafe behaviors. Almost all respondents to the Multi-National Distracted Driving Survey, 98%, said that they consider themselves to be safe drivers. At the same time, they admitted to a number of unsafe activities. Almost half of the respondents regularly admitted driving while distracted.

Over two-thirds of all respondents said that they had used their phones while driving to text, check emails or use apps. Distracted driving has been implicated in many severe car crashes that have caused injuries or even deaths, but the proliferation of technology makes it difficult for people to disconnect while driving. A full 86% of millennial drivers said that they used their phones behind the wheel. While younger drivers were more likely to drive while texting or surfing, they were far from alone. Drivers in all generations were likely to use their phones while behind the wheel.

Drivers in California and elsewhere are more distracted than ever before, and more car accidents are happening as a result. In 2017, at least 3,166 people were killed in distracted driving car crashes across the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, there are several things drivers can do to help reduce their risk of becoming distracted while behind the wheel.

According to safety experts, it's a good idea for drivers to limit the number of passengers in their vehicle and ask those who are riding with them to keep their noise to a minimum. This will help reduce the amount of in-vehicle distractions that a driver is exposed to. It's also important for drivers to turn off their cellphone or put it in "Do Not Disturb" mode when they get behind the wheel. Even conversations on a hands-free device can distract drivers enough to miss traffic signals or pedestrians crossing the road, leading to a serious accident.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will conduct Brake Safety Week in California and across North America Sept. 15-21. During the initiative, CVSA officials will inspect commercial trucks and other vehicles to ensure they are free of critical brake violations.

For this year's event, inspectors will place special emphasis on brake hoses and tubing. While these components are already included in the North American Standard Inspection Program, the organization wants to make sure truck drivers and trucking companies recognize their importance to vehicle and road safety. To pass inspection, brake hoses and tubing must be properly attached, appropriately flexible and free from damage and leaks. Vehicles that are found to have critical brake safety violations will be pulled from service until repairs are made. Meanwhile, truckers who pass the inspection can get a CVSA decal.