Fatal crashes involved drivers older than 70 fell by over 35% between 1997 and 2008.
In that same period accidents, accidents which involved drivers older than 80 decreased fell by almost 50%, but it only fell 20% for young drivers. In 2008 nearly 78% of all senior citizens had a driver's license. That accounts fro approximately 28 million senior citizens.
In 2008, drivers 80 and older had 20% fewer accidents without reported injuries. There was no change in that number remained for drivers 35-54.
There are several factors that could account for the decrease in accidents among seniors. Cars are built safer, senior citizens are healthier and several states have begun to monitor older drivers more closely. Illinois is requiring road tests for drivers older than 75.
Despite this, seniors remain far more likely to die in a crash. Drivers who are 70 or older are three times more likely to die in a car accident than drivers 35-54.
It is illegal for anyone under 19 to talk on cell phones while driving, – regardless of where they are and Illinois has completely banned texting while driving.
At the beginning of the year, new laws took effect. They are intended to protect the safety of both workers and drivers. Drivers using any type of hand held device are 4 times more likely to become involved in an accident.
Drivers who get ticketd for violating the laws must appear in court with any potential fines determined by the court after the proceedings are completed. The exceptions to the law are for drivers using wireless telephones for emergency purposes, to, law enforcement agencies, health care providers, fire or other emergency services entities or persons using hands free telephones in voice-activated mode.
On July 14, Decatur police made stopped 14 drivers for using their cell phones while in construction zones. Motorists are also reminded that the law applies 24 hours a day, even when construction workers are not present.
The jury, which deliberated about an hour before reaching it's decision, made the announcement on July 8, that the death of Stephen D. White, 57, who was working for Bloomington’s Stark Excavating at Hovey Hall was accidental but avoidable.
White's employer declined to comment on the decision.
White was killed when a large piece of a concrete pillar façade fell on the excavator he was operating. At the time of his death, White and his crew were working to clear broken pillar pieces, which weighed thousands of pounds.
According to the jury foreman, jurors ruled the crushing death was accidental. They have asked Stark Excavating to create a safety inspection team and to develop more in-depth safety training.
Testimony on Thursday was given by from ISU Police Officer Eric Lutz, Stark Excavating Safety and Risk Management Director Wayne Clayton, and McLean County Deputy Coroner David Killian.
Dr. Beth Kimmerling, coroner said the Normal Fire Department, arrived 6 minutes after the 911 call and found White unresponsive “with no signs of life.”
The jury was shown picturess of the accident site, equipment which was being used that day, and excerpts from the OSHA report on White's death.
Much of the deliberation was centered on a nylon sling which broke when workers attempted to lift an 8,780-pound piece resting against Hovey’s top floors.
According to Clayton, Stark not have a formal inspection team, however, equipment is inspected by employees before each job. He also told jurors that the workers on the site where White was killed are skilled workers with decades of experience.
Kimmerling said the inquest was held after her office received results from an OSHA investigation.
OSHA fined Stark Excavating $28,000 in connection with White's death. No announcements have been made by Start as to whether they will appeal the fine.
Accidents that result in employee's deaths, major crashes and a less that favorable review of our nation's capital's transit system was the reason the bill was authored. Peter Rogogg, a Transit Administrator says that other systems in the United States suffered from the same types of problems and that federal oversight was essential.
Last month, the Senate Banking, House and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously voted to send it to the full Senate. LaHood said that this is the first time a transit specific safety bill was sent to Congress by any administration.
]]> "Today's milestone is the first major step in untying the hands of the Federal Transit Administration and allowing us to implement national safety standars," said Rogoff. "While transit is a safe way to travel, we still see many preventable accidents, including fatal accidents. We need these tools to ensure that tansit remains safe as our systems age and experience employees retire in increasing numbers."Members from cities across the country make up an advisory committee that will assist the FTA in developing new policies. The committee will assist the FTA with its new authority to promulgate new transit safety requirements if the bill becomes laws.
]]>But Gabriella, fell from the cart and died from head injuries sustained as a result of the fall.
When Wiegert finds himself unable to sleep or overwhelmed by grief, he gets on the Internet and looks for ways to keep other children from getting hurt riding on golf carts.
His internet searches revealed that there are not consistent laws, or ordinances which protect children.
"Everybody says it's somebody else's responsibility," Wiegert says.
]]> Kristopher Seluga, a mechanical engineer and safety expert examines the dangers of golf carts. He says reading about another child injured or dying from a golf cart accidents is frustrating."In so many of the articles they use the term 'freak accident," he says. "It's not. It happens all the time."
In the United States every year, there are approximately 13,000 golf cart accidents that result in injuries which require the victim to be taken to an emergency room. Nearly half of the 13,000 accidents involve children under 16.
The numbers are going up. According to Seluga, golf cart use on city streets is becoming more popular. "There are a disproportionate amount of children, considering most golf carts are still used on golf courses by adults," says Seluga, who works for Technology Associates, a Connecticut based company that reconstructs accidents.
He studies golf cart accidents using golf carts fitted with child sized dummies. The study suggests that children are ejected from teh golf cart during left turns. They are more likely to fall out of the cart because of their smaller size and center of gravity. They do not have the strength to hold onto railings that help adults.
He also found in the study the the railing next on the passenger side of the golf cart acts as a fulcrum which children are ejected from a golf cart. The railing causes them to go up and over, which makes it more likely for children to fall on their heads.
Seluga is a strong supporter of the seat belt, particularly for children. He adds taht he would not allow anyone to ride in a golf cart whose feet do not reach the floorboard.
Fred Somers, lawyer and secretary for the National Golf Car Manufacturers Association believes that seatbelts in golf carts is not a good idea. "If you're strapped in a golf cart and it rolls over, you're going to be stuck and crushed to death. If you're going to have seat belts in a golf cart, you'd better have a crush-proof canopy.
]]>This is pretty much how TV handles local news: It takes a story (important or not), spends an inordinate amount of time on it. And when it feels the story is dead, it moves on.
Take, for example, the recent sad story of one New Trier High School student hitting another student with her car and then fleeing the scene in panic.
It was an accident affecting, really, only the two students and their families. A tragedy for both.
]]> Yes, this is a news item. But, holy Cronkite, for a week or more this was the lead and dominant story on all local TV news shows. After the first day, the story became repetitive. It had no real impact on anyone but the people involved. And, since time is finite, while TV news was covering a traffic accident it was not covering news of importance to its audience.If TV news believed it had to spend a lot of time on this story, why not expand it so that it had relevance for everyone? Why not use this sad incident to take a look at whether teens should be driving in the first place?
Drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest annual crash and traffic-violation rates of any age group. Traffic fatalities are the leading cause of death for teens, accounting for 38 percent of all teen deaths in the United States. In Illinois between 2003 and 2008, there were 1,563 deaths in traffic accidents involving teenage drivers.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration lists many reasons why teens are such bad drivers: haven't developed ability to detect hazards, low-risk perception, risk taking, not wearing seat belts, lack of skill, alcohol and drugs, distracted by passengers, and just plain less experience.
For once, Illinois leads the way in its approach to teen driving, having some of the most strict rules for teens driving and acquiring a drivers license. And there is legislation in Congress to create national driving standards for teens.
So, there is a lot to be said about the issue of teen driving, a lot about which to debate. That would be useful because we all share the road with teen drivers.
Should teens be allowed to drive? There's a provocative -- and relevant -- topic.
But, TV news isn't interested.
Just as a cat isn't interested in whether there is more than one mouse in the house and what to do about it. All he cares about is that the mouse he caught is dead.
End of story.
As part of a larger campaign, the Postal Services, The american Veterinary Meidcal Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and other groups have joined in the National Dog Bite Prevention Week campaign.
]]> Here are some tips on how to avoid being bitten by a dog:- Do not run past a dog. A dog has a natural instrict to chase and catch their prey.
- If you are being threatened by a dog do not scream and do not look the dog in the eyes. Stay as still as possible and back away slowly until the dog is out of sight.
- Do no approach a do you are unfamiliar with especially one that is confined or leashed to something.
The USPS is encouraging dowg owners to keep their dogs inside when the mailman is in the area and not to let children take mail from the carrier is a dog is nearby.
The Sorelle or Golden Baby cribs have sides that drop down to allow easier access to babies. But the drop-side hardware can disengage, allowing the side to separate from the tracks.
Babies can slip into that resulting gap and suffocate, strangle or fall out of the crib.
The 24 models of Sorelle and Golden Baby cribs were sold at children's product stores nationwide for the last 10 years for between $300 and $600.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the crib's New Jersey distributor, C&T/Sorelle, received reports of 104 incidents where either the drop-side or crib slats detached, creating a dangerous gap. Six infants received cuts or bruises, and another five babies fell through the gap and were found on the floor uninjured, according to the CPSC.
While there were no reports of children killed in these cribs, babies have died in cribs made by other manufacturers when drop-sides separated.
]]>The legislation, SB3732, passed the Illinois House though several Republican members questioned whether it was preemptive punishment for alleged offenders.
Drivers who are involved in a car accident that causes significant harm but refuse to take chemical tests measuring the level of alcohol in their blood are suspected of a crime – not yet convicted, said Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet.
“What happens if, for example, someone refuses to take the test, license is revoked and then aren’t guilty?” Rose said during floor debate. “Now your license is revoked but you’re not guilty of a crime.”
Sponsoring Rep. Deborah Mell, D-Chicago, said the goal of the legislation is to target repeat alleged offenders who refuse to take chemical tests and only receive a suspension of their licenses.
]]>A mock accident was preformed at the EDHS parking lot last Friday afternoon, one day before the school's prom.
It was the school's eighth performance of the mock accident since 1996, and it tends to turn some heads just one day before dolling up for prom. "We just look to impress upon young people what could happen if they make a poor choice and choose to drink and drive," said EDHS Principal Greg Herbst.
"We'd be naive if we didn't think it happened, and we'd be irresponsible if we didn't try and show them some of the negative things that can happen with those poor choices.
"It's a biannual event, we do it on even years, and this is my third one. It's quite a cooperative effort. East Dubuque Fire Department; Menominee-Dunleith Fire Department; East Dubuque Police Department; Paramount EMS; Galena EMS; we've had people from Rockford Hospital here; Bill Miller lets us use one of his caskets to make it as realistic as possible. If we can change the actions or decisions of just one student, than it's worth it."
]]> Seniors Amy Tressel, Keith Hayes, Christin Selle and Oster were cast as the two couples on their way to prom, when the head-on collision occurs. Selle and Tressel were carted off in an ambulance, Hayes was taken away in a police cruiser (the one who had been drinking), and Oster, to the emotional spark of many students watching, was carried off under a white sheet, dead on arrival."I know numerous students in our school already that don't really think about it when they drink and they drive," said Selle. "I hope it will have a great impact on them and hopefully make them change their minds. Once they see Chance dead, we only hope they will make changes."
The clouds that hovered above and trickling down rain only presented a darker feel to the events being acted out. "I think our school is lucky, we haven't had any casualties like other schools have, so hopefully this will put it in peoples minds and everything will be ok here," Tressel said.
The events concluded with a casket being placed in the school's gymnasium dedicated to Chance, followed by tearful speeches from some of the participants. "I teared up," said Hayes. "Chance is my best friend, and fake killing him is hard enough, I don't even want to think about the real thing. "It's a good thing (that students got emotional), we were trying to get to them and we did. We did our job."
The students were left with something a little sweet and sour - sweet in the form of a chocolate candy bar; sour in the alarming statistics it came specially wrapped in - between 2004-2007, 576 Illinois teen crash fatalities have occurred, and every 22 minutes a person dies in an alcohol related accident.
"Our main goal is to hit everybody at home with what would happen if there is a drunk driver, or there is a fatality incident," said Manny Alvarado, EMS coordinator for East Dubuque. "The emotion that is put into it really makes an impact on the students. I get a lot of feedback, how kids are changing themselves, and it makes us realize that we're doing a good thing."
State Rep. Michael Zalewski believes motorist who have been involved in an accident are vulnerable and fall prey to unscrupulous towing companies.
"Wreck chasing" as it is known by authorities, is the practice of coercing drivers who have just been in an accident, to have their cars towed without knowing the cost of the tow and storage fees. Only to receive exorbitant bills from the tow truck operators.
There are no laws currently that protect drivers from these tow truck operators.
Michael J. Zalewski represents the Southwest side of Chicago, portions of Berwyn, Brookfield, LaGrange, Lyons, Riverside, Stickney and Summit. Mr. Zalewski can be reached in his office in LaGrange.
]]>Such was the case with Cary Felmdan. He was on his motor scooter in Chicago Heights, when he was hit from behind. A concerned citizen who witnessed the accident called 911 and a fire truck showed up at the scene of the accident.
Although Feldman was fine and did not require any treatment, he received a bill for $200 from the Chicago Heights Fire Department.
]]> "We're paying taxes for these serviecs." said Fledman. "We don't need to have a second tax."The term "crash tax" is beeing used acrros the country by motorists who are receiving bills for emergency responders. Drivers are not happy about receiving bills for these services, particularly when the accident is not their fault.
Pending Illinois legislation would allow municipalities to charge upt $250 per hour for emergency respnose.
Karen Yarbrough, an Illinois Representative belives the legislation should be killed. "This is just another way to reach into a consumer's pocket."
Another concern is that people may be reluctant to call 911. In South Carolina, acouple was using a garden hose to put our a fire in their home instead of calling the local fire department. they wanted to avoid getting a bill.
If you receive a bill there is no way to dispute the charge. "They've been harassing me," said Feldman. "They even turned it over to collections without sending a final notice."
Feldman gave in and paid the $200 to avoid any issues with his credit. "So this is what I cal extortion. This is how they get you to pay it," Feldman said.
The person who hit Feldman received a bill but only for $100 since he is a Chicago Heights resident. Insurance won't pay the bill
]]>The teens were driving two cars and were headed east on Hemmingsen Rd in Grafton Township. They were throwing paintballs at each other from the moving vehicles.
One of the vehicles involved in the accident was a 1998 Caravan. The windshield of the Caravan was covered in paint. The driver, Samuel X Cox ,18, of Huntley, struck a Volkswagen Beetle being driven by Christina Park-Tegtman, 31, of Genoa. The car was also carrying a one year old girl.
Warrants were issued for the adults involved in the paintball fight which include Cox, his passenger, Julio de la Luz, 18, of Lake in the Hills and Donald Peryer, 19, of Lake in the Hills who was drving the second vehicle involved in the paintball fight.
]]>Part of the presentation includes demonstrating a breathalyzer and the passing of a medical urinalysis container. If you are convicted of drug use you would be required to provide a urine sample, on a regular basis, in the presence of a probation officer.
Waites and Shanes took the students through a house party. Going room to room discussing the charges they would face if they were caught partying by police and were underage at the time.
According to Shanes, because you are under 18 does not mean you'll be charged as a juvenile. Depending on the circumstances, you may be charged in adult court.
A juvenile could be charged with minor consumption of alcohol, to illegal possession of durgs and drug paraphanalia to criminal sexual abuse.
According to Waites, "A 15 year old person cannot consent to sex." An 18 yeard old who has sex with a 15 year old can be charged with criminal sexual abuse and must register with the state as a sex offender. "When people see sex offender next to your name, they don't think 'he's 18 and had sex with a 15 year old.' They think he's a pedophile."
The charge of sex offender will follow them to college where they will have to notify authorities of their addresses and where they will have to check-in to their dorm room and register.
Illinois is a zero tolerance state. Anyone under the age of 21 caught consuming alcohol can lose their driver's license or have to wait longer to get it.
In addition, anyone who is charged with DUI now must use a portable breath test everytime they drive their car. The drivef must blow into the machine, which checks for alcohol, to start the car, and breath every 10 minutes after to keep the car running. This costs the driver about $1,500 per month
]]> Injury and death are also real consequences of underage partying. Several students where shown pictures of a DUI victim who survived a car crash. Shanes said that when they show students these pictures " you can hear a pin drop, every single time."Amber Egan and Nicole Mao, both freshmen, found the pictures to be horrifying, were not aware of the new laws and had no idea how costly the fines could be.
They both feel that the presentation wil deter them from partying, however, they say that they do get pressured to drink, do drugs and have sex.
"I don't care which (reason) you pick, just pick one and leve the party," said Shuster-Waites at the close of their presentation.
]]>A co-worker stepped in front of the car to keep it from driving away, but the driver of the car that struck Jenkins fled on foot . Jenkins was hit with such force that he was sent through the windshield of the car that struck him.
Jenkins was married and had to children. He was working on the potholes in the center lane on I-80. The area was marked a construction zone just east of Central Avenue according to authorities. Jenkins was employed by Waslh Construction a Chicago based company.
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