Author: Dave Abels

The population in Phoenix has exploded in recent decades and every age range has seen a significant expansion. With the new permanent residents, though, have also come the seasonal “snow birds,” older Americans who live in colder climates and want to spend the winters in Arizona. Other older adults do not want to stay here just for the winter but rather choose to retire in the Valley so that they can take advantage of all the area has to offer, from its weather to its restaurants to its economy.

These older residents are not only contributing to the community as a whole but they are living every aspect of it, including those that require them to drive. As public transportation is not widely available in many areas and as Maricopa County is a sprawling area, most of these older individuals choose to drive around town. They may drive themselves or they may ride with a spouse, friend, or caregiver. What is clear is that these individuals are taking to the roadways in droves.

If you are someone who drives in the area, what should you know about these older motorists to make sure you remain as safe as possible?

Continue reading “Aging Drivers in Phoenix: What To Know”

It is common for Phoenix consumers to review safety ratings of a new car that they are thinking about purchasing. It is reasonable to wonder how their potential vehicle is likely to fare in the event of a car accident, and safety ratings, crash reports, and other factors can help in that regard. But far fewer drivers understand the ways in which crash ratings are derived or what they mean for the ability of the driver and potential passengers to withstand an impact.

In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crafts ratings for new vehicles based on a barrage of testing designed to simulate real-world collisions, including head-on crashes and rear-end impacts. But not every type of common crash is represented at present, making the NHTSA consider new forms of impacts to incorporate into its ratings.

Continue reading “Updates Proposed for Crash Test Ratings in America”

Recently, a collision between a fire truck and a passenger car made headlines in Phoenix after the accident caused injuries to three young children in the car. While the facts surrounding that incident remain unclear at this time, it has spurred a discussion about the laws in Arizona regarding the right-of way-and who has it when emergency vehicles are present.

When an emergency vehicle is in the area, the rules regarding normal right-of-ways may be suspended so that emergency vehicles can proceed in any direction they need. This is governed by Arizona law and all motorists in the Phoenix area are legally obligated to follow the rules when a vehicle with lights and sirens activated is near.

Generally, if any type of emergency vehicle, including a fire truck, ambulance, and police vehicle, drivers are required to immediately yield the right-of-way. Further, they must pull their vehicles as close as possible to the right hand side of a road and remain stopped in that location until after the emergency vehicle has passed them.

Continue reading “Emergency Vehicles and the Right-of-Way in Arizona”

Most drivers like to think that they are in control of their own destiny while they are behind the wheel, taking comfort in the fact that their experiences driving will lead them to the correct decisions to avoid a collision and remain safe while traveling. Unfortunately, though, everyone makes mistakes and often those mistakes can turn into car accidents, some of which may be serious.

Even if you manage to drive perfectly at all times in Maricopa County, the harsh reality is that you can still be involved in a collision. Though your personal conduct does have a lot to do with your safety, the actions of other motorists also play a role and can be the difference between an accident-free trip and one that is marred in tragedy. In fact, the average American driver will be involved in nearly three car crashes during her lifetime, and only a small number of people will avoid collisions in their entirety.

Continue reading “A Car Accident Happened. Now What?”

It may seem like the pace of life is increasing daily, forcing Americans to move faster or risk being left behind. Today’s adults are expected to be the best employees, best spouses, best parents, and best members of communities ever and those demands are causing some people to fit more and more into their daily routines. Whether that means waking up earlier, going to bed later, skipping a lunch break or missing out on a session at the gym, people who live in Phoenix must find some way to get everything done that needs to be accomplished.

This pressure is so common that it is felt by millions across the country, not just here in the Valley of the Sun. And it is so common that others can understand a moment of weakness by someone who needs to check an email or make a call. But statistics continue to prove that engaging in those activities while driving can be a costly, and even deadly mistake and that it is never worth the risk.

Distracted driving is an epidemic in the United States and in 2013 alone, an estimated 424,000 people were hurt in car accidents caused by distracted driving. Another 3,154 people lost their lives in similar accidents which averages out to 1,161 injuries and more than eight fatalities every single day of the year. The troubling fact remains that the incidences of distracted driving are on the rise every year as technological improvements continue to invade our lives, making our cell phones, tablets, and other devices a necessity and no longer a luxury. What’s more is that these statistics are based on reported incidents of distraction or cases where evidence of distracted driving existed with experts believing that many more crashes and injuries actually stem from distracted drivers.

Continue reading “Distracted Driving: A Fatal Mistake”