Most Tennesseans do not think twice about safety before starting a journey on the road; after all, the destination is the ultimate goal. However, forgetting basic driving safety precautions can prove highly dangerous, no matter how short the drive. Recent studies have revealed a distraction that has been the culprit behind countless car crashes: high-technology devices. 

Last October, The Washington Post speculated on high-tech devices in newer cars and their potential for distracting drivers. According to The Post, most of these devices take roughly 40 seconds to operate — 40 seconds of time in which a driver’s eyes are not on the road. If smart phones were not distracting enough, these devices contain features that allow internet searches and social media interactions, pulling attention further away from the road. Experts claim these infotainment systems could be safer if they came with certain limitations while the vehicle is moving. The warnings of such devices are not unfounded, either; The Post shares that the number of people killed in crashes in 2016 increased by 40,000.

Consumer Reports also expresses concern over high-tech car features, using a 2017 study from the American Automobile Association to show that entering information into navigation systems and texting were the two leading causes of accidents the previous year. The most distracting devices, according to CR, were found in luxury model cars. This information is hardly shocking — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a set of guidelines warning automakers of these dangers years ago. However, CR criticizes the efforts of the NHTSA, arguing that their proposed solutions were antiquated in comparison to new and innovative technology. The use of technology in cars may be here to stay, but CR leaves audiences with the advice to always learn about infotainment systems before hopping behind the wheel.   

Texting and driving has become such a commonplace term in recent years that many drivers no longer hear its message. As technology continues to blend into the everyday lives of Tennesseans, however, warnings about distracted driving become all the more crucial. As technology changes, so, too, do the laws that surround cell phone use while driving. 

The Tennessean shared last August that, as of January 2018, handheld phone use in active state school zones is illegal. Even reading texts in these zones can land one in trouble with the law in Tennessee. Law enforcement officers behind this new regulation argued that the focal point of school zones should revolve around one aspect: the safety of children and other pedestrians. Not only does cell phone use slow down school traffic; it can pose a serious safety threat to all others on or near the road. The Tennessean goes on to share the new law comes with steep penalties, with a first offense resulting in a Class C misdemeanor and a fine of up to $50. An exception lies in the device itself, and drivers over 18 using a hands-free device do not face such penalties. 

The website for the National Conference of State Legislatures provides additional details on the ongoing changes in the nation’s texting and driving laws. Although no state fully bans cell phone use while driving, some hold varying regulations on the extent of cell phone use behind the wheel. The Legislature adds from the aforementioned rundown of recent Tennessee laws by noting that the new regulations apply to school bus drivers, learner’s permit and intermediate license holders. The website provides further information on texting and driving laws in each state and, while they may seem strict, they work to keep everyone on the road safe.   

If you become involved in a Tennessee car crash, there are several things you should do immediately afterward. There also are several things you should not do. As FindLaw explains, the most important thing you should not do is leave the scene until law enforcement officers authorize you to do so. Leaving too soon could put you at risk for charges of leaving the scene or even hit-and-run.

Naturally the first thing you should do is check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If any of you are in pain, feel dizzy or have an obvious injury, call 911 immediately and request assistance from both first responders and law enforcement. If someone is seriously injured, do not attempt to remove him or her from the vehicle unless confronted with a life-threatening situation such as a fire, downed power line, rising flood waters, etc. Moving an injured person can exacerbate his or her injuries.

Collect information

After checking all other drivers and passengers for injuries, begin exchanging information with the other drivers including the following:

• Names, addresses and telephone numbers
• Driver’s license numbers
• License plate numbers
• Insurance company contact information

While talking with the other drivers, maintain a friendly and cooperative atmosphere, but never assume guilt for the accident, actually or impliedly, even if you think you might have been responsible for it. Everyone’s emotions run high after an accident and people are quick to assign blame. Do not participate in any of this speculation. None of you yet knows exactly what happened and it is not your jobs to determine that. The law enforcement officers and insurance adjusters perform that duty after their investigations.

Talk to witnesses

If any pedestrians witnessed the accident, talk with them, get their contact information and jot down what they say happened. Do likewise with the drivers and passengers of any vehicles that stopped to help.

Take pictures

One of the best features of cellphones is their ability to take pictures. Use yours to photograph all the vehicles involved in the accident, including your own. Pay particular attention to their license plate numbers and any evidence of damage, both old and new.

Make a police report

Once law enforcement officials arrive at the scene, get the name and badge number of each officer. Answer their questions truthfully, but again, do not in any way admit or imply guilt. Be sure to obtain the accident report number and find out when, where and how you can obtain a copy.

This is general information only and not intended to provide legal advice.

Vehicles that drive themselves present a continuing fascination for Tennessee drivers and others across the nation. Once relegated to pure science fiction and battery-operated action toys, partially self-driving cars are today a reality, albeit a still imperfect one.

Witness the latest death that occurred in a Tesla Model X automobile. It crashed into a North Carolina highway divider in March, killing its driver. He had engaged the Autopilot feature that supposedly allows the car’s computer to make sure the vehicle stays not only within lane lines, but also a safe distance away from other vehicles. A similar fatal Autopilot accident, this one in a Tesla Model S, occurred about a year ago when the system failed to prevent the car from crashing into a truck that turned across its path. Tesla’s literature, however, consistently warns that drivers are responsible for keeping their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and monitoring the Autopilot’s performance at all times.

Given that driver error causes upwards of 40,000 vehicle crash deaths each year in America, it is questionable whether or not all human beings are capable of driving safely, even with the assistance of computer technology. Not surprisingly, Tesla’s views on this subject differ from those of the National Transportation Safety Board. Both organizations immediately began investigating last month’s crash, but that joint effort quickly ended. Either NTSB kicked Tesla off the investigatory team or Tesla quit, depending on whose story you believe. The underlying issue? The NTSB believes in withholding assignment of blame until the end of the investigation, often two years after the accident. Tesla, on the other hand, believes in assigning blame as quickly as possible, especially when it believes the blame lies with the driver, not the Autopilot system. Barely one week after the March 23 crash, Tesla announced that per vehicle logs and surveillance systems, the driver’s hands were not on the wheel and he took no evasive action to avoid the highway divider. The NTSB was not amused and the organizations parted ways.

Whether or not the two killed Autopilot drivers were totally or partially responsible for their own deaths, there is no question that inattentive and distracted driving is a continuing national problem. Auto accident victims may well wish to contact an attorney to explore the possibility of obtaining compensation for their injuries.

Source: Wired, “Tesla’s Wild Fight with the Feds Investigating Its Autopilot Death,” Jack Stewart, April 12, 2018.

Residents in Tennessee and around the country understand why so many companies might seek ways to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents that occur every year. While this may be a goal most people would agree with, the path to achieving this may not be something everyone is in agreement with. The United States Department of Transportation indicates that up to 94 percent of all crashes are influenced by some type of human error. This fact is often used to support the advancement of autonomous vehicles as the potential answer to traffic fatalities.

In an effort to help make self-driving cars a reality on American roads, the federal government is consciously limiting the amount of regulations it places on the companies developing these vehicles and the technologies associated with them. Some fear this opens the door to more risk for people who must share the road as guinea pigs with these vehicles as they are being tested.

There are many types of technologies and sensors that are used to make a self-driving car operate. Ultimately software must be programmed to teach the vehicle how to respond to different situations. Some question whether or not all situations can be accounted for up front and what a vehicle may do when confronted with a situation for which it has no program. It is this type of situation in which accidents may be more likely to keep happening.

When involved in a crash with a human-driven or self-driven car, people in Tennessee may want to talk with a lawyer to learn about their options. 

Source: Curbed, “Driverless cars: Are they safe for our cities,” Alissa Walker, April 3, 2018