Archives: 2017

One would think the increased use of hands-free phones and other devices would increase drivers’ focused attention on the road. Sadly, that isn’t the case. In fact, the increase in car infotainment systems is bringing MORE opportunity for distraction rather than the intended purposes of lessening such distractions. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, research shows that drivers using voice-based and touch screen features in their vehicles were distracted for more than 40 seconds when performing complex tasks such as programming their navigation system. In addition, 23 of the 30 vehicle infotainment systems studied placed high levels of demand on drivers. These seemingly innocuous distractions [...]

October 31st brings another year of tricks and treats as we celebrate Halloween across the nation. This night presents many challenges, compounded by Daylight Saving Time that brings nightfall sooner – usually right around rush hour. Kids are out in force, some accompanied by parents; others roaming the neighborhood in packs with friends. Not only are people driving to get home from work to hand out candy or take their own kids trick or treating, the risk is even higher for those who hit the bar after work for Happy Hour. Those same people are on the roadways occupied by [...]

Southern California has a lot of cars, and that means we have a lot of car accidents. Safety remains an important selling point for many consumers when searching for the right car to buy. We are looking for state-of-the-art features that can ensure their safety on the road. For example, Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, automatically reduces speed and can brake individual wheels as needed if it senses an impending rollover. A study outlined on NBCNews.com performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that ESC can reduce the risk of fatalities in single-vehicle crashes by more than 50 percent, [...]

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently revealed that Tesla’s autopilot system was to blame – in part -- for a fatal crash involving a Model S collision with a lorry – a British term for a truck that transports goods. The finding was outlined on the BBC, which quoted federal investigators as claiming Tesla "lacked understanding" of the autopilot's limitations. The crash took place in May 2016, leading to the death of the 40-year-old Tesla driver, Joshua Brown. The truck driver who hit him was unharmed. Subsequently, the NTSB suggested that car manufacturers take the necessary precautions to [...]

Staying safe on the roadway this fall Have you noticed a big uptick in freeway traffic the past couple of weeks? That’s because school’s back in -- and with it comes increased traffic and more people out on the roadways. This means yellow buses jamming the streets, pedestrians darting to and fro, and busy professionals rushing to get their morning coffee and on to work. Here at Power Legal Group, we urge you to take extra care on the roadways this September and beyond. The LA Times reports that 260 people in the LA area alone were killed in traffic [...]

During the first half of 2017, statistics show that motor vehicle deaths have fallen to an estimated 18,680 fatalities. However, this number is still eight percent higher than the statistics from just two years ago in 2015, according to the National Safety Council. However, while this seems like good news on the surface, the NSC cautions people from getting overly optimistic. We’re still only a bit more than halfway through 2017 and the last few months of the year tend to be the deadliest. This can be attributed to the worsening weather coupled with more people on the roads during [...]