Pedestrian accidents affect thousands of lives every year. Even if you or someone you love isn't involved in a collision, it's likely that you know someone who was hurt (or who came close to being hurt) by a motorist on a street or road. On average, a crash-related fatal pedestrian accident occurred approximately every 96 minutes in 2015, according to the CDC. Most pedestrian accidents are preventable, and many people wish we could reduce or eliminate the risk in our cities and suburban areas.
Virginia teens know texting and driving is hazardous
Although 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws prohibiting texting while driving, distracted drivers remain a significant hazard on the nation's roadways. A recent study conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health surveyed over 100,000 teenagers from 35 states, including Virginia, and found that many young people ignore their state ban and continue to text while driving. In fact, a full 38 percent of the teens surveyed admitted to this dangerous behavior.
Roundabouts can cut the risk of crash injuries
Every year, people are injured or even killed in motor vehicle accidents that take place at dangerous intersections in Virginia. Some intersections are well-known for the risks they pose to drivers; for example, the junction of two 55-mph roads that come together at a stop sign can be a risky site, especially at night. Far too many drivers run stop signs, and visibility at many intersections can be poor or obstructed.
Pedestrian fatalities increasingly involve SUVs
Pedestrians in Virginia may be in greater danger from SUVs than from other types of vehicles, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Overall, pedestrian fatalities are on the rise. In 2016, they were at their highest number since 1990. From 2009 to 2016, the years studied by the IIHS, they were up in all circumstances, but SUVs hit and killed pedestrians at an average annual increase that was 3 percent higher than all the other types of vehicles combined.
Teens with new driver's licenses can be dangerous
Teen drivers in Virginia may be more likely to cause car accidents in the first few months after they get their driver's licenses, according to one recent study. Conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Virginia Tech, the study placed dashcams inside teen drivers' cars to monitor the drivers and the roads. Software was installed to check acceleration and braking. All participants were monitored from the time they received their learner's permits until the end of their first year as licensed drivers. While teens have learner's permits, they must be accompanied by an adult when driving, but they can drive alone once they receive their licenses.
The worst insurance mistakes people make after a car crash
Whether due to bad weather or poor decision-making on the part of another driver, people end up in accidents every day. Some of those people only have to deal with property damage, their biggest problem being that they have to replace or repair their vehicles. Other people may suffer severe injuries, and in some cases, collisions prove to be fatal.
