Practice Winter Weather Safety

About this time every year I try to focus my blog on specific things a Tennessee driver can do to stay safe during the holiday season. I think that you might want to focus on three things: 1. Road Safety 2. Parking Lot Safety and 3. Weather conditions.

Road Safety- The Winter holidays are very busy times for the average American. It gets darker sooner in the day, holiday shopping makes everyone a bit on edge and many drivers become downright aggressive, and holiday parties can lead to drunk drivers.

Aggressive Driving

In Tennessee and throughout the country, the public’s concern over aggressive driving continues to grow. Some studies indicate the public is actually more fearful of aggressive drivers than it is of impaired drivers. Aggressive driving is truly dangerous and cannot be tolerated. Several states are considering legislation to deal specifically with the aggressive driving issue.

Traditionally, the traffic safety community has defined and attempted to measure aggressive driving in a variety of ways. Some studies of aggressive driving have focused on specific driving behaviors, such as speeding, tailgating, or violating traffic control devices, which are commonly thought of as behaviors typically associated with aggressive driving.

Drunk Driving

Alcohol played a factor in a significant number of crashes during last year’s holiday season. Forty-two percent of the fatalities that occurred during last year’s Christmas holiday were alcohol related. The number of alcohol-related crashes grew to 57 percent during the New Year’s holiday.

December is National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, with assistance from other agencies, will staff more than 100 sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints through New Year’s Day. Don’t be a statistic, if you drive, don’t drink and if you drink don’t drive. If you see or suspect a driver of being under the influence, or driving in a dangerous aggressive manner, take action and call the police, you may save a life. In an urban are dial 911 and in a rural area dial *847 for the State Troopers.

Parking Lot and Shopping Safety

The number one rule when you are in big box store parking lots is to keep your eyes open for trouble. Do not get out of your vehicle unless you have carefully studied the area for people who don’t belong there.

Don’t shop at night if avoidable, and always shop with friends or family. A single person is always a target. Always trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Report suspicious activity to mall security or call the police. Be careful in parking lots. Some people are in such a rush that they back out of a parking spot without paying attention to other cars or pedestrians.

Weather –

Be aware of hazardous conditions. There are several driving events that require intense concentration on the part of the driver. A driver must always be on the defensive, thinking about what other drivers might do AND be prepared to respond with proper reactions. In addition, certain conditions, especially bad weather, trigger the need for special knowledge and skills.

Wet pavement can be as treacherous as snow and ice. To drive under these conditions:

Slow Down. The pavement is particularly treacherous when it first begins to rain. Dirt and oil accumulations make a greasy film on the roadway, and it takes several minutes for it to wash away.

Avoid Hydroplaning. A lot of water standing on the road during a heavy rain causes tires to lose all contact with the road, even if driving under 50 m.p.h. If the vehicle starts to hydroplane, slow down by letting up on the gas. Never suddenly apply the brakes.

Improve Your Vision: (a) keep windshield wipers in good condition, (b) wait a few minutes after the rain starts so the rain/wipers can remove dust and grime, (c) use the defroster/air conditioner to keep windows/mirrors clear.

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. Call 615-356-2000.

Photo Courtesy of the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety

Following Too Closely

There are several driving events that require intense concentration by the driver. A driver must always be on the defensive, thinking about what other drivers might do AND be prepared to respond with proper reactions. In addition, certain conditions, especially rush hour traffic, trigger the need for special knowledge and skills.

Reference a multi-car rush hour collision on I-24 just past the New Salem Road exit in Murfreesboro Tennessee. A vehicle rear-ended another car that was slowing down for traffic and knocked it off of the road and into a light pole. Fortunately, no one was injured in this accident.

To avoid an accident like this a driver must obey the speed limit laws and know the proper braking procedures that must be used for maintaining safe following distance between your car and other vehicles.

Tennessee law states: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”

When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. Give yourself this time by keeping a “space cushion” around your vehicle. This space cushion will give you room to brake and avoid hazards when needed. Good drivers keep this safe following distance or space cushion to have a better view of the road. The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead, the more time you will have to see and react to traffic hazards or crashes down the road.

Many drivers don’t see as well as they should because they follow too closely (tailgating). The vehicle ahead of them blocks their view of traffic and road conditions. Rear-end crashes are very common and most of these crashes are caused by drivers who are “tailgating.”

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Nashville motorcycle accident or auto accident as a result of distracted driving or other negligent driving?  If so, you should call the experienced Nashville personal injury lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates, a Nashville motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm will fight to help you win. We will treat you with the utmost compassion and respect. Call us today and speak with an experienced Nashville personal injury lawyer to discuss the details of your case. Call (615) 356-2000.

Share the Interstate

Construction zones can present a driver with a challenge. The zones are usually well marked in advance and require vehicles to start reducing speed in preparation for the upcoming area on the road where the construction equipment and workers are located.

This weekend I drove from Nashville to St. Louis for some business and was amazed at how many drivers ignore the signs warning drivers to slow down for a construction zone and instead of following the slow-down suggestions they use the opportunity to speed up and get ahead of the people in front of them. This dangerous behavior in turn brings out bad behavior in others who don’t want the cheaters to get ahead of them. Some of those people who are slowing down and forming one lane as directed begin to attempt to block and retaliate against the speeders by refusing to allow them to merge.

The other danger I noticed was the tailgating by some on those who reduce their speed as directed. When you reduce your speed from 70 mph to 55 mph you should, according to the Tennessee Rules Of The Road, keep one car length for every ten miles per hour you are traveling, not so in these Interstate construction zones. What happens is that the danger of a rear-end collision is magnified. Driver one is worried about the driver 2 right on his tail and is paying more attention to the tailgater then he is to the driver in front of him.

The Tennessee Department of Safety suggests the following:

* Slow down! Drive within the posted speed limits, which are usually reduced in work zones. If you don’t, you’ll pay the price.

* Don’t tailgate! Most work zone accidents are caused by rear-end collisions.

* Eliminate distractions! Put down the cell phone; leave the radio dial alone. This is not the time to look for a new CD!

* Keep your ears open! Do not wear earphones while driving.

* Merge early! You can be ticketed and the cause of an accident for being a last chance merger.

* Watch for flaggers! Follow their signals, and don’t change lanes within the work zone unless instructed to do so.

* Expect the unexpected! Work zones change constantly.

* Turn your lights on before you enter the zone! Turn on your vehicle’s headlights to become more visible to workers and other motorists.

* Stay calm! Remember the work zone crew members are working to improve your future ride.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee construction zone accident it’s important that you secure the services of an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney like those that you will find at Phillip Miller & Associates. Time is of the essence in these cases so contact us immediately at 615-356-2000

The 2-car rollover accident that shut down I-24 West in Nashville last Thursday doesn’t surprise me in the least. Because of the location of my home as opposed to my office I very seldom get on an interstate during morning or evening rush hour. The other morning I had a very early morning meeting in a small town just outside of Nashville. I returned on I-24 heading East toward Nashville around 7:45 am.

I was astounded at the way people were speeding and changing lanes. I don’t believe I have ever witnessed tailgating like I did that day. During the entire trip I did not see one police vehicle. Not one state trooper nor a Metro Police car did I see during my 30 mile drive. I now know what NASCAR drivers experience at Talledega Motor Speedway.

The accident I mentioned above took place the following morning along the same interstate. A car traveling at a high rate of speed lost control and swerved into the other lane of traffic. A car in that lane swerved to avoid hitting the out of control driver, and lost control, hit a wall and rolled over several times before coming to a stop.

The other vehicle that initiated the accident went down the road a ways before it left the road and rolled several times. The problem here is obvious, there is no traffic enforcement and people are in a hurry to get to work and the outcome is an epidemic of rush hour accidents.

I think it’s time for each and every one of us who think this ought to stop to take action. I suggest that when you see these kind of situations and you don’t see a police presence call Mayor Karl Dean and tell him what you think about

Rush Hour Nightmare

the situation. You can reach the Mayor at (615) 862-6000.

If you have any questions about Tennessee highway safety or if you are involved in a Nashville rush hour collision caused by a negligent driver contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Driver Inattention

In my last Blog I wrote about a commercial bus accident on I-65 in Robertson County. Because of the traffic slowdown from this accident another collision took place two miles to the North. Because of the bus accident the interstate was closed from 6 AM to approximately 8 AM and traffic backed up.

A GMC pickup driver failed to slow and keep his vehicle under control as he approached slow traffic and rammed into the rear end of a Ford pickup, which slammed into another vehicle and a tractor-trailer. Three people were injured and were transported to local hospitals.

Chronic traffic congestion is often the Tennessee commuter’s biggest headache. Small changes in driving habits could provide fast relief. Several driving behaviors that contribute to traffic congestion include:

• Rubbernecking is perhaps the most frustrating of behaviors. Slowing down to look at crashes or virtually anything else out of the ordinary is one of the worst congestion offenders.

• Tailgating: Following too closely is common on Tennessee interstates. This accounts for numerous crashes, which in turn clog major routes, often for hours.

• Unnecessary Lane Changes: Although it produces virtually NO improvement in arrival or travel times, many motorists insist on weaving in and out of interstate lanes, which at best, slows down all traffic and at worst, causes many crashes.

• Inattention: Drivers can be seen eating, grooming in the rear view mirror, talking on cellular telephones, and even reading newspapers as they drive to work.

The key problem here seems to me to have been the GMC pickup driver was not paying attention to the slowing traffic. If you or a loved on is injured or killed in a Tennessee interstate automobile accident, contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates and turn your case over to someone who can get the job done.

Tailgating-Two Dead

As an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney I can tell you that if you are distracted in any way as you drive on the highways and byways of Tennessee things can get hinky in just a second or two. Reference an article from the website of the Lexington, Kentucky Herald-Leader about a four vehicle crash on I-75 in East Tennessee.

According to the facts in the article automobiles had stopped on the highway because of an accident ahead. A tractor-trailer driven by a 63-year-old Tennessee truck driver, failed to keep his vehicle under control and rammed into the rear-end of a car carrying five passengers on their way to a religious convocation. The crash killed a 52-year-old woman and a 3-year-old little girl, and injured the others.

Tennessee law states: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. Give yourself this time by keeping a “space cushion” around your vehicle. This space cushion will give you room to brake and avoid hazards when needed.

Good drivers keep this safe following distance or space cushion to have a better view of the road. The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead, the more time you will have to see and react to traffic hazards or crashes down the road. Many drivers don’t see as well as they should because they follow too closely (tailgating). The vehicle ahead of them blocks their view of traffic and road conditions. Rear-end crashes are very common and most of these crashes are caused by drivers who are “tailgating.”

What does this mean to you if you or a family member are the victim of a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident and suffer a serious or life threatening injury?  It means that the trucking company has a huge advantage in investigating the cause of the accident and developing a strategy for its defense to any claim that arises. During one of these situations evidence can disappear and negligent drivers can be coached on what to say to police investigators. The trucking company has the benefit of an expert that was actually at the accident scene. This may not be possible for the victim since injuries are usually severe in nature. Needless to say it is important to act quickly so that an expert can examine the evidence on your behalf.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Tennessee tractor-trailer accident caused by a driver who is distracted or following too close, you owe it to yourself to immediately contact the experienced Tennessee tractor-trailer attorneys at Phillip Miller & Associates.

Following Too Closely

A recent Tennessee tractor-trailer rollover crash on I-24 in Rutherford County, and the subsequent ramming of the truck by another vehicle, brings to mind an important concept in driving safety. How far should you be from the vehicle in front of you? The Tennessee Rules Of The Road give a good guidance on this issue.

There are several driving events that require intense concentration by the driver. A driver must always be on the defensive—thinking about what other drivers might do AND be prepared to respond with proper reactions. In addition, certain conditions, especially bad weather, trigger the need for special knowledge and skills.

To share the road safely, stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Nationally, safety agencies and driver education programs have tried to define a safe following distance for drivers to maintain. This has ranged from a two to four second following distance. Use the following tips to determine if you are following too closely:

A. As the car ahead of you passes a stationary point on the road (a sign post, driveway, utility pole, etc.), count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot.

B. Count to yourself “one-thousand and one, one thousand and two,” etc. You should NOT reach the same point on the road before you finish counting to at least “one-thousand-two.” If you do, you are following too closely.

C. Slow down slightly to increase the space between you and the other vehicle. Find another spot to check your new following distance. Repeat this exercise until you are following no closer than two seconds.

This principle will hold true at any speed on state and federal highway with moderate speed limits. However, during inclement weather, interstate highway driving at higher speeds and night driving, the two-second rule should be increased to allow for improved visibility. A minimum of four seconds should allow for better reaction time and a safer space cushion under these conditions.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee auto accident caused by a driver who was following too closely contact the experienced Tennessee auto accident lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

Keep A Safe Distance

It was just a tiny article in a Nashville media source about a Tennessee school bus accident involving athletes from University School of Nashville. To an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney the article spoke volumes. Simply stated, the school bus was traveling on I-40 in Knoxville following a car that stopped suddenly and the school bus rammed into it.

Tennessee law states: “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” When another driver makes a mistake, you need time to react. Give yourself this time by keeping a “space cushion” around your vehicle.  This space cushion will give you room to brake and avoid hazards when needed. Good drivers keep this safe following distance or space cushion to have a better view of the road. The more space you allow between your car and the car ahead, the more time you will have to see and react to traffic hazards or crashes down the road. Many drivers don’t see as well as they should because they follow too closely (tailgating).  The vehicle ahead of them blocks their view of traffic and road conditions.

The Two-Second Rule To share the road safely, stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.  Nationally, safety agencies and driver education programs have tried to define a safe following distance for drivers to maintain.  This has ranged from a two to four second following distance.  Use the following tips to determine if you are following too closely:

A.  As the car ahead of you passes a stationary point on the road (a sign post, driveway, utility pole, etc.), count the seconds it takes you to reach the same spot.

B.  Count to yourself “one-thousand and one, one- thousand and two,” etc. You should NOT reach the same point on the road before you finish counting to at least “one-thousand-two.”  If you do, you are following too closely.

C.  Slow down slightly to increase the space between you and the other vehicle.  Find another spot to check your new following distance.  Repeat this exercise until you are following no closer than two seconds.

This principle will hold true at any speed on state and U.S. highways with moderate speed limits.  However, during inclement weather, interstate highway driving at higher speeds and night driving, the two-second rule should be increased to allow for improved visibility.  A minimum of four seconds should allow for better reaction time and a safer space cushion under these conditions.

Another thing an experienced Tennessee car crash lawyer would look into would be whether the bus driver did have sufficient time to stop but was somehow distracted, maybe by a cell phone and hopefully not by texting. No matter how much time you have to react, if you are distracted, all bets are off.

If you are the victim of a Nashville or Tennessee automobile accident caused by a tailgating or distracted driver we urge you to contact our Nashville car accident attorneys today for a free consultation. When you hire an auto accident attorney from Phillip Miller & Associates, you’re getting a well 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.

Education And Enforcement Reduce Fatalities

An article on Channel 2, WKRN Nashville caught my attention this morning and I’m happy to report the news is positive. Following an interview with a Spokesperson for the Tennessee Highway Patrol Channel 2 reports that Since 2005 Tennessee roadway fatalities have decreased on a consistent basis. According to the article by last October (2008) there had been 805 fatalities on Tennessee roads and this year (2009) there has been a reduction with only 707 fatalities. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not in any way saying that 707 fatalities is a good thing, but a decrease of this size means that someone is doing something right.

I regularly advise my readers that they can do their parts by following the Rules of The Road by not speeding, tailgating, running red lights or any other thing that puts others in jeopardy. THP officials said they attribute the decrease largely in part to people paying more attention to the law. They go on to say that education and enforcement are getting the people’s attention. Recent educational programs by the State include, DUI, aggressive driving and seatbelt enforcement.

The Staff and automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates encourage everyone who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in Tennessee to focus on the fact that you are behind the wheel of a weapon that can take your life and the lives of others and you should act accordingly.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Tennessee automobile accident contact the Nashville car accident lawyers at Philip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies.

http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/

As an experienced Tennessee Automobile accident attorney I often find myself discussing different aspects of highway safety and the problems that drivers face and cause as they cruise the highways and byways of our fair state. One of the most important problems of our time most often confuses people. Many times I hear people mix up aggressive driving with road rage when in fact they are two very different things although they have common elements. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of another motor vehicle precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

Feel The Heat. One of the most important problems of our time most often confuses people. Many times I hear people mix up aggressive driving with road rage when in fact they are two very different things although they have common elements. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of another motor vehicle precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway.”

Aggressive driving on the other hand includes behavior such as speeding, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, and weaving in and out of traffic. It is estimated that aggressive driving costs the economy more than $40.4 billion a year, not to mention thousands of fatalities. We have all seen them, these aggressive drivers, they ride on people’s bumpers to force them out of the way, they weave in and out of traffic, their sense of self-importance worn on their sleeves for the world to see.

Today I’ll address the problem of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving behavior typically increases during the summer months, and the only way to put the bakes on it is to use a multi-pronged approach. Three states have been using this multi-pronged approach for several years now and have shown significant results. Maryland alone issued 205,062 tickets during the 2008 campaign, and the number of fatalities for aggressive driving was reduced. In Virginia, 98,474 tickets were issued and in Pennsylvania, 88,302. These states used technology to identify those areas where aggressive driving was a particular problem and they then enlisted the cooperation of local and county law enforcement agencies and stepped up a concerted enforcement policy that followed a creative public education program.

This summer the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) is intensified its enforcement efforts aimed at aggressive drivers with the launch of the “100 Days of Summer HEAT” enforcement campaign. All summer long Troopers and local police statewide were very aggressive with speeding motorists, impaired drivers and those not buckled up properly. ”100 Days of Summer HEAT” took place June 18-20, July 2-4 and August 5-7. The THP have been compiling the results of this effort and I’ll report the findings as they are published.

If you witness aggressive driving identify the vehicle (color, make and plate number if possible) and then pull over at the next safe place and call the THP or your local police and report them. Taking a minute to make the call might mean that someone down the line will live on the make it home to see their families. If you are injured, or know someone who is, call out experienced Tennessee accident lawyers and find out about your rights and remedies.