oklahoma city auto accident lawyers
Oklahoma Teenager Auto Accident Fatalities Down, Safety Still A Concern
Previously, in preparation for Teen Driver Safety Week (October 16 to October 22) we blogged about a program called “Take The Wheel” offered by the AAA Automobile Club designed to help teenagers and parents learn safe driving with a combination of road training and home coursework. According to reporting by News OK, it seems that these kinds of programs that promote education and safety awareness may be making a positive impact.
According to research by the AAA, there were 68 fatalities of people 16 to 20 years of age in all recorded car accidents in Oklahoma in 2010, a significant drop from 2009, 89 fatalities, and an even greater decrease from 2008, which recorded 112 deaths. Along with increased efforts toward education, civic change may also have played a role. Oklahoma’s “graduated driver’s license law” mandates that drivers between 15 and 18 years old are required to drive under family supervision with a learner’s permit for a minimum of six months, which is then followed by an intermediary trial period of another six months before a teenager can become fully and legally licensed.
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Oklahoma Plays Part in Nationwide Fight Against Impaired Driving
In collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) end of summer battle against impaired driving, Oklahoma is ramping up efforts across state and county lines to assist the clampdown. The NHTSA plan is named “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and it’s in effect August 19-September 5. According to the administration, the nationwide campaign blends “high-visibility enforcement and public awareness messaging.”
Law officials and state safety offices joined forces during the final weeks of summer, with the height of the project’s efforts during the upcoming high traffic and party laden Labor Day weekend. Each state’s approach is unique depending on its territory, circumstances and resources, so individual measures are profiled on the NHTSA website.
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Older Drivers Receive Vehicle Safety Check-Up in Oklahoma
As the baby boomer generation continues toward retirement age, the number of mature motorists on the road will continue to rise. By 2030 there will be an estimated 30 million older drivers in the U.S.
In response to this trend, on June 7th, AAA Oklahoma offered a free check to see how well cars fit the mature drivers who drove them. AAA representatives used a twelve point checklist to see what changes could be made to make operating the car safer. Some examples of items from the checklist were head rest, mirror and seat belt adjustments. The process took just 15 minutes, all while the driver was seated in his or her vehicle.
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Oklahoma House Bill Aims to Outlaw Texting While Driving
Oklahoma is considering a new law that would ban texting while driving, according to KRMG. AAA Oklahoma has decided to endorse the bill in an effort to make the roads safer and create awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. House Bill 1316 was created by Rep. Danny Morgan and has already been passed by the House Public Safety committee. It will now be voted on by the full House, with the decision deadline being March 17. If the anti-texting bill is not voted on by then, it will die.
So far, 33 states in the U.S., Washington, D.C., and Guam have passed anti-texting laws. AAA Oklahoma cites the two main reasons for the bill: their members have reported that they consider texting and emailing while driving a very serious threat to their safety; and results from a 2009 Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study, which concluded that motorists who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash.
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Safe Driving Practices During the Winter Season in Oklahoma
The winter months generally see an increase in car accidents on Oklahoma’s roadways due to snowy weather, which can significantly decrease visibility when driving as well as create ice patches. It is of utmost importance for Oklahoma residents as well as families across the nation to practice safe driving in order to reduce the risk of a car, truck, or motorcycle accident during the winter season. The following are some defensive driving tips that will help keep you and your family safe:
- Brake gently. Never slam on your brakes because you may end up skidding and losing control of the vehicle.
- Don’t speed. This is especially important during the winter months. Keep plenty of room (at least three car lengths) between you and the car in front of you in order to prevent rear end collisions from following too closely.
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