Not all new features in automobiles are safe. A new study released by the AAA is showing that vehicle ‘infotainment’ systems are distracting drivers more than they are assisting them. Researchers found drivers between the ages of 55 to 75 were experiencing the most difficulty with these systems, taking their attention off the road for up to eight-seconds longer than drivers ages 21 to 30.

Regardless of age, it only takes a driver looking away from the road for one second for a fatal road accident to occur. Infotainment systems that require extra attention from a driver are dangerous and counterproductive. These are the most distracting features Connecticut motorists should be aware of and the safety measures they can take to reduce accidents on the road.

The Most Distracting Features

The majority of drivers on American roads learned to operate internal vehicle functions with knobs and buttons. The switch to touch screen operations is proving to be a dangerous learning curve and requiring far more concentration than past designs. Some drivers are even having trouble turning on their air conditioning, which used to be a mindless task that could be done without a glance.

The AAA study, which is in the seventh phase of groundbreaking distracted driving research, found most current infotainment systems are poorly designed, unreliable, and equipped with technology that is difficult to use. Here are the features that are causing drivers the most problems:

Experts say, however, infotainment system distractions are not necessarily age-related. Any driver can become distracted by an infotainment system glitch, particularly when models have a history of software issues.

The Most and Least Distracting Systems

Not all car manufacturers have designed their infotainment systems as well as others. In an analysis released by Consumer Reports, these are some of the most and least distracting systems on the market:

Most

Acura: All (optional on ILX)

Cadillac (Cue only): All (optional on ATS)

Lexus: NX, RX, GS, LS, LC (optional on IS, RC, ES)

Mercedes- Benz: All

Tesla: Model S, Model X

Volvo: XC60, XC90, S90, V90

Least

FCA (Uconnect 8.4-inch screen): Optional on all Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram models except the Grand Caravan, Renegade, and Wrangler

Ford/Lincoln (Ford Sync3 only): Standard on all Lincoln models

GM (except Cadillac)

Hyundai/Kia/Genesis: All

Nissan: Standard on select models

Subaru: All

Toyota: All

Volkswagen: All

Making Infotainment Systems Safer

The AAA and other automobile experts believe car manufactures must step up their game when it comes to making less demanding infotainment systems for aging drivers. More than one in five drivers will be over the age of 65 within the next decade. Without significant modifications to advanced safety features, accidents are bound to increase.

Making the infotainment systems in newer vehicles easier to use will also benefit the younger generation of drivers hitting the roads. Distracted driving is one of the most deadly driving behaviors in America. By reducing any number of distractions in the car, thousands of lives could be saved from unnecessary traffic accidents.

It Only Takes One Second

Looking away from the road is one of the deadliest decisions a driver can make. Too many drivers try to multitask behind the wheel, believing looking away for a few seconds is ‘okay’ when it’s anything but.

Drivers can reduce their chances of distracted driving accidents and increase their attention on the road by completing the following tasks before or after you drive:

All of these tasks can be dangerous when done while a vehicle is in motion. Don’t take a chance with your life or the lives of others by driving distracted.

Connecticut Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved has been injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligent acts of someone else, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team car accident attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options.

Insects have been spreading disease in Connecticut this season like wildfire. According to NBC News, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection closed down two campgrounds last week to protect the public after a group of diseased mosquitoes was found.

Mosquitos and ticks are the biggest carriers of serious and fatal insect-borne illnesses, and multiple species of both live in Connecticut. If your family enjoys outdoor activities, these are the diseases posing a threat to your health and the symptoms to watch for.

Mosquitos- Transmitted Diseases in CT

Mosquitos transfer diseases by acquiring pathogens from infected hosts (people or animals) they bite. These viruses multipy inside the insect, which are then transferred to the next host the insect feeds on.

A new study on climate change is showing how easily tropical infected mosquitos are traveling outside of their natural habitat. Published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers found two species of mosquitos known for carrying potentially fatal viruses: Aedes albopictus and Aedes awgypti. Both of these species love urban environments, which harbor hundreds of thousands of food sources for them to access on any given day.

So how are these insects getting to America? The study reports that mosquitos most often travel through imported goods, and they are doing so at alarming rates. Researchers predict if the pace of these migrations continue, around 1 billion people could be exposed to these disease within the next 50-years.

To date, there have been nine arboviruses detected from mosquitos in Connecticut, with six directly affecting humans. According to the CT.Gov, these are the mosquito-transmitted diseases residents should be familiar with:

West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus can result in moderate to severe health consequences, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The age group most affected by this virus are individuals over the age of 65. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. West Nile originates from bird species.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

EEE was recently detected in a group of mosquitos that were trapped inside of a Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown. Although EEE is rare, it can be extremely serious when contracted by humans. Children are most at risk for severe consequences, which can also include encephalitis. Symptoms usually occur between four to ten days, some including headache, high fever, neck stiffness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. EEE also likes to live in bird species.

La Crosse

La Crosse is a virus that originates in squirrels and chipmunks. This virus has similar health consequences to EEE, also negatively affecting children the most. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and vomiting in mild cases and seizures, coma, paralysis, and permanent brain damage in severe cases.

Jamestown Canyon

This virus originates from white-tailed deer presents like the flu. Young adults are most affected by this mild virus. Symptoms can set in two days to two weeks after a bite, including sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Cache Valley and Trivittatus

Cache Valley and Trivittatus are both febrile illnesses presenting as a fever and affecting all ages. While Cache Valley resides in deer, horse, and sheep, Trivittatus originates from rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and opossums. Other symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Zika

There have been no cases of the Zika Virus in Connecticut, but that does not mean residents are in the clear. According to the National Safety Council (N.S.C.) , this serious virus is transmitted by mosquitos who bite in the day and the night, and originate in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and even parts of the United States.

Residents who are traveling to areas were Zika is present can contract the virus without any symptoms present. Others may show signs of fever, rash, pink eye, headache, or muscle pain that can last up to a week. If someone is infected with Zika, and is bitten by another mosquito within one week, the disease can then be spread further. Zika leads to abnormal brain development in infants, putting women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant at serious risk.

Tick-Borne Illnesses in CT

Ticks are horribly sneaky and can be highly dangerous. There are several different species of ticks in Connecticut, and more arrive in the country every year. Certain types of ticks carry life-threatening diseases-and are the size of a poppyseed!

Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas and tall grass but can easily be transported by animals to any grassy area. The CT Department of Public Health lists the following tick-borne diseases Connecticut residents should look out for and the types of ticks that spread them:

Lyme Disease (Deer Tick)

Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and can have detrimental health consequences for those infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, bulls-eye skin rash, or other. Lyme disease is treatable if caught quickly with antibiotics. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to infection in the joints, heart, and nervous system that could lead to permanent damage.

Babesiosis (Deer Tick)

Babesiosis is an infection caused by the protozoan Babesia micro, which invades and lives in the red blood cells and can have mild to severe consequences. Symptoms of these diseases typically show within one to four weeks after a tick bite and can present as a fever, muscle or joint aches, or drenching sweats. Severe cases have also found a breakdown of the red blood cells called hemolytic anemia.

HGA/HGE (Deer Tick)

HGA/HGE is an infection caused by a bacterium that lives in the white blood cells. This disease can also range from mild to severe but may present with any symptoms.

RMSF (Dog Tick)

RMSF is not very common in Connecticut, but parents should still be aware. The infection is caused by Rickettsia and can present with symptoms such as severe heartaches, fatigue, muscle pain, fever, chills, or rashes.

How To Protect Your Family

It only takes one bite for an insect to transmit a horrible disease. However, Connecticut residents do not have to be scared to go outside. The Central Connecticut Health District suggests taking these simple steps to protecting your family from insect bites at home and outdoors:

• Install window screens.
• Wear light-colored clothes and long sleeves/pants when able.
• Sleep under insects bed net when camping.
• Use insect replacement strong enough for the environment you will be spending time in.
• Get rid of stagnant water around your home in flower pots, old containers, and other areas.

At least two people die every day in the United States from drivers who run red lights. In 2017, more than 132,000 people were injured, and 890 were killed in red-light running crashes according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (I.I.H.S.).

Stopping at red lights in Connecticut is not a suggestion- it’s the law. With the recent passing of National Stop On Red Week, now is the perfect time for drivers across the country to get involved. All Connecticut drivers can do their part to reduce these unnecessary accidents by spreading awareness of how they occur and what motorists can do every day to prevent them.

Red Light Accidents Are Usually Fatal

Traffic lights were designed to reduce chaos and keep drivers safe. Even young children are trained on how to read traffic lights early on: green means ‘go,’ yellow means ‘slow,’ and red means ‘stop.’

However, traffic signals only save lives when motorists are paying attention and abiding by the rules of the signals. If drivers refuse to acknowledge red lights or are not paying attention, preventable accidents can lead to catastrophic losses.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads (N.C.S.R.) reports approximately 10,125 Americans were killed in red-light crashes between 2004 to 2016. More than half of theses fatalities were occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists who suffered from someone else’s mistake.

Red-Light Accident Trends

Certain situations are known for leading to more red-light accidents than others. After analyzing data from over 120 red light camera programs, the N.C.S.R. reports the following trends Connecticut residents should be aware of:

In addition to the time you find yourself at an intersection, your chance of getting into a red-light accident can also be affected by the types of drivers around you. The I.I.H.S. reports drivers in the following groups are more likely to run red lights than others:

In a 2017 telephone survey conducted by the AAA, over 93 percent of participating drivers admitted that running red lights was unacceptable. Yet, 43 percent of the same drivers also reported running a red light within the last 30 days. Why are so many people running red lights?

How To Run a Red Light In CT

There is more than one way to run a red light in Connecticut. According to state law, motorists can be considered red-light runners if they commit any of the following violations:

Failing To Stop

The most obvious red-light violations occur when drivers continue to drive through a red light or stop sign while entering an intersection. Drivers most commonly make this error when they are distracted, impaired, fatigued, or attempting to beat a short yellow light signal.

Drivers should always come to a complete stop at a red light. This does not mean stopping in the intersection, but before the marked line indicating the start of the intersection.

Not Coming To A Complete Stop 

Connecticut law allows motorists to make right turns on red lights after stopping first. Unfortunately, some drivers do not come to a complete stop. These incidents lead to right-of-way accidents, including:

Making Illegal Right-on-Red Turns

Some drivers ignore or do not look for signs that prohibit turning right-on-red when approaching an intersection. When oncoming traffic is not expecting a car to go right on red, they are less likely to slow down. Drivers should be aware of intersections that prohibit rights-on-red to avoid surprising other motorists.

Making Illegal Left-on-Red Turns

Certain states allow drivers to turn left on red if they are entering into a one-way street; Connecticut is not one of them. Any driver who is turning left-on-red is putting others in danger. No one will be predicting this risky maneuver.

In addition to the possibility of taking a life, running through a red light could land Connecticut drivers with several fines, including:

Red Light Cameras Save Lives

Both the I.I.H.S. and the N.C.S.R. fully support the use of red light cameras to help reduce the number of preventable inquires and fatalities in our communities. Studies have shown that large cities using these programs have reduced their red-light fatality rate by up to 21 percent. Red light cameras make drivers think twice about their behavior approaching an intersection, reducing their speed, increasing their concentration, and their awareness of the people and vehicles around them.

Connecticut law does not currently permit the installation of red light cameras to ticket drivers caught in violating the law, but that soon could change. Certain cities, such as Hamden, have preemptively installed traffic cameras to assist police officers in investigations that could double as red light cameras if the law change in the near future.

How To Avoid Running Red Lights

There are several reasons why a driver may run a red light, all in which are preventable. Connecticut motorists can help keep others safe on the road by following these simple recommendations for driving through intersections:

Connecticut Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved has been injured in a red-light accident due to the negligent acts of someone else, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options.

  1. Over 900 children have died from vehicular heatstroke in our country in the last 30 years. The most recent tragedy involved a 2-year-old in Florida who was left unattended in a hot daycare van on Monday. The boy was found unresponsive by an employee in the afternoon after someone forgot to take him out of the van during morning transport.

This heartbreaking accident comes only days after another tragedy in New York City last week, when 1-year-old twins were left in a car for eight hours after their father forgot to drop them off at daycare.

KidsandCars.org reports 26 children have died in hot cars so far in 2019. With the observation of National Heatstroke Prevention Day this week, safety advocates across the country are tirelessly working to spread awareness on why these tragic deaths keep occurring.

Most children who die in hot cars do not have negligent or cruel parents. These tragic accidents can happen to anyone when the conditions are right. It’s critical for all Connecticut parents to be aware of the risks of cars in the heat, and to learn about the tools available to prevent future hot car deaths from happening.

Why Hot Car Deaths Keep Happening

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.), more than half of all hot car deaths involve parents who forget their child is still in the car. Forty-four percent of these parents report they were on their way to drop a child off at daycare or preschool, and most occurred at the end of the work week.

Incidents where children climb into hot vehicles and trap themselves have also become a significant problem. At least 26 percent of hot car deaths involve children who unintentionally lock themselves in a car or are too little to get themselves out. Kids who play in the car may easily enter through an open door that could shut behind them, leaving them unable to push the door back open on their own.

Another 18 percent of hot car deaths includes parents who intentionally leave their children in the car. ‘Intentionally’ does not mean parents were trying to harm their children. Some of these parents may not have been aware of how quickly heatstroke can set in, taking long enough to run errands or load the car for their vehicle to reach fatal temperatures.

Fatal Heatstroke- It Doesn’t Take Long

Heatstroke begins when the body core temperatures hit 104. The N.H.T.S.A. reports that an average size car can heat up by 20 degrees in a matter of 10 minutes. On a day where temperatures are over 80 degrees, this can put the internal temperature of a vehicle quickly past 100.

Additionally, a child’s internal temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult. In the 15 minutes to would take for an adult to be severely uncomfortable in a hot car, a child could begin suffering the fatal effects of heatstroke- even with cracked windows.

New Legislation To Make Safer Cars

The three horrific hot car deaths this week have sparked a legislative motion to get automakers more involved. The new bill would require car manufacturers to install sensors in all new models that would detect passengers in the backseat. The systems would also be required to provide an alert to drivers to encourage them to check the back before they walk away.

Some of the current safety systems on the market that Connecticut parents can take advantage of include:

Portable Car Seat Alarms

For parents who are looking for a solution now, car seat alarms are a great safety option. These devices are typically secured under the child’s seat or across the chest to monitor when they are present in the car. Fatherly lists these as the most popular products currently on the market:

Child Safety Reminder Apps

If you don’t have the money for a new car or a fancy alarm, there are plenty of affordable and free apps parents can use instead.

Waze has a built-in feature that parents can use to set a reminder to check the back seat when they arrive at their destination. Another app through Kars4Kids will sound an alarm when the parent leaves the car as a reminder to check the backseat.

No cell service? For The Backseat App, it’s not a problem. This app works with both Apple and Android devices without Bluetooth and will sound an alarm when the car is parked. If the driver does not disengage the alarm, three emergency contacts will be contacted that someone could still be in the backseat.

If You See Something, Do Something

All Connecticut residents can do their part by staying alert to unattended children in hot cars. If you see a child or children alone in a car with no parent or guardian nearby, the N.H.T.S.A. advises patrons to take the following steps:

Don’t risk the life of a child by taking a chance that their parents will be back soon. If you see something, do something.

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