Springfield Virginia Motor Vehicle Accidents Blog

Virginia motorists who are convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol must have ignition interlock devices fitted in their vehicles. An IID prevents the vehicle it is fitted to from starting when alcohol is detected in a breath sample provided by the driver, and subsequent samples are required to keep the car running during what are known as rolling tests. In Virginia, the first rolling test takes place after just five minutes. IIDs are now mandatory for DUI offenders in most states because research shows that they deter drunk driving and prevent accidents, but a New York Times investigation reveals that they could also be causing crashes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims that IIDs reduce repeat DUI offenses by as much as 70%, and the results of a study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania suggest that the devices can lower drunk driving deaths by up to 15%. However, performing rolling tests can be risky if drivers do not pull over first.

Advanced safety technologies are supposed to make cars safer in Virginia and across the U.S. However, according to a new study, these systems are placing some drivers at additional risk.

The study, which was conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, found that advanced safety technologies can reduce accidents and injuries when they are used correctly, but many drivers trust these systems too much, increasing their risk of getting into an accident. For example, lane departure systems use cameras and sensors to determine if a driver is staying in his or her lane. If the vehicle starts to drift from the lane, the system gently steers it back to safety. Meanwhile, adaptive cruise control systems monitor the distance between a driver's vehicle and the one ahead of it. If the vehicle gets too close to the other one, the system applies the brakes to prevent a collision. However, some drivers are failing to remain alert once these systems are activated and are depending on the technology to keep them safe. As a result, the study found that drivers who use the systems are almost twice as likely to engage in distracted driving behaviors than those who don't use them.

If passed, the Reduce Impaired Driving for Everyone Act of 2019 would require all vehicles to have alcohol detection equipment installed in all new cars by 2024. According to its sponsors, the legislation could result in 7,000 fewer deaths on Virginia roads and others nationwide per year. The RIDE Act would first require that alcohol detection software be installed on a fleet of vehicles to determine how such a system would work.

Vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders to develop technology that could minimize or eliminate drunk driving. There is a body of evidence to suggest that using ignition interlock devices (IIDs) on all vehicles could reduce instances of drunk driving. Data produced by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) showed that they prevented drunk drivers from starting their vehicles on three million different occasions since 2006.

In Virginia and across the United States, truck accidents often cause victims to incur catastrophic injuries. A truck accident is more dangerous than a car crash because of the truck's larger size. For example, a typical automobile weighs about 4,000 pounds, but a truck weighs as much as 80,000 pounds. In looking at these statistics, it is easy to understand how a truck accident can cause a serious traumatic brain injury, permanent paralysis or even death. Consequently, truck drivers should take the time to learn how they can prevent truck accidents from occurring.

Although commercial vehicle drivers have more responsibilities than motor vehicle drivers, truck drivers still make errors while driving. Drowsiness is a significant mistake. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is another error that can cause a fatal accident. Some truck drivers are distracted. Others do not pay attention to safe driving habits. In spite of these facts, studies indicate that most truck accidents are due to mistakes made by passenger vehicle drivers. Accordingly, drivers need to learn more about how to drive defensively while driving near trucks and other commercial vehicles.