Technology has made cars safer. From seat belts, unibody construction with crush zones, airbags, ABS brakes, and collision avoidance systems have all combined to make cars safer and crashes more survivable than ever before.  These advances, along with better-engineered highways and stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws have helped reduced highway fatalities to their lowest level ever. Fewer people die in traffic accidents today than died in 1949, even though we drive about 3 trillion miles every year. But that does not mean there isn't a great deal of room for improvement. Annual highway fatalities still average more than 30,000 people, the equivalent of half the population of Warner-Robins dying every year. With the goal of further reducing car accidents and the death and injuries that accompany them, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that cars be equipped with systems that would allow them to communicate and provide an…

It was clear that there had been a terrible accident in Gainesville, Georgia late last week. There was no doubt that there were several vehicles that had been smashed together in a mass of twisted metal. It was obvious that there was at least one tractor-trailer that had increased the severity of the crash. It was obvious that there were three individuals who had lost their lives in the collision and another five people who were seriously injured when the vehicles collided on Highway 365 this past Thursday. Looking at the scene, there were some things that left no questions. For police in Gainesville, the cause of the crash was less than obvious. After the accident, police were left to sort out the details. They began an investigation into the fatal accident, but no details were immediately reported. This is common after an accident involving multiple vehicles. Who is at…

A recent study by the American Automobile Association (AAA) proves what some safety advocates and watchdog groups have been saying all along: it is no safer to use hands-free technology to text and send emails behind the wheel than it is to do them by hand. The study examined driver reaction times, brainwaves, eye movement, and other behaviors of people behind the wheel while performing a variety of "secondary tasks" like using hands-free/dictated texting, handheld texting, while talking on a mobile phone, listening to music (or audiobooks), while interacting with passengers and while only focusing on driving. The research showed that the level of distraction from hands-free and handheld texting/e-mailing was remarkably similar, something that has concerned legislators, automakers, technology companies, and safety experts alike, since hands-free technology has been touted for the past several years as being a much safer alternative to using hand-held devices while driving. The level…

Motorcycle accidents can happen at any time, even to the most experienced motorcycle riders. When these incidents do occur, the occupants of the motorcycle will often suffer extensive injuries, even if they have taken all necessary safety precautions. Motorcyclists often have no way to avoid the crash, meaning they are the ones that will absorb most of the impact. After a motorcycle accident, police will often review the crash to determine who was at fault. In many cases, drivers of other vehicles nearby do not see the motorcyclist until it is too late. A recent Georgia motorcycle accident led to the death of the motorcyclist, and may result in charges for the driver of the other vehicle involved. The crash happened near the Cumberland Mall in the early evening. The motorcyclist was traveling south on Cobb Parkway, close to Paces Mill Road, where an intersection was located. When the motorcyclist got…