Everyone in New York has to share the road with commercial vehicles, and well-maintained brakes play a significant role in the safe operation of trucks and buses. To promote compliance, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance organized a week-long inspection spree throughout North America. During Brake Safety Week in 2018, inspectors checked 35,080 commercial vehicles, and 4,955 of them had to be placed out of service for safety violations.
Driving safely in bright sunlight
Bright sunlight can cause a hazard for New York drivers when they are unable to see other vehicles and road signs. Drivers can take several steps to reduce the risk of being temporarily blinded by bright sunlight.
Tesla issues several safety claims on its Autopilot system
Many New York motorists are interested in autonomous driving technologies, especially for the safety boost that they could provide. When human error is taken out of the driving equation, car accidents could decline dramatically. So far, however, it's not clear how well the existing semi-autonomous systems perform in improving roadway safety. In Tesla's recently published voluntary report, the automaker claims that drivers who use its Autopilot system to automate some driving functions are less likely to be involved in a car accident.
Car accidents increase along with legalized marijuana
New Yorkers have repeatedly shown widespread support for cannabis legalization. In fact, a working group has been formed to write a bill to make recreational marijuana legal in the state. Still, many drivers are concerned about the potential for roadway accidents caused by drivers under the influence. Some have urged for more research to determine safe and unsafe levels of cannabis exposure for drivers, much like the legal limits for blood-alcohol content that regulate drunk driving.
Groups call for mandatory crash avoidance systems on large trucks
Some truckers in New York may have crash avoidance systems in their vehicles. However, safety advocates are urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate crash avoidance technology on all heavy trucks. The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended such a course of action on at least 10 occasions since the late 1990s.
New technology may help prevent slip-and-fall accidents
Falls in New York are a major cause of serious injuries every year. If a person slips and falls in a public place, business owners may be held liable if the fall was caused by unsafe conditions. Grocery store owners are taking new measures using technology in an effort to reduce the rate of slip-and-fall incidents.
Report says radiology-related malpractice often ends in death
The majority of radiology-related malpractice claims are due to misinterpretations of clinical tests, according to a report from Coverys. The health care liability insurance provider analyzed more than 10,000 closed claims that were filed between 2013 and 2017, all of them related to radiology-related liability and most of them involving a missed, delayed or wrong diagnosis. New York residents will want to know the rest of the results.
Getting the facts about drowsy driving
Drowsy driving is a major problem in New York, as elsewhere in the U.S., resulting in tens of thousands of crashes every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2013, for example, there were 72,000 drowsy driving crashes, and thousands of them produced at least one fatality.
What data and tech companies do to fight distracted driving
In New York, distracted driving is affecting everyone from ordinary drivers to CDL-holding professionals. According to data analytics firm Zendrive, there are approximately 69 million drivers using their phones behind the wheel every day. Smartphone use contributes to 26 percent of all accidents. That's not the only form of distraction, either; simply letting the mind wander can also constitute a distraction.
CVSA to inspect CMV brakes during September
From September 16 to 22, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will have certified enforcement personnel standing by in New York and across the U.S. for its annual Brake Safety Week. These workers will stop large trucks and other commercial motor vehicles at random and inspect for both driver- and vehicle-related safety violations. The majority will be Level I inspections, the most comprehensive there are.
