Author: Anthony Proffitt

What’s that old saying? “If you talk the talk, you should walk the walk.” It seems not every driver in Tennessee does that. According to a new survey, 88 percent of Tennessee drivers believe that texting, or looking at a phone, while driving is dangerous behavior. But at the same time, 27 percent of them admit to doing just that in the last month.

Clearly, distracted or drowsy driving is a leading cause of car accidents, right up there with driving while intoxicated. Only 4 percent of drivers in the survey admitted to driving after drinking. But a whopping 25 percent of them admitted to driving while they were drowsy at some point in the prior 30 days.

The survey, conducted by the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research, seems to indicate a false sense of security among drivers. It’s possible that some of the drivers polled don’t believe a bad accident could happen to them. Maybe others are trying to kick the habit of texting while driving, which could result in a fine if they are caught by police.

Whatever the case, drivers need to be aware that dangerous behavior, such as driving too fast, getting behind the wheel while sleepy or fiddling with an electronic device while driving, can negatively impact all motorists around them.

According to KnoxNews.com, it’s likely that the results of the University of Tennessee study will be used to determine where to implement education campaigns.

Source: KnoxNews.com, “Editorial: Drivers need to drive, not send text messages,” Jan. 30, 2012

A routine day turned into a nightmare for a Tennessee teen back in October 2010. He still doesn’t remember what exactly happened, but it’s believed that as he drove down Big Springs Road, he looked down at some point, causing him to swerve, over-correct and then slam into a tree.

The car accident nearly cost the teen his life. He was treated at Tennessee Medical Center and said doctors were forced to remove his spleen and one of his kidneys. He also had fractured ribs and vertebrae, and his urethra to his bladder was severed.

As the teen, who was a junior in high school at the time of the crash, and his family speak out in the hopes of preventing further car accidents involving teens, the state of Tennessee is looking at a recent evaluation of its traffic laws.

According to KnoxNews.com, Tennessee ranks as one of the country’s top 18 safest states when it comes to traffic safety. That’s according to an annual road safety report, “The 2012 Roadmap to State highway Safety Laws.”

Every state was evaluated on 15 different traffic safety laws. The report indicates that Tennessee passed more than 10 of the 15 suggested safety laws, including primary enforcement of seatbelt laws. That means people can be pulled over if police notice they aren’t wearing a seatbelt.

The 15 traffic laws include seven elements of a graduated driver’s licensing program, a text messaging ban and three-occupant protection measures, among others.

The teenager and his mother attended the release of the latest report in Washington to speak out for teen driving safety.

Source: KnoxNews.com, “Greenback teen, mom crusade in D.C. for auto safety,” Elijah Herington Scripps, Jan. 12, 2012

Surely you’ve been in a situation where the driver in front of you is driving erratically. They swerve in and out of their lane, and it’s hard to tell if they’re drunk, not paying attention or falling asleep.

Some new technology is aiming to give sleepy drivers, or perhaps those not paying enough attention, a little help. As Ford calls it, “lane-keeping technology” aims to keep drivers in the center of the lane in order to prevent car accidents.

Other companies, such as Toyota, have introduced similar systems under different names, such as “lane keep assist.” Ford’s new system hasn’t gotten a recommendation from the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration yet, but Ford is offering it as an option for its Explorer and Fusion 2013 models.

This is how it works: a camera is mounted to a vehicle’s rear-view mirror. The equipment is supposed to track the road’s lane markings. So, if a driver swerves too far to the left or right, the system can give the driver a warning in the form of a vibration in the steering wheel.

If the driver ignores it, the vehicle will automatically correct to the center of the lane. Of course, the technology will only kick in if a vehicle is traveling at a minimum of 40 mph and the system is switched on.

Some have pointed out some possible flaws, including when the camera doesn’t work properly due to low sun angles and heavy precipitation. Still, it is hoped such technology will eventually keep motorists safe from swerving drivers.

Source: New York Times, “Trying to nudge drowsy drivers,” Randall Stross, Jan. 21, 2012

Tennessee is one of the least restrictive states in the nation when it comes to elderly drivers. Some states have strict laws requiring drivers of a certain age to submit to medical testing before they are allowed behind the wheel. While Tennessee may not go that far, officials are looking to impose tougher restrictions on elderly drivers in the future.

As baby boomers age, there will be more elderly drivers on the road. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 21.6 million drivers aged 70 and older in 2008, accounting for about 10 percent of all drivers. Some fear there will be increased instances of car accidents as drivers age.

According to the Tennessean, the AAA Foundation for Driver Safety estimates that one of every five drivers will be age 65 or older by the year 2030. State officials are said to be exploring new laws that could subject elderly drivers to additional testing.

The new laws could also make it easier for the state to take away licenses from older drivers upon the request of their family members. The Tennessee attorney general says the laws would not be discriminatory or unconstitutional as long as they “were rationally related to a legitimate state interest,” the Tennessean says.

Still, it may be tough to convince older drivers that their rights are not being violated. Even those who should not be driving because of medical reasons, such as the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, are often resistant to giving up driving.

Many view giving up driving as giving up independence. A representative of the Meharry Consortium Geriatric Education Center says areas need more senior transport services, which are often offered by nonprofit or religious organizations.

It remains to be seen when such laws may go into effect.

Source: The Tennessean, “Older Tennessee drivers may encounter tougher laws,” Brandon Gee, Jan. 17, 2012

When a driver is arrested for driving drunk, one might think he or she would learn from it. And if they are arrested for fatally hitting someone while driving drunk, they would learn from that. Whether he learned anything or not, a Tennessee man was arrested and charged with his sixth DUI recently.

The 39-year-old man, who is from Shelbyville, was driving on Interstate 65 near Cool Springs over the weekend when police apparently clocked him at 101 mph. He was arrested, but he’s already out of jail, according to WSMV’s website.

When the man was 19 years old back in 1992, he was charged with vehicular homicide after he hit and killed a teenager while he was apparently driving drunk. He’s had several DUIs since then, including some in three states. He doesn’t even have a valid driver’s license.

The man has spent some time in jail for various crimes, including burglary, vandalism, auto theft and escape.

According to the Williamson County district attorney, a fourth DUI becomes an E felony under Tennessee law. That typically leads to one to two years of prison time. But once someone reaches four, the punishment is the same.

Many question how this man could have walked out of jail just days after he was arrested. Police say they didn’t have a choice in letting him out. This time, he didn’t cause a fatal accident, but traveling at over 100 mph on the interstate, he easily could have.

Source: WSMV, “Shelbyville man accused of driving 100 mph gets 6^th DUI,” Dennis Ferrier, Jan. 9, 2012

When roads clog up with vehicles, as they did when three car accidents occurred on Interstate 40 one day in late December, drivers are often tempted to escape the stalled chaos in untraditional ways.

But the Tennessee Highway Patrol is warning drivers against using emergency lanes or medians to merely cut out of a parking lot-esque scenario. Patience is a virtue, officers say. Staying calm can save your life, not to mention help you avoid fines or citations.

A sergeant with the Tennessee Highway Patrol says the post-Christmas accidents may have been fueled by puffed-up holiday traffic. But crossing a median or driving on the shoulder can be dangerous. Drivers who use such escape routes could face stiff penalties.

The officer also says that drivers often ignore signs to merge and wait until the absolute last moment to do so. But, he tells WBIR, “It doesn’t tell you to merge when at the end of the road. You’re supposed to merge when you see those signs.”

Waiting until the very last minute to merge could earn a driver a reckless driving citation.

Using an emergency lane to get around traffic can be particularly dangerous, he says, because ditches often have a deeper drop-off than drivers realize. And while backing up isn’t itself illegal, it is once a driver interferes with traffic.

The bottom line? It’s better to bore yourself by waiting it out than put your life at risk with an impulsive escape.

Source: WBIR, “Tennessee Highway Patrol warns using emergency lanes, medians to avoid traffic jams will cost drivers money and points on license,” Steve Butera, Dec. 27, 2011

Evading police is never a smart idea, and initiating a chase is even more foolish. Not only are there significant legal implications, but it puts you and your passengers, police officers and innocent bystanders at unnecessary risk.

A car accident resulting from a police chase in Washington County illustrates the point perfectly. It all started with an armed robbery involving two men and one woman on Sand Valley Road. They apparently fled the scene of the robbery in a red Chevy Cavalier and headed down Highway 81 South. They were chased by sheriff’s deputies.

One deputy farther down the road, near Charlie Hoss Road, was laying down a spike strip across the road to put an end to the chase. Unfortunately, the Cavalier struck him, causing him to sustain several injuries, including a broken arm and possible compound fractures, according to TriCities.com. He apparently underwent surgery and was said to be doing okay.

Fellow officers say the sheriff’s deputy was following protocol when the accident occurred.

The Cavalier eventually crashed and officers caught up with the suspects after they fled on foot. They now will face various charges of robbery, leaving the scene of an accident with injuries and evading arrest. The driver of the car who fled the scene was also charged with attempted first degree murder.

A preliminary hearing for all three suspects is set for Jan. 12. They are being held on bond ranging from $75,000 to $201,000, TriCities reports.

Source: TriCities.com, “Update: Preliminary hearing set for car chase suspects that injured officer,” Melissa Hipolit and Lizz Marrs, Jan. 2, 2012