Drowsy driving is the combination of driving when sleepy and usually happens when a driver has not slept enough. This can be a result of an untreated sleep disorder or shift work that is taxing on one’s body. Prescription and over-the-counter medications can also cause drowsiness, as well as alcohol. Causes of Drowsy Driving Alcohol: [...]
I have seen the extensive damage and loss caused by even one distracted driving crash. "I'm so sorry" or " I wish I wouldn’t have been on my cellphone" has no purposeful meaning once the damage is done. There is no going back. Sue Lee was a skilled seamstress at a local clothing manufacturer. Her [...]
Anthony is in his mid-50's. He is an entrepreneur with an MBA, and a city council member with a long history of political campaign work. He and his husband, a local surgeon, were well-known for their civic engagement— and their big annual holiday party. Everything changed in an instant. Distracted driver crash in Washington [...]
BMW is integrating Skype for Business into new cars. The features will be integrated into the new BMW series in parts of Europe. Other markets—including the U.S.— should see it soon. "Microsoft Exchange will also integrate calendars, to-do lists and contacts using the car's voice and navigation systems," according to the company's press release. Here's why this strikes [...]
The most effective way to stop drivers from texting might be the threat of criminal charges. Texting while driving is illegal in 46 states. (Text messages are not the sole culprit—there are dozens of possible distractions on your smartphone—but only 16 states ban all hand-held devices for drivers.)* You don't need statistics to know that [...]
A decade ago, the Washington State distracted driving law was passed - and became one of the first state laws regulating drivers' cell phone use. Since then, mobile devices have changed dramatically—and distracted driving has become an even bigger problem. On May 16, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5389: a new, more comprehensive distracted driving law. [...]
Guess when the first drunk driving law was enacted? Back in 1910. That was surprising to me. 100+ years after this problem was identified, about ten thousand people will die in an alcohol-related crash in the U.S. this year. 1910, more or less. The early laws prohibited driving while intoxicated, but there was [...]
Just a couple of decades ago, alcohol was a factor in nearly half of all fatal crashes in the U.S. Since then, social and legal changes have sliced that number in half. In 1982, nearly half - 49% - of drivers in fatal car crashes had a blood alcohol level exceeding .08, the [...]
Distracted driving is a serious issue on the roadways of Washington, as well as across our country. There are basically 3 forms of distracted driving: visual, cognitive, and manual. Visual distraction occurs when the driver is looking at anything except the road, i.e. their cellphone. Cognitive distraction is when the driver's mind isn't on the [...]
The University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center conducted a study on distracted driving enforcement. Using focus groups of police officers from King County, Whatcom County, and Spokane County, researchers identified some common problems, including: distracted driving laws are difficult to enforce. The study participants proposed a solution. Laws should prohibit all forms [...]
