Author: Anthony Proffitt

Everybody knows that distracted driving is dangerous driving. However, exactly which activities constitute distraction is often a point of debate. For instance, most people agree that a teenager trying to post on a social media outlet while driving is certainly a distracted driver.

However, many examples of distracted driving are far less obvious. For instance, many Americans snack or even eat entire meals behind the wheel each and every day. According to Decide to Drive, eating while driving can increase your risk of a crash by nearly 50%.

What kinds of foods are the most dangerous to eat?

In reality, eating anything while driving is a distraction. However, there are some kinds of food and beverage statistically more likely to be present at a crash scene than others. Many of these foods are readily available from fast food restaurants or roadside cafes.

Some very common foods at crash sites include powdered donuts, soups, tacos, chili, hamburgers, coffee and soft drinks. Again, this is likely because these foods are easy to get while driving. Eating a rack of lamb while driving is not any safer.

How can I stop eating while driving?

Usually a little bit of planning can help you avoid eating while operating a moving vehicle. If you usually eat your breakfast in your car, try waking up 10 minutes earlier. You may be able to eat at your breakfast table this way.

If you are going on a longer road trip, consider stopping at special restaurants to make eating a part of the vacation. Alternatively, consider packing a picnic lunch in advance and eating at a rest stop next to the highway. Not only will this prevent you from eating while driving, the food will likely be cheaper and healthier.

Most of the time, driver’s ed classes focus on how to teach people to drive defensively. However, not everybody takes these lessons to heart. It is likely that you will encounter an aggressive or even angry driver on America’s roadways at some point.  

Understanding road rage and what to do when you encounter it is paramount to staying safe, particularly since it is so common. According to Geico Insurance, almost 80% of surveyed drivers expressed anger behind the wheel at some point during the previous year. 

What are the most common forms that road rage takes?

Road rage is a very malleable concept, and different drivers will express it in a variety of ways. However, tailgating is a very common side effect of road rage. If another driver is honking excessively at you or even yelling out his or her car window, it is likely that the driver is under the effect of road rage. 

Road rage can take even more extreme forms. For instance, drivers have gotten out of their cars before at stop signs or in traffic to confront other drivers in their cars. Some drivers experiencing road rage even ram or bump their vehicle on purpose into another.  

What should I do if I encounter road rage?

The first thing is not to respond to the driver exhibiting rage. It might be tempting respond, but a better tactic is to try and stay away from the driver. You may find that slowing down or turning off onto a side road helps you get away.  

However, you should absolutely not stop the car, as this could cause a confrontation with the enraged driver. Road rage is dangerous, and the best thing to do is drive away.  

More Americans and Tennessee residents are purchasing large SUVs, as opposed to smaller passenger cars, and a study shows that pedestrians are experiencing more injuries and fatalities in car-on-pedestrian crashes because of it. SUVs have a higher front profile than traditional passenger cars, and this means heightened injury and fatality risks for pedestrians.

Per J.D. Power, SUV sales now account for 70% of all new car sales across the United States. In 2009, only about 21% of vehicles on the road were SUVs.

Study findings

The number of traffic fatalities across the United States decreased substantially between 1980 and 2018. Yet, over the last 10 years, pedestrian deaths have increased year after year, rising 53% within this span. Now, car-on-pedestrian crashes cause more than a fifth of all U.S. traffic deaths.

Injury risks are also greater when SUVs strike pedestrians. Larger, taller vehicles tend to strike pedestrians higher up on their bodies than smaller cars. This increases the risk of internal injuries to major organs. While some SUV manufacturers have updated their designs to reduce associated risks, such efforts have not proved effective thus far.

Speed considerations

How fast an SUV is traveling also helps determine how much a threat it poses to pedestrians. When cars travel at 40 mph and strike pedestrians, pedestrians survive in about 46% of instances. When an SUV strikes a pedestrian while traveling at the same speed, pedestrians die in 100% of crashes.

Pedestrians should not count on motorists to exercise care and watch out for them. As Americans continue to buy more SUVs, the dangers for pedestrians may continue to increase.

If you have experienced an auto injury, you may have a long road to recovery. Worse, your injury may prevent you from being able to work, making it difficult to cover mounting medical bills while continuing to support yourself and your family.

In Tennessee, the law holds negligent drivers responsible for the damage they cause. In addition to compensation for medical expenses, you may be able to recover damages for lost income, permanent disability and the pain and suffering caused by your injury.

1. Replacement of lost income

You may need to take time off work during your recovery, and if your injury is severe, it may impact your ability to earn income for months, years or even permanently. You may be able to receive compensation for both time missed due to your injury and future loss of earning potential.

2. Payment for medical expenses

From emergency room care to ongoing treatments, you may be able to collect payment for present and future health care costs related to your injury. In addition to the expense of hospitalization and/or surgery, your claim may cover the costs of prescriptions, assistive devices, physical therapy and follow-up medical visits.

3. Pain and suffering

Your life may never be the same after your injury. From the physical pain of the injury itself to the potential for lifelong disability or disfigurement, the law may hold a negligent driver accountable by awarding you compensation for the damage done to your life and to your family.

If another motorist’s recklessness has caused you or a loved one serious injury, it is important to act quickly. Under Tennessee law, you may have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury claim.