Road rage is all too common in Montana, just like anywhere else, but there are ways that drivers can avoid incurring it. Staying calm is the most important tip. When drivers are cut off, they should avoid honking the horn, flashing the high beams or making inflammatory hand gestures. These actions are better reserved for alerting other drivers to dangers.
Tips for defusing aggressive drivers
ZF reveals potential advantages of external airbags
The ZF Group has revealed that external airbags could reduce the severity of accident injuries by as much as 40 percent. The car parts manufacturer also has a strategy for how the technology could be developed moving forward. While Montana drivers won't want to hold their breath for them, external airbags may eventually become standard in most vehicles.
Car crashes decreased in vehicles with emergency braking system
A new study shows that drivers in Montana and across the nation benefit more than initially suspected from automatic emergency braking systems. Researchers from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety conducted the study, and they looked at 10 different models of General Motors vehicles from 2013 to 2015 that were equipped with an automatic braking system. The study included both small and large cars, mid-sized vehicles and full-sized SUVs.
Accident risks increase with each hour of lost sleep
Most Montana residents are aware that driving when sleep-deprived can be just as dangerous as doing so when impaired by alcohol, but studies suggest that knowledge alone is not enough to prevent them from engaging in this dangerous behavior. Fatigue is thought to be a factor in about 16 percent of all fatal crashes, which is concerning for road safety advocates because Department of Transportation figures suggest that one in three American motorists get less than the recommended seven hours of sleep each night.
Distracted driving poses many threats
Montana drivers could put themselves in harm's way by driving while distracted. According to a AAA study, 88 percent of respondents said that distracted driving was on the rise. However, for those looking to keep their employees safe while on the road, it will take more than statistics to change their behavior. This is because most people feel as if they won't be impacted by the dangers that distracted driving can cause.
Avoiding the dangers of hydroplaning
When heavy rains fall in Montana, drivers run the risk of hydroplaning. This occurs when the tires of a car encounter more water beneath them than they can handle, creating a thin layer of water between the tires and the street. The tires will therefore be floating above the road. The loss of traction can cause the car to slide or skid uncontrollably, crashing if the driver reacts in the wrong way.
Rural roundabouts may reduce traffic accident risks
It's not unusual for some rural intersections in Montana to be governed solely by a stop sign. While this can be an effective way to manage traffic flow in some areas, it may not be the best option in locations where there's a higher risk of vehicle collisions. In one such area following a fatal accident in North Carolina, vegetation was cleared to make the stop sign more visible, and signs were posted announcing that a stop sign was ahead. However, there were two more serious accidents at the same interaction. The next step taken was to install a rural roundabout, which proved to be a more effective solution.
New studies reveal no single cure for distracted driving
Public safety officials have not definitively linked an increase in distracted driving to the increase in fatal car accidents, but most drivers in Montana probably think that it would make sense to. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 37,150 people died on America's roads in 2017, which is more than a 10 percent jump from only three years prior. In the meantime, more new technology, especially automated technology, is being introduced.
July 4 sees highest number of fatal car crashes, says IIHS
Montana drivers know that holidays bring with them a greater risk for accidents on the road. They may be wondering which is the deadliest holiday for such accidents. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has analyzed fatal car crash data from 2010 and 2014 and found that Independence Day, followed by New Year's Day, is the most dangerous.
How seatbelts reduce the severity of liver injuries
Drivers in Montana who do not wear their seat belts will want to know about the results of a study conducted by researchers at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn. This study shows that seat belt use can, in the event of an auto accident, decrease the risk of a severe liver injury by as much as 21 percent. Seat belt and airbag use together leads to 26 percent less risk even though seat belts alone seem to decrease the severity of the injury itself.
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