That clearly depends on who you ask.
]]> "Where I'm from, it's 75 on the interstate," says a Kentucky driver who is regularly on Ohio roads. "I feel it's pretty safe."An Ohio resident interviewed for a story on potential changes to state traffic laws countered that, "When you give it 70, people are going to be going 75 or 80." His stated view: "That's going to be kind of dangerous, I think."
The discussion has picked up recently, given Ohio House Bill 395, which seeks two changes to Ohio law: an increase of the speed limit on all interstates to 70 miles per hour for all vehicles, coupled with a bar on motorists using the extreme left lane at all except when passing or exiting.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ron Maag (R-Lebanon). It had its first hearing earlier this week. The prospective legislation has a long way to go to be enacted as law, needing first to pass a floor vote in the Ohio House of Representatives following its survival out of committee. None of that is guaranteed.
The bill calls for a ticket to be issued to any driver who simply occupies the leftmost lane without an intent to either pass another vehicle or exit the freeway.
It would apply to all vehicles, providing for "70 miles per hour at all times on all portions of freeways that are part of the interstate system."
Source: NBC, "Stop-hogging-the-passing-lane bill gets first hearing" Marshall McPeek, Jan. 31, 2012
]]>Here's how much, according to the research: $250 billion per year, which exceeds by more than $30 billion the annual financial impact nationally associated with all types of cancers combined. Furthermore, the nearly 60,000 work-related deaths that typically occur in a given year owing to injuries and diseases exceed by more than 15,000 the number of fatal victims from motor vehicle accidents.
]]> Statistics like that belie any fiction that workplace hazards and danger are only occasional elements in factories, warehouses, offices, construction zones and other work environments in Ohio and elsewhere across the country.Notwithstanding tighter federal and state safety guidelines and regulations that have issued in recent years, along with the efforts of organizations like the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) focused on increased worker safety, workplace injuries, deaths and costs remain high. The just-completed study notes, for example, that the costs relating to job-related injuries have increased by well more than $30 billion over the past 10 years.
The study also notes that workers' compensation nationally covers less than one fourth of workplace-injury costs. That finding is strong impetus for an injured worker who is unsure of coverage and applicable law -- as well as potential legal claims against third parties who may have been culpable in an injury -- to secure the assistance of an experienced workers' compensation attorney.
Source: US News & World Report, "U.S. work-related injuries, illnesses take toll on the till" Jan. 20, 2012
]]>This line of argument is a reversal from admissions made by Toyota in 2009 and 2010 in which the company stated that mechanical problems with the gas pedals could have caused some of the accelerations.
The biggest drawback to relying on black box data is that the black box only records a few seconds of data prior to the crash. It is possible that the plaintiff did use the brakes and that the action was not recorded by the black box. Other data such as skid marks and eyewitness accounts are also needed to properly determine the cause of the accident.
Source: Huffington Post, "Toyota sudden acceleration lawsuit defense revealed: Blame the driver" Jan. 13, 2012
]]>And, now, some problems to boot.
Along with its major competitors, Ford Motor Company has not been spared in recent years by issues relating to some of its vehicle models that have brought about adverse publicity and charges that product defects cause or increase the likelihood of car accidents and other problems.
]]> In fact, and just within the past two months, we have informed readers on several occasions of product recalls issued by various manufacturers relating to a wide host of problems. Toyota has had ongoing problems and concerns with steering defects in some of its models; the electric batteries on General Motors' Chevy Volt car show a propensity for bursting into flame following accidents; and some older GM vans have a demonstrated corrosion problem that can cause fuel leaks.Ford now adds to the collective concerns, having just announced earlier this month that it is recalling about half a million of its SUVS and minivans for accident-risk problems.
The company's Escape SUV, note s Ford, might not have been properly fixed the first time around, in a 2007 recall. Some of the SUVs leak brake fluid, which can cause fires.
Arguably, the steering problems with some of the company's Freestar and Monterey Mercury minivans are even more alarming. Their torque converter shafts have been known to fail, which brings about a sudden loss of power.
Although Ford cites only two "minor" accidents resulting from that, it is nonetheless recalling every Freestar and Monterey minivan made in 2004 and 2005.
Source: Bloomberg, "Ford recalls 490,000 minivans, SUVs for safety flaws" Angela Greiling Keane, Jan. 11, 2012
]]>The data was gathered by D. Mark Anderson, an economics professor at Montana State University, and Daniel Rees, a professor at the University of Colorado Denver. The individual state data was derived from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which, along with other data sources, determined a nine percent reduction in traffic accident fatalities in the states that have legalized marijuana laws.
]]> Sixteen states currently have legalized medical marijuana. Although Ohio is not included, it currently has a citizen-initiated amendment to its Constitution that is scheduled for a ballot vote this year. Pennsylvania and Illinois also have pending legislation, and Michigan has had a legalized marijuana law since 2008. States that do have legalized marijuana report decreases in car accident deaths.The researchers both said they are surprised at the results from the study. They believe the results could be because young people and adults are consuming less alcohol in favor of legalized marijuana. They agree that while the study results do not prove that smoking marijuana impairs drivers any less than alcohol, it is a possibility.
The research does have it critics. Discover magazine posted that the evidence is not definitive and that the study did not compare the same statistics among states that do not have legalized marijuana.
Source: Huffington Post, "States that legalized medical marijuana saw fewer traffic deaths, study says" Dec. 30, 2011
]]>At least 24 other states already require similar sobriety-check locks on the vehicles of repeat drunk driving offenders, or for offenders whose BAC while driving was found to be at .15 or more. Ohio law requires interlock installation for any driver who is convicted a second time of driving under the influence.
]]> In an effort to reduce car accidents, the push is on nationally to drastically reduce the risk of drunk drivers taking to the streets and causing accidents and loss of life. All 50 states have taken some measures to keep drunk drivers off the roads, but some leave that decision up to the discretion of judges.MADD is seeking tougher measures -- such as interlocks -- that forcibly prevent drivers from operating a motor vehicle. Since it launched its 50-state campaign, 13 states have adopted mandated ignition interlocks for first-time drunk drivers. A spokesperson for MADD noted that even when licenses are suspended, up to 75 percent of motorists ignore the punishment, thus rendering that deterrent less than effective.
Proponents of the devices say the measure can also help reduce lost time and money dealing with repeat drunk drivers -- the devices are reported to reduce re-arrests of convicted drunk drivers by up to 67 percent.
Source: MSNBC, "Curbing drunken drivers: Should ignition interlock be required on every car?" Jim Gold, Jan 5, 2012
]]>The National Health Interview Survey conducted the study and released its findings in its annual report. The condition impairs workers in every state, including Ohio, and impedes the feeling and movement to the hands after continuous pressure is placed on the nerves in the wrist by repetitive wrist actions. It can lead to numbness and muscle weakness or damage of the hands and fingers.
]]> The survey stated that close to 70 percent of all employed adults who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome in 2010 were told by physicians that the condition related to their work. The CDC also released data that showed that 3.1 percent of employed adults, ranging from ages 18 to 64, have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome within the past year.Officials with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also recently conducted research that was published in the organization's journal, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, which studied the relationships between physical workplace factors, especially repetitive hand activity, and the exertion and pressure that is symptomatic with carpal tunnel syndrome.
The authors of the study stated that while CTS drives up the costs of workers' compensation, some cases could be avoided by identifying and redesigning the tasks, workstations, or tools that cause the physical stress points in the wrists.
Source: Medical Daily, "CDC survey: Carpal tunnel syndrome mostly linked to work" Adam Daley, Dec. 23, 2011
]]>The accident occurred on U.S. 52. The ODOT driver was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. The Kentucky motorist was in stable condition following the crash.
"He said he looked down to get a pop can out of the floorboard," said an Ohio State Patrol trooper who questioned the distracted driver following the accident. The motorist may be charged with not keeping a safe distance from the ODOT vehicle.
Motorists paying undue attention to things other than driving -- mobile devices, food, the scenery -- account for about 6,000 traffic fatalities annually. Drivers with a hand-device are four times more likely to crash than other motorists.
"It's very scary when you put your life in their hands -- very scary," said a local tow truck driver.
Source: WSAZ News Channel 3, "New info: Scioto County accident sparks distracted driver concerns" Josh McComas, Jan. 5, 2012
]]>As he readily notes, discussions concerning the program invariably "elicit strong opinions from all corners." Buehrer says that the program -- designed to protect injured workers and their employers by balancing the needs of both -- will always engender hot debate concerning major agenda items, particularly the need for reform.
]]> Conversely, he notes, "the little things are infinitely the most important," and he states that the BWC has focused on and successfully carried out a number of mini-reforms during 2011 that have made a strong and salutary difference in the program's operation and effectiveness.Buehrer points immediately to a 12 percent cut in the bureau's base rates and biennial budget, which he says have saved Ohio businesses and taxpayers more than $165 million. He also says that worker safety improved during the year as a result of a wellness grant program instituted by the BWC.
Buehrer says that "troubling trends" serve to undercut improvements made to the system, though. Central among these is a drop in the number of workers who return to their jobs within a year after being approved for workers' compensation benefits.
Buehrer also states that medical costs and outlays relating to lost wages are rising faster in Ohio than in many other states, and that the state stands dead last in the country for having the highest long-term costs for claims.
Buehrer discusses a number of bureau aims going forward, most fundamentally the BWC's focus on getting injured employees healthy, productive and back to the workplace more quickly than is presently the case.
Source: Circleville Herald, "Looking back over 100 years of workers comp" Stephen Buehrer, Dec. 26, 2011
]]>These older vehicles have rusting issues that appear to lead to potential safety problems, including fuel leaks, which could potentially lead to the occurrence of car accidents. The NHTSA states on its website that it has opened some 17,163 preliminary investigations on 2003 Chevrolet Express vans and 63,000 investigations on Mercury Monterey and Ford Freestar minivans.
]]> The investigation pertaining to GM is focused on the company's Express vans with a left-hand door behind the front door. It appears that the fuel filter pipe may corrode over time and then end up leaking fuel, which is a major concern.In the investigation pertaining to Ford automobiles, NHTSA investigators state that they have received seven complaints regarding the 2004 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans. The minivans were used in salt-belt states, and the complaints pertained to the rear-wheel wells becoming severely corroded, causing safety issues.
Although the NHTSA has not identified any car accidents or injuries in connection with either investigation, the agency is concerned. In recent years, the agency has conducted investigations regarding rusting issues on a number of older vehicles. These probes did cause automakers to recall vehicles that were being used in the 21 salt-belt states, including Ohio, Michigan and the District of Columbia.
Both Ford and GM's spokespersons have made statements that they will cooperate with the government's investigations.
Source: The Detroit News, "Feds investigating 80,000 older Ford, GM vehicles for rust issues" David Shepardson, Dec. 27, 2011
]]>The rule applies to drivers of commercial motor vehicles and to commercial drivers carrying passengers in Ohio and elsewhere throughout the United States.
]]> Other provisions of the new rule include retention of the existing work week limit of 70 hours for drivers and implementing a mandatory rest break of at least 30 minutes after eight hours of work.The final rule also adds two restrictions to 34-hour restarts. Drivers who use the restart option to start a "new" workweek after taking an off-duty break of at least 34 hours may only use the option once a week. They also must include home terminal time at least twice a week between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. -- hours that experts believe are the most important for sleep, according to the driver's body clock.
In addition, the new rule changes the definition of on-duty time to exclude time resting in a parked CMV and up to two hours in the passenger seat right before or after eight consecutive hours in the sleeper-berth. The agency will continue to monitor and analyze data regarding HOS incidents. Compliance with the rule must be in place by July 1, 2013.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, "Hours-of-service (HOS) final rule" December 2011
]]>Ohio car accident experts and their peers nationally note that, at any moment during the day, roughly 13.5 million drivers are using a hand-held phone. This number is not in decline, despite laws in most states that ban text messaging and the ban in some states that outlaws altogether the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Text messaging, in fact, is on the rise, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
]]> The NHTSA also reports that there is evidence suggesting that one-tenth of all roadway deaths last year -- more than 3,000 in total -- were the direct result of distracted driving. Because this figure includes only confirmed cases of distracted driving, the actual number may be much higher. Pinning the cause of an accident on distracted driving, though, can be difficult because of a lack of witnesses.In conjunction with the research announcement, the NHTSA also unveiled a new measure for tracking motor vehicle trends. The measurement, called "distraction-affected crashes," will be an aid in future efforts analyzing driving habits.
The research announcement highlights the growing trend of mobile technology and its ability to distract drivers on the road. The increased evidence of the threat of cell phones to motor vehicle drivers and passengers could also guide future efforts to develop safer technology and legislation governing the use of technology while driving.
Source: CNN, "Millions of drivers won't hang up, study shows" Mike M. Ahlers, Dec. 8, 2011
]]>Last week the agency made it official and broadly disseminated it by announcing with requisite fanfare its recommendation for a flat prohibition on all cell phone use -- including communicating via hands-free models -- in every state across the country. NTSB officials say that such a move, excepting an allowance for emergency use, would result in a sharp reduction of car accidents and other mishaps on the road.
]]> Views from across Ohio -- a state that presently has a law concerning motorists' cell phone use that is more lenient than statutory enactments in many other states -- in response to the announcement differed widely, although most people weighing in with an opinion take issue with the NTSB's stance."I could see myself violating that ban," said one, a young woman in her 20s. "It would cost a lot of time and money to enforce."
Many others agree, including state legislators. One of them, State Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Jackson Township, calls the proposed ban an "overreach."
Another -- State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-Canfield -- says that, "I don't understand where you draw the line." Schiavoni says listening to a car radio, conversing with a friend or eating a sandwich all potentially constitute equally distracting behaviors.
Ohio law enforcement officials state that driver inattentiveness is unquestionably a growing problem, but they agree that consistent detection of violators and enforcement of such a law would be problematic.
Source: Canton Repository, "Drivers here blast federal call for nearly blanket ban on cell phones" Robert Wang, Dec. 19, 2011
]]>Notably, snow and plunging temperatures created dangerous and strongly adverse driving conditions across large pockets of the state, resulting in a number of car and truck crashes.
Sandusky County was a case in point, with sub-freezing temperatures there, coupled with a number of motorists simply driving too fast for the conditions, resulting in over a score of collisions over the weekend.
Ohio Highway Patrol troopers were especially busy on highways and interstate roads. On U.S. 6 near Fremont, for example, troopers responded to more than a dozen crashes on Saturday.
"We just had crashes everywhere," said Fremont Post Commander Lt. Brent Meredith. "Mostly everyone was just driving too fast."
State officials also note an additional factor over the holidays that always adds a heightened safety risk, namely, more drunk drivers on the roads.
They want drivers to know they're closely tracking that, with stepped-up observation and enforcement planned throughout the holiday season.
Source: Fremont News Messenger, "Rash of crashes occur over weekend" Dec. 21, 2011
]]>As baby boomers enter their mid-60s, the percentage of elderly drivers is projected to hit an all-time high. The number of drivers over the age of 65 will increase by about 75 percent over the course of the next two decades. Ten years from now, one out of four drivers on the road will be 65 or older.
Ohio car accident experts noted that AAA's efforts to prepare the public for this change were part of Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, which was observed December 5 - 9. The national motor safety organization is encouraging people of all ages to prepare for the "Silver Tsunami," as it is being called, of older drivers on the roads.
]]> Additionally, AAA wants the friends and families of older drivers to prepare themselves for handling elderly loved ones as their driving abilities deteriorate. This can be a difficult time for the driver -- the loss of independence and self-reliance can be difficult for some people to come to terms with. Communication among everyone involved is important to deciding when a driver should stop operating a motor vehicle, and communication can also elderly drivers come to terms with their situation.AAA offers computer-operated assessments of driving skills for senior citizens, and other tips and strategies for handling elderly drivers as they continue to operate motor vehicles can be found on the organization's website.
Source: Market Watch, "AAA urges families to prepare for the "silver tsunami" of aging drivers" Dec. 5, 2011
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