While Reports Shows Decline of County Road Fatalities, Drives Need to Remain Vigilant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boca Raton, Florida, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 1, 2011 -- Contact
Gregg Hollander, Hollander Law Firm
(561) 347-7770
ghollander@hollanderlaw.com
Kim Sailer, BARD Marketing
ksailer@bardmarketing.com

While Reports Shows Decline of County Road Fatalities, Drives Need to Remain Vigilant

Boca Raton, FL – According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (http://www.flhsmv.gov/) traffic fatalities in Palm Beach County dropped to 123 in 2010, down from 151 in 2009.

The following have helped in the decline of fatalities on Palm Beach County’s roadways:

* New or Improved Traffic Laws and Enforcement
o Click It or Ticket – seat belt use last year was a record high 87% (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/click-it-or-ticket-state-authorities-crack-down-1492194.html)
o Targeting Drunk Drivers - 31 alcohol-related traffic deaths reported in Palm Beach County in 2010, compared with 62 in 2009, according to state data

* Installation of Guardrails – Palm Beach County agreed to install more than 18 miles of guardrails after local paper details 9 deaths and community outcry. (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/florida-dot-agrees-to-install-guardrails-along-drowning-889408.html?printArticle=y)

* The Economy and Gas Prices – people are making fewer trips, telecommuting or are using public transportation (http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-07-03/news/sfl-palm-beach-county-traffic-20110703_1_gas-prices-ridership-chuck-cohen)

While the report shows a decline in the number of deaths on Palm Beach County’s roadways, law enforcement and drivers still need to be vigilant. Some key concerns include:

* Distracted Driving – According to the National Safety Council (http://www.ncs.org) distracted driving kills at least 5,500 people each year and the number one distraction behind the wheel is cell phone use. Compounding the problem is that Florida has no laws limiting either texting or talking on mobile phones while driving. Efforts to enact such laws failed during the past two legislative sessions, but new legislation has been filed for the 2012 session.

* Aggressive Driving – Aggressive driving increased 88% between 2008 -2010. (http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-10-15/news/fl-aggressive-driving-20111015_1_aggressive-drivers-aaa-foundation-hov-lane). Last year law enforcement officers statewide wrote 23,180 traffic tickets for driving aggressively. In Florida, a driver is considered aggressive when he or she commits two or more specific violations at the same time. The infractions are speeding, tailgating, running red lights or stop signs, improperly changing lanes, improperly passing and failing to yield the right of way.

* Drowsy Driving – Fatigue can impair a person behind the wheel or at the helm much like alcohol or other drugs. Driver fatigue leads to more than 1,500 deaths on the road each year and has contributed to 100,000 crashes and 71,000 injuries.The National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) (http://www.hollanderlawfirm.com/lawyer-attorney-1793432.html) particularly wants to reduce the problem of fatigued transportation employees who drive trains, trucks, buses, ships, fly planes and operate complex machinery.

Hollander Law Firm reminds drivers that driving in a privilege not a right. Please drive responsibly, drive safely, obey the traffic laws, and respect the rights of other drivers.

The Hollander Law firm is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 500. The firm also has offices in Naples and Fort Myers. The attorney can be contacted at (561) 347-7770. Additional information about Hollander Law Firm may be obtained from the firm's website at http://www.hollanderlawfirm.com. Also visit our Facebook page for additional automotive and product safety resources and news.

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