Technological Innovations that Could Prevent Alabama Accidents

Montgomery, AL- Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the U.S. The majority of those accidents are caused by driver negligence and the two of the main actions that lead to deadly are: drunken driving and distracted driving. These two careless driving habits cause two-thirds of all fatal accidents, but technological innovations can go a long way to prevent many fatal and injurious traffic accidents.
Drinking and driving has legal ramifications and criminal penalties that get tougher and tougher, and yet the consequences are not enough to deter people from driving under the influence. That is why automakers have been working on a technology that will keep drunks of the road. That technology is essentially a built-in breathalyzer which measures alcohol on the breath of the driver. If the breathalyzer detects a blood alcohol level above the Alabama’s legal limit, the car won’t start and the intoxicated driver can’t get on the road.
In a study released earlier this year, researchers for the University of Michigan found that installing breathalyzers in all passenger vehicles over a 15 year period would reduce the number fatal traffic accidents by 85 percent and prevent 1.25 million injuries, according to Forbes.
Of course the technology is a long way from being standard in all U.S. automobiles, and there is a great deal of resistance to the idea currently, but that could change.
Victims of drunken drivers in Alabama are urged to contact an accident lawyer near their location, so they can get advice on how to proceed with their injury claim. USAttorneys can connect you with an attorney, so know what steps you need to take next.
Other innovations would combat distracted driving accidents, more specifically ones that are caused by cell phone use. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that motorists take their eyes of the road for an average of 4.6 seconds when they receive or send a text message.
Onboard devices are becoming standard on vehicles as an alternative to using a cell phone since a motorists doesn’t have to fumble with their cell phones. But research shows on-board devices are still distraction which is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked automakers to prevent drivers from entering text messages manually on their on-board devices. The federal agency has also asked that drivers are not allowed to look at websites or social media on their on-board devices and would like them to be fully voice-activated.
In 2013, traffic accidents killed 852 people in Alabama, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. Most of us can’t imagine the pain a family goes through when one or more loved ones are killed in a traffic accident. A pain that is amplified by the financial issues and logistics that accompany a tragic accident. The personal injury lawyers at USAttorneys understand your pain and they understand the hurdles and challenges you will face when seeking justice for your loved one. They understand how to build a solid claim and obtain a generous settlement for you and your loved ones.