Eugene Bruno & Associates
September is “California Pedestrian Safety Month”
As we head into a long holiday weekend, please remember September is “California Pedestrian Safety Month” and begins a public awareness campaign aimed at reminding drivers and pedestrians to be aware of each other and share the road responsibly. The campaign in intended to draw attention to the 813 pedestrians killed in California in 2015 alone. This figure represents nearly 25% of all roadways deaths in the state, significantly up from 17% in 2005.
Put Down the Pokemon GO and Drive
Hunting wild Pokemon may become illegal while driving. You may recall a news story in July about 2 men who walked off a cliff in Encinitas while trying to catch wild Pokemon. At the time, I remember people saying, “At least they weren’t driving.” Well, now Pokemon GO players are driving and the stories about crashes, sideswipes and pedestrians hurt or killed are starting to add up.
Driving While Addicted
Driving while addicted to drugs is unlawful in California under California Vehicle Code 23152(c), regardless of impairment. There is an exception for those participating in an approved drug treatment program.
California Becomes First in the US to Legalize Motorcycle Lane Splitting
California has become the first US state to legalize lane sharing. Lane splitting, or lane sharing, is the practice of riding a motorcycle between lanes occupied by cars. It’s a common practice on freeways and city streets alike. You may have thought the practice was illegal, but it was really in a gray area because it was never specifically outlawed in the California Vehicle Code. That’s all changed now that California has become the first US state in which lane-splitting is formally legalized.
Am I Automatically At Fault for a Rear-End Collision?
Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of car crashes, and can range in severity from minor fender-benders to major collisions. In nearly all cases, the insurance companies will assign fault to the rear driver, as they have an obligation to leave a safe distance in front of them. In some instances, however, the rear driver may be only partially at fault, or may have a claim against another driver themselves.
Young People Aren’t the Only Ones Driving While Distracted
By now, you have probably heard that distracted driving – particularly involving cell phone use while driving – has become a leading cause of auto accidents. In fact, the National Safety Council estimates that more than one in four auto accidents is caused by cellphone use. Studies monitoring this behavior have largely focused college students and young people, but in a new study just released by the University of California San Diego, older drivers seem just as susceptible to this alarming habit.
Why Are Cell Phone Tickets Down?
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, traffic citations for “illegally talking on a hand-held cellphone and texting while driving” have dropped 25 % over the past three years, but it’s not because fewer drivers are using their cell phone or texting. More aggressive enforcement is needed to curb distracted driving. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Put Down the Phone
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In 2013, DMV’s California Traffic Safety Survey reported more than 426,000 hand-held cellphone and texting convictions, with more than 57,000 tickets issued in April 2014 alone. That’s a lot of drivers who are not paying attention to the road and who are making the road dangerous for the rest of us. The same study showed in 2014, 61% of California drivers surveyed said they had been in an accident or nearly been in an accident caused by a driver who was talking or texting on a cellphone. That statistic is frightening.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), California Highway Patrol (CHP) and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide are working together to promote National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and California Teen Safe Driving Week, which is the first week of April.
Distracted Driving at an All-Time High with Teen Drivers Most at Risk
All drivers – but especially teenagers – should think first and foremost about safety, but cell phones, text messaging and traffic have taken distractions to an all time high. The result is all time high numbers of accidents. All drivers are susceptible to these distractions, but research shows more experienced drivers can control these distractions, but younger, less experienced driver cannot. As a result, younger, less experienced drivers cause more accidents.
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“I would highly recommend Eugene Bruno & Associates! They helped me out with a case of mine and everything worked out perfectly. I worked with Amir, one of the lawyers and he was amazing. Definitely would work with him again. Thank you!”