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At least 41,000 highway fatalities have been recorded in the United States every year since 1993. Deaths by car accident are usually caused by negligence, carelessness, and other factors such as drunk driving.  Two famous people who met their untimely death by car accident include American Hollywood icon  James Dean and Princess Diana.

Death on the road

James Dean was driving west on Highway 466 near Cholame, California when a 1950 Ford Tudor, driven from the opposite direction, attempted to take the fork onto the Highway 466 route (later called California State Route 46) and crossed into James Deans’ lane without seeing the other car. The two cars collided head-on.  Dean was taken rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

In 1997, Princess Diana died after a high speed car accident in the Pon d’Alma road tunnel in Paris along with Dodi Al-Fayed.  The car they were riding on was trying to elude paparazzi. Their black Mercedes-Benz crashed into the thirteenth pillar of the tunnel. Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed died of injuries sustained during the terrible car accident.

If any good came out of these tragedies, it was that more people became aware of the dangers of irresponsible driving.  The news of the deaths of James Dean and Princess Diana came as a warning to people who were reckless with their driving. It also served as a caution to those who were careful in the way they drive in the sense that they were educated that even the most careful of drivers can get into accidents because of irresponsible motorists.

TIPS TO PREVENT CAR ACCIDENTS

Even you are a careful driver there are circumstances beyond your control. However, taking precautionary measures is a big help to avoid car accidents. Here are these tips on driving more safely:

1.    DON’T USE THE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING- Haven’t you heard from the news all because of this handy dandy gadget, you find yourself more than what you bargain for. Is that call that important? Can’t it wait? Certainly, you are bound to be distracted. Its even more dangerous when you are using the expressway.
2.    DO A CAR CHECK REGULARLY-  As much as possible, any car requires regular maintenance. Check your brakes,tires, mirrors, lights and even the windshield wiper.
3.    SCAN AHEAD-  Fix your eyes and scan for car’s up head.
4.    BE CONSIDERATE- When you tend to slowed down, put your flashers on to alert drivers behind you when they see you slowing down.
5.    DON’T ACT LIKE A RACE CAR DRIVER-  If you act like “Mel Gibson” as the road warrior Mad Max chances are you’re courting for disaster
6.    KNOW YOUR CAR’S LIMITATIONS- Not all cars are exactly alike the minivan don’t go so fast like an exotic sports car. There is a performance limits of every car. Know its capabilities.
7.    KEEP YOUR CAR IN GOOD SHAPE- Have a maintenance schedule.
8.    NIGHTTIME IS NOT BEST TIME- If you need to travel in a very long distance-nighttime is when you hazards usually happens. You are already in the state of mental and physical fatigue. Your line of vision might already decreased. Drive so carefully at this witching hour and keep your headlights on.

9.     WHEN YOU DRINK DON’T DRIVE AND VICE VERSA-  It is a big mortal sin if you do…being drunk while driving is like you’re planning to have a date with “Death” so soon.
10.     KEEP YOUR CAR NEAT AND TIDY- A messy car is another one way ticket to road accident. Why? If you leave some objects around and it slides or roll under your brake pedal, your attention was taken off the road and what happens next you lose control of the car.

Those tips might not be fool proof against road accidents but nevertheless, an once of prevention is better than none. A vehicle is one invention; man can’t live without. But if its not use wisely then it might cause the one precious thing most people value here on earth and that is—-LIFE!

Originally published here.

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Isaac Small

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Product Description

Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence provides an authoritative, insider’s perspective on new scientific and technological developments in DUI criminal defense. Featuring leading DUI defense practitioners and experts from across the country, this volume offers the reader new information on emerging research related to breath, blood, and urine alcohol analysis, standard field sobriety testing, retrograde extrapolation, accident reconstruction science, and alcohol detection devices. With the National Academy of Sciences questioning the reliability of forensic science, these authors walk the reader through various validity issues with respect to current methods for obtaining and analyzing alcohol evidence and discuss the role this evidence plays in a DUI case. From reviewing pre-existing conditions that may affect gait and nystagmus to examining the functioning errors of Intoxilyers, SCRAM, and TAD machines, these leaders call current protocols into question and share advice on using these inconsistencies as a part of a legal strategy. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these experienced lawyers offer up their thoughts around the keys to navigating this complex and constantly developing area of law.Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives and lawyers (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world’s most respected companies and firms nationwide. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession, or topic is heading and the most important issues for the future. Each author has been selected based upon their experience and C-level standing within the professional community.Chapters Include:1. “The Law and Science of Retrograde Extrapolation” – Lawrence E. Wines2. “Forensic Gait Analysis” – Lawrence E. Wines3. “Accident Reconstruction and Investigation” – Lawrence E. Wines 4. “Science Underlying Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus” – Lawrence E. Wines 5. “DUI Evidence and the National Academy of Science Report on Forensic Science” – Ted Vosk6. “Forensic Toxicology of Urine- and Blood-Alcohol Levels” – Alfred E. Staubus, Pharm.D., Ph.D. and Robert J. Belloto Jr., Ph.D.7. “The Intoxilyzer 8000: Simply an Evolution, Not a Revolution” – Victor W. Carmody, Kevin T. Stewart, and Lance O. Mixon8. “BI TAD and SCRAM X” – Lawrence E. Wines9. “GERD Cases” – Lawrence E. WinesAppendices Include:Appendix A: Forensic Gait Analysis ChecklistAppendix B: Accident Reconstruction Math and FormulasAppendix C: Some Accident Reconstruction Terms DefinedAppendix D: Checklist for HGN Issues & Guide for Video AnalysisAppendix E: Margin of Error—Brief for Administrative Licensing HearingAppendix F: Margin of Error—Appellate Brief for Adverse Administrative Licensing Hearing RulingAppendix G: Cumulative Forensic Lab Failures—Brief to Suppress in Criminal ProceedingAppendix H: SCRAM/TAD Checklist/Questionnaire for Defense AttorneyAppendix I: GERD Checklist

Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence, 2010 Ed.: Leading Lawyers on Analyzing New Forensic Science, Challenging Testing Procedures and Results, and Consulting Experts for Defense Arguments