Watch Out For Children

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will assist local law enforcement efforts with a “Back to School” enforcement and education campaign of their own, focusing on traffic safety in and around the school zones. State Troopers will target traffic violators, specifically those who speed in school zones and pass stopped school buses, as well as raise awareness on school safety in Tennessee.

“The ultimate goal of the Tennessee Highway Patrol is to protect children from motorists who disregard the law, especially around the school zones,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “However, we must educate motorists, parents and children on the importance of safe pedestrian movement and accident prevention in order to ensure traffic safety. We all have a responsibility to make sure children travel to and from school safely.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), from 2000 to 2009, 1,386 people died in school transportation-related crashes – an average of 139 fatalities per year. One hundred and thirty (130) school-age pedestrians (younger than 19) have died in school transportation-related crashes during that same time period, and 56 (43 percent) school-age pedestrians killed in school transportation-related crashes were between five and seven years old. NHTSA states more school-age pedestrians are killed between the hours of 3:00pm and 4:00pm than any other time of day.

“We are urging motorists to exercise caution, be alert and to slow down in school zones and around school buses,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “Our state troopers will not hesitate to hand out citations, but that is not our objective. This enforcement campaign was designed to encourage everyone to practice safe driving and pedestrian habits.”

Drivers who are found distracted, impatient and careless can expect to face stiff penalties. The speed limit is 15 miles per hour in school zones and the fine for speeding in a school zone is up to $500.00. It is also against the law to pass a school bus when it is stopped and loading or unloading passengers. The driver can be fined no less than $250.00 and up to $1,000.

In 2010, State Troopers issued 3,186 citations in school zones. That’s down from 5,445 citations issued in 2009. Of the 2010 citations, 739 were speeding violations, while two citations were handed out for passing a stopped school bus. Since 2006, there has been a 21.0 percent decrease in the number of crashes occurring in school zones between the hours of 6:00am and 9:00am and the hours of 2:00pm to 5:00pm. There was also a 20.3 percent decline in the number of school bus-related crashes between those same hours.

As part of the “Back to School” enforcement, the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Special Programs unit recorded public service announcements at local radio stations across the state.

Each day, 26 million children in the United States ride school buses, including 600,000 in Tennessee, according to NHTSA. NHTSA reports approximately 21 students were killed while they were entering or exiting a bus in the U.S. last year. Close to 800 children are killed annually and many more injured going to and from school in a vehicle other than a school bus, according to the NSC.

If your child is injured or, God forbid, killed by a negligent driver at or near a school zone, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation. Call 615-356-2000.

Family Decimated In Crockett County Crash

As an experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyer, I regularly write about child safety. The main topics are usually safety seats and school zone safety. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Every day during 2007 in the United States an average of five children age 14 and younger were killed and another 548 injured in such accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which studies all manner of highway safety issues says that using properly installed child safety seats reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars. Placing children in age and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats also reduces serious injuries by more than half.

Reference a terribly sad case that happened on State Highway 152 in Crockett County Tennessee this past week. A family, the mother, father, infant son (age 2), grandmother and a friend were riding along when the driver (Mother) for some reason left the roadway, overcorrected trying to get back on the road and left the road into a deep ditch and then it hit a culvert.

The child was in a safety seat that was not properly installed, and he, along with his grandmother, who was not wearing her seatbelt, were killed.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee highway automobile accident contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident law firm of Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to determine your rights and remedies.

Don't Send A Child Home From School In An Ambulance

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and local police and sheriff departments are gearing up for the school year with a heightened enforcement campaign to keep children safe in and around school zones. Cracking down on motorists who disregard laws designed to protect children and monitoring school zones and bus stops are just one of the components of the enforcement effort.

“As thousands of students return to the classroom on foot or in school buses, we want to remind everyone to be extra cautious around school zones,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “The goal of the Tennessee Highway Patrol is to help local law enforcement and schools protect children from drivers who may be distracted, impatient or careless.”

State Troopers are urging motorists to be alert, slow down and be careful in school zones, while also encouraging caregivers to educate children on safety measures when walking, biking or riding the bus to school. Motorists should be aware that the speed limit is 15 mph in school zones and the fine for speeding in a school zone is up to $500 dollars. It is also against the law to pass a school bus when it is stopped and loading or unloading passengers. The driver can be fined no less than $250 and up to $1,000.

“Motorists can expect stiff penalties for driving unsafely in school zones and for placing our children at risk while doing so,” said THP Colonel Mike Walker. “But there is no punishment more severe than the lifelong guilt and remorse for hitting or killing a child. We are asking everyone to do their part to help a Tennessee child make it to school and home safely.”

In 2009, State Troopers issued 5,445 citations in school zones. Of those citations, 973 were speeding violations, while one citation was handed out for passing a stopped school bus. Since 2006, there has been a 15.9 percent decrease in the number of crashes occurring in school zones between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and the hours of 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There was also a 13.5 percent decline in the number of school bus-related crashes between those same hours.

Each day, 25 million children in the United States ride school buses, including 600,000 in Tennessee, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The National Safety Council (NSC) reports approximately 26 students were killed while they were entering or exiting a bus in the U.S. last year. Close to 800 children are killed annually and many more injured going to and from school in a vehicle other than a school bus, according to the NSC.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville school zone accident caused by a negligent driver, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and put a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer on your legal team, you will be glad you did.

As an experienced Nashville car accident lawyer I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you that summer vacation is coming to a close and that school will start in the next several days. Most people don’t know this but the leading cause of death for children in the 5 to 14 year old range is automobile-pedestrian collisions.

I’d like to share a couple of safety tips that are especially applicable during this busy time.

* Pay particular attention to the location of the schools zones along your usual daily routes;

* Don’t ever speed;

* Pay particular attention when driving along streets with parked cars;

* Always yield the right of way to school buses;

* When children are around pay particular attention when putting your vehicle in reverse;

* Don’t let yourself be distracted by using a cellphones, iPods or by applying make-up when driving;

* Obey school crossing guards;

* Leave home a little earlier then normal to assure you will not be rushed.

Using a few simple rules such as these can go a long way in saving you and some innocent child a lifetime of grief and suffering. Practice Safety.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident we urge you to contact our car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a qualified and dedicated lawyer. Details about our attorneys and staff can be found by viewing our website at www.seriousinjury.com where you can get to know the men and women who will be looking out for your best interest.