Older or aged tires are a hidden danger because they can fail even if the tread depth is proper and

Topics All Topics new england inns for sale On the Road Automobile Accidents Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus) Tractor-Trailer Accidents Major Medical Wrongful Death Medical Malpractice FDA Prescription Drugs Spinal Cord Injuries Head Brain Injuries Medical Devices Implants Protecting Your Family Toxic Substances Property Owner's Liability (Slip Fall) Nursing Home Elder Abuse Defective Dangerous Products In the Workplace Workplace Injuries Workplace Discrimination Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Spring Break: Road Trip Check List Brett Emison Attorney (866) 735-1102 Ext 461
It will soon be that time of year when many of us anxiously make Spring Break plans. Some will enjoy their break at home; others will fly to a faraway destination; some may even cruise tropical seas. However, most of us will load up our vehicles with friends, snacks and beachwear and drive to our Spring Break destinations. An annual migratory rite of passage: The Road Trip.
However, many of us forget to check critical safety items before hitting the road. A simple check of these items could mean the difference between a Spring Break that is memorable due to fun or one memorable for tragedy.
Many Spring Break road-trippers set off in the evening, planning to drive through the night and arrive at their destination in morning. However, the riskiest time for accidents is between the hours of midnight and six a.m. and night driving has a special set of risks. Two of the most obvious risks are darkness and fatigue.
Ninety percent of a driver s reaction depends on vision ; and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, new england inns for sale color recognition and peripheral vision are also worse at night . Fatigue and drowsiness pose substantial risks as concentration new england inns for sale and reaction time are impaired. new england inns for sale In a worse-case scenario, drivers may even fall asleep and lose control of their vehicle.
Seat belts save lives , but only when they fit properly new england inns for sale and are worn properly. Some vehicles on the road still use two-point lap-belt new england inns for sale only seat belts in the rear center position. If your vehicle has a lap-belt only restraint, avoid sitting in that position unless absolutely necessary. You do not want to be caught in the middle wearing only a two-point lap belt.
Three-point lap-shoulder belt restraints are far more effective at preventing injury than lap-belts new england inns for sale alone. In fact, lap-belt only systems provide almost no restraint in a frontal collision and, in some cases, can cause worse injuries than if a seat belt was not used at all.
When driving long distances, it is often tempting to adjust your seat belt for comfort new england inns for sale by incorporating some slack in the belt or even positioning the shoulder belt behind your back. However, these adjustments can make your seat belt completely new england inns for sale ineffective and can cause severe injury in a collision.
The lap portion of your three-point belt should new england inns for sale fit snugly new england inns for sale across the bony structures of your hips and pelvis. The shoulder portion should be snug and cross your body at your sternum (breast bone) and shoulder. Make sure to adjust your belt so that it fits properly. Never let the seat belt cross over your neck and never tuck the shoulder belt behind you.
Many of us are tempted to stretch out and lie back during a long road trip. But did you know that if your car seat is reclined, a three-point belt becomes essentially useless because the shoulder belt moves away from your body? Most passengers simply do not understand new england inns for sale the dangers of reclined seats while traveling.
Many passengers simply assume new england inns for sale that they will be safe if they are buckled in. Few understand that more space between the seat belt and your body increases the risk of death or serious new england inns for sale injury caused during a collision when your body either new england inns for sale slams against the seat belt or submarines and slides underneath the seat belt.
Car makers have known of this danger for at least forty-five years , but have done little to warn motorists. Warnings for this danger may be listed in a several new england inns for sale hundred page owner s manual, but are often difficult to find. Manufacturers could incorporate a simple light or bell reminding passengers to stay upright (much like a seat belt warning light or chime), but so far no manufacturer has chosen to incorporate this important safety feature.
Tires are one of the most important and most overlooked safety new england inns for sale components on your vehicle. There are many factors that can sabotage tire safety, including tire age, poor tread wear and depth, new england inns for sale and improper inflation.
Older or aged tires are a hidden danger because they can fail even if the tread depth is proper and even if they have never been used before. Aged tires can look perfectly fine on the outside, but fail at any time. Tires have a safe useful life of no more than six years. Tire makers and car companies new england inns for sale have known of the aged tire danger for decades, but have done little to warn motorists. Tires do not contain new england inns for sale an expiration date and it is nearly impossible for an ordinary new england inns for sale person (and even some tire specialists) to determine the actual age of a tire because new england inns for sale of the archaic codes used.
Check your tire pressure before starting your trip and before driving. Proper inflation new england inns for sale pressures can be found in your vehicle s owner s manual, on the inside of the driver s door, or sometimes on the inside of the fuel door. Adjust to the proper inflation pressure. Over-inflated tires can lose grip or burst. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, new england inns for sale leading to lower gas-mileage and creating excess heat that can lead to catestrophic tire failure, including a blow out or tread separation.
new england inns for sale It is easy to become complacent or distracted during a long road trip. Many states have enacted laws prohibiting talking on telephones or texting when driving. You should check to ensure that you do violate any driving laws while crossing states with which you may not be familiar. Even if a state has not outlawed cell phone use or texting while driving new england inns for sale , you should avoid this activity. Studies have shown an increase new england inns for sale in collisions and accidents while using these devices.
You should be courteous to other drivers and, especially, tractor-trailers. You should always utilize turn signals to warn other motorists of your intention to change lanes. You should also leave plenty of room between your vehicle and those ahead of you. A good rule of thumb is to allow at least two seconds of distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Use extra caution when driving near semi trucks . Studies have shown that semi trucks account for a disproportionate share of highway collisions and deaths. Tractor trailers make up only 3% of vehicles, but account for between 11% -- 15% of traffic deaths. Semi trucks can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and are not as agile as your passenger vehicle. It can be difficult for large commercial trucks to stop or swerve in order to avoid a collision.
Do not tailgate behind a big rig. Remember, if you cannot see the mirrors on the tractor s cab, then the truck driver cannot see you. You also need to give yourself plenty of room to stop your own vehicle if there is an emergency ahead.
Do not cut off a tractor trailer. Aggressive driving may distract or catch a truck driver off guard. Such driving new england inns for sale also reduces the available stopping distance for the tractor trailer in the event of an emergency.
Sometimes even safe drivers are involved in a collision. There are many factors new england inns for sale that are out of a driver s control such as defects in the vehicle , other distracted motorists or truck drivers, or even adverse weather conditions. If you are involved in an accident or collision, new england inns for sale it is important to keep the following in mind:
Take care of any emergency medical and situational needs first. Assess your own condition and the situation of others in your vehicle. If able, make sure you and your vehicle are clear of dangers such as on-coming traffic, debris or leaking fuel . However, new england inns for sale you should avoid moving injured passengers unless absolutely necessary in order to avoid making their injuries worse.
Call for help. In most states, you are required to report a collision, especially if injuries are involved. Call 911 if there are injuries or medical emergencies. If only a minor collision, you can call local law enforcement using non-emergency contact numbers.
Do not provide a statement to other drivers or individuals involved in the collision without first speaking to your insurance agent or an attorney. new england inns for sale Information you provide new england inns for sale may later be misinterpreted (or outright manipulated) by a defendant and used against you.
If seriously injured, you should contact an experienced attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and the defendant driver is held accountable for your injuries. A proper team of attorneys and investigators can ensure that all facts are uncovered.
Your attorney should retain an accident reconstructionist in order to determine how the accident new england inns for sale happened. The reconstructionist will calculate the speeds of the vehicles and determine the dynamics new england inns for sale of how the vehicles moved during the collision.
A biomechanics expert new england inns for sale or forensic pathologist can determine how your body moved during the collision to cause injury. These experts will analyze and determine whether new england inns for sale the vehicle properly protected you during the collision.
An engineer or design expert can determine if a vehicle defect caused your injury or made it worse. Sometimes, car makers cut corners on design and safety. These cost-cutting new england inns for sale measures can have devastating effects during a collision.
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I note with some dismay that neither the driver nor the passenger in the first picture are wearing three point seat belts. Long before seat belt use was made mandatory in Florida new england inns for sale I became a be