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Distracted driving has rapidly risen to a major public health risk in recent years. As the number of options for smartphones, navigation systems, in-vehicle entertainment and information systems has ballooned. Even drivers who wouldn't normally answer the phone may succumb to the temptation when it is the boss calling, texting or emailing. Regardless of the...

Commercial truck driving is a dangerous occupation. That's why federal law requires these vehicles to be operated only by those who hold a commercial driver's license. There are also additional regulations that apply to restrict the number of hours an operator can drive before he or she must take a rest break. These and other...

While there is much publicity surrounding certain causes of crashes, such as speeding and alcohol, other catalysts receive far less attention despite being equally dangerous. One example of this trend is road debris. This is a contributing factor to many collisions, and new research indicates that the problem may be more widespread than many drivers...

Hurricane Irma has caused damage to South Florida on a scale rarely seen before. Insurance claims are being filed in record numbers. The Orlando Sentinel reports that 562,262 claims - totaling an estimated $3.6 billion - had been filed as of September 23rd. Floridians are tenaciously taking on the task of cleaning up and rebuilding...

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, bicycle accident fatalities increased nationally by 12.2 percent in 2015 (the latest year for which complete data is available). What's more, fatality rates also rose dramatically between 1975 and 2015 for riders over 20-years-old (212 to 720). Interestingly, fatality rates fell dramatically during the same period for riders...

Truck accidents are a serious public health hazard, causing thousands of American deaths every year. According to CNBC, fatal truck crashes have been steadily on the rise since 2009 throughout Florida and the rest of the nation. The Gainesville Sun reports that heavy truck accidents along the I-75 in Alachua, Marion and Sumter counties nearly...

The Sarasota County government regularly releases data on car accidents in Sarasota County. The latest data (for calendar year 2015) reveals the most common driver violation was operating a vehicle in a negligent or careless manner. Negligence was more than three times as common as any other type of violation. This raises a concerning question...

Florida leads the country when it comes to percentage of the elderly population - 23 percent in all, according to the Pew Research Center.  In fact, the Sarasota region ranks as one of the most senior-populated counties in the U.S., with about 34 percent of the population here over the age of 65. Senior drivers are known...

The risk of a pedestrian accident has never been higher, especially in Florida. But what causes it? Distraction is one of the primary factors to blame for most accidents, but it's not just driver distraction, as a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Administration notes. With technology at its peak, pedestrians have developed the...