Automobile Safety

Pennsylvania hoping to be National ‘Proving Ground’ for Automated Vehicle Technologies

Published on: January 10, 2017 | O'Connor Law

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has applied to the US Department of Transportation hoping to have Pennsylvania be designated as an Automated Vehicle Proving Ground. The purpose of the application is to help in the facilitation of the safe and innovative development of Automated Vehicle technologies.

The application puts forth the benefits of Pennsylvania as a testing location because of the already existing facilities, environments, and topography within the state. “This application further illustrates that we’re a national leader in supporting automated vehicle development with safety and flexibility in mind,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. “We’ve put in significant work on this issue with our task force, with our partners in the legislature, and through close collaboration with the industry.”

The application also highlighted the Pennsylvania Autonomous Vehicle Policy Task Force, which recently issued its recommended guidance to assist with testing policies helping to make testing proving grounds a success.

Summer Travels Safety Reminders

Published on: June 20, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Summer brings many exciting things – warm weather, beach trips, days by the pool and more. However, it also brings a new list of potential dangers to the road.

This summer, stay safe by keeping these points in mind:

Increase in Younger Drivers

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Published on: May 12, 2016 | O'Connor Law

After signing an official proclamation, Governor Tom Wolf has named May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. In 2015 alone, there were 3,400 crashes in Pennsylvania involving motorcycles. That number rose from 2014, but fortunately, the number of fatalities declined with a decade low of 179.

“Staying aware while driving or riding, obeying speed limits and being responsible will help keep fatalities and injuries as low as possible,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards in a news release earlier this month.

O’Connor Law wants to do their part to prevent motorcycle accidents. Follow these tips to help keep the roads safe:

PennDOT Implements 70 MPH Speed Limit Zones Across 1,000 Miles of Pennsylvania Highways

Published on: May 5, 2016 | O'Connor Law

Starting this week, Pennsylvania motorists will begin seeing an increased number of 70 mph speed limit zones on several hundreds of miles Interstate Highways, state highways and turnpikes all over the state.

The new zones include…

I-79 from I-90 in Erie County, 97 miles south to just north of the PA 228 interchange in Butler County.

Ready to Ride: Five Ways to be a Clutch Copilot

Published on: April 30, 2016 | O'Connor Law

You and your friends are about to pile into the car to embark on a day trip that is sure to be packed with all sorts of fun and adventure. The driver knows their role, but the fight for the front has only just begun as the passengers try to wage their arguments for who deserves the highly-coveted front passenger “shotgun” seat in the car.

After numerous futile “dibs” calls, a footrace that likely ended with a physical struggle in front of the car door, and pleas for sympathy from one friend claiming severe car sickness, a victor emerges and assumes their rightful throne while the less fortunate squeeze into the back where they will immediately begin barking for more leg room.

The story illustrated above is a familiar occurrence for friends and groups as they prepare to travel, but there’s actually a lot more that goes into “riding shotgun” than just full control over legroom and air vents.

Volkswagen Facing Another Recall; This Time for Fatal Airbags

Published on: February 25, 2016 | O'Connor Law

After facing major consequences for faulty emissions tests, Volkswagen faced yet another vehicle recall for potentially fatal airbags.

The car manufacturer initially refused a government mandated recall to fix the defective airbags, claiming that recalling the vehicles was unnecessary. Eventually, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, Volkswagen cooperated and went through with the recall.

The recalled vehicles include U.S. Audi and VW vehicles between the years 2006 to 2014. There are roughly 850,000 vehicles involved in the recall. In a letter to the safety agency, Volkswagen argued against the recall by stating that many of the vehicles had perfectly functioning airbags made at the Takata factory in Germany.

Potential Recall of 24-Million Vehicles Following Death Caused by Forceful Airbag in Ford Ranger

Published on: January 31, 2016 | O'Connor Law

More than 390,000 Ford Ranger pickup trucks are being recalled due to overly strong driver’s side air bags.

The airbags in the recalled 2004-2006 vehicles have been found to cause injury upon release. The faulty airbags played a role in the death of 52-year-old Joel Knight, a South Carolina native whose truck crashed and caused deadly shrapnel to penetrate his neck.

In addition to Knight’s accident, the airbags are responsible for nine other deaths and more than 100 injuries. Many of the airbags have also simply failed lab tests as well.

PennDOT’s Winter Driving Awareness Week Reminds Us To Exercise Caution While Driving This Winter

Published on: January 11, 2016 | O'Connor Law

January 10-16 is PennDOT’s annual Winter Driving Awareness Week and the department is urging all drivers to exercise winter-appropriate driving practices and to have their cars checked by mechanics as temperatures drop and winter conditions take hold of our roadways.

In order to stay safe this winter and prevent automobile accidents that could endanger your life as well as the lives of others, PennDOT is urging drivers to have vehicles professionally serviced. The unseasonably warm weather that blanketed the state earlier this winter has seemingly ended, with 2016 already proving to be colder in the first few weeks. That being said, a visit to the local mechanic is highly encouraged for all.

Mechanics are able to inspect things such as your car’s cooling system, battery, hoses, drive belts, tires and windshield wipers to confirm that they all are working correctly and doing their jobs to keep passengers safe. In addition to a professional inspection, drivers themselves are asked to keep an eye on their own tires, fluid levels, lights and other things that can be easily checked.

The U.S. Department of Transportation

Published on: December 19, 2015 | O'Connor Law

U.S. regulators have proposed an updated version of the five-star crash-test rating systems that will incorporate new technology and test dummies. The five-star crash-test ratings has been in place by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since the late seventies and although they have proven themselves highly credible among both car dealers and buyers, this update seeks to even further improve safety.

Some changes to the rating system include testing collisions that happen in the front at an angle in the hopes of decreasing pedestrian accidents, as well as adding half-star rating options so as to more closely gauge the accuracy of the rating. Dummies will also be updated to more truthfully simulate the human body, with bendable spines and necks. The NHTSA does not want to make things more complicated, but rather, more safe.

Safety can never be taken too seriously, especially when it comes to the road.

Students and Drivers Honored at School Bus Safety Awards Ceremony

Published on: October 30, 2015 | O'Connor Law

On October 21, 2015, twelve students and six bus drivers were honored at the Pennsylvania School Bus Safety Awards ceremony hosted in the home of Governor Tom Wolf.

The student honorees, ranging from grades kindergarten to eighth grade, received acknowledgement for their winning entries in the 2015 School Bus Safety Poster Contest. The theme for the contest was “Bully Free Zone!” which pushed for bully- and harassment-free buses and bus stops. These students, whose posters were selected from 623 other public and private school poster entries, are helping to disseminate the message of respect.

In accordance with the award ceremony, the governor also proclaimed October 19-23 as School Bus Safety Week.