28 May

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Motorcycle safety: What you need to know about helmets

Following North Carolina motorcycle laws and safety recommendations is a smart choice for bikers in the state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists make up a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities. While motorcycle fatalities did drop by 5% in 2018, there were still over 4,900 motorcycle related deaths. Many states, including North Carolina, have adopted helmet laws to help reduce fatalities. Helmet requirements North Carolina requires all licensed motorcycle riders to wear helmets that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. Both drivers and passengers must wear a helmet if riding a motorcycle or a moped. There are three requirements for...

23 March

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Coronavirus leads FMCSA to ease trucker hours rule

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Many people may worry about the dangers they face on the roads when they are near a semi-truck. These fears are not without some legitimacy as the sheer size and weight of these big rigs can certainly contribute to extreme outcomes if and when an accident occurs involving a semi-truck. From brake failure to driver distractions and more, there are numerous factors that may contribute to these accidents. Trucker fatigue is one factor that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tackled when it enacted its Hours of Service rule. The Hours of Service rule placed a limit on the number of...

10 March

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How many people die in vehicle crashes in North Carolina?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

As a North Carolina resident, it is reasonable for you to know how well your state is doing when it comes to keeping people safe. While certainly the state alone cannot be responsible for preventing car accidents, the laws that it puts in place do go a long way toward helping this. Drunk driving is one behavior that provides an example as the state government develops the penalties for these offenses in the hopes of proactively preventing initial and repeat issues. Vehicle manufacturers may also contribute to safety on the roads with the inclusion of safety-focused features in new vehicles. Unfortunately,...

10 March

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Spring DST linked with higher number of fatal crashes

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

North Carolina residents may be drowsy during their morning commute as a result of losing one hour of sleep with daylight saving time. What they may be unaware of is that DST has been linked with an annual increase in fatal car crashes nationwide for the first week of the switch. A study from the University of Colorado Boulder says that such accidents are 6% more frequent during that initial week. Researchers came to their conclusion after analyzing a total of 732,835 accidents that occurred in the U.S. from 1996 to 2017. To show that the link is not coincidental, researchers...

03 March

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Road rage: How to protect yourself from aggressive drivers

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

It is common to feel angry while navigating through traffic on a busy day in North Carolina. Whether caught behind a slow motorist or rushing to get to an important appointment, it is frustrating to get caught in a busy rush of vehicles. In fact, more than 80% of drivers in the U.S. admit to having feelings of road rage while behind the wheel at some point within the last year, according to AAA. Road rage is often accompanied by aggressive driving behaviors, which can put everyone on the road at risk. Being able to spot the signs of road rage can help...

12 February

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Report advocates change to NHTSA’s car safety rating system

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

North Carolina residents may check to see what a vehicle’s safety rating is before buying. This five-star safety rating system, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the 1990s, can certainly be helpful, but there is a widely felt need for updates to make it more accurate. A report from October 2019 has expressed this need. According to the report, the quantity of crash testing that goes into determining the safety rating is minimal when compared to other countries. Europe in general performs four times as many crash tests as the U.S. does before rating vehicle safety. The federal government is...

09 December

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Fayetteville crash kills one, injures three

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

It goes without saying that drivers in Asheville need to remain alert and attentive at all times. This will help them in seeing and avoiding obstacles in the road ahead. Yet the responsibility to ensure that obstacles in the roadway do not cause accidents does not lie solely with drivers; those working on the side of the road or who find themselves stranded must also ensure that people driving past understand that they are stopped and exactly how wide of a berth they need to give them. It can often be difficult for an approaching driver to realize that another...

08 November

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Calling the police after a car accident

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Getting into a car crash can be a scary enough experience, which is why some motorists do not want to call the police to come to an accident scene, perhaps fearing what the police will say or do. North Carolina actually does not require drivers involved in accidents to call the police in all instances. However, depending on the situation, calling the police is mandated by state law. According to current state law, if you are involved in an accident where someone was injured or had died as a result of the crash, you must inform the police. Even if no...

20 September

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Does my state have the worst drivers?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents, Traffic Violations

Car accidents happen all the time in North Carolina, but that does not mean that this state has drivers who worse than other states. There is a lot of information about accidents, including what causes them and who is most likely to get into them. There are also statistics about where the worst drivers seem to live. So, you may wonder how your area stacks up. Forbes has a list of the top cities for the worst drivers and the best drivers. You will be happy to learn that North Carolina has zero cities on the worst driver list. Some other...

05 September

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What causes distracted driving?

Posted by Chris Proffitt

in car accidents

Distracted drivers in North Carolina can cause serious accidents. Nowadays, drivers have a lot of demands on their attention. It is crucial to stay focused. Safe drivers are drivers who are not distracted. One way to ensure that you drive safer is to know the contributors to distracted driving. One of the most commonly cited distracted driving factors is the use of cell phones. Teen Safe confirms cell phone usage is the second largest factor behind distracted driving. Another major contributor, however, is adjusting the climate control or radio while driving. When you take your attention off the road, anything can...