Category: Distracted Driving

The National Safety Council, which contends that the use of even hands-free electronics is distracting to drivers, is sponsoring a video contest as part of its observance of Distracted Driving Awareness Month during April. Contest winners could win monetary prizes of up to $2,000. The theme of the campaign is…

If you live in or visit Yakima, Washington, you are undoubtedly aware of the proliferation of billboards and digital signs around the city. Yakima itself welcomes visitors with a sign visible from Interstate 82 declaring the city as the “Palm Springs of Washington.” Many cities impose restrictions on billboards and…

Distracted driving has long been a cause of accidents. In recent years, though, the use of mobile phones and navigation devices has caused the number of distracted-driving accidents to rise significantly. The National Safety Council urges drivers to: Stop using cellphones while driving. Understand the dangers of the cognitive distraction…

One man was killed April 9 in a three-vehicle accident on Route 243 near Mattawa, Wash., that also injured five others, according to news reports. The 63-year-olc man was riding in a car that slowed because of traffic ahead and was rear-ended by another vehicle. The impact sent the car…

As Yakima grows and drivers continue to take safety risks, Yakima’s busiest intersections are becoming more dangerous, KIMA-TV reports. Residents and law enforcement agree that the increased use of cellphones and other electronic devices, coupled with speed related factors, is making many Yakima intersections more hazardous for motorists, cyclists and…

A 19-year-old Yakima teenager was injured recently in a single vehicle rollover accident near Naches, Washington, according to a report by the Yakima Herald. The teenager, who was driving a Ford Explorer along U.S. 12, apparently veered off the roadway and hit some gravel, which caused his vehicle to roll…

A federal and state initiative has states conducting annual driver surveys to find out what drivers think about their own and others’ driving behavior and to gauge awareness of safety campaigns. The results of the 2011 Washington State Driver Attitudes, Knowledge, and Awareness survey were recently released with some interesting…

An Oregon man was killed when his pickup truck drifted off the road near White Salmon, Washington, struck a tree and burst into flames. State Patrol officials think the man most likely died of severe injuries before the blaze started, according to the Yakima Herald, but the news report did…

Insurance companies bombard us with ads telling us that being a safe driver will result in lower insurance rates. From “vanishing deductibles” to “safe driver discounts” to the latest in car-monitoring devices, we are told that driving safely will save us money in the long run. But is that really…

The issue of drowsy, or fatigued, driving is in the news again after the release of a survey by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The largest survey completed to date includes responses from 147,076 drivers to questions about insufficient sleep. The results are alarming. According to the survey,…