At some point this week, you’ll probably be classified as a pedestrian while walking, jogging or bicycling. According to the citizen advocacy group Smart Growth America [1], between 2008 and 2017 over 49,000 pedestrians were killed by motorists while using U.S. roadways. Based on statistics compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) [2] more than 6,200 pedestrians died in motor vehicle-related accidents in 2018 alone- the highest number in 30 years. Why is this happening and how can we keep pedestrians safer?   

Most Dangerous States for Pedestrians

Smart Growth America’s troubling statistics were derived from data compiled by the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Smart Growth America then used that information to create Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI) tables which they then published in a recent article entitledDangerous by Design 2019 [3].

Based on annual pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 residents from 2008 to 2017, these were the 10 most dangerous states for pedestrians:

• Florida (most dangerous)
• Alabama
• Delaware
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Georgia
• New Mexico
• Texas
• Arizona
• South Carolina

Why Are Pedestrians at Risk?

Why are so many pedestrians getting struck and killed? Smart Growth America believes this alarming trend is due mainly to municipalities prioritizing faster speed limits and bigger highways over more pedestrian-friendly street designs. Specifically, they identify the need to add safety features for pedestrians, like overpass walkways and designated bicycle paths.

Looking at another angle, the NHTSA is quick to point out that a driver is more likely to hit a pedestrian when engaging in these irresponsible behaviors:

• Distracted driving, like texting, eating, applying makeup or talking on their phone
• Reckless driving, including speeding, not using turn signals and changing lanes quickly
• Failure to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
• Disregarding poor traffic conditions like construction zones or traffic congestion
• Not adjusting for poor weather conditions, like snow, ice, rain and fog
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

Whether you are jogging, bicycling, or just walking to your car after work, here are some ways to protect yourself:

• Use a sidewalk or designated path whenever possible.
• When one isn’t available, use the shoulder and always face oncoming traffic.
• Don’t let distractions like mobile devices keep your eyes off the road.
• Never assume that a driver can see you, especially at night. Always wear bright clothing. In poor visibility conditions, use lights and wear reflective clothes.
• Be predictable. That means crossing streets at crosswalks or intersections whenever possible.
• Stay in well-lit areas when it’s dark or overcast.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking or bicycling, as they can impair your judgement and coordination.

Precautions for Drivers

Here’s how to be a more responsible driver when sharing the road with pedestrians:

• Watch for pedestrians at-all-times, especially in parking lots and school zones.
• Adjust your speed and be extra cautious when driving in hard-to-see conditions, like bad weather or at nighttime.
• When approaching a crosswalk with pedestrians around, slow down and always come to a complete stop before turning.
• Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks or on the shoulder. Stop well back of the crosswalk so that other motorists will also see pedestrians.
• Never pass another vehicle that’s stopped for a crosswalk.
• Follow posted speed limits, notably when there are pedestrians present or in school zones and neighborhoods.
• Be extra careful when backing up, for example in a parking lot, because pedestrians can quickly move into your path.

Carwise Asks All Drivers & Pedestrians to Be Responsible  

Your friends at Carwise encourage all drivers and pedestrians to be more responsible when sharing the road so that we can eliminate pedestrian accidents. When your car has been involved in a fender bender with another vehicle or stationary object, you can promptly find a reliable auto body or glass repair shop nearby by using the nationwide Carwise referral network. All shops listed on Carwise are I-CAR and ASE-certified, which means they have the top-quality services, technicians and equipment needed to promptly restore your vehicle like new again.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com. 

References:

1. www.smartgrowthamerica.org
2. Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Traffic Safety Facts: Pedestrians; March 2019; www.nhtsa.gov
3. Dangerous by Design 2019; https://smartgrowthamerica.org/tag/dangerous-by-design/

Most Americans enjoy bragging about their respective cities when it comes to sports, music and restaurants. But for those living in larger metropolitan areas, getting around by car can be a major hassle. If your city features daily commutes that push your stress level to the limit, driving conditions there are probably not one of its more brag-worthy qualities. But is it the worst? Recently, the personal-finance website WalletHub analyzed (1) how “driver-friendly” the 100 largest U.S. cities are. Based on what they found, these are the 10 worst for drivers.

What Criteria Did WalletHub Use?   

WalletHub first selected the 100 U.S. cities with the highest population, excluding their surrounding metropolitan areas. Then, they began ranking those cities using these 4 metrics:

• Traffic and infrastructure
• Annual cost of vehicle ownership and maintenance
• Safety
• Access to vehicles and maintenance

WalletHub’s team then took those 4 major driving categories and broke each down further for a grand total of 29 subcategories. That allowed them to consider more specific driving factors like the annual number of car thefts, price per gallon of gas, auto repair shops per capita and total number of motor vehicle fatalities.

Based on those 29 subcategories, each city was then assigned a weighted score. The higher the score, the more “driver-friendly” the city. When the list was finished it contained several of the usual suspects, and some notable surprises.  

Is Your City in the “Bottom 10”?   

According to WalletHub, these are the 10 worst U.S. cities for drivers:

#1 Detroit, Michigan

Thanks to scoring badly in traffic congestion, safety, and the average cost of ownership, it turns out that the “Motor City” is the least friendly of all for motorists.

#2 San Francisco, California

Because it’s on a peninsula, San Francisco drivers face limited land access to the south, not enough bridges and hilly streets. For these reasons and others, the city scored poorly in “traffic and infrastructure”, along with “cost of ownership and maintenance”.

#3 Oakland, California

Right across the bay from San Francisco sits Oakland, which ranked near the bottom in “cost of ownership and maintenance”. And, it’s also one of the nation’s worst cities for car thefts.

#4 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Turns out that the “City of Brotherly Love” isn’t so friendly to drivers due to its poor safety rating, traffic congestion and high cost of vehicle ownership.

#5 Seattle, Washington

Downtown Seattle is surrounded by several lakes and peninsulas which force daily commuters into endless chokepoints. In addition to traffic congestion, the city also ranked low in “cost of ownership and maintenance”.

#6 Boston, Massachusetts

Boston’s confusing old road designs cause frequent traffic tie ups. Throw in the harsh winters and its poor showing in the “access to vehicles and maintenance” department, and you’ve got the “perfect storm” for driver frustration.

#7 New York City

No shocker here, as New York has now leapfrogged Los Angeles when it comes to worst “traffic and infrastructure”. In fact, the city’s Friday evening commutes are legendary for their brutality.

#8 Newark, New Jersey

Combine Newark’s proximity to New York City with its busy international airport and you get a recipe for traffic congestion that’s hard to beat. And, Newark isn’t exactly the safest place for drivers to be either.

#9 Los Angeles, California

The “City of Angels” earned this hellish distinction because of its infamous traffic congestion and high cost of ownership. The only real surprise is that L.A. didn’t finish lower.

#10 Chicago, Illinois

Thanks mostly to its poor infrastructure and ubiquitous traffic congestion, the “Windy City” takes the “air out of the sails” for millions of Chicago drivers.

In case you’re wondering, the top 10 best cities to drive are all located in North Carolina, Texas and Florida. Visit: www.wallethub.com to view WalletHub’s complete list.

Promptly Find “A-list” Collision Repair Shops Here

No matter where you drive, accidents happen. When your ride’s been damaged, promptly take it to one of the “A-list” auto body or glass repair shop featured in the nationwide Carwise referral network. Shops listed on Carwise are all I-CAR and ASE-certified, which means they have the top-quality collision repair services you need to restore your ride like new again promptly and reliably.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.    

Reference:

1. 2018’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive In; WalletHub.com (www.wallethub.com); July 10, 2018.

If you’re like most drivers, you can just sense when it’s more dangerous to be on the road. July 4th, Memorial Day weekend, New Year’s Eve and those stressful work commutes during nasty weather probably come to mind. But have you ever wondered statistically when the most dangerous weekly driving times and days are? Thanks to 2016 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA; www.nhtsa.gov) that was subsequently analyzed by the online legal directory Avvo (www.avvo.com), you don’t have to guess anymore.

How Avvo Compiled Their Crash Data

Every year, the NHTSA collects reams of data about traffic accidents and resulting fatalities for all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. That information is then organized into tables listed on their Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) website. Back in 2017, Avvo, which is a nationwide legal directory that helps potential clients find attorneys, decided to analyze FARS data from 2016 to determine the most likely times and days of the week for motor vehicle crash-related deaths. What follows are the fascinating trends their study (1) revealed.

Most Dangerous Daily Drive Times

Based on Avvo’s findings, the most dangerous time of day to drive is between 4 pm and 6:59 pm. In 2016, 6,201 people died in motor vehicle accidents during those time zone-adjusted hours, out of a total of over 37,000 fatalities. For starters, 4 pm to 7 pm is a peak time for work commuters heading home. Avvo also discovered that the second deadliest time for road travelers is 7 pm to 9:59 pm. But what surprised the Avvo researchers was the comparatively low number of fatalities (3,345) during the morning commute hours of 7 am to 9:59 am.

Why the large disparity between morning and evening rush hour fatalities? According to traffic safety experts, the main reasons are probably these:

• People are in more of a hurry to get home than go to work
• Frustration after a long work day
• Distracted driving while responding to accumulated text or voicemail messages
• Impaired driving due to alcohol and/or drugs

Obviously, commuters living in large metropolitan areas are at a higher risk, especially when tied up in traffic congestion. On the positive side, the researchers also found that Tuesdays between 1 am and 3:59 am are the safest times to be behind-the-wheel.

Worst Days of the Week for Traffic Fatalities

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that driving gets a little crazier on the weekends, and especially late at night. As you would expect, the Avvo study determined that the overall worst days of the week for traffic fatalities in 2016 were Saturdays, with nearly 7,000 deaths, followed by Fridays with 5,826 fatalities. Saturday night from 10 pm until Sunday morning at 3:59 am was statistically the most dangerous weekend period of all. Once again, Tuesday stood out as the safest day for travelers.

In general, the researchers concluded that:

• There are typically more vehicles on the roads from Friday evening through Sunday, especially during the summer.
• Drivers tend to be more careless and reckless on weekends.
• Alcohol and drug use are higher during those times.

Additional Findings and Driving Safety Tips

Out of a total of 34,748 reported traffic accidents and 37,748 fatalities in 2016, alcohol was a contributing factor in 10,497 deaths. Not wearing a seatbelt led to 10,428 fatalities, and speeding was involved in 10,111 deaths. Keep in mind that a single fatality may have been attributed to multiple causes. Distracted driving was a factor in 3,450 road fatalities, with another 400,000+ injured because drivers weren’t watching the road.

Based on the evidence, experts recommend using these safe driving precautions:

• Always drive defensively
• Limit driving distractions inside your vehicle
• Obey all traffic laws and posted signs
• Always wear a seatbelt, even in the back seat
• Avoid operating a vehicle when impaired by alcohol and/or drugs
• If you plan on using alcohol or drugs, have a designated driver

Promptly Find Client-Reviewed Collision Repair Shops Here

Unfortunately, car accidents happen when you least expect them to. When you’re involved in one, promptly locate a client-reviewed collision repair shop by using the nationwide Carwise referral network. Auto body shops featured through Carwise have the I-CAR and ASE-certified technicians, equipment and services to restore your ride like new again promptly and reliably. Most speak directly with insurance companies, so you don’t have to, and warranty their work for your peace-of-mind.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.

Thanks to organizations like MADD, and the stricter enforcement of drunk-driving laws, alcohol-related traffic deaths in the U.S. have steadily declined since the 1980s. Based on statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (1), drunk driving deaths have fallen by one-third within the past 30 years; most notably for drivers under the age of 21. Unfortunately, widespread marijuana legalization and the growing opioid crisis have helped create a new problem on American roads; one that’s quickly spiraling out of control.  

How Common is Drugged Driving?

Drugged, or “drug-impaired”, driving refers to the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of any type of drug, legal or illegal (illicit), and every state has laws against doing so. But even with those laws in place, how common is driving while under the influence of drugs (DUID)? That answer can be found in some troubling data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (2) that were based solely on studies focused on illicit substance use by drivers:

• In 2017, 12.8 million people aged 16-and-older admitted to driving after using illicit drugs.
• In 2016, among all drivers killed in traffic accidents, 43.6% of those whose blood was drug tested for illicit substances had positive results.
• Of those fatalities, over half tested positive for two or more illicit drugs in their system.
• 20% of all nighttime weekend drivers tested positive for illicit drugs in the 2013-14 National Roadside Survey.

When it comes to DUID law enforcement, here are some of the challenges that police officers face:

• Overall, it’s much harder to determine when a driver is drug impaired compared to one who’s under the influence of alcohol.
• Drivers can be field tested for alcohol impairment using a breathalyzer. No such roadside testing method is available to officers when they suspect a pulled-over driver has been using drugs.
• A growing number of drivers today are operating a vehicle while under the influence of two or more drugs that affect them in different ways, including prescription and OTC products.

And, if these problems weren’t enough, an increasingly greater number of drivers are now combining alcohol with one or more legal or illegal drugs before climbing behind the wheel.

How These Popular Drugs Impair Drivers  

Here are the various ways that many popular legal or illegal drugs can interfere with a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle:

• Marijuana. The THC found in marijuana slows down reaction times and impairs the judgement of distance. Marijuana is also the most common drug that’s used in combination with alcohol by drivers who get charged with DUID offenses.
• Methamphetamine or cocaine. Can cause drivers to engage in aggressive and reckless behaviors.
• Opioids and opiates. Prescription and illegally obtained opioids and opiates can cause drowsiness, and impair a driver’s memory and cognitive skills.   
• Sedatives like benzodiazepine or barbiturates.  Oftentimes prescribed by doctors for depression or as a sleep aid, these drugs cause drowsiness and dizziness.  
• OTC medications. Many drivers take over-the-counter remedies for colds or allergies without considering that they can interfere with driving. Diet pills and other “stay awake” products contain stimulants that may induce excitability or drowsiness.

How Can I Help Prevent Drug-Related Accidents?    

Fortunately, there are several positive strategies you can take to help avoid becoming another DUID statistic. 

• Offer to be a designated driver, or have a designated driver collect all the keys.
• Get a ride to and from parties where there are drugs and alcohol present.
• Speak with your friends about the risks of drugged driving.
• Avoid parties altogether where alcohol and drugs will be available.

Regarding OTC and prescription medications, carefully read the label warnings first before taking the product and then driving a car. If there’s any chance it could impair your ability to operate a vehicle, don’t drive. If you have questions, consult a pharmacist.

Where Should I Take My Car for Collision Repairs?

No matter how careful you are as a driver, accidents happen. When your vehicle is involved in one, take it to a body shop featured in the nationwide Carwise referral network. ICAR and ASE-certified technicians there will have the equipment, training and experience to restore your ride like new again promptly and reliably. Most work directly with insurance companies, so you don’t have to, and warranty their outcomes to put your mind at ease.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.

Self-driving cars, cars that “talk” to one another, and vehicles with augmented reality displays have long been the fantasies of popcorn-munching Sci-Fi moviegoers. But are those futuristic safety technologies merely the creations of Hollywood minds, or ones that will soon be as commonplace as airbags and seatbelts? In-actuality, there are several revolutionary car safety advancements that are much closer than you might think. Here are 3 that could be appearing soon at a dealership near you.

Augmented Reality Dashboards

We’re all familiar with Terminator movies, in which hi-tech robots look at a person or object and then quickly access information about who or what they are. Augmented Reality (AR) will function in much the same way for drivers, as critical information about what they’re viewing pops up on the windshield right before their eyes. In other words, AR will supply additional information to enhance what a driver’s senses normally take in.  

For example, if you are approaching another vehicle too fast, a red box will appear on the AR display with arrows showing you how to safely maneuver around it, avoiding a collision. When coupled with an AR GPS system, the safest lane would also be highlighted on your windshield to guide you out of harm’s way. In addition, engineers are looking at ways for cars to notify drivers when to turn without having to take their eyes off the road.

Some manufacturers, like Toyota, are also looking into AR for vehicle passengers. This would allow them to use a touch screen to zoom in on objects outside the vehicle, select and identify those objects, and then acquire car-to-object distances. And finally, auto makers like BMW are researching AR for automotive technicians, which allows them to wear special AR glasses to locate defective parts, and then access a display with instructions on how to replace them.

Communicating Cars

You’re quickly approaching a busy intersection as another vehicle runs the red light and enters your path. You didn’t see them, but your car did, as it warns you of the impending collision while automatically applying the brakes. Welcome to vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or “V2V” for short. Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA; www.nhtsa.gov) identify human error as the number one cause of traffic accidents. (1)

To overcome those human mistakes, V2V works when a vehicle transmits a wireless signal about its location, direction and speed. That information is then received by surrounding vehicles, which use it to calculate safe driving distances. Engineers are also working on V2V applications that would allow a car to take evasive measures should another vehicle enter its path. And, researchers are now testing vehicle-to-infrastructure capabilities, or “V2I”.

V2I picks up signals from stationary objects like road signs or traffic lights, and then notifies its driver to be alert. V2I could also be used to obtain road condition information from traffic management systems, and then relay to drivers the best possible route to take for smoother journeys.

Self-Driving Cars

Many drivers spend countless hours commuting back and forth to work. Wouldn’t it be great if your car would drive for you, allowing you to sit back and relax? Welcome to self-driving vehicles, a concept that may be available soon if Google engineers have their way. In fact, Google has already been testing this technology In several states during the past few years.

Some of Google’s cars “learn” the details of a given road by driving on it several times first with a human operator. After that learning process, the cars then drive themselves based on the data they’ve acquired. They also “remember” pedestrian crossings, and to stop when approaching them. In addition to recording images of the road, Google cars use built-in computerized maps to “see” road signs and traffic lights well before humans can, and to choose alternate routes.

To do so, they rely on lasers, cameras and radar to identify and process information about their surroundings much more quickly than drivers can. If self-driving cars become mainstream, they could end up driving in packs on busy roads using a system called “platooning”; essentially performing as one cohesive unit. Some researchers believe that platooning would lead to fewer traffic jams, accidents, and shorter commutes for all.

Innovative Collision Repairs Only a “Click” Away

Although these futuristic safety features show great promise in reducing human error-related collisions, until then accidents are still going to occur. When one happens to you, take your vehicle to a collision repair shop nearby featured in the nationwide Carwise referral network. There highly trained technicians using the latest collision repair innovations and equipment will restore your vehicle promptly and reliably.

Search your zip code now for a customer-reviewed auto body or glass repair shop nearby: www.carwise.com.