Talking on the phone while driving can double the risk for an accident, and texting while driving will increase that risk by six times. Drivers in Louisiana are probably aware that distracted driving is becoming a major issue; they themselves may engage in it. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that phone use behind the wheel is dangerous.
FMCSA proposed changes to truck carrier safety scoring system
Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released a new report highlighting its plans to reform its struggling Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. The report was created in order to comply with a 2015 order from Congress to better identify the unsafe trucking companies operating on roads in Louisiana and across the United States.
Large truck accidents more dangerous for passenger cars
The people most at risk of injury in truck accidents on Louisiana roadways are those traveling in smaller vehicles like passenger cars. A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicated that 69 percent of victims in accidents involving large trucks were occupants of passenger vehicles; only 16 percent of victims were occupants of trucks. Even in cases where the drivers of passenger cars are driving safely, they can still be forced into an accident if the driver of a large truck is not paying attention or is otherwise not utilizing a reasonable standard of care.
Driverless cars not to have grave impact on insurance
Louisiana residents may have heard of the dire predictions that are being made concerning driverless cars and the insurance industry. Back in 2016, a report from Morgan Stanley estimated that the industry would contract to about 20 percent of its current size by the year 2040. However, new research and the recent spate of accidents involving autonomous vehicles both suggest a more gradual and less drastic change.
Researchers study differing levels of driver distraction
According to the US Department of Transportation, 37,150 people died on America's roads in 2017. This is a 10 percent increase of the fatality rates from 2014, and researchers across the nation believe that distracted driving is a major factor. Louisiana drivers should know about a recent AAA analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Utah. The results show that there are different levels of distraction depending on the type of technology used.
