Maryland Injury Attorney Blog

The sight of orange cones and barrels marking work zones on Maryland highways is so common, drivers don't think too much about them. That's part of the problem. The Maryland Department of Transportation estimates that an average 2,237 traffic accidents occur in or around Maryland work zones every year, resulting in 1,250 people injured and 11 people killed.

Nationally, some 700 people die each year in motor vehicle crashes occurring in road work zones. The road construction workers are themselves at risk, often operating machinery just a few feet from speeding traffic. (Sad case in point: Two Pessoa Construction Company workers were killed in a work zone crash in Cecil County, Maryland earlier this year.) Police on detail are also at risk of being struck by passing vehicles.

But the national figure of 700 people killed in roadside work zone crashes are mostly drivers or passengers travelling in motor vehicles on roads and bridges under construction. An estimated four of five people killed in work zone accidents are motorists, not highway workers.

Maryland observes Work Zone Safety Awareness Month in April. As road construction season begins, the state DOT offers a few tips for drivers:

Seeing Orange. Cones and barrels are placed in the roadway for a reason--not as an obstacle course for Maryland's hurried drivers. When you encounter these in your travels, expect a work zone around the corner.

Slow Down. Stay Alert. Work zones often funnel traffic into a reduced number of lanes, requiring lane merges. Plan ahead so you're not jockeying with other motorists to merge into travel lanes that are rapidly narrowing. Drive defensively!

Minimize Distractions. Remember texting while driving and using handheld cell phones are both illegal in the State of Maryland!

Stay Informed. Plan Ahead. Dial 511 for the latest roadway closures and delays in Maryland, or visit the Maryland 511 website. Avoid a mad rush -- and a traffic accident -- by knowing when and where road construction is occurring and altering your travel route accordingly. Speed is a factor in motor vehicle accidents, and wherever you need to get to on time isn't worth risking life and limb.

Related Maryland Car Accident Attorney articles:

Maryland Car Accident Death Rates Down, But Many Traffic Safety Challenges Remain (Jan. 2012)

Baltimore Traffic Accident Prevention: Speed Cameras May Snap Offenders at Schools and Construction Sites (July 2009)

Sources:

MARYLAND PARTNERS IN NATIONAL LAUNCH OF
WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK IN WASHINGTON, D.C
Maryland Dept. of Transportation April 16, 2013

Driving Safely in Work Zones
Maryland Dept. of Transportation, State Highway Administration

Related Web Resource:

Maryland State Highway Administration -- Planned Lane Closure Updates

Baltimore car accident injury lawyers like us know all too well from our work with clients: Anything can happen when you pull out of your driveway and hit the road in Maryland. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can and do happen, often without warning. And, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), your vehicle itself is more at risk in Maryland as compared to the majority of states.

NHTSA reports that Maryland is among the top 10 states for motor vehicle theft. In fact, Maryland ranks number 8 on the government's list of states where your car is more likely to not be there when you return to it. The states with the most stolen vehicles are…

1. California
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. New York
5. Illinois
6. Georgia
7. New Jersey
8. Maryland
9. North Carolina
10. Nevada

What's more, NHTSA reports that a motor vehicle is stolen every 43 seconds in the U.S. The most popular vehicle stolen? According to 2008 theft rate data: It's the Dodge Charger. American cars are popular targets for car thieves. The top 10 cars stolen are, according to NHTSA, the Dodge Charger, Pontiac G6, Chevy Impala, Chrysler 300, Infiniti FX35, Mitsubishi Gallant, Chrysler Sebring, Lexus SC, Dodge Avenger, and Kia Rio.

The top two months for vehicle theft are July and August, and 40 to 50 percent of vehicle theft is due in part to "driver error." How many times have we read in The Baltimore Sun or other Maryland newspaper that someone's car was stolen with the keys left in the car? In addition, thieves are interested in what's in the car -- from loose change to laptops to iPods to GPS devices. And some cars make for easy parts in illegal "chop shops," which are then sold illegally. Air bags have become a popular item for thieves, and anyone who's had one ripped out of their car knows they are not inexpensive to replace.

Maryland vehicle thefts jumped by 143 percent between 1984 and 1994, prompting the formation of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council. See link below to PDF of the group's report on car theft prevention in Maryland -- along with statistics on when, where, and how car theft in Maryland occurs. For example, the Council reports that…

"…vehicle thefts often occur in two distinct areas that conform to a time frame. In most circumstances, thefts occur either in residential areas in the late evening and early morning hours, or in commercial areas in the midday hours. In both cases, the perpetrators easily elude observation."

So watch where you park -- not only in Baltimore City but anywhere you travel in Maryland. This includes at home and at work. Don't leave your car in a secluded or dark area that provides easy cover for thieves. Don't leave valuables in your car. And for goodness sakes, lock your car! The days of leaving cars and homes unlocked without worry are, sadly, in the past.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Maryland, Do You Drive 65? Highway Speeds Rising, National Survey Shows (Feb. 2013)

Maryland Drivers – Are You Asleep at the Wheel? 4 Percent of Drowsy Driving Survey Respondents Said "Yes" (Jan. 2013)

Sources:

NHTSA / SaferCar.gov: Vehicle Theft Prevention

Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council (homepage)

2010 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MARYLAND VEHICLE THEFT PREVENTION COUNCIL (PDF)

The speed limit in Maryland is 65 mph for both rural and urban interstate highways. Despite posted speed limits, there always seem to be plenty of drivers who tear down the highway -- with no regard for the law or other motorists' safety. Speed is a factor in many of the serious Maryland traffic accident cases we handle here at our Baltimore County personal injury law practice.

If it feels like speeding on U.S. interstates and highways has ramped up in recent years -- it's not your imagination.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported on a recent survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which found 14 percent of motorists exceed the posted speed limit by at least 10 mph on limited-access highways. (Known in some states as freeways or expressways, limited-access highways have on and off ramps, are generally separated from residential properties, and have barriers separating traffic traveling in opposite directions.)

This was the first time NHTSA has collected nationally representative estimates of travel speeds on public roads for all types of motor vehicles. The survey found that from 2007 to 2009, the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit on limited-access highways jumped by 23 percentage points. That's a lot of drivers deciding they need to get where they're going faster than their state traffic laws allowed.

While the numbers of drivers exceeding the speed limit on other types of roads fell slightly from 2007 to 2009 -- NHTSA still found that 13 percent of vehicles on major arteries and 15 percent on minor arteries went over the speed limit by 10 mph in 2009. (Arterial roadways are high-capacity urban roads that deliver traffic from "collector roads" to freeways.)

NHTSA released its survey results with the note that increased travels speeds may be due to differences in data collection periods. With the recession affecting highway travel in some areas, some drivers may have been inclined to speed on roads that were less congested. The challenge in collecting data stems in part from the fact that states are no longer required to submit speed data to the Federal Highway Administration. The 1995 repeal of the national maximum speed limit did away with that.

Maryland's 65 mph speed limit on highways is modest compared to the legal speeds in other states. A 75 mph speed limit is not uncommon on rural interstates (e.g., in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, and Maine) -- while Texas tops the speed charts for the nation with 85 mph legal on some parts of certain highways. The IIHS frowns on this, stating that when speed limits go up, so do motor vehicle crashes and deaths.

As Baltimore County auto accident injury attorneys who work with injured people and grieving families, we've seen the terrible toll that speeding can take. Drive the speed limit, and drive defensively. Maryland isn't Texas -- but our dangerous, aggressive drivers still pose a hazard on the Baltimore Beltway and our interstates.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney article:

Maryland Motor Vehicle Accidents : NHTSA Releases Statistics, Types, and Causes for 2010 (Sept. 2012)

Sources:

Freeway speeds rise as more drivers exceed posted speed limits (PDF)
IIHS Status Report, Vol. 47, No. 8, p. 6

National Travel Speeds Survey II: 2009
Huey, R., De Leonardis, D., & Freedman, M. (2012, July). National travel speeds survey II: 2009. (Report No. DOT HS 811 638 ). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/811638.pdf

Maximum posted speed limits
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Feb. 2013

Federal regulations require drivers of large commercial trucks, including tractor trailers, to get a certain amount of sleep between shifts, to avoid falling asleep behind the wheel and causing serious truck accidents. No one wants to think that the 18-wheeler roaring up behind them on the Baltimore Beltway might be piloted by a driver who is about to fall asleep.

But what about all the other motorists with whom we share Maryland's back roads and highways?

A new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals something alarming: 1 in 24 drivers admit to driving drowsy, including actually nodding off behind the wheel. ABC News reports that "…based on a survey of nearly 150,000 drivers in 19 states and D.C. … sleepiness aggravated by shift work and snoring can be as risky as alcohol, slowing reaction times and impairing decision-making behind the wheel."

(Note: "Shift work" refers to jobs that demand workers change normal sleep patterns, such as security guards, factory workers, and others who work overnight or late night shifts. Snoring has also been found to inhibit a good night's sleep, which could contribute to the problem of drowsy driving.)

As Baltimore auto accident injury lawyers, we've seen what can happen when a drunk or impaired driver looses control of their vehicle. Maryland was one of the states polled in the CDC study – and 4 percent of Md. survey respondents admitted to drowsy driving. That's worse than our neighbors in Washington, DC, where 2 percent of those surveyed said they drove in a sleep deprived mode.

ABC News reports that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a full 2 percent of motor vehicle accidents in the US involve drowsy driving. What's more, a separate study revealed drivers may suffer from a condition known as "microsleep" – falling asleep behind the wheel for seconds at a time, possibly multiple times while driving.

Public health and traffic safety advocates fear that drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Liberty Mutual Research Institute estimates that a quarter million US drivers drive drowsy every day. New estimates reveal that drowsy driving is the second leading cause of fatal motor vehicle crashes, second only to drunk driving. NHTSA estimates more than 6,000 people are killed every year due to drowsy drivers.

While we can't control the behaviors of others behind the wheel, Maryland motorists can do a few things to stay safe on the road:

> Plan long trips in advance and build in rest time. Avoid "driving all night" to "make good time." A rest break could save your life and those of other innocent motorists around you.

> If you have miles to go before you sleep, consider putting them off and sleeping instead.

> Report any drivers you observe swerving into other lanes or otherwise driving erratically to Maryland police by dialing dial #77 for non-emergency situations and 911 for true emergencies.

> The saying "Friends don't let friends drink and drive" can be adapted and applied here. "Friends don't let friends drive drowsy."

Wake up Maryland drivers! Awareness can go a long way to addressing this public health and traffic safety concern in Maryland and around the US.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Article:

Working Overtime : Drowsy Driving a Serious Risk for Truckers and Other Maryland Motorists (Nov. 2011)

Sources:

1 in 24 in US Drives Drowsy, CDC Says
ABC News Jan. 5, 2013

'In the Blink of an Eye': Dozing While Driving
ABC News Jan. 3, 2013

Drowsy Driving — 19 States and the District of Columbia, 2009–2010
CDC Weekly January 4, 2013 / 61(51);1033-1037

As 2012 draws to a close, it's worth taking a look at a few Maryland traffic laws and procedures. Maryland has received generally good grades from traffic safety advocates. This past year, more counties installed traffic light speed cameras in hopes of deterring accidents at intersections and in school zones. Maryland Highway Patrol is out in force every holiday, seeking to stop and arrest drunk drivers. A new law has been proposed that would add teeth to existing Maryland DUI/DWI laws, targeting offenders who drive drunk with children in the car.

However there's still room for improvement; 493 people were killed in Maryland motor vehicle accidents in 2010 and thousands more injured (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2006 – 2010).

As Baltimore County, Maryland accident injury lawyers, we keep track of existing and new state traffic laws, as they may apply to the cases we handle for clients. Maryland has contributory negligence laws on the books, so if you as an injured party broke any traffic laws when your auto accident occurred – your eligibility for compensation and/or damages may be challenged.

Maryland drivers sometimes forget the traffic laws they learned in drivers' education class. Here are just a few you may or may not remember…

• Maryland has banned the use of hand held cell phones while driving (albeit as a secondary offense, i.e., they must be stopped for some other infraction), and all texting while driving is illegal (a primary offense, i.e., drivers may be stopped for texting).
• Penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) in Maryland include 45 days administrative license suspension for first offense (which may be modified if driver demonstrates hardship), and ignition interlock devices. However penalties do not include vehicle forfeiture for multiple offenses. (Traffic safety advocates frown on that practice.)
• Maryland has a universal motorcycle helmet law, requiring all motorcycle drivers and passengers to wear helmets. Operators are also required to wear protective eye wear.
• Maryland adopted a "move over law" in 2010, requiring drivers who see police or other emergency responders at the side of the road to slow down and safely move over one lane – to avoid roadside collisions. Ironically, our neighbors in Washington, DC, where federal laws are made, have no move over law on their books.
• Young drivers in Maryland who operate motor vehicles during intermediate or restricted licensing stages must obey night time driving restrictions (between midnight and 5 a.m.).
• Maryland drivers age 40 and older must take a vision test at every driver's license renewal.
• Motorists who experience trouble on Maryland highways should dial #77 for non-emergency police assistance. 911 is reserved for true emergencies.

Remember – When it comes to saving lives, traffic laws are only as good as the driving public's willingness to abide by them. Accidents still happen. As we always say, drive defensively. Have a safe and happy New Year.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney article:

U.S. Highway Safety Group Green Lights Maryland Traffic Laws, While Noting Areas that Need Improvement (Jan. 2012)

Sources:

Maryland State Highway Safety Laws Summary
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Maryland Traffic Safety Laws
Maryland Dept. of Transportation : State Highway Administration

Move Over America

A Howard County soccer player's injury lawsuit being tried in the high court in Maryland could help accident victims fare better in personal injury lawsuits. However, a Maryland lawmaker may propose a bill to block any changes to the existing laws. At the center of the controversy is something we Baltimore car accident injury attorneys are quite familiar with: The Maryland contributory negligence law.

Maryland is one of four states and the District of Columbia that have a "contributory negligence" law on the books. What this means for you, as an accident victim, is if you're found to be even a tiny fraction at fault in an accident (e.g., a traffic crash or other accident), your insurance claim can be flat out denied and/or you could lose your lawsuit, at trial.

However the Maryland contributory negligence law is now being challenged in the high court. The Washington Examiner reports that, "A case before the Maryland Court of Appeals could change the requirement, making it easier for accident victims to sue -- a change that victim advocates are cheering on."

The case involves Kyle Coleman, a then 20-year-old soccer player who received serious head and facial injuries when a bar from a collapsed soccer goal fell on him. The player sued the Soccer Association of Columbia, Md., which was running the practice when he was injured. Attorneys for the defendant argued that because the plaintiff was swinging from the goal (a practice the association warns against) and had allegedly smoked marijuana earlier in the day, he was not eligible for compensation.

The Baltimore Sun reported in Sept. that "…a Howard County jury found the association was at fault in Coleman's injury because it did not properly secure the goal. But because the jury also found that Coleman was at least partly responsible for the accident, he did not receive any payout." An attorney representing the injured soccer player and chairman of the Maryland Association for Justice Political Action Committee reportedly called contributory negligence unfair.

Now the case is playing out in the Court of Appeals – challenging Maryland's longstanding contributory negligence law. If the case brings about changes in the law about who can sue whom, victims' rights advocates will be pleased. However state Del. Ben Kramer, D-Silver Spring, Maryland, says if that happens, he will propose a bill in January to keep the laws on the books as they stand.

Baltimore County accident injury lawyers like us see scenarios with contributory negligence play out time and time again – including in motor vehicle accidents. Say a pedestrian is struck down in Baltimore City by a speeding vehicle and suffers broken bones and internal injuries. A clear cut case, right? Not if the pedestrian was crossing the street NOT in a crosswalk. That can count against the individual and reduce or eliminate any compensation he or his family might receive in a lawsuit.

It might not seem fair, but according to the law in Maryland, that's the way it is. As injury lawyers, we fight hard to obtain the maximum amount of compensation and damages possible for our clients – including in the face of Maryland's often harsh contributory negligence law. We will watch for the outcome of this case in Howard County, Md., and whether it brings about changes to the law.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney article:

Maryland Medical Malpractice and Negligence: How Do I Know If I Have a Case? (Oct. 2009)

Sources:

Maryland lawmaker hopes to prevent change making lawsuits easier
The Washington Examiner Nov. 27, 2012

Soccer field accident could remake Maryland personal injury law
Court of Appeals considers allowing injured people to win damages even if partly at fault
The Baltimore Sun Sept. 18, 2012

Thanksgiving holiday traffic has become legendary in Maryland. Baltimore car accident injury lawyers like us appreciate the travel headaches -- and increased risks for motor vehicle crashes -- that Maryland motorists endure over Thanksgiving week. Driving this time of year requires planning, patience, and a steady hand at the wheel.

Thanksgiving is the most heavily travelled time of the year in the U.S. We have Baltimore County commuters who work Thanksgiving Eve hitting the roads at the same time as thousands of families are embarking on their holiday road trips. The combination of frazzled commuters trying to get home from work jamming our roadways -- along with students, families, visitors, and others trying to get where they need to go -- means long traffic delays and short tempers.

Throw unpredictable Northeast weather into the mix and it's a wonder anyone leaves home at all. That said, the folks at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offer a few common sense tips for people who will be driving on Thanksgiving:

• Make sure your car is tuned up and in good shape for a road trip. Check your tires, headlights, windshield wipers, brakes, and fluids before you hit our Maryland roadways.


• Make sure everyone buckles up their seat belts.


• Observe Maryland laws for proper restraint of children and infants in car seats.


• Obey speed limits.


• Don't drink and drive.


• Don't engage in distracted driving behaviors such as texting (which is illegal in Maryland) and cell phone use (handheld cell phone use is a secondary offense).

AAA predicts a modest uptick in national Thanksgiving holiday traffic this year – due in part to lower gas prices and a slowly recovering economy. AAA predicts 43.6 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday. A report on Weather.com stated that AAA was uncertain how damage caused by super storm Sandy might impact travel in the Mid-Atlantic region. Either way, advanced planning is always a good idea.

The Washington Post offers a guide to regional roadways and suggests Thanksgiving routes in and out of the region. If you're among the millions of holiday celebrants traveling by car this year, give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Don't try to break any land speed records driving in Maryland. Plan out your route, keeping in mind that other drivers will take the same "short cuts" you're planning to use. Be safe out there this Thanksgiving. You'll have plenty of company on our Baltimore County, Md. roadways.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Maryland Foul Weather Driving Safety Tips : Stay Off the Road, and If You Must Drive – Prepare First, and Drive Defensively (Oct. 2012)

Maryland Among States at Highest Risk for Auto Crashes with Deer (Oct. 2012)

Maryland Seeks to Add More Teeth to Distracted Driver Laws (May 2012)

Sources:

Thanksgiving Travel Tips from Maryland MVA

Thanksgiving Travel Forecast: Gridlock Ahead
Weather.com Nov. 13, 2012

Thanksgiving getaway guide: Advice for long-distance travel from D.C.
The Washington Post Nov. 10, 2012

The father of a young girl killed in a 2001 motor vehicle accident on Hatem Bridge is suing the State of Maryland for negligence. Despite numerous roadblocks delaying legal proceedings, and the passage of more than a decade, the trial finally got underway this month in Harford County Circuit Court.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the fatal auto crash took place in 2001 on the Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge in Havre de Grace, Md. News reports state that the crash took place on Aug. 10, 2001, during heavy rain. A 12-year-old girl and her step father were driving west on the bridge on Route 40 over the Susquehanna River. The man's pickup truck reportedly hit water and hydroplaned, swerving into traffic and hitting a Jeep Cherokee. The young girl was killed and the pickup truck driver was pronounced deceased at a Harford County, Md. hospital.

In 2004, the father of the young girl killed in the crash filed a lawsuit against three Maryland state agencies, claiming they "failed to use reasonable care to protect the public" by installing a dividing barrier on the four-lane bridge. Named in the lawsuit are the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Maryland Department of Transportation, and the State Highway Administration.

Harford County, Maryland car accident injury lawyers may advocate for families in cases where a loved one is injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash. In addition to the two fatalities in this unfortunate case, two other accident victims were injured. The Baltimore Sun reported that one injured accident victim has already been called to testify and describe what she remembers from the day of the crash.

From a legal standpoint, this case is notable as the State of Maryland is named in the lawsuit. The Baltimore Sun reports that attorneys representing the state assert that bad weather conditions – not the design or maintenance of the bridge roadway – led to the fatal pickup truck accident that day in 2001.

This sad case illustrates what we Maryland auto accident injury attorneys know from experience: Accidents can and do happen in an instant. It will be interesting to see how this particular case plays out in Harford County Circuit Court – and whether the State of Maryland is held responsible in the motor vehicle accident death.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Queen Anne's County Maryland Wrongful Death Lawsuit : Family Awarded $100K in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Fatal Truck Accident Case (Sept. 2010)

Maryland Foul Weather Driving Safety Tips : Stay Off the Road, and If You Must Drive – Prepare First, and Drive Defensively (Oct. 2012)

Sources:

Trial in Hatem Bridge fatality suit continues this week
The Baltimore Sun Nov. 12, 2012

Trial of 2004 lawsuit over Hatem Bridge fatal accident finally under way in Bel Air
The Baltimore Sun Nov. 8, 2012

Hurricane Sandy showed us how quickly weather conditions can go from bad to worse to downright dangerous on Baltimore County, Maryland roadways. Despite weather forecasts and state advisories for motorists to stay off the roads, there are always a few souls who venture out onto the roads into a storm. The combination of wind, rain, water soaked roads, downed trees and power lines, and motorists rushing to get home is a recipe for disaster.

Baltimore County, MD car accident lawyers like us advocate for families when a motor vehicle accident with injury or death happens. We've heard so many sad "if only" stories. "If only we hadn't gone out that night.…" "If only he'd slowed down.…" "If only we'd taken a different route.…" The best driving tip for Maryland motorists facing a hurricane or winter storm is stay off the roads. Not only are you putting yourself and other motorists at risk – you may be getting in the way of emergency vehicles attempting to clear roads, repair power lines and assist injured or stranded people.

If you absolutely must drive in foul Maryland weather, drive slowly and defensively. Listen to news reports and plan the safest route possible. You do not want to become part of a sea of cars stranded in a flood or snowstorm. Hurricanes create flooding and ponding on roads that can cause cars to "hydroplane" – that is skidding on top of a film of water. This is a nerve-wracking experience for anyone who's ever lost control of their car on slick roads, even briefly. Hydroplaning vehicles can leave their lanes and cause head-on collisions and other serious auto accidents.

A number of driving safety websites (see links below) offer tips for drivers to get through bad weather conditions on the road. It's worth a read to prepare for a situation that calls for a calm, controlled response. Whether driving in a rain storm, a hurricane, or snow storm in Maryland, some very basic driving and auto maintenance tips apply:

--Drive slowly and defensively, especially around curves. Maryland motorists rushing to get home in a storm, particularly on our winding back country roads, can lose control taking curves too fast.

--If you skid or hydroplane, don't panic. Yes, this is easier said than done. Read the driving safety tips below to learn more about how to safely steer and brake during a skid or while hydroplaning.

--Keep tires well maintained. Your tires are the rubber than come between you and the roadways in Maryland. Keep them properly inflated and rotated per the manufacturer's recommendation. Watch for signs of wear and replace old tires.

--Keep brakes well maintained. Anti-lock brake systems (ABS) have greatly enhanced auto safety. If you firmly apply your ABS brakes during a skid, the computerized programming will pump the brakes for you in a controlled manner designed to safely slow the car down. Like tires, brakes are only as good as the maintenance that keeps them in good repair and functioning.

--Replace worn windshield wiper blades. This small piece of automotive equipment makes a big difference if you're trying to see through sheets of rain. Replace wiper blades that are beginning to fray at the ends.

The foul weather season in Maryland has started off rough with Hurricane Sandy. There could be more bad storms this fall, and we have a long winter ahead of us. Keep your cars and trucks well maintained and drive defensively.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Baltimore County Winter Driving Safety : Is Your Car a Moving Igloo After a Maryland Snow Storm? (Jan. 2011)

Car Accidents with Farm Equipment on Public Roads in Maryland: When Lifestyles and Vehicles Collide (Dec. 2010)

Sources:

Driving Safety Tips: Skidding and Hydroplaning in Rainy Conditions
The Weather Channel

Driving in Bad Weather
Allstate

Tips for Safe Driving
Maryland Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)

Maryland Traffic Information
Federal Highway Administration

That old saying “Accidents can happen to anyone” unfortunately applies to motor vehicle accidents in Maryland. Baltimore County car accident injury attorneys like us know this from working with injured clients and grieving families. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can happen in an instant, without warning, and lives are changed forever.

You can drive defensively, obey the speed limit, wear your seat belt, keep your cell phone off, not drink and drive – do all the right things to stay safe on Maryland’s highways, streets, and back roads. But all it takes is one aggressive or reckless driver to cause a serious Maryland auto accident with injuries or fatalities.

In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released motor vehicle fatality statistics for 2010. NHTSA reports that in Maryland, 493 traffic accident fatalities occurred in 2010. While this represents a 10 percent decrease compared to motor vehicle crash deaths in 2009, that number still means too many people left home and didn’t return again.

What kinds of motor vehicles are involved in most Maryland traffic accidents? These are some of the motor vehicle accident statistics and characteristics recently released by NHTSA.

Maryland Traffic Accident Fatality Rates for 2010
NHTSA reports that in Maryland, 493 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in the year 2010 (the most recent year for which data is available). Of those 493 people killed…

43.2 % were drivers
17.8 % were passengers
16.6 % were motorcyclists
20.5 % were pedestrians
1.6 % were pedalcyclists (bicyclists)

…and the remaining fraction of a percentage were categorized as Other/Unknown.

These 493 Maryland traffic fatalities involved a total of 687 vehicles. Of those…

47.9 % were passenger cars
31.4 % were light trucks
5.5 % were large trucks (a/k/a commercial trucks)
12.2 % were motorcycles

…and the remaining 2.9% were classified as Other/Unknown.

These statistics show that drivers of passenger cars comprise a large percentage of all Maryland auto accident deaths. What may come as a surprise is that pedestrian accident deaths account for fully one-fifth of all Maryland traffic crash fatalities – occurring at a higher rate than motor vehicle passenger deaths.

As Baltimore personal injury lawyers, we know that behind every auto accident death statistic is a personal story of loss. We are here to assist clients who have been injured, or whose family members have been killed, in Maryland auto accidents. While Maryland has made strides in reducing traffic accident fatalities, any accident death on our highways, roads, or city streets is one too many.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Baltimore, Maryland Auto Accident Liability : Civil Lawsuits vs. Criminal Cases

Maryland Teen Driver Safety : Fatal Auto Accident Rate Increases When Young Passengers Ride with Novice Drivers (June 15, 2012)

Source:

NHTSA TRAFFIC SAFETY FACTS : 2010 Data (PDF doc)
State Traffic Data, August 2012
U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
DOT HS 811 646

The Baltimore car accident injury lawyers here at The Law Offices of Butschky, Ehlers & Butschky assist victims and their families when a motor vehicle crash with injury or death occurs in Maryland. One of the more severe types of car, truck, and SUV accident cases we handle are what's known as side-impact crashes.

Also called broadside accidents or T-bone crashes (in reference to the hard right angle at which one of the cars involved in the accident is hit), these serious, and sometimes deadly traffic accidents often occur at intersections.

Imagine you're driving along, minding your own business, obeying Maryland traffic laws. You stop at an intersection in Baltimore City, and wait for your red light to turn green. The light turns green, you start across the intersection, and out of nowhere -- another driver runs his or her red light and hits your vehicle, broadside. We know from experience that these types of auto accidents often cause very serious injury, including brain, spine, and neck injuries.

Some causes and characteristics of side impact collisions in Baltimore County, Maryland include the following:

• A driver runs a red light or stop sign at a four-way intersection and crashes into another vehicle broadside.


• Drunk driving may be a factor, as can be distracted driving, such as someone texting while driving, even though that is illegal in Maryland.


• Speeding can be a factor, making the impact of the broadside crash that much more severe.


• Intersections on high-speed roadways, including secondary roadways and Maryland back roads, are particularly dangerous. A driver going 40 or 45 mph on a back road who fails to stop for a STOP sign and tears through an intersection can cause a deadly broadside accident.


• Drivers stopped in the roadway, attempting to make a left-hand turn may get rear-ended AND broadsided. Say a driver is stopped in the middle of an intersection with his or her directional on, waiting to make a left turn down a side street. Another driver rear-ends that car, pushing the turning vehicle into oncoming traffic, where it gets broadsided.


• Side impact crashes tend to happen at city and suburban intersections, but they can happen on highways such as the Baltimore Beltway. Every driver has a blind spot. You could get sideswiped on a Maryland highway by a lane changer whom you didn't see or who didn't see you as they cut in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed.


• A head-on collision is also very serious and sometimes fatal. However modern vehicles come with driver and passenger airbags now, offering some protection in head-on crashes. In addition, the vehicle engine is a several-hundred pound block against the perpetrator's oncoming vehicle. However cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs tend to offer less standard protection for side-impact crashes. Side air bags may be optional, as are door reinforcements. However the car door is a relatively thin piece of metal compared to a car, truck, or SUV coming at you broadside.

NOTE: We've seen reckless speeding and driving to endanger firsthand, going to and from our suburban Baltimore County headquarters in Sparks, Maryland. Newcomers to Maryland who think they are safe driving around the suburbs, don't be fooled! It's amazing how fast Maryland drivers tear around these back roads, which were not designed to handle today's volume of commuter traffic heading in and out of Baltimore City. The best defense against a broadside accident is to drive defensively, and look both ways before proceeding through an intersection -- even if you have the right of way.

When you're driving on the Baltimore Beltway, I-695, or any other heavily travelled Maryland interstate or highway -- do you obey the posted speed limits? Or do you let your car or truck go 5 or 10 mph over, or maybe more -- hoping Maryland state troopers and police officers don't catch you and slap you with a speeding ticket? What about on our winding Maryland back roads? Do you slow down per the speed limit signs?

Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers like us know that speeding can be a deadly factor in Maryland auto crashes. Now an investigation by The Baltimore Sun sheds some light on Maryland driving patterns -- and how fast drivers go before they get ticketed -- based on speeding ticket data. Some "I can't drive 65" motorists in Maryland believe they can add 10 mph to the posted speed limits, without prompting police to issue a traffic citation. The study took a look at that common driver belief with some interesting findings.

The Sun investigation looked at more than 272,000 speeding tickets given to Maryland drivers by state troopers or police during the 2011 fiscal year. (Automatic tickets issued by speed cameras, put in place in Baltimore and other urban areas to curb speed-related Maryland traffic and pedestrian accidents, were excluded from the study.) Of that amount, over 25 percent of tickets were issued to drivers traveling just 1 to 9 mph over the speed limit. That may come as a surprise to some Maryland drivers who think they're safe if their speedometer says they're just going a little bit too fast.

But Maryland law enforcers issued more than 43 percent of tickets to drivers who were going 10 to 19 mph over the posted speed limits. Who hasn't driven on a Maryland highway -- only to have some aggressive driver fly by in the passing lane, going what we can only guess is at least that much over the speed limit? Police officers ticketed that group of speeders the most.

What's more alarming is over 26 percent of speeding tickets were issued to drivers going 20 to 29 mph over the speed limit. Topping out the group are the drivers we all hope we never encounter on Maryland back roads or highways: those going a jaw-dropping 30 to 39 mph over the speed limit (3.1% of tickets issued) and 40+ mph over the limit (.7% of tickets -- which sounds minimal but still amounted to more than 2,000 traffic citations).

Speeding in Maryland comes at a cost. In addition to putting themselves and other Maryland motorists at risk for auto crashes, speeding drivers are fined at rates that go up as their gas pedals go down. The Sun reports that drivers cited for going 10 mph or less over the limit are fined $80 and issued one driver's license point (Maryland MVA tracks driver moving violations -- get enough and you'll get warned, get more and your license is in jeopardy). Drivers going 10 to 19 mph over the limit get a $90 fine and two driver's license point ($160 if the speed limit is 65 mph).

As we always say, drive defensively in Maryland. Save yourself and other motorists money and heartache. In 2010, speeding was a factor in 154 motor vehicle fatalities in Maryland (source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Maryland 2006-2010).

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Running on Red in Maryland : Would Longer Yellow Traffic Light Times Cut Down on Intersection Accidents? (April 2012)

Deterring Baltimore County Traffic Accidents: Speed Camera Laws Go Into Effect (Oct. 2009)

Source:

Maryland speeding ticket statistics complicate myth of 10 mph cushion
The Baltimore Sun July 20, 2012

The Baltimore Sun reports that police agencies in Harford County, Md., have created a traffic safety task force -- with the goal of reducing serious traffic accidents in the suburban and rural region. According to The Sun, 15 people were killed in 10 fatal car crashes in Harford County, Maryland, this year alone.

Harford County car accident injury lawyers work with injured people and grieving families, when serious auto accidents occur in Maryland. The region's secondary and rural back roads -- many of which weren't designed for the volume of traffic they handle -- can be dangerous for drivers. Add speeding and/or driving under the influence of alcohol to the mix, and it's a recipe for disaster.

Representatives of county, state and municipal police forces gathered at the Harford County Sheriff's Office Southern Precinct Station in Joppa, Maryland, this week to sign a document creating the Harford County Traffic Task Force. Participants noted that the most serious motor vehicle accidents in the county are due to speeding or drunk driving. Heavy traffic volume on narrow roadways is also a factor: A traffic study out of the county seat of Bel Air, Maryland notes that 40,000 people travel in one direction on Route 24 every day.

The Sun reports that the Harford County Traffic Task Force will explore ways to step up efforts to enforce speeding laws and curb other dangerous driving behaviors in the region. They also hope to mount public awareness campaigns, to encourage the region's motorists to slow down and drive defensively.

Another Sun article published earlier in June stated that Harford County police were frustrated with the high traffic accident fatality rates -- as they struggled to discern patterns in these serious Maryland auto accidents. Some of the fatal accidents were head-on collisions on single-lane, heavily travelled state highways. Pedestrian accidents also claimed a number of lives this year in Harford County, two inside the Aberdeen, Md. city limits.

A few days before the formation of the traffic safety task force was announced -- a Harford County man was killed in a farming accident while driving a pickup truck on a private road in Darlington, Md. And one day after the task force announcement, another fatal Harford County traffic accident occurred: a motorcycle driver was killed in a crash with a Harford County Highway dump truck in Fallston, Maryland.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney Articles:

Which Maryland Traffic Safety Laws Save the Most Lives? (March 5, 2012)

University of Maryland Research : Pedestrians Wearing Headphones at Greater Risk for Traffic Accident Injury and Death (Feb. 15, 2012)

Sources:

Harford police agencies form traffic safety task force
BaltimoreSun.com > ExploreHarford.com June 26, 2012

High number of traffic fatalities exasperate police
BaltimoreSun.com > ExploreHarford.com June 7, 2012

Motorcyclist dies in dump truck crash
ABC2NEWS.com June 27, 2012

Farm accident kills 1 in Harford County
ABC2NEWS.com June 18, 2012

Related Web Resource:

Maryland Office of Traffic Safety

A new insurance industry study confirms something Harford County, Maryland car accident injury lawyers know to be true: Teenage drivers can put themselves and other motorists and pedestrians at increased risk for injury and death. With far fewer miles and years under their belts as compared to adult drivers, teenage drivers lack the maturity, driving skills, and experience to always make sound driving decisions.

Add young passengers to the mix, and the auto accident death rate rate for teenage drivers increases even more.

Now a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that the problem of teens and motor vehicle crash fatalities begins even earlier than once thought. A recent analysis of crash data reveals that the risk for teens involved in fatal car crashes begins years before teenagers get their drivers' licenses or learners' permits -- at the young age of 13. That's a sobering thought for both parents of older Maryland teens as well as young teens who've barely entered high school year -- but who may hang out with older friends or siblings that drive.

The study looked at U.S. automobile crashes from 2005 to 2009, where teens aged 13 through 15 died from their injuries. The authors found that most teens this age that died were passengers, and, in most cases -- the drivers were other teenagers. In all 1,994 passengers and 299 drivers ages 13 -15 died in auto accidents. Those who were driving did so without learners' permits or drivers' licenses. The study concluded:

Most of the teens this age that died were passengers, and more often than not, another teenager was at the wheel…. It is not until age 17 that teens die in crashes more often as drivers than they do as passengers.

The study also pointed to the need for states such as Maryland to have stricter graduated drivers' licensing laws -- to not only ease young drivers onto our roads and highways to help them learn and practice safe driving techniques -- but to limit when they may drive and how many young passengers may ride in their vehicles with them.

Currently, Maryland teens are eligible to enter our three-stage graduated licensing system (GLS) at age 15 and 9 months (with an intermediary stage after 16 years old and full licensure at age 18). Maryland has enacted nighttime driving restrictions for novice drivers as well as limits on numbers of young passengers who may ride along (see links below for more details). National driving safety advocates have recommended Maryland increase its entry age for learner's permit eligibility to 16 years old, and to extend all driver restrictions through age 17.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

The Number-One Killer of Kids and Young Adults in Maryland (Sept. 2011)

Maryland Highway Traffic Safety Gets a Green Light, But Teen Drivers Need Tougher Regulations to Prevent Auto Accidents (Jan. 2010)

Heads Up Maryland Parents : Teen Car Accident Rates Go Down When Parents Set Road Rules (Nov. 2010)

Sources:

Teen Passenger Death Rate Starts Uptick at Age 13 (PDF)
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Status Report, Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 6 -7, March 6, 2012

SafeRoads4Teens.org: Maryland

Maryland Dept. of Transportation: Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA): Learner's Permit

While the invention of Internet enabled smartphones has brought a world of information and communication to our fingertips, it's also created a serious traffic safety challenge -- both here in Maryland and across the U.S.

Your grandparents never could have imagined that one day people would be typing messages to and from each other on small hand-held devices -- while driving an automobile. However we're living in an age of instant, wireless communications, and there's no going back. This poses a never-before seen problem to traffic safety advocates and lawmakers. How do we get drivers to stop talking and texting, put down their cell phones, and FOCUS on the road?

Some high profile cases in the national news this week have shone a harsh light on texting while driving. These include the first homicide texting while driving case on trial in Massachusetts, and a New Jersey case where lawyers representing two motorcyclists who lost limbs in an auto crash sought to name the sender of text messages in a distracted driving lawsuit (a judge determined the text-sending girlfriend of the motor vehicle driver charged in this case cannot be held liable).

Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers know firsthand from work with clients how devastating a serious traffic crash can be. Sadly, some drivers think "this can never happen to me" and put their cell phone calls and text messages ahead of their own safety, and that of other motorists and pedestrians around them. Let's take a few moments to review the related distracted driving laws here in Maryland.

• As of October 2011, Maryland bans ALL texting while driving. Maryland lawmakers closed a loophole late last year that had allowed drivers to engage in texting at stop lights -- which anyone who's tried to navigate Baltimore City streets knows is a really bad idea.
• Use of handheld cellphones while driving is banned in Maryland, however law enforcers may only cite drivers for this as a secondary offense. Three pieces of state legislation seek to make use of handheld cellphones while driving a primary offense in Maryland (see links below).
• Novice drivers under age 18 with their learners' permits or intermediate licenses are prohibited from using cell phones.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that as of May 2012,

"…10 states, D.C., Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. Except for Maryland and West Virginia (until July 2013), all laws are primary enforcement—an officer may cite a driver for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place."

Two other pending pieces of Maryland legislation seek to separate the definitions of cell phones and texting devices in regards to distracted driver laws (HB 55 and SB 529). Here's hoping our Maryland lawmakers can help our state become safer for all motorists this year.

Related Maryland Accident Injury Attorney articles:

Why Distracted Driving in Maryland Can Be as Deadly as Drunk Driving (April 17, 2012)

U.S. Highway Safety Group Green Lights Maryland Traffic Laws, While Noting Areas that Need Improvement (Jan. 18, 2012)

Sources:

Governors Highway Safety Association: Cell Phone and Texting Laws May 2012
GHSA.org May 2012

Maryland Completely Bans Text Messaging While Driving
ABC 7, News Channel 8 Sept. 30, 2011

Related Maryland Traffic Safety Legislation:

House Bill 104: Motor Vehicles - Use of Wireless Communication Device - Prohibited Acts, Enforcement, and Penalties

House Bill 123: Vehicle Laws - Wireless Communication Devices - Enforcement of Prohibitions on Use While Driving

Senate Bill 217: Motor Vehicles - Use of Wireless Communication Device - Prohibited Acts, Enforcement, and Penalties

Maryland drivers are no strangers to this frightening scenario. You're stopped at a red light in say, Baltimore. Just as the light turns green and your foot hits the gas pedal -- another car shoots through the intersection in front of you, running his or her red light. You slam on your brakes, gasp for breath, and thank your lucky stars you weren't broadsided and hurt, or worse.

As a Baltimore County car accident injury lawyer, I know from work with injured and grieving clients that not everyone is so fortunate in this all-too-common scenario. Motorists who run red lights can cause devastating crashes resulting in motor vehicle damage, bodily injury, and death -- all to save a minute and avoid sitting at the traffic light.

Some national transportation experts believe that extending yellow traffic light times might cut down on the incidence of drivers running red lights, and curb not only traffic violations but intersection auto accidents. Opponents believe that drivers would adapt to longer yellow light times, and those inclined to race through intersections to beat the red lights would do so anyway.

Under Maryland traffic law, yellow lights are intended to give drivers time to slow down and warn pedestrians in advance of traffic lights changing. The Md traffic laws state:

(1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is warned that the related green movement is ending or that a red signal, which will prohibit vehicular traffic from entering the intersection, will be shown immediately after the yellow signal. (2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal…, a pedestrian facing a steady yellow signal is warned that there is not enough time to cross the roadway before a red signal is shown, and a pedestrian may not then start to cross the roadway.

Yellow traffic lights can vary in duration from just a couple seconds to several seconds long. The installation of more traffic cameras -- in Maryland and around the country -- has become controversial in relation to yellow lights. While proponents of red light and speed cameras believe they save lives, others feel that where yellow lights turn to red quickly, the cameras may entrap drivers who would stop if given more time.

Unfortunately, to many drivers in Maryland and around the US, a yellow traffic light has come to mean "hurry up." The results of this misinterpretation can be dangerous, damaging, and deadly.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Lessons Learned Abroad: Why Auto Accident Death Rates Are Lower in Europe Than in the U.S. (Sept. 15, 2011)

Deterring Baltimore County Traffic Accidents: Speed Camera Laws Go Into Effect (Oct. 7, 2009)

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Dept of Transportation: Traffic Safety Laws

NHTSA: Driver Education

U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration:

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices

Traffic Signal Timing Manual

It's become a tragic and all-too-familiar news story: A driver involved in a fatal car accident was found to be texting or talking on a cell phone right before the deadly crash occurred.

Often the driver is a teenager, an inexperienced youth operator just learning the rules of the road. However studies have shown that adults can be just as guilty of texting while driving as their teenagers. And while the problem of texting and driving may have overshadowed using cell phones while driving, the latter remains a serious traffic safety concern on par with drunk driving.

The U.S. Department of Transportation declared April as National Distracted Driving Awareness month. With good reason.

As we Baltimore, Maryland car accident injury lawyers know from decades of experience: Serious and deadly auto accidents can happen in a heartbeat. All it takes is for the driver to take his or her eyes off the road or become distracted for a second, and a collision with another automobile, motorcycle, pedestrian or object can occur. Even in states like Maryland that have a primary texting while driving ban on the law books, we still observe adult and teenage drivers with their heads down and their thumbs typing away.

While Maryland and the U.S. as a whole have made life-saving gains in traffic safety in other areas -- the problem of using cellphones to talk, read and send text messages while driving cars, trucks and SUVs remains a tough one to curb.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has taken his message against distracted driving public, asking states to pass and implement tougher traffic safety laws. Some frightening statistics from the government's distracted driving prevention website:

• Motorists who engage in texting while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an auto crash.


• Drivers talking on a hand-held device are 4 times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident with injury.


• Talking on a cell phone while driving can delay driver reaction time as much as if the driver were legally drunk (i.e., with a point .08 blood alcohol concentration).

Maryland Traffic Laws on Texting and Cell Phone Use While Driving
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that some 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving motor vehicle accidents in 2010. Maryland has joined states that have an all-out ban on texting while driving, making it a primary offense. However Maryland's ban on talking on hand-held devices may only be enforced as a secondary offense. (In other words, the driver must be pulled over by police for some other primary offense. See link to GHSA website below for more detail on state laws on distracted driving.)

Is any text message or cell phone call to a friend, family member, or co-worker worth loss of life or limb? Most rationale people would say, "Of course not!" However the problem of texting and talking on cellphones while driving endures in Maryland and across the country. Be careful out there and please, save the texting and cell phone chatting for when your car is in park.

Related Baltimore Accident Injury Lawyer Articles:

U.S. Highway Safety Group Green Lights Maryland Traffic Laws, While Noting Areas that Need Improvement (Jan. 18, 2012)

Should Maryland Laws Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving Get Even Tougher? (Dec. 21, 2011)

Sources:

April Declared Distracted Driving Month
National League of Cities April 16, 2012

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
U.S. Department of Transportation blog April 3, 2012

Related Web Resources:

Distraction.gov : Official U.S. Government Website for Distracted Driving

Cell Phone and Texting Laws April 2012
Governors' Highway Safety Association

If you grew up in my generation, going for a Sunday drive along Maryland back roads was a leisurely family pastime. We kids piled in the back of the sedan or station wagon, with dad at the wheel and mom riding shotgun. Life was a lot simpler in those days.

Looking back, it's a wonder more of us weren't injured or killed in Maryland car accidents. We had none of today's driving laws or vehicle safety equipment in place. No child or infant car seats, no air bags, no anti-lock brakes, and no cell phones if you did run into trouble. The cars may have had seat belts, but we weren't required by law to wear them. When it comes to traffic safety and preventing auto crashes in Maryland, we've come a long way since we were kids.

Thanks to adoption of traffic safety laws, public awareness campaigns, and vehicle improvements, national motor vehicle death rates are back down to the 1961 level. The U.S. Census reports that in 2009, a total 33,808 persons were killed in motor vehicle accidents in this country. That's as low as it's been since the early 1960s. Maryland had 547 traffic deaths in 2009. Still, every one of these Maryland traffic crash deaths means someone's life was cut short. A family was left grieving.

Baltimore County car crash injury lawyers know that one death on our Maryland roads and highways is one too many. Sadly, many of these deaths could have been prevented -- had the responsible drivers slowed down and obeyed the Maryland traffic laws. Now a new report shows how many lives have been saved by traffic laws and vehicle safety equipment in the U.S.

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation estimates numbers of lives saved nationally between 1975 and 2009, thanks to traffic laws and vehicle safety measures. Interesting findings, which apply to Maryland:

• Safety belts are the number-one life saver. The DOT estimates some 267,890 lives were saved during the 30+ year study period, because drivers and passengers simply buckled up. That's an astounding number. What's more, study authors estimate an additional 363,552 lives could have been saved if 100% people had used their seat belts.


• Motorcycle helmets reduced the number of people killed in motorcycle crashes by 31,985. An additional 28,169 motorcycle operators or passengers could have survived had 100% helmet use been in place.


• Legal drinking age of 21 saved 27,677 lives.


• Child restraints saved 9,310 lives.

Use caution when you're out driving on Maryland's highways, city streets and back roads. While we may have more traffic safety laws and better designed vehicles than in our parents' day -- we also have more traffic and more congested roads and highways. Distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding and teenage driving accidents remain serious risks and challenges for traffic safety advocates and law enforcement in Maryland.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

U.S. Highway Safety Group Green Lights Maryland Traffic Laws, While Noting Areas that Need Improvement (Jan. 18, 2012)

Maryland Car Accident Statistics: NHTSA Reports Fatalities Down to 1961 Level (April 7, 2009)

Sources:

Fatal Motor Vehicle Accidents -- National Summary 1990 - 2009 (PDF)
U.S. Census Bureau 2012, Based on Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Fatality Analysis Reporting System, General Estimates System, 2009 DATA SUMMARY (PDF)
U.S. Department of Transportation, Sept. 2011

Related Web Resource:

U.S. Census Bureau: The 2012 Statistical Abstract: Motor Vehicle Accidents and Fatalities

Though Baltimore County commuters might beg to differ, Maryland has recently been ranked as one of the safer states in the country for motorists. (See related Maryland Injury Attorney articles below.) Now a new study released by a national highway traffic safety advocacy group ranks Maryland among states given a "green light" for basic traffic laws on the books.

However many aspects of Maryland traffic laws and regulations could use improvement, as the study authors -- and experienced Baltimore County car accident injury lawyers -- would agree. Let's take a brief look at the study findings and recommendations.

Maryland's basic traffic laws were given "green light" passing grades by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The group is comprised of consumer, insurance, health, safety, and law enforcement representatives and conducts a national survey of traffic laws by state every year. Its report titled 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws looks at 15 basic traffic laws covering a range of safety areas, including use of motorcycle helmets and seat belts, texting while driving, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) programs, child safety seats, and ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers.

States given a "green light" grade, including Maryland and our neighbors in Delaware and Washington, D.C., have 10 to 15 basic traffic laws on their books, including a primary seat belt law, OR 9 laws including primary seat belt enforcement AND an all-rider motorcycle helmet law. Other states with fewer traffic safety laws were given a "yellow light" grade ("caution"), such as Pennsylvania to our north. Those states given a "red light" ("danger") grade are "falling behind" in national traffic safety and law enforcement trends (sorry, Virginia).

While the coalition commends Md. for our traffic safety laws, it nonetheless identified several areas that could use improvement to prevent serious and fatal traffic accidents. These include…

• Adoption of an Ignition Interlock Law to stop Maryland drunk drivers from operating their motor vehicles under the influence.


• Several provisions to strengthen a Graduated Drivers Licensing program (known in Maryland as our Rookie Driver / Graduated Licensing System). These include beefing up restrictions on cell phone use while driving, passengers, and night time driving; as well as setting a minimum age of 16 years for gaining a Learner's Permit. Young, inexperienced drivers are at higher risk for being involved in serious and fatal auto accidents in Maryland, putting themselves, their passengers and pedestrians at risk.

None of the states surveyed by the Advocates for Highway Safety achieved a perfect score for all the basic traffic laws they recommend be on every state's books. As long-time Maryland traffic accident injury attorneys, we'll be interested see if Maryland adds teeth to any of our traffic laws (or adopts any new ones) in 2012. Related reading below.

Related Maryland Injury Attorney articles:

Maryland Car Accident Death Rates Down, But Many Traffic Safety Challenges Remain (Jan. 2, 2012)

Should Maryland Laws Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving Get Even Tougher? (Dec. 21, 2011)

The Number-One Killer of Kids and Young Adults in Maryland (Sept. 23, 2012)

Sources:

Highway Safety Laws Needed in Maryland
Saferoads.org

2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety : Press Kit (PDF)
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety Jan. 11, 2012

Related Web Resources:

Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Administration:
Maryland Traffic Safety Laws

Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration:
Maryland Driver's Manual (PDF)

As a new year begins, it's worth noting some traffic accident statistics and trends for the state of Maryland. There's some encouraging news, but many Md. traffic safety and driving challenges remain.

A recent story reported by CBS Baltimore noted that Maryland traffic accident fatalities decreased by 10 percent last year. The report pointed to statistics for 2010 released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to NHTSA's findings, 493 motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in Maryland in 2010, compared with 549 in 2009.

A source from the Mid-Atlantic AAA reported that the decrease in Maryland car crash deaths can be credited to a number of factors. These include advances in automotive safety equipment such as air bags and anti-rollover technology, better road signage, as well as public safety campaigns targeting unsafe driving behaviors, including drunk driving in Maryland.

While this news is encouraging, experienced Hunt Valley accident and injury attorneys know -- even one traffic death on Maryland roads is one too many. While the old adage "Accidents can happen" may be true in some auto crash cases, so many traffic crashes are preventable. Let's take a look at a few of the major traffic safety challenges in Maryland.

Maryland Drunk Driving Accidents: Alcohol impaired driving remains a serious public safety concern, in Maryland and around the country. Drunk driving accident fatality rates go up around the holidays. NHTSA reports that 40 percent of US traffic crash deaths on major holidays involve alcohol-impaired driving, including those that occur on New Year's, Memorial Day, and Fourth of July. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Fatality Analysis Reporting System, General Estimates System, 2009 DATA SUMMARY, Sept. 2011)

Distracted Driving in Maryland: Though Maryland cell phone use while driving laws are some of the toughest in the country -- distracted driving, particularly texting while driving, remains a very dangerous practice. At present, Maryland law enforcement may only ticket drivers for texting if they're pulled over for some other primary offense.

Teen Drivers in Maryland: Young novice drivers are among the most dangerous on Maryland roads and highways. Teenage drivers lack the years of driving experience and maturity of adult drivers -- putting themselves, their passengers and other motorists at increased risk on Md. city streets, back roads and highways. The combination of teens, alcohol, and multiple passengers in a motor vehicle can be deadly.

Maryland Auto Crashes with Farm Equipment: Maryland's many miles of winding back roads can pose a challenge to urban and suburban drivers -- particularly those who aren't prepared to meet a tractor, combine or other agricultural vehicle, or livestock in the roadway. Car crashes with these farm vehicles and large animals can be disastrous.

Maryland Road and Highway Congestion: Maryland motorists, your driving frustrations are real. Road congestion in and around Baltimore County remains some of the most frustrating in the nation. A CBS Baltimore report named I-70 in Frederick, Md. the eleventh most congested roadway in the nation. Road construction, which will eventually improve Maryland highway driving, nonetheless poses driving accident hazards for motorists, road construction workers, and police working details in road construction zones. Parts of the Baltimore Beltway / I-695 were ranked 92nd most congested in the nation.

We've a long ways to go to make zero fatalities a reality on our nation's and our Maryland roadways. Have a safe and happy New Year.

Sources:

Md. Traffic Deaths Down 10 Percent
CBS Baltimore Dec. 8, 2011

New Road Congestion Study Names I-70 Nation’s 11th Worst
CBS Baltimore Nov. 15, 2011