Category Archives: Blog

Should apps like Snapchat, Waze, and Pokémon GO be responsible for accidents?

Navigation App on cell phoneAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving causes the deaths of eight people and injures 1,161 more victims every day. While distracted driving comes in many forms, cell phone use has become the most predominant in recent years.

Aside from text messages and phone calls, certain apps have made the news for their potential risks when used on the road. Three of the most recent issues come from the Waze navigation app, the Snapchat social app, and the Pokémon GO game app.

What makes Waze so dangerous?

At face value, Waze seems like a huge benefit to drivers. The app gives real-time traffic information and updates on construction, road hazards, and accidents. The first major concern with Waze is that it can be a direct distraction. The app encourages users to post “updates” about their trip and allows them to add information about hazards while driving.

Another issue with Waze is that it allows the identification of speed traps, hidden police, and speeding or red light cameras. Some officials fear drivers are using this information to protect themselves from speeding laws by knowing where to slow down because users reported speed enforcement is nearby.

Is it illegal to use Waze while driving?

Because Waze is a navigation app, it is not illegal to use it while driving to provide navigation. However, Colorado’s 2009 distracted driving law made it illegal to drive “while using a cell phone to text-message or send similar forms of transmission, while behind the wheel.” Continue reading

Why are more people dying in car accidents?

side impactThe latest news is not looking good for motorists on America’s roads. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that fatalities and injuries on roads nationwide are on the rise. The totals for the first six months of 2016 easily topped the totals for the first half of both 2015 and 2014.

This news comes on the heels of reports from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that road fatalities in the state increased almost 12 percent in 2015 over the previous year. Continue reading

Colorado Traffic Fatalities Highest in Nearly a Decade

car accidentsDespite a number of efforts to reduce fatal crashes and other car accidents on Colorado’s interstates and highways, statistics show there was a spike in fatal wrecks in the state during 2015. In response to the staggering statistics — the most traffic fatalities in the state since 2008 — officials are launching new initiatives and refocusing other efforts in an attempt to make Colorado roads safer.

Continue reading

How does new car technology affect car accidents?

Modern City

Computers and other modern technology have drastically changed the way we do many things over the last three decades. During this time, car manufacturers used computers to ensure their vehicles ran more efficiently and kept passengers and drivers safe, but it has only been in the last few years that they embraced the role new car technology could play in preventing crashes.

Of course, technology also contributes to thousands of crashes each year nationwide. With the popularization of cell phones and texting, distracted driving became an epidemic. While modern technology allows drivers to use their mobile devices hands-free, recent research shows that cognitive distractions can be just as deadly as those that take your hands off the wheel. Continue reading

National Teen Driver Safety Week: October 16-22, 2016

Teen Driving

Car accidents are the number one killer of teens between the ages of 15 and 19 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2014 alone, more than 123,000 teens suffered injuries and 2,679 teens died in crashes when they or one of their peers was behind the wheel, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Continue reading

Changing of the Seasons: Dangerous Scenic Drives

 

Colorado in autumn is simply one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is nothing quite like watching the Aspenschange from green to red, orange, and gold, framed by the glorious Rocky Mountains. One of the best ways to view the breathtaking scenery our great state has to offer is by taking a scenic drive through the mountains. However, be forewarned, these scenic drives often come with a fair amount of risk.

Rocky Mountain Drives Continue reading

Pokémon Go: Fun Fad or Serious Safety Hazard?

Everywhere you look people are either playing or talking about Pokémon Go. Parks, landmarks, and public areas of every sort across the world are filled with people trying to “catch ‘em all.” This immensely popular smart phone game has influenced people to exercise outdoors, explore new places in their communities, and meet new people who also play the game. But in spite of these positive effects, the game also poses some serious concerns.

Pokemon Continue reading