Because they don't have the sloping profile of most cars, SUVs can do serious harm to a pedestrian's body in a collision. Besides that, SUVs are much heavier than the average car. What Washington residents should know is that SUVs may be contributing to the overall...
Blog
Preventing large truck collisions
Drivers in Washington know that safety features on cars are always improving. In recent years, the number of deaths associated with collisions involving most passenger vehicles has gone down. But at the same time, the number of fatalities linked to large truck...
Pedestrian killed by drunk hit-and-run driver
Thousands of pedestrians are killed or catastrophically injured in Washington and around the country each year after being struck by motor vehicles. One such accident took place in Connecticut during the early morning hours of Oct. 1. According to a police report, a...
Parents and teen driver safety during the 100 deadliest days
Every year, there's an uptick in auto accidents that involve teen drivers during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Known as the "100 deadliest days," it's usually a good time for parents and teen drivers in Washington to sit down for a good talk about...
Factors that make rustic roads more dangerous than urban ones
Compared to the urban roads that many drivers in Washington travel each day, rural roads can seem safer, especially because of the lack of traffic. But this is far from the case, and it is precisely those drivers who are unfamiliar with rural roads who often make them...
The effects of drowsy driving
You may not know this, but fatigued driving can be every bit as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol. When you get behind the wheel and drive on a Washington road without getting the proper rest, you can be a danger to other drivers on the road as...
Why people shouldn’t drive while impaired
Consuming drugs or alcohol can interfere with a person's ability to judge his or her surroundings. Therefore, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Washington and most other states after drinking a beer or using substances like marijuana or cocaine. It may also...
GAO pushes for pedestrian safety standards for all new cars
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has safety standards that all automakers are supposed to meet, but these standards concern the vehicle occupants only and not those outside a vehicle. Residents of Washington should know that by contrast, many...
Distractions make highway work zone crash 29 times likelier
Highway work zones seem to be a magnet for car crashes in Washington and across the U.S. In fact, crashes occur in these zones every 5.4 minutes. Narrow lanes and speeding are two factors that raise the risk for a crash and increase its severity, and a new study has...
More coffee over long term may raise truckers’ risk for crash
Many truckers in Washington would admit that they need caffeine to stay awake sometimes, but they may not be aware of the dangers. A study conducted by a U.K. transportation safety expert and the Virginia Tech Transport Institute has tentatively linked high coffee...