Category: Car Accidents

• May 26, 2016
• Evans/Reilley

The period between April 2015 and March 2016 was the second wettest on record for Texas. Torrential rains raised the Sabine River in Deweyville to 33.24 feet on March 15, 2016, breaking a record set in 1884. About a month later, 17 inches of rain fell in Houston in 24 hours, and floodwaters caused at least eight deaths and an estimated $5 billion in damage to buildings and vehicles. Last June, Texas Monthly magazine reported that May floodwaters were believed to have damaged up to 10,000 cars in the state, primarily in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. And while Texas law requires sellers of used cars to declare via the vehicle’s title whether a vehicle has been rebuilt or previously deemed too damaged to be roadworthy, som[...]

• April 27, 2016
• Evans/Reilley

In March, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration released its Drowsy Driving Research and Program Plan, which outlines several initiatives intended to address the problem of drowsy driving. Drowsiness is estimated to be a factor in 2 to 20 percent of annual traffic fatalities and about 72,000 crashes per year. But the actual number of drowsy-driving crashes and fatalities may be higher, because at present there’s no standardized method police departments use to identify drowsy drivers and cite drowsiness in their crash reports. The NHTSA aims to develop such standards, to better understand the impact of drowsiness, and to educate the public about the dangers of drowsy driving. How Tiredness Affects People Busy [...]

• March 2, 2016
• Evans/Reilley

Looking at crash statistics can reveal a lot about the most important traffic safety issues in Texas. And when statistics indicate a certain factor is to blame for a growing number of deadly crashes, existing laws may need to be strengthened, or new laws developed, to reverse the trend. Historically, it often takes years of serious and fatal accidents before legislators create laws intended to improve safety. For example, it wasn’t until 1968 that automakers were required to install seat belts in all new cars, and Texas didn’t have a primary seat belt law until the 1980s. Those laws came about because government officials recognized the important role seat belts play in saving lives. So what do Texas statistics tell us now? Re[...]

• November 27, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

In Texas and many other states, the law requires drivers on multi-lane highways to use the left lane only for passing. The intent of the “Texas Slowpoke Law” is to reduce the risk of vehicle crashes and ensure the smooth flow of traffic. But it’s not uncommon to see motorists tooling along in the left lane on highways. The Texas Department of Public Safety dedicated a day in 2013 to enforcing the left-lane law, mainly to raise awareness of its existence. State troopers issued warnings or tickets to motorists who were staying in the left lane instead of using the left lane to pass. Texas DPS Sgt. Gordon Schneider told the Houston Chronicle that “a rash of road-rage incidents” had been attributed to people who were driving[...]

• November 6, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

Austin Traffic Fatalities Report Reveals Contributing Factors On Oct. 14, the Austin Police Department issued a news release about the 82nd traffic fatality of 2015. It was the 74th fatal crash since Jan. 1 – nearly double the number of fatal crashes measured in the same period last year. Police want to understand why fatal crashes have increased in 2015, so they’re taking a closer look at contributing factors. APD’s recent Traffic Fatalities Brief reveals some insights about the 76 fatalities that occurred between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31. Methodology and Commonalities The APD report studied characteristics of each person found to be at fault for a fatal crash, regardless of whether that person survived, along with incident character[...]

• October 16, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

Each year during the third week of October, school districts around the country observe National School Bus Safety Week, which this year is Oct. 19-23. Many people may think school bus safety is an issue primarily under the control of bus drivers, but other motorists play a big role in the safety of school bus occupants, too. Careless Motorists Distracted or excited children entering or leaving school may not always be aware of danger in the streets. That’s why fines for traffic offenses are higher in school zones. Too many antsy drivers, however, blow through school zones with no regard to posted speed limits. Texas law requires drivers to stop when approaching a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. The law is in place to p[...]

• October 5, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

In August, Austin’s exasperated police chief called for change, following another deadly wrong-way crash. The driver – who had a blood alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit – survived, but her passenger died the next day from her injuries, and another motorist died at the scene. It was the 65th fatal crash in Austin in 2015. Chief Art Acevedo told TV station KVUE that juries need to be tougher on drunk drivers, and bartenders who over-serve customers should be held accountable. He urged parents to talk to their children about the dangers of drunk driving and the dangers of riding with a driver who has been drinking. He asked people to call the police if they witness a bartender serving an obviously intoxicated patron or if [...]

• August 31, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

During a recent morning rush hour in Allen, Texas, a man fired a gun at a driver in front of him, because she had allegedly cut him off in traffic. He fired four shots – through his own windshield – that pierced her back window, and one of the bullets grazed the woman’s dashboard. Neither driver was injured, and police later arrested the man. This incident is an extreme example of “road rage” – a problem that’s becoming increasingly common, especially in and around Dallas. It begins with aggressive drivers, and when they lose their temper, they may become involved in deadly altercations with other drivers. Often, people who are prone to aggressive driving become more agitated when stuck in traffic. They may follow cars [...]

• August 19, 2015
• Evans/Reilley

Car seats are designed to keep children safe in motor vehicles, but in order to be effective, they must be installed properly and be the right size. Seats that aren’t secured or are the wrong size can put children at risk of injury. In Texas, the law requires children to be secured in car seats or booster seats if they are 8 years old or younger. However, age is less important than a child’s size, when it comes to determining what type of car seat they need. For example, a child who’s 3 years old and therefore legally able to be placed in a forward-facing car seat might need to ride in a rear-facing seat, if he’s small for his age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following general guidelin[...]