If you are the parent or guardian of a 16 or 17 year old you are probably deep into negotiations about obtaining a Learner’s Permit. While New Haven auto accidents are a serious risk for teenage drivers, following the rules of the road and the rules of their learner’s permit, and eventual license, can help keep them safe. In order to get their Connecticut learner’s permit, drivers must successfully pass a 25-question test. One they have it, they must accrue 40 hours behind the wheel before applying for their license. New permit holders must complete eight hours classroom training including two-hours with their parent/guardian on teen driving laws. During the entire time he or she has their permit, they may only drive with a 20 year or older licensed driver who has had their license for four consecutive years; or a licensed driving instructor.    

According to a study nearly 3,000 teens die each year from traffic crashes from texting and 300,000 are injured from texting. Distracted driving, not drunk driving, is now the the leading cause of death for teen drivers. It is estimated that 2,700 die each year from alcohol-related auto accidents. The NHTSA acknowledged that the use of handheld technology is a growing hazard. Forty-nine percent of boys admit to texting while driving and 45% of girls admit to the same. Distracted driving can impair a driver’s focus as much as being under the influence of alcohol. Teen drivers are inexperienced with driving and have a higher incidence of being distracted. We all need a reminder every so often to put down the phone or not eat while driving, because the safety of all those on the road is important. Two-thirds of adults in the same study ages 30-64 admitted to using a mobile Read the full article…

Technology has become more and more commonplace in vehicles. You know this if you have purchased a new vehicle in the last several years. From back-up cameras to safety technology, there is both good news and bad news. Driver safety technologies have been able to prevent 2.7 million auto accidents nationwide and 9,500 deaths. Unfortunately, many drivers are unaware of the safety limitations to these technologies. 80% of drivers who had vehicles with blind spot monitoring believed that it detected pedestrians, cyclists, etc. when the technology does not detect those objects and felt comfortable solely relying on the technology without double checking for pedestrians/cyclists; 40% of drivers did not know the difference between automatic emergency braking and forward collision; If you or a loved one was injured in a crash, call our New Haven auto accident attorneys immediately. Our team will begin an immediate investigation into your injuries.