Tampa St. Petersburg Injury Lawyer Blog

The increasing number of reckless drivers in Pinellas Park, Florida has developed into a huge problem for the city, according to Pinellas Park police. Aggressive drivers, particularly those whose driving creates a great risk for their fellow motorists, are the target of a new battle being launched by police.

Sgt. Tracy Schofield, the special operations supervisor, was recently a victim of an aggressive driver himself. Schofield believes the rise of aggressive drivers can be contributed to the country's economic status and the extra financial and personal stressors people are experiencing. (TBNWeekly.com) Police are especially looking for drivers who run red lights, tailgate, change lanes aggressively and those who speed. In the most recent effort of traffic enforcement,108 citations were made for speeding, DUIs and other violations. Police are even turning to unexpected and unconventional ways to stop violators and cut down on reckless driving, by using more unmarked cars, and even disguising officers.

Many of these aggressive drivers are thought to be 25 years old and younger, however the number of middle aged and senior violators are on the rise as well.  Younger drivers are more likely to drive high performance vehicles. Wednesday and Saturday nights have been deemed the most dangerous nights on the roads in Pinellas Park and the surrounding areas, as several local establishments sponsor weekly motorcycle and car events on those evenings.

Motorcyclists are also more inclined to break driving laws than motorists, according to Schofield. A common ticket for motorcyclists has been for doing "wheelies" on city streets, but the cyclists are starting to find ways around the ticket. Some mount their plates on hinges, so if spotted by the police they can flip up their plates and speed away from police, with the knowledge that most police agencies have "no chase" policies. While "wheelies" for some may seem harmless and fun, there are some serious consequences.  Even if it's the first time a motorcyclist has been ticketed for a wheelie, they can face a fine that's over $1,000.00. If that weren't enough to defer cyclists, second offenders' fines can be up to $2,500.00 and third time offenders not only may pay a substantial fine, but become felons and may face up to a year in jail.

Since there is no specific law which governs "aggressive driving", motorists engaging in risky road behavior are actually ticketed for other violations, such as speeding or tailgating. What many drivers may not be aware of however, is that the officer can use his or her discretion to check an "aggressive driving" box on a summons, which in turn gives the judge a clue to impose a higher fine on the driver or require them to take an aggressive driving course.

Continue reading "Pinellas Park Police Cracking Down on Aggressive Drivers" »

A 2008 study performed by Allstate Insurance Company ranked Tampa as having the highest national teenage fatality crash rate, based on teen population. Orlando and Jackonsville ranked in at third and fourth, respectively.

In addition to revealing these high-fatality areas, the study claimed that males are involved in more fatal crashes than females, at a ratio of 2.33 to 1. Statistics also show that car accidents are the number one killer of teenagers.

While modern technology has been beneficial to the car manufacturing industry, providing safer cars that are more focused on driver and passenger safety, rather than keeping the car intact, (as was common in the past) many people are pointing fingers at the development of devices that can be of distraction while driving. Cell phones, texting, DVD players and TVs in cars are now added to the list of possible hazardous distractions, in addition to other concerns such as playing with the radio, eating, and distracting passengers.

This alarming study, along with several others, has prompted insurance companies to take action to protect their teenage drivers. Companies are now implementing educational and outreach programs for teen drivers. Programs like State Farm's "Steer Clear" provide financial incentives for teens after they complete booklets and interviews, covering topics such as mileage, driving tips and safety questions. Some State Farm agents even provide the option of meeting with new teen drivers and their parents for a one-on-one session about the dangers of the road, and what safety precautions teen drivers should take.

While laws have passed in many states, such as California, New Jersey and New York prohibiting activities such as texting and talking on cell phones while driving, Florida has not yet put such precautionary measures in place.

These disturbing statistics shed a harsh and realistic light on the dangers of the road for inexperienced drivers.  It is important for new drivers not only to take safety precautions, but also to know their rights in case an accident should happen. The Law Offices of John T. Grove handles auto accidents throughout the state of Florida and can assist you and answer any questions you might have regarding traffic regulations and your rights in an auto accident.