Scrapbook The dangers of driving.

Car-train wreck derails train in Allegan County, kills driver

Tuesday, March 17, 1998

Associated Press

LEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- A freight train collided with an Allegan County snowplow truck just south of Holland, killing the driver of the truck and knocking locomotives and rail cars off the tracks. The accident occurred about 8 a.m. Monday at a crossing in Lee Township. The snowplow stopped at the crossing, then rolled into the path of a CSX freight train, Sheriff David Haverdink said. The victim was identified as Ronald C. Davis, 58, of Allegan. Sheriff's Lt. Jim Ross told The Grand Rapids Press that the train was hauling 40 cars and traveling about 48 mph at the time of the collision. Haverdink said signal lights were flashing, but the crossing did not have safety arms. "The cab went one way and the box went the other. It took three engines right off the tracks," said Duane Smith, 64, of Pullman, who reached the scene shortly after the crash. Jo Rawson, who lives next to the tracks, was getting ready for work when she heard the crash. "It's a big boom," she said. "You knew something hit the train or the train hit something, having heard it so many times before." Workers were vacuuming a creek for diesel fuel and ink that leaked from one of the cars. Mike Pine, a forestry officer for the state Department of Natural Resources, said he was monitoring the scene because of concern about chemicals in another car mixing with the ink. The accident occurred on a track used by 20 to 25 trains a day, including Amtrak passenger service between Grand Rapids and Chicago. Haverdink said it would take up to two days before the tracks would be cleared. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said about 100 passengers were being bused Monday from Grand Rapids to Chicago, but Amtrak would wait and see if today's trains would run as scheduled. Service between Detroit and Chicago has not been affected.

Kevin Chittum and Tamara Whitney Rogers, who were killed in a car wreck on July 4, were

parents of one of the switched Virginia babies.

The crash was the worst in the nation this year on the fourth of July, claiming seven lives in all. Chittum, a carpenter and a contractor, had set off early that afternoon for a county fair with five passengers -- Ms. Rogers, his 13-year-old sister, his 11-year-old niece from Charlottesville, and two brothers, 10 and 13, from Lexington who had known his niece.

The accident occurred in "a very bad place" near Roanoke, on Interstate 81, said the Botetourt County Sheriff, Reed Kelly. It was pouring rain, he said, and the car drove over a hump in the road that caused it to hydroplane and cross the median, where it hit a tractor trailer. Everyone in Chittum's car and the driver of the truck, Jerry Douglas Gregory, 59, were killed. I know exactly where this occurred. It is at a location where there is a shortcut I used to take in driving from Lynchburg to Staunton. There is an exit from I-81. There is a truck stop there. I nearly had an accident once there myself, and I once got a ticket there for exiting wrongly when I had just come off of I-81. I never tried to drive there in the rain. On July 3, the day before they died, tests had been done in New Jersey which determined that they were not the biological parents of the three year old girl Kevin Chittum is holding. However, they had not yet been identified as the parents of the switched baby and could not possibly have known of this when they died.

Kevin Chittum and Tamara Whitney Rogers, who were killed

in a car wreck on July 4. Ms. Johnson's child may be Rebecca, right, sitting on the knee of the

man she knew as her father.

Photo of the Tragic Car Crash which killed Kevin Chittum, Tamara

Whitney Rogers and five others.

Cavs' Hill taken to hospital after car wreck

(c) 1995 Copyright Nando.net(c) 1995 Associated Press

CLEVELAND (Nov 8, 1995 - 00:48 EST) -- Tyrone Hill of the Cleveland Cavaliers sustained a mild concussion and bruises in a car accident on the way to Tuesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers. The forward was taken to Marymount Hospital and then transferred to the Cleveland Clinic, where he was was being held overnight for observation, the team said. Hill, 27, averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds in Cleveland's first two games. "We were concerned when he was not in the locker room when he was supposed to be," coach Mike Fratello said after Indiana's 104-101 victory. No details of the accident were available. "We were more concerned about him than the game," guard Terrell Brandon said. "When we found out he was OK -- I mean, it wasn't a death or anything -- we knew the game would take care of itself. He's a teammate, and we all care about him."

Post man dies in one-car wreck apparently while on his way home

SLATON (Special) - Post resident Ruben Salazar, 36, died Thursday night in a one-car accident on the east edge of Slaton. Salazar apparently was heading home from Lubbock on U.S. 84 when he lost control of his 1994 Mercury Cougar, Police Chief Mike James said Friday. ''He either lost control of the car or attempted to take the Division Street exit and missed,'' James said. At about 9:30 p.m. the car careened off the highway and into a parking lot, striking a light polev. The impact forced the driver's seat into the passenger side of the car. ''The impact was directly on him,'' James said. ''It was so hard the car actually climbed the pole.'' The pole, mounted several feet deep into the ground on a concrete base, was uprooted. Salazar most likely died on impact, James said.

Think Fast...What costs society $44,193 a minute?

(answer) ... check yourspeedometer as you drive home!

Exceeding the posted limit or driving too fast for conditions is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes. Speed is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal crashes. Speed-related crashes cost society more than $23 billion a year.*Too few drivers view speeding as an immediate risk to their personal safety or the safety of others. Yet, speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, and it extends the distance required to stop a vehicle in emergency situations.Crash severity increases with the speed of the vehicle at impact. Inversely, the effectiveness of restraint devices like air bags and safety belts, and vehicular construction features such as crumple zones and side member beams decline as impact speed increases.The probability of death, disfigurement, or debilitating injury grows with higher speed at impact.

Such consequences double for every 10 mph over 50 mph that a vehicle travels.

Many drivers don't consider this. They slow their speed in residential areas, or when the weather turns bad. To them, a few miles an hour over the posted speed limit is an acceptable risk. Their excuse -- other drivers do it. They believe the worst that can happen to them is to receive a speeding ticket.Drivers like this are wrong. Maybe even dead wrong, because driving too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit can kill you.

Consider These Speed-Related Facts: Rural roads account for over 60 percent of all speed-related fatal crashes. Sixty six percent of speed-related crashes involved a single vehicle.. Sixty percent of all speed- related fatal crashes occurred at night (6 pm to 6 am).. Drivers involved in speed-related fatal crashes are more likely to have a history of traffic

violations.. 

On average, 1,000 Americans are killed every month in speed-related crashes.

Youth and SpeedingOf all drivers aged 15-24 years of age involved in fatal crashes, 32 percent were speeding.Of drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes, 38 percent of the male and 24 percent of the female drivers were speeding.

Economic and Environmental Costs of $peedingFuel consumption increases steadily above 45 mph with passenger cars and light trucks using approximately 50 percent more fuel traveling at 75 mph than they do at 55 mph.* in 1994 dollars

Alcohol a factor in 1 of 5 U.S. child traffic deaths

By: Mike CooperBroadcasted on BICNews 5 December

1997ATLANTA, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Alcohol is still a factor in one in five traffic deaths of children under age 15, but the rate at which children are killed in traffic accidents involving drunk drivers has gradually declined in the past decade, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there was a 26 percent decline in the death rate for children involved in alcohol-related traffic accidents between 1985 and 1996.The decline parallels a drop in alcohol-related fatalities among all age groups, although motor-vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 25."Currently, one-fifth of all traffic deaths among children under 15 years of age involve alcohol," Dr. Kyran Quinlan of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control said.Between 1985 and 1996, 8,482 children under age 15 died in accidents involving a drunk driver. More than two-thirds of the victims were riding in a car, 22 percent were pedestrians and 8 percent were on a bicycle.

"When you consider all children killed in car crashes involving a drunk driver, nearly two-thirds of the time it's the driver of the child's car that is drunk. The stereotype that drunk drivers kill people in other cars is a myth," Quinlan said.Sixty percent of the children who died in alcohol-related motor-vehicle accidents were riding in the same vehicle as the drunken driver. Only 16 percent of children who were killed were wearing proper restraints such as safety belts or were in a child safety seat. "The more a driver has been drinking, the less likely the kids in the car are in car seats or seat belts," Quinlan said.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said overall 35,547 children under 15 died in motor vehicle accidents between 1985 and 1996. The percentage of deaths that involved alcohol fell from 25 percent in 1985 to 21 percent in 1996.Among all age groups, there were 41,907 traffic deaths last year, of which more than 40 percent were alcohol-related.A driver with a blood-alcohol level of 0.10 or higher is seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than a driver who has not been drinking, the CDC said. Researchers said drunken drivers are also less likely to wear seat belts.The deaths of children in drunk-driving accidents have led 21 states to adopt child endangerment laws that make it an offense to drive while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle.

© Copyright 1997, Reuters News Service

Strict Drunk-Driving Laws Reduce DeathsUsing Maine as a study sample, researchers at the Boston University School of Public Health determined that very strict drunk-driving laws can reduce the number of fatal car crashes, Reuters reported Sept. 9.

In 1988, Maine reduced its legal blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.05 percent. In the following six years, the study reports that fatal car crashes resulting from drunk drivers decreased by 25 percent.

More specifically, Ralph Hingson and colleagues at Boston University School of Public Health found that six years before Maine's strict drunk-driving law, 8.9 percent of fatal crashes involved drivers with previous driving while intoxicated (DWI) convictions. Six years after the law, 6.7 percent of fatal crashes involved drivers with DWI records.

In the same time period, the report found that the proportion of fatal crashes resulting from DWI drivers throughout the rest of New England increased by 46 percent.

In the U.S., 35 states and the District of Columbia have a 0.10 percent legal blood-alcohol limit.

Kids and Car Safety

In honor of Mother's Day, we offer this special topic about keeping kids safe in and around cars. Today's kids are very mobile, often riding in the car several times each day. Most trips go without incident. Sometimes there is a close call, perhaps a quick stop or a near-miss when another driver is careless. Tragically, accidents do occur. On average in the US, three children die each day from car accidents. Another 260 are injured. Many of these deaths and injuries could be prevented. This week's Tail Gate Safety Topic presents ways to help keep kids safe in and around cars and other vehicles. Fatal accidents have been known to occur at slow speeds, even in driveways. Children are small, and if they are approaching a car the driver probably won't see them. Tragically, children have been killed in their excitement over the arrival of a visiting friend or relative. They forget the dangers and run up to the car before it stops. Teach your children never to approach a vehicle, even if they think it is standing still. They will need to be reminded of this often! Watch your children closely if they play on driveways and sidewalks, and be alert for cars pulling in and out of the driveway. Parking lots pose other dangers. Drivers will probably not be able to see a small child. Always hold a small child's hand when walking through a parking lot. Older children should be warned of the dangers of a parking lot, too. Kids are easily distracted and forget about safety. In their excitement over a shopping trip or some other excursion, they may forget that cars are around and their safety is in danger.

Avoid the temptation to leave your kids in the car while you tend to a quick errand. True, it can be a hassle to deal with car seats and fussy kids--you may even have to wake up a sleeping baby--but take the kids in with you. Why chance your children's safety? There are lots of things that can happen. Unattended children have

been abducted in parking lots. Kids have started the car and caused accidents while they were left unattended. They've suffered heat stress because of the extremely rapid rise in temperature inside a car on a hot or sunny day. They have also been known to leave the vehicle and go searching for their parent when the "quick errand" took longer than expected. Perhaps the worst story is a case where an unattended car caught fire and small children were trapped inside. So don't leave your kids in a car by themselves, the consequences could be severe. On the road, be sure to use a car seat as required by your state's law. Generally, infants weighing up to 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children between 20 and 40 pounds must ride in an approved forward-facing seat. Though they're not usually required, booster seats are a good idea for children between 40 and 60 pounds. Older children must be taught to always wear their seatbelt and wear it properly. Disabled children may need other protection. Check with your child's physician for specific advice. When using a car seat, always follow the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure to consult your car owner manual for additional information about car seats. Some cars require special hardware, such as a locking clip, to ensure the seat stays secure in the car. You should not use a car seat that has been involved in an accident. The seat could be structurally damaged and no longer provide proper protection. Avoid using second-hand seats. They could have been involved in an accident or have missing parts which render them ineffective at protecting your child. Be consistent in the use of the car seat. Some parents use car seats only for long trips. Actually, most car accidents occur within 25 miles of home. Since you never know when an accident will happen, use your car seat correctly every time. While you are traveling, do not remove a child from a car seat or allow seatbelts to be unbuckled. If your child needs to get out of the car seat or the seatbelt for any reason, wait until you can safely pull off the road. Holding a child on your lap will not provide protection even in a minor accident. The force of a collision can easily loosen your child from your grasp.

Airbags have been the subject of much discussion lately. If your car has a passenger side airbag, the safest place for your child is in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing infant carrier in a seat with an airbag. In a crash, the airbag could strike the back of the car seat with enough force to injure or

kill the baby. Injuries and deaths can be prevented if car safety rules are followed and followed consistently. Don't chance your child's safety. Follow the precautions for car safety discussed in this week's Tail Gate Safety Topic. If you have other questions about child safety and cars, your

local police department can help. Your child's pediatrician also has helpful information on the subject.

What To Do When You AreInvolved In A Car Crash

At the SceneOne in every eight drivers will be involved in a motor vehicle crash this year, according to the National Safety Council. That may mean you! Are you prepared? Would you know what to do and what questions to ask? Since most people are reasonably upset after a crash, the National Safety Council offers this list of 11 easy steps to remember. -- Stop your vehicle if it is clear, safe and legal. -- Move the vehicle out of the traveled roadway, if it is clear, safe and legal. (In some states it is against the law to move the vehicle from the place where the crash occurred. Check the ordinance in your area.) -- Turn off the ignitions of the cars involved. -- Make a first aid check of all persons involved in the crash. -- Call the police and, if necessary, emergency medical services. -- Mark the scene of the crash with flares or retroreflective triangles. -- Gather the names of all persons in the motor vehicles and people who witnessed the crash. -- Make a quick diagram of where the vehicle occupants were seated and indicate the vehicles' direction of travel and lane. Also note the date, time and weather conditions. -- Ask to see the other driver's license and write down the number. -- Exchange insurance company information. Do not discuss "fault" or make statements about the crash to anyone but the police. -- Get a copy of the police report of the crash from the local precinct.

Physics of Car Crashes

By: Steve Trent, Chris Tibbs, and Eric Williams

 

IntroductionThere were more than 6.8 million car crashes in 1996 in the United States. One-third resulted in injury and less than 1% (37,351) of total crashes resulted in a death. These are some big numbers to be occurring within one year. A car is a dangerous vehicle, but most people take driving too lightly. They don’t realize how big of a weapon a car can be. At any second, you could be involved in a car crash and die. Scary thought, isn't it! Crash TestsDue to the large number of car crashes each year, crash tests are administered every year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation. About 35 new model cars have been tested every year since 1979 under the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). The tests are to see how well different vehicles protect front-seat passengers in a head-on collision. The head-on collision is used instead of a rear or a side collision because this is the collision that causes the most deaths and injuries.The federal law requires all cars to pass a 30 mph frontal test, so NCAP tests are done at 35 mph. This speed is chosen because the impact is the same as two cars colliding head on at 35 mph, but in actuality one car is colliding head on into a fixed barrier at 35 mph. So the test is identical to a 70 mph collision. These tests show the difference in protection in different model cars. The results of the crashes are given on a one-to five star rating, with five being the most protection. For more information on the one-to five star rating see http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/stars.html.Some facts that should be known about these tests are: they are all administered with dummies, the dummies are always wearing seat belts because they are standard equipment on cars today, air bags are used whenever they are available, and test results are only useful in comparing cars of similar weight (within 500 pounds of each other). Dummies heads and knees are painted before a test to see where these areas of the body make contact to the car. The fact that the tests are always administered with dummies is not good because dummies don't act like humans nor do they represent what really happens to humans in a crash. Humans move around in a vehicle more than dummies do. One good thing is that more advanced dummies are being made to provide more detailed injury data. Trauma Researchers

In addition to these tests, we have trauma-based crash researchers that begin their work as soon as the victim arrives to the hospital. They actually go to the accident scene and figure out how the victim attained the injuries he or she had. Then, they get with doctors, traffic safety experts, and biomechanical specialists to arrive at the whole accident and its impact on the victim. Some trauma investigators want to put a recording device in all automobiles to provide a history of the accident. This could show them the faults in the car and could help engineers to improve in the design and safety of the vehicle.

Air BagsAir bags are a safety feature in some cars today that help to slow the momentum of the front passenger's upper body as the car is involved in a frontal crash. The air bag keeps the occupants from hitting the dashboard, windshield, or steering wheel at speeds as low as 15 mph. Even though air bags have saved over 1500 lives over the years they are dangerous also. Kids sitting in a rear-facing child safety seat should never be in a seat with an air bag because the inflation of the air bag will strike the child in the back of the head causing a child to be crushed against the seat. Children in safety seats are best off in the back seat of the car. Also, people not wearing a seat belt or sitting too close to the steering wheel can be injured even worse with the inflation of an air bag. People must remember that air bags are a safety feature, but they provide no protection in rollovers, rear, or side impacts.Safety SeatsThe seats have been shown as a very important part of safety. In a frontal crash, the seats deform and absorb some of the energy of the crash. In a rear crash, the seat is the whole restraint system. Seats are now fitted with a foam cushion to protect a passenger in case of a wreck. The head rest is another safety device used to protect the spine. It allows the thorax to stay in line with the cervical spine. Seat belts are another important part of the seat. It allows for the momentum of a person's body to be slowed down at a rate to protect the body and at the same time be fast enough of a change to keep the body from flying forward at a fast rate of motion. BodyThe bodies of cares have been tested extensively and are now made with a role cage and crumple zones to protect the passenger during a crash. A role cage is a solid metal frame that keeps a car from collapsing on the passenger. In some types of race cars this is made from 179 3/4 ft. of chrome tubing. They also absorb some of the force generated by the crash. Crumple zones are areas where the car is made to fold up to absorb some of the force and to take pressure off of other areas of the car. Cars today also have bigger cabs

to give the body farther to travel before making contact with the car to give the human body time to lose momentum.BrakesThe brakes are one of the most important devices in a car. The braking system is a hydraulic jack. When a person pushes down on the peddle, the pressure the exert is transferred through the brake fluid to the brake cylinder out onto the rotors which is what is attached to your axle. This allows the momentum of the car to decrease and therefore the force the car is making by moving to be decreased as well. American Automobile Industry Strives For SafetyThere is a general consensus about the safety of automobiles during car crashes; "bigger is better". The laws of physics defend this statement. The larger and heavier a car is the more protection it will provide its occupants. Also, larger cars provide the occupants with more room to decelerate before internal impact within the car.VEHICLES (types) PROVEN TO BE MOST DANGEROUS * small two-door cars* small pickups* small utility vehicles* sports cars3 of America's Top Car Companies Offer New Safety FeaturesThe Chrysler Corporation along with Ford Motor Company and General Motors has been setting the safety standards of American cars for years. (For more info see http://www.aama.com/safety/safety5.html) Safer Cars and Better Drivers: U.S. Safest Place to DriveThe safety features that the above corporations implore allow American cars to be some of the safest on the roads. Also, American drivers are much safer than drivers from other countries. Fatality Rate per 100 MillionVehicle Miles Traveled, 1995

source: AAMA …….

CAR CRASHES INTO T-SHIRT FACTORY

Just before rush hour on a weekday in late June, units from College Park and Hyattsville were dispatched to the area of Route 1 and Calvert Road for a reported car into a building. Engine 122 (College Park VFD) arrived to find that the driver of the car had lost control of her car, turning her car over on its side and sliding down a sidewalk into the front window of the T-Shirt Factory, a store in downtown College Park. Amazingly, the driver was able to escape the car on her own and suffered no serious injuries.

Rescue Squad 1 stabilized the vehicle. There were several employees and customers inside the store at the time of the crash, but luckily none were injured by the car or the crash that flew threw the inside of the establishment.

Photos by Dave J. Iannone

Car crash in Paris

In the early hours of this morning a security officer employed at the Ritz Hotel in Paris was killed, whilst at work, in a car crash in central Paris. As we write we do not know his name nor do we know if he had any family nor do we know how those who loved him are feeling. Two other passengers were also killed.

****** A-Infos News Service ***** News about and of interest to anarchists

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Three Auburn residentskilled in car accidentsBy Eric GonzalezStaff Writer

   An accident on Georgia Highway 8 in Auburn killed two city residents Wednesday morning and led to another accident half a mile away in which a third person died.   Pickup trucks driven by Joe Newton and Chris Childers, both of Auburn, collided about 6:15 a.m. Wednesday in Barrow County 200 yards east of the Gwinnett County line, according to Lt. Kenny Kilgore of the Barrow County Sheriff's Office.   Police believe Newton veered off the highway while driving west and over-adjusted, hitting the truck driven by Childers head-on. The ages of Newton and Childers were unavailable Wednesday.   Newton died at the scene, Kilgore said. Childers died later Wednesday morning at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, according to a hospital spokeswoman.   Five minutes after the collision, a Barrow County Rescue Unit vehicle traveling west from Auburn toward the accident collided with a car driven by Michelle Yvonne Anderson, 29, of Auburn, who died at the scene, Kilgore said.   The second accident also occurred on Highway 8 about half a mile east of the original collision, Kilgore said.   He said police believe Anderson's car was struck by the rescue unit while Anderson was attempting a U-turn to get out of the traffic jam caused by the original collision. Occupants of the rescue unit were not injured, Kilgore said.   Investigations of both accidents are continuing, he said.

30 JULY 1998

AMMAN (Star)-Safety on the road, the dream shared by everyone in the community, is being put in the spotlight today as the result of a dramatic rise in fatalities and injuries caused by car accidents.

The increase of accidents urgently demands a substantial solution. It is reported that more than 500,000 persons die annually in car accidents, with further casualties exceeding 10 million.

There are also substantial material losses, estimated at billions of dollars, to be considered. In Jordan, traffic accidents take their toll on both human and financial resources.

The real problem began back in the early 1970s with the dramatic increase in vehicles and population. Year by year the problem has grown, and serious action must now be taken to reduce car accidents.

Annual figures speak volumes about the problem. Last year, available statistics showed that 39,005 car accidents occurred, which led to the deaths of 577 people, 16,259 casualties and estimated material losses of about one million J.D.

The Directorate of General Security and other authorities, are looking for a solution to the problem, and through an awareness campaign are hoping to get across to people the grave impact of car accidents and the need for better road safety. They have highlighted problems in the Jordanian transport sector and are discussing possible solutions.

It has become apparent that lack of coordination and the absence of definite national policies and strategies are to blame for the critical statistics. Poor public awareness of the size of the problem, insufficient traffic training and driving instruction, the nonexistence of deterrent legislation or severe penalties for traffic offenders also contributes to the scale of the problem.

The study recommends the establishment of a Higher Traffic Council to operate as a guide on traffic policies and strategies, and a Jordanian Traffic Institute, to be in charge of training workers on traffic, to conduct studies and review legislation.

The security directorate, the directors of the traffic department, the licence department and the highway patrol all have an interest in finding effective strategies to curb the rate of car accidents.

Todd James Wickstrom Dies In Car Crash  (March 13/98)

On the evening of March 13, 1998 bass player Todd James Wickstrom is tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident at the age of 24.  New drummer Dave Michaud was also in the car but walked away with nonlife threatening injuries.  Todd was well loved and will be sadly missed by Fueled By Ignorance and all

other friends, family and fans.

CAR CRASHTrack 11

    Tired & jaded     This road is unsafe     Have you been there     But time is on your side     You're too stubborn to wait     Are you listening     They want you to know     They want you to stay     But it's too much to take     So you're running away

    It's more than I can bear

    Car crash     Ending Your day     At the side of the road     Are you trembling     They'll wake up today     To the papers that say     "Oh well" it was too hard to tell     He was swerving they were swerving     Much too late

 

ROME (Feb 12, 1997 - 10:24 EST) -- Atalanta Bergamo striker Federico Pisani, 22, was killed in a car crash Tuesday night. Police said his 20-

year-old girlfriend Alessandra Midali also died when his car went off the motorway.

AIR BAG UPDATE: Children belong in the back seat

By Joanne Brickman

There's no denying it; air bags do save lives. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA), about 1600 accident victims are alive today because of an air bag. However, air bags can also kill. The decapitation of a one-year-old girl in Idaho just before Thanksgiving of 1996 increased the number of child fatalities caused by air bags to 32 since the industry first began installing the passive safety devices in large numbers in the early 1990s. Hopefully, this tragedy will be the wake-up call that ends this madness. There is something quite simple each of us can do to prevent air bag injury or death: DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN IN THE FRONT SEAT even in a proper safety seat. The safest place for a child in a passenger vehicle is in the middle of the back seat, PROPERLY BELTED , or in a correctly installed safety seat. That's easy to say, but maybe not so easy to remember when dealing with a cranky child or your mind is elsewhere as you're late for an orthodontist appointment or touring the mall parking lot looking for a spot to park. NHTSA and many consumers have long felt that automakers have an obligation to remind us about air bag danger by placing big warning labels where we can see them (not on a tiny tag on the underside of the visor where they are currently placed) in all vehicles equipped with passenger-side air bags. The only active response from the automotive industry to this request so far has come from the Big Three automakers (GM, Ford and Chrysler.) They announced that they will send letters to the owners of 22 million cars with passenger-side air bags warning them that the devices can kill or maim children. No word, however, about the envelope containing a stick-on warning label for the car. Since the recent Idaho tragedy, NHTSA now requires that all new cars for sale to consumers carry several attention-getting air bag warning labels; two are to replace the existing visor labels;

at least one more goes on the dash. Volvo, an industry leader in automobile safety, with features like the side-impact air bag, says that their vehicle's manual has carried a warning against placing children in the front seat since 1993. Unfortunately, not all new car buyers read the owner's manual. "People spend a weekend programming their $200 VCR using instructions from a manual," says Volvo spokesperson Dan Johnston, "but they buy a $30,000 car and never open the owner's manual." Johnston also emphasizes that only persons 4'7" or taller should ride in the front passenger seat [ever]. "Because of the

way the air bag deploys," he says, "height should be the determining factor, not age or weight." Johnston says Volvo likes the idea of a passenger-side air bag cutoff switch similar to the system currently in some pickups. However, he prefers a device that is tied to the ignition, preventing the driver from starting the car before indicating whether the bag is "on or off." The automaker also favors decreasing the power of the air bag so it deploys with less force. Volvo says the "smart" air bag is a good solution, however, they are concerned whether or not current "smart" bag technology can do the job. NHTSA expressed their anxiety over the number of deaths due to passenger-side air bag deployment by announcing in late November, 1996 a five-point plan to help prevent these tragedies. The plan includes:

1. Put brightly-colored labels on new cars and light trucks warning that air bags can kill children and stating that all children under 12 should be in the back seat. The stickers would not be required in vehicles equipped with a "smart" air bag system.

2. Require "smart" air bags on all cars by the fall of 1998. Through sensors and other devices now under development, "smart" bags will automatically deactivate the air bag

when sensing a rear-facing child seat or an unbelted, out-of-position child or will deploy at different speeds or inflation levels depending on what is "sensed" in the passenger seat.

3. Reduce the rate of air bag inflation by 20 to 35 percent until "smart" bags come into use. 4. Extend until December 1, 2000, the time automakers may install cutoff switches in

vehicles without rear seats or with rear seats too small for child-safety seats. 5. Allow mechanics to disconnect the air bags for car owners. Currently, this procedure is

forbidden.

These Federal directives undoubtedly will help alleviate horrific accidents and lessen injuries by causing automakers to change the potentially deadly qualities of the air bag. However, as Volvo's

Johnston says, "We can only bring so much to the party." The rest is up to you.

car accidents. Recommended and endorsed by prominent physicians and leading experts in crash reconstruction, this ergonomic wedge shape cushion offers relief from tension and fatigue while driving. It is proven to be effective in reducing the severity and duration of cervical whiplash as a result of a collision. Recommended and endorsed by prominent physicians and experts in accident reconstruction this ergonomic wedge shape cushion offers relief from tension and fatigue. . car accident. auto accident. traffic accident.

Driving

by Joan Saslow

She keeps on driving,Long past midnight.

She keeps on driving,Drifting with the taillights.

And her memories fadeJust like last night's charade

She keeps on driving...She keeps on driving,Listening to the radio.She keeps on driving,

To what song she don't know.But she'll keep humming alongLong after the words are gone.

She keeps on driving...She keeps on driving,

Thinking 'bought what Mamma once said.She keeps on driving,

Is there life after death?Oh how she'd love to know,

To give this just one more go.She keeps on driving....

There's a world rushing past,But it's too dark and she goes too fast,

Yeah, there's a world rushing past,But it's too dark and I go to fast,

I'll keep on driving...