A new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found current truck underrail guards leave much to be desired when it comes to the safety of other motorists on the road. The IIHS looked into in the effectiveness of underrail guards, which are installed on the rear of tractor-trailer vehicles to prevent a passenger car from “underriding”...
Read MoreWinter driving can be extremely hazardous. Many motorists rushing to holiday destinations are distracted and frustrated with traffic congestion. Inclement weather can make traveling by car especially challenging and put drivers at risk for motor vehicle accidents . Safe winter travel requires good preparation. Below are several steps drivers can take to limit their risk for car accidents, particularly...
Read MoreThe massive recall in 2009 and 2010 of more than 8 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles due to a sticky accelerator pedal has prompted an equally massive increase in voluntary recalls in the automotive industry. 2010 saw the fourth-largest amount of voluntary recalls since the U.S. started recording recall data in 1966. A total of 20.3 million vehicles were...
Read MoreAfter more than half a decade of decline, the number of Missourians who have lost their lives to motor vehicle accidents is up over the first two and a half months of 2012. This year is the first since 2005 in which fatalities on Missouri roads between January 1 and March 7 did not drop year-to-year. Almost a Third...
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is approaching Detroit auto manufacturers for help on his campaign against distracted driving. Within the past few years the auto industry has introduced a variety of advanced navigation and entertainment systems in their new vehicles, some of which have been deemed distracting. While LaHood avoided pressuring the automakers to address the new technology,...
Read MoreWhile the number of people dying in auto accidents has steadily decreased across the United States since 2005, new statistics show Missouri is dealing with some troubling statewide motor vehicle accident trends. Not only have Missouri traffic deaths been rising, but in particular fatalities from accidents with big rigs have been increasing. Increasing Numbers According to the Missouri Highway...
Read MoreA tragic accident last Friday resulted in the death of a Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) worker. A motorist-assist operator was hit by an alleged drunk driver while he was working at an accident scene on Interstate 70 around 3:00 am. The worker was a long time employee of the department, receiving his 15th anniversary plaque just on Monday....
Read MoreMany people may assume with advances in car safety technologies and tougher driving laws motor vehicle accidents would be on the decline. This has been the case since 2006; traffic fatalities reached a nationwide low last year. Unfortunately, so far 2012 has seen an over 13 percent increase in accident fatalities compared to the same period last year, according...
Read MoreMotor vehicle accidents involving commercial trucks are some of the most deadly. The recent increase in Missouri deaths from big rig auto accidents has highlighted the importance of this issue. According to the Highway Patrol, last year 120 people lost their lives in Missouri truck accidents. This is a substantial increase compared to the 105 fatalities that occurred in...
Read MoreWith warmer weather around the corner, Missouri motorists should be on the lookout for more motorcycles on the road. Roughly 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities occur in May, June and July. May is also designated as Motorcycle Awareness month; so MoDOT is hoping to bring awareness to issues surrounding motorcycle safety. Last year there were 81 fatalities due to...
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