Most drivers tend to think of the car seat in terms of comfort and appearance while ignoring the fact that the seat is a critical piece of safety equipment in a crash.

The most common type of crash on America's roadways is the rear- end crash and the most common injuries drivers experience from that type of crash are whiplash and spinal injuries. The reason for this is simple. One of the laws of motion says "an object at rest wants to remain at rest." While sitting in a car seat, your body wants to remain at rest. If you are struck from behind by another vehicle, your body will want to remain at rest while the car is rapidly pushed out underneath it. If your seat isn't properly positioned, your body will snap back, followed by your head. This rapid snapping back of the spine and neck is what causes all the back injuries. Those of you who may have experienced this type of injury know that you don't really start to feel the muscles tense up and the associated pain until the next day. If it goes untreated, the trauma can cause long term and sometimes permanent injury.

Learn more about proper car seat position and safety at: Car Seats Aren't Just A Place To Sit

Created by: CollegeAtHome.com

Distracted Driving Laws for the State of Texas

Labels: car seat, car seat safety, traffic collission, traffic crash, vehicle crash

Allstate Insurance Company released their annual report on the best and worst cities in which to drive. The study looked at Allstate collision claims and compared them to the national average and ranked the nation's cities by population. To prevent any type of special event such as floods and hurricanes from skewing the results, the Allstate actuaries analyzed figures over a two year period to reach their results.

The list shows a driver's likelihood to be involved in a collision and the average number of years a driver in that city can expect to go between collisions. Based on their results:

>> The top five safest cities in Texas for drivers, in terms of ranking, are:

1. Laredo – A driver in Laredo can expect to go 11.0 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 9.0 percent less than the national average. Laredo was ranked number 28 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

2. Brownsville - A driver in Brownsville can expect to go 10.8 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 7.8 percent less than the national average. Brownsville was ranked number 32 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

3. McAllen - A driver in McAllen can expect to go 10.6 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 5.2 percent less than the national average. McAllen was ranked number 41 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

4. Amarillo - A driver in Amarillo can expect to go 10.2 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 32.4 percent less than the national average. Amarillo was ranked number 48 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

5. Lubbock - A driver in Lubbock can expect to go 9.8 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 2.5 percent more than the national average. Lubbock was ranked number 69 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.


>> The top five most dangerous cities in Texas for drivers, in terms of ranking, are:

1. Garland – A driver in Garland can expect only 7.0 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 42.5 percent more than the national average. Garland was ranked number 177 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

2. Carrollton - A driver in Carrollton can expect only 7.1 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 40.1 percent more than the national average. Carrollton was ranked number 174 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

3. Arlington* - A driver in Arlington can expect only 7.4 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 35.2 percent more than the national average. Arlington was ranked number 170 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

4. Dallas - A driver in Dallas can expect only 7.5 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 32.9 percent more than the national average. Dallas was ranked number 167 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

5. Mesquite - A driver in Mesquite can expect only 7.6 years between collisions and the chances for being involved in a collision are 32.3 percent more than the national average. Mesquite was ranked number 166 overall in the national list of safest cities in America.

*Arlington also made the list of most improved cities with a 1.6 year increase in the number of years between collisions when compared to the previous report.

The complete Allstate report can be seen at: http://allstatenewsroom.com/releases/00c90674-c797-4dd0-82c8-3813ccbe1e1e:en-US/download/e3fc06ab-a016-4248-89ef-72454729bd0a

Labels: Allstate Insurance Company, dallas, driver safety, traffic collission, traffic safety

Four El Paso County Sheriff's Offices will get extra training when it comes to investigating traffic accidents, thanks to the$4000 grant given by the Texas Department of Transportation. The money comes from the Impaired Driving Mobilization Incentive Project, and will also be used to purchase equipment such as traffic jackets, engine guard cover for patrol units and siren/light covers.

The Sheriff's Office says that their method of training, the Certified Traffic Reconstruction Course will give deputies first-hand experience when it comes to dealing with motor vehicle collisions and how to safeguard evidence from such. Students will be provided with the necessary skills they need when it comes to reconstructing and analyzing motor vehicle collisions. They will be given working experience when it comes to interpreting, documenting and safeguarding evidence. These are necessary skills when preparing and then presenting expert opinions in a court of law.

The traffic jackets to be purchased will give the wearer added visibility, as well as added protection in the form of reinforced padding for the elbows and back. The engine guard covers will help response vehicles to resist wind currents. The siren/light covers will help protect equipment.

As a motorist, you may be ordered by the County Clerk in El Paso to take a Texas defensive driving course to dismiss your traffic ticket. Consider completing this online by an approved TEA course provider.

Labels: defensive driving course, online defensive driving tx, traffic collission, traffic safety, traffic ticket