The dangers of distracted driving are very real. Each year, thousands of people are killed due to a driver who does not have their full attention on the road ahead. A report from Erie Insurance lists the 10 most dangerous distractions and how you can avoid them. Generally Distracted When people consider what distracts drivers from the road, they rarely think of daydreaming. Being “in a fog” is the number one distraction among drivers, especially those who commute long distances. Cell Phones No matter what you are doing on your cell phone when you drive, it is a… Read More
Drive through downtown Austin and you will notice that the Texas Department of Transportation has ramped up its campaign against texting and driving. According to the department, the campaign is an attempt to prevent crashes on Austin’s roadways and those throughout the state. Officials from the department say that close to 500 people were killed in Texas last year due to distracted-driving crashes. More than 3,000 more people were injured. In the city of Austin alone, there were thousands of collisions that were ultimately attributed to distracted driving. Very near the Paramount Theater on Congress Avenue, you will notice the… Read More
This week, November 2 – 9, has been designated as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, an annual campaign that strives to educate the public on a driving hazard that is often overlooked—driving while drowsy. This driving hazard is even more dangerous in Austin because of something that, while annoying, is not usually deemed dangerous—allergy season. Why is this? Antihistamines, commonly taken for allergies, have an intense sedative affect on the brain. Studies have shown that driving performance is significantly impaired by these medicines, which are often taken daily or with ever more… Read More
During the most recent Austin City Council session, the members voted to approve a ban on hand-held cellphone use. The ban extends to almost all forms of hand-held electronics, and will go into effect January 1, 2015. We’ve seen evidence of how dangerous cell phones and other distractions can be while driving. Even the most cautious driver can be caught unawares by a sudden change in traffic while they are distracted. The law expands upon a current ordinance that bans texting while driving. This law, said officials, was not expansive enough because it allowed… Read More
