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Virginia DMV To Increase CDL Records Disclosure
The state of Virginia plans to increase a voluntary program in which transportation employers get notification of broader spectrum of traffic offenses that could disqualify their drivers from holding commercial licenses.
Only about 645 Virginia companies currently participate in the voluntary program in which they receive notification of worker traffic offense convictions. The Richmond Times-Dispatch explains:
The universe is about to expand for the voluntary program, which later this year will begin reporting a wider range of traffic offenses to companies that request almost instant notification of problems their drivers encounter on and off the job.
The idea is to give employers…better and more timely information about the people who drive their vehicles for a living.
“Whether you’re transporting people or freight, you should be held to a higher standard,” [DMV Commissioner] Holcomb said.
The DMV wants to expand the program to include about 20,000 companies that employer CDL drivers along with about 24,000 companies that employ van and small commercial vehicle drivers. Under the program, tentative called Drive Alert, employers would get the option of receiving a broad range of driving record information by e-mail.
Nearly 70,000 Virginians hold CDL licenses. Virginia school drivers are already subjects to mandatory employer notification of a wide range of traffic offenses, including reckless driving.
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Study: Sleepy Virginia Beach Teens Get Into More Car Wrecks
Eastern Virginia Medical School researchers say they have found a connection between sleep deprivation and teen car crash rates, particularly in the morning when students are in a mad rush to get to class on time.
WVEC.com explains:
The study looked at the 2008 teen crash rates in Va. Beach and Chesapeake, based on Virginia DMV statistics. It found more crashes in Virginia Beach, where high school classes began at 7:20 a.m., than in Chesapeake, where classes started at 8:40 a.m.
The research apparently suggests that later school start times would allow teens to get more sleep and therefore be more alert behind the wheel and in the classroom. EVMS researchers also looked to another study that apparently revealed that delaying high school star times by one hour reduced teen car crashes by 16 percent.
A spokesperson for Virginia Beach school system said that it does not currently have a later starting time for the high school day under consideration, but that it wishes to review the specifics of the research findings.
WAVY aired this report on the study:
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U.S. Senator’s Wife Pleads to DUI Charge
This blog often reports on the dire consequences of drinking and driving, especially among new drivers. However, drunk drivers from all age and societal groups create hazardous driving conditions across the state of Virginia. Case in point: A Fairfax County court recently gave the wife of U.S. Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana a 30-day suspended sentence after she apparently pleaded guilty to DUI, according to IndyStar.com.
Police arrested Mrs. Lugar on November 18, 2009, after she allegedly crashing into a parked car and left the scene in northern Virginia near where the couple lives. Fortunately there were no injuries. Authorities later dropped all charges arising from the car accident other than driving under the influence.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the judge ordered Mrs. Lugar, 77, to pay a mandatory minimum $250 fine and imposed certain driving restrictions for next 12 months. She will also attend a local alcohol education program. In Virginia, a first offense could have also resulted in a one-year license revocation.
Mrs. Lugar evidently registered a 0.11 blood alcohol content (BAC) after the accident which exceeded the legal limit of 0.08 in Virginia.
Under Virginia law, a BAC from 0.15 to 0.20 carries a mandatory, minimum five-day jail term in addition to all other penalties.
Full StoryBroadway Actress Files Yasmin Lawsuit
A New York City stage performer’s legal complaint against the drug giant Bayer alleges that she suffered a stroke at age 27 after regular use of the Yasmin birth control pill.
The New York Post explains:
Brenda Hamilton, who is an understudy in the Broadway show “Wicked,” said she had been taking Yasmin for a little more than two years when she suffered the terrifying stroke in May 2007. She has since recovered, but says in a civil suit filed in The Bronx that Bayer knew Yasmin posed a greater risk than did other birth-control pills for blood clots and strokes, but withheld that information from patients and doctors.
Bayer is defending itself in about 1,100 lawsuits in connection with alleged personal injuries from side effects of its Yaz and Yasmin oral birth control pills.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by any of the side effects of these oral birth control products, you may be entitled to seek money damages in a Yaz or Yasmin lawsuit against the manufacturer. Contact the personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. to find out about your legal rights. Call Toll Free 877-544-5323 to arrange for a no-obligation consultation.
Full StoryHampton Roads Carpool Lanes Off Limits For Military
A Virginia law that would allow active duty military to use carpool-only lanes in Hampton Roads even when driving alone has hit a speed bump: the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the measure.
The Virginia General Assembly had passed a law (subsequently signed by Governor McDonnell) that would allow active-duty military members in uniform driving to and from a base or other facility to use the high occupancy vehicle lanes along I-264 and I-64 regardless of the number of passengers, if any. This legislative exemption applied during rush hour (6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday).
The bill was designed to reduce highway congestion and perhaps make better use of the sometimes underutilized carpool lanes. Because federal dollars were used to construct the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, however, “federal officials have authority over how they are used and whether to grant exceptions,” PilotOnline.com reports.
U.S. Congressman Eric Cantor and other lawmakers plan to push for legislation that would override the agency’s denial.
Some military motorists who assumed that the law officially went into effect have apparently been pulled over for using the HOV lane and ticketed with a $100 fine.
Full Story10 Virginia Holiday Weekend Traffic Fatalities
Preliminary data indicate that ten persons died in car crashes in Virginia over the four-day Memorial Day Weekend statistical counting period, according to the Virginia State Police Facebook page.
Six of the fatalites involved passenger vehicles in which the victims were not using seat belts. Three of the incidents were motorcycle crashes, one of which occurred in Virginia Beach. And one pedestrian was killed in Newport News. Overall, state troopers investigated nearly 700 holiday weekend traffic crashes across the state.
Virginia State Police mobilized 75 percent of its uniformed officers for weekend traffic safety enforcement as part of Operation CARE, a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce car accidents and injuries caused by reckless and/or drunk driving, and failure to use seat belts. Troopers issued or made nearly 11,000 summonses and arrests, most of whom were pulled over for speeding. Some 121 drivers were charged with DUI.
State Police Superintendent Flaherty has this to say:
“For the past couple of years, Virginia has been experiencing a significant decline in traffic deaths statewide. As of June 1 in Virginia, 11 more people have died this year when compared to this same time last year. As we head into the summer travel season, Virginians of all ages must make traffic safety a priority by using a seat belt, not driving distracted, obeying speed limits and never driving impaired.”
Seven persons lost their lives last year at this time on Virginia highways.
Full StoryPoll Results Suggest Ebb in Driving While Distracted
This blog has often focused on the disastrous consequences of using mobile communications in the car. Under current Virginia law, texting while driving in the state is illegal regardless of the age of the motorist. And drivers under 18 in Virginia are prohibited from using any kind of wireless device in the car. Perhaps because of increased publicity and warnings, a survey conducting by national polling firm now suggests that motorists could be cutting down on using their cell phones behind the wheel, ChicagoBreakingNews reports.
In a national survey of about 1,000 adults, Harris International found that 40 percent of those who text and drive are doing it less this year than last year. And of those in the survey who admitted to talking on their cell phone while driving (67 percent), some 30 percent indicated a decrease.
Results also revealed that 20 percent of drivers with cell phones say they send texts while driving. Among drivers under age 35, usage rises to nearly half of all drivers.
Harris conducted the survey for Nationwide Insurance. A Nationwide executive had this to say:
This is the first survey we’ve seen showing drivers making positive changes in their behavior, but there are still too many drivers who either don’t realize just how dangerous distractions behind the wheel are, or are willing to take that risk. The stigma now associated with distracted driving may also have fewer people willing to admit they do it, but studies continue to indicate that [driving while distracted] DWD causes one out of every four U.S. crashes.
Fortunately, most Virginia motorists drive responsibly, but if you–or someone you love–have been injured in an automobile accident caused by a distracted driver in Virginia, do not hesitate to get in touch with the personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C., Toll Free 877-544-5323, for a no-obligation consultation.
Full StoryVirginia State Police Mobilize For Memorial Day Holiday
Virginia state troopers will step up traffic safety enforcement efforts for the Memorial Day weekend with increased patrols during an operation that starts Friday, May 28 at 12:01 a.m. and runs through midnight, Monday, May 31. Operation Combined Accident Reduction Effort (CARE) is a state-sponsored, national program designed to reduce car crashes, accident fatalities, and injuries caused by speeding, drunk driving, and the non-use of seat belts.
“In 2009, Virginia experienced its lowest number of traffic deaths in over a decade during the Memorial Day weekend,” Virginia State Police Superintendent Flaherty explained earlier this week. “I challenge all Virginians to play a role in further decreasing the number of traffic deaths and crashes during this year’s holiday weekend by buckling up, obeying speed limits, and driving sober and distraction-free.”
Last year at this time, state troopers stopped more than 10,000 speeders and about 3,000 reckless drivers. Officers also arrested nearly 200 drunk drivers.
State police will simultaneously continue the Click It or Ticket enforcement project, which runs through June 6.
Full StoryBrain Injury Victims Diagnosed With Depression
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury cab include headaches, trouble seeing, memory loss, inability to concentrate, dizziness, seizures, and paralysis. In addition to physical and cognitive challenges, a new study reported by AboutLawsuits.com suggest that depression is also a factor.
Researchers at a Seattle Hospital found that of about 600 patients with mild to severe traumatic brain injury, half of them suffered from “major depressive disorder” within one year of the head blow. This is apparently eight times higher than the rate of depression among the general public. The study also found that only about 44 percent of those patients received mental health treatment for depression. The data also indicated that the patient group had a lower quality of life as compared to the non-depressed cohort.
Most of the patients in the study were injured in car crashes or slip-and-fall accidents. As we have discussed previously in this blog, there is an increasing focus on treatment modalities for brain injuries suffered in combat and in competitive sports.
The findings were just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Traumatic brain injuries are said to be one of the leading causes of death and permanent disability throughout the world. If you believe that you (or a love one) have sustained a traumatic brain injury in Virginia due to the negligence of someone else, it is always important to hire experienced legal counsel. The Virginia brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C. have the experience needed, and the requisite contacts with the best doctors in the area, to ensure you and your loved ones have the best representation possible. Call Toll Free 877-544–5323 for a no-obligation consultation.
Full StoryTroopers Conduct Traffic Safety Operation on I-95/I-81 Corridor
Uniform units Virginia State Police units are conducting roaming patrols and radar along the entire north-side corridors of Interstates 95 and 81 today in the second day of a 48-hour enforcement action called Operation Air, Land and Speed. In a similar two-day operation in March, officers pulled over more than 3,500 speeders, about 700 reckless drivers, and 20 drunk drivers, yielding some 7,000 summonses and arrests. This included about 300 seat belt violators and 35 drug and felony busts.
At the same time, state troopers along with other Virginia law enforcement agencies are participating in the Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization which run through June 6. According to preliminary figures for the first quarter of 2010, of the 244 persons killed in traffic-related fatalities, 113 were not wearing seat belts. Virginia State Police Superintendent W. Steven Flaherty had this to say about the seat belt enforcement program:
There are so many lives which can be saved, or injuries significantly reduced if every driver and passenger in Virginia took a few extra seconds to buckle a seat belt. It is not only important for you but it is an investment for your family and loved ones. Don’t take a chance. Protect yourself and your passengers by simply buckling up.
According to the state police, these operations will leave its operational duties on other highways and primary and secondary roads unaffected. Federal highway safety grants provide the funding for the state operation.
Full StoryStudy: Distracted Driving, Not Drinking, Causes Increase in Teen Nighttime Fatalities
A Texas think-tank claims that the steady increase in nighttime fatalities among teen drivers nationally over the past ten years comes from distracted driving rather than driving while intoxicated.
“Being on a cell phone behind the wheel impairs our driving ability,” said a senior research engineer with the Texas Transportation Institute, the organization that authored the study. “When you add the nighttime danger, you create the perfect storm, and that storm is much more severe for young drivers, largely because of their lack of driving experience.”
The study notes that the ten-year increase in nighttime fatal accidents for teen drivers is greater than motorists in the 20-and-older cohort. But increased alcohol use is apparently not a significant factor among newer drivers, despite conventional wisdom. The report concludes as follows:
The findings of this analysis suggest that alcohol is contributing to an increase in nighttime fatal crashes involving drivers age 20 and older. However, the same is not true for teenage drivers, suggesting that factors other than alcohol are responsible for the trend of increased nighttime crashes for teens. It is likely that distractions (a common driving risk factor for teenagers) in the form of talking or texting on cell phones is prominent among those factors. Other dominant risk factors for teenage drivers (lack of experience, additional teenage passengers, speeding, not wearing seat belts, and alcohol) have been present and well recognized for many years, long before cellular communication became prevalent. However, it is cell phone use – propelled by rapid technological advancement and increased affordability – that is likely the most notable new driving risk factor for contemporary teens.
The complete study can be accessed here.
Full StoryAnticipating Impact May Minimize Traumatic Brain Injuries
In a study that focused on youth hockey, new research suggests that bracing for an impending blow to the head could reduce the harm from the hit, CNN reports. In the study, players wore high-tech helmets that measured impact and compared that to game videos and with the number of injuries the players suffered during the season. According to the findings, being prepared for an imminent concussion helped offset more serious injuries.
“If players anticipate collisions they can better absorb the forces related to impact,” said Jason Mihalik, lead study author and assistant professor in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “[Athletes] who don’t expect to get body checked are not able to tense the neck muscles to absorb force, and that can lead to a more severe impact to the head.”
Coaches need to train players to avoid the “calamitous” effects of being blindsided, according to Dr. Mihalik. The full study will be published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Governor McDonnell recently signed legislation to increase Virginia health protections for student athletes with suspected head injuries. Data from the National Center for Injury Protection and Control indicates that teenagers are the group at the highest risk for suffering a traumatic brain injury.
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