In a couple weeks, we will have daylight savings once again, which means we will be seeing the sun go down one hour sooner. Having less sunlight on the road can be dangerous. Driving with a good view of your surroundings is essential for defensive driving. Naturally, driving at night limits your field of view. According to the NHTSA, fatal accidents are three times more likely to occur at night
Beyond having less light, there are a few other factors that contribute to making nighttime driving more dangerous. Here are twelve tips on how to be safe when driving at night.
To prevent drowsy driving, there are a few circumstances to be aware of and to prepare for. If you are driving very late at night, you are at a higher risk of getting drowsy. Even if you’ve had an extra cup of coffee, our body has a circadian rhythm (an internal clock) that tells us when it’s time to sleep. With daylight savings, our internal clock is already off by an hour, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Having said that, the best things to do to prevent drowsiness is:
Just after daylight savings, the sun glare tends to be at its strongest during peak driving hours for Long Islanders heading to and from work. This is especially the case for those driving eastbound in the morning and westbound at night, since the sun will be directly beaming on their vehicles during the entire commute.
To be safe as the sun goes down, follow these tips
When the sun is going down, it is not the time to be cutting people off or tailgating. Not only is your visibility and reaction time worsened, but so are the other drivers. Do not count on them for seeing or anticipating what you are doing, because their vision may be impaired as well. Therefore, be patient, slow down, and leave space between you and the car in front of you. Maybe your commute is a little slower, but it would be much slower if you got into a car accident for driving recklessly.
Speeding-related crashes account for 37 percent of nighttime-driving fatalities, compared with 21 percent of those during daylight hours—due to lower visibility and shorter reaction times. Adjust your speed and take the low visibility into account. You also never know when something unexpected, like a deer, will show up on the road; so driving slower means a safer commute.
High beams are underutilized, but can be very helpful on open roads where there are few cars. Driving on roads in eastern suffolk or on the north shore can be especially dark since some of those roads don’t have many street lamps, and high beams can be really helpful. Additionally, the further east you are on Long Island, the greater chance you have of facing a deer on the highway. Just remember to dim them when you’re within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, because you can temporarily blind other drivers. Especially don’t use them if you’re following another vehicle.
While you should always keep your eyes on the road, avoid a fixed gaze and never stare at oncoming headlights. When approaching an oncoming vehicle, avoid being blinded by its headlights by shifting your eyes down and to the right, using the right edge of the road or lane markings as a guide to stay on track. Lift your gaze back up when you’ve passed the oncoming vehicle.About the Author
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Halloween is just around the corner. With the effectiveness of the covid-19 vaccine, we are in a much better position this coming holiday season when compared to last year. However, this year we have the extremely contagious Delta variant that is giving this virus longevity. While we await upcoming booster shots to further give immunity for these mutating variants, there is still some caution that is needed for this upcoming Halloween. Here are some safety tips for Halloween 2021.
Fortunately, the large majority of vaccinated people are not contracting the virus, and the majority of those who have gotten sick have not become seriously ill. However, many kids are still not vaccinated. The vaccine is only currently available for children over 12 years of age. Even if your child is vaccinated, it is possible that he or she can spread it to someone else who isn’t. Each family has to personally decide for the safety of their family. Some have chosen to have a scavenger-style hunt in their backyard giving kids clues leading to candy. This could be a safer alternative to prevent interacting with those outside of the household.
Otherwise, it is encouraged to maintain the current social distancing practices by the CDC. For those who are fully vaccinated, you can read about what this means for you on the CDCs website for those who are vaccinated.
If your children are going trick-or-treating in any way, it’s important to discuss the dangers. Trick or treat expeditions are for the most part nothing more than harmless fun. However, the festivities have been shown to precipitate a variety of dangers, especially when the kids get to go out alone.
The association between Halloween and kidnapping might not be prevalent but it is definitely worth nothing. With kids out unsupervised and at odd hours, there is always the risk of abduction incidents. Typically, crowded and active communities make this less of a risk. But as a parent you can never really be too careful so this is a risk you cannot afford to ignore, be precautious and talk to your kids about avoiding long conversations with strangers or giving too much information to people they don’t know.
When you’re planning for your child’s Halloween costume, make sure that the costume doesn’t make it difficult for you or anyone else to see them in the dark. Bright colors on the costume are a good idea, or even reflective wear. Cars are still on the road during Halloween, and others are out and about, energized and running around. It’s crucial that you and others can see your child in the dark.
Children just can’t help but get lost whether it is at a new school or an old mall. During Halloween, this risk is increased by the fact that they are out in unfamiliar surroundings often at night. This is a nightmare not only for you as the parent but also for the kid.
It’s important that if you are not going with your kid, that you go over their trick or treating route so they know exactly where they will be going. If your child has a phone or smart device, many parents use apps that will give parents their location at all times.
Before we get into this one, here is a statistic that will shock you. The risk of your child getting hit by a car doubles on Halloween. Letting your children go out unsupervised means they have to do things like crossing the road all by themselves. This is dangerous whether it is at night or during the day. It is important to talk to your child about distractions and the importance of pedestrian safety.
Walking around in the dark also increases chances of smaller accidents. These include things like tripping, falling into ditches, attacks by guard dogs and getting trampled by massive crowds. Fortunately, these cases are few and far between, especially if you take precautions as will be discussed before.
Halloween is all about fun. But safety is priority #1. These tips can come in handy for everyone on Halloween night. This holiday should be pure fun for your kids. So keep them safe and plan ahead. That way everyone will have an enjoyable Halloween.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Summer is over, school is back, and flannels will abound. Fall Time is here and families are no doubt looking forward to spending time for some fall activities. Long Island is doing much better than last year with the spread of the virus, as the vaccine has been effective to greatly reduce the risk for those who are fully vaccinated from getting seriously sick and spreading it to others. However there are many who remain unvaccinated, which contributes to extending the lifespan of this pandemic. As the virus mutates and new variants emerge, the vaccine has started to lose some effectiveness.
Because of this, we encourage families to still have some caution, especially when it comes to spending time in large crowds indoors. We also encourage all who haven’t done so yet, to get the vaccine and do your part in ending this global health crisis.
Eastern Long Island has always been a popular spot for the family during fall. The abundance of farms and vineyards present plenty of outdoor activities. Here are some ideas of places you can go during the fall in Suffolk County Long Island.
What better way to spend outside with your family than to teach your children about the importance of taking care of the environment. September 19 is a day dedicated to cleaning up some of the immense amount of debris plaguing our oceans. Join Group for the East End, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Hallock State Park as they participate in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC).
You can download the Marine Debris Tracker app to help record and track the trash you pick up. You must choose a time slot and come with a face mask. All tools will be provided and cleaned in between sessions. This is a free, socially distanced event.
Starting at $98, this 13.5 mile bike tour takes you to exclusive farms and vineyards. After selecting your bike, a professional guide will tour you around the best of Long Island wine country. In addition to tasting award-winning wines, you will also sample fresh olive oils and vinegars and visit many local farm stands. You will also be able to enjoy live music and entertainment. This event is for people 21 and over.
The Carmans River in Brookhaven is a great place to go kayaking or canoeing. This guided tour allows you to rent a kayak or canoe (or bring your own if you have) to cruise down the Carmans River at sunset. A snack and drink are provided and you can reserve your tickets here.
At this organic farm on the East End, kids can interact with chickens, sheep, and other animals. Offering contactless checkout, advance tickets online (not required), and curbside pickup of pre-orders. Friendly farm hands often take animals out for kids to pet and help feed. Also, there is a large children’s play area with a wooden castle and a giant spider web. Many special events are hosted here, including children’s birthday parties, baby animal weekends, an annual tulip festival, and a Mother’s Day brunch. Be sure to stop by the organic market for delicious groceries. The farm is open through Halloween.
Although this year, the 19 historic buildings are not open to the public but guided, masked tours are available by appointment. Explore this original farmstead to learn what farming life was like 250 years ago. Visitors to the 19-building facility can experience cooking in the historic kitchen or even grinding corn to feed the resident animals. In addition, kids can interact with cows and chickens to learn about their importance to the farm.
Even though traffic is slightly better with the increased number of people working from home, Long Island traffic is pretty much back to normal on the weekend. If you and your family plan on getting to Riverhead, give yourself plenty of time to get out there. Don’t put yourself in a stressful situation by not taking into account the traffic. You may look at a GPS ahead of time to get a good idea of how long it will take. Keep in mind also that oftentimes there is traffic just before arriving, due to the parking lot being backed up. If you feel rushed, you are more likely to do something unsafe. Check the traffic conditions and leave early.
While adhering to basic driving fundamentals is always important, it is especially important in heavy traffic situations to always let other drivers be aware of what your vehicle is doing. Long Islanders sometimes have a habit of turning on their directional after they have begun changing lanes. This is not helpful for anyone to anticipate what you are doing, and New York State law requires at least a 100 foot warning via turn signal before you turn, merge or change lanes.
Further, it is even more important to check your blind spot before changing lanes. Although it isn’t safe, many cars like to tailgate in heavy traffic so changing lanes can be especially hazardous and only do so if there is a safe amount of space. Avoid cutting people off, it saves you little to no time.
The parking at many of the Riverhead orchards and farms can be very hectic. Parking lots always have the potential of causing a car accident. More than 50000 car accidents occur in a parking lot every year. These parking lots may be more busy than most, so the cars will be coming in and out.
It is very important that you pay lots of attention to your surroundings. Look out for cars backing up, and be careful at intersections. A lot of the parking lots at farms and vineyards aren’t paved, so be really careful when parking, and give yourself and other cars adequate space. Anticipate the actions of other drivers and be prepared to use your horn if another car does not seem to see you, especially if they are backing up and getting too close. It is also important to drive slow as there are families walking all over the place. You do not want to be liable for a pedestrian accident
Additionally, do not use your phone while you are driving in a parking lot; you are still driving and it is still a distraction. This is important to mention because studies show that 66% of drivers nationwide said they would make phone calls while driving in a parking lot.
About the Author
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
It’s crazy to think that this year is already approaching its end. This part of the year is very busy for many, with kids going back to school and leaves falling on the ground. In the blink of an eye, the holiday season will be here and we will be back into the wintertime. It’s important that homeowners now begin to think about winterizing their home.
The reason it’s so important to prepare your home for winter is because neglecting to do so can cause damage to your home, and in some cases cause discomfort for your family. Therefore it is better to put a little work in now, than to be dealing with a nightmare in the dead of winter. Here are some ways you can winterize your home.
If you own a pool, then winterizing it is crucial. There is an important process that needs to be done which involves deep cleaning, lowering the water levels, using the right chemicals and covering it efficiently. For a full in depth step-by-step process on how to winterize your pool, read here.
Prevent ice dams by cleaning out your gutters, installing gutter guards (if feasible) and making sure the attic floor is properly insulated. The attic itself should be well-ventilated and about 10 degrees warmer than outside.
Protect against frozen pipes by insulating those that could be susceptible to freezing. When the forecast calls for severe temperature drops, keep a stream of water running in a few faucets to guard against freezing and bursting.
Additionally, remove all attached garden hoses, drain them and store them away. Shut off the valves and insulate the faucet. Neglecting to do so could cause your hoses to freeze and become defective.
You should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors generously throughout your house, and replace their batteries every year. Test them monthly and make sure your family is aware of what to do in the case of a fire, complete with an escape plan and meeting location. Additionally, have a strategically placed fire extinguisher, preferably having one on every floor and near the kitchen if possible.
In New York State, property owners are obligated to clear their property of hazardous snow and ice in a reasonable amount of time. Driveways, entryways, parking lots, steps, and ramps should be cleared in a reasonable amount of time to ensure safety for any pedestrians that are on the premises. Keep driveways and sidewalks clear of ice and snow and repair any issues with steps and handrails.
If you have a wood burning stove, it’s very important to have your chimney inspected every year and the stove itself twice a month. If you have a water heater, make sure that is inspected annually. Really, any vents should be examined and insured that they are not obstructed.
Caulk around holes and openings to help prevent cold air from seeping in. Install weather stripping and seals around openings such as windows, doors, air conditioners and mail chutes.
Keep the trees trimmed and remove dead branches and debris from your yard. Ice, snow and wind can weaken trees and cause branches to fall and potentially damage your home, car or even yourself and others.
The first thing you will want to do is check the tires. Tires will get damaged as you drive along the road. With Long Island’s winters and unforgiving potholes, this can be especially true. Tires should have a clear pattern of “treads” which provide traction on the road. Over time, those treads can wear down and go “bald”, meaning the tires won’t grip the roads as well. This can be especially concerning to have during winter weather. You will also want to check the tire pressure. Following that, examine your car’s lights. Turn the headlights on and check to see if they are cloudy or dim. Turn your blinkers on and see if they are blinking fast (indicating the light will soon go). Then have someone check the back of your car while you carefully turn on your brake lights.
From there you want to check your battery seasonally. The first sign of a wearing battery is when the car struggles to start. Another sign could be the windows lagging when trying to adjust them. If you look under the hood, try to notice if there is any corrosion on the battery. Making sure your battery is healthy will prevent the possibility of being stranded on the road.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
When you think of the deadly or dangerous jobs in America, trucking is probably not the first thing to come to mind. But as it turns out, transportation by truck is significantly more dangerous than most other industries in the US.
Not only do truck drivers face dangers on their own, but they share a road with other motor vehicles who can also easily get injured from a truck-related accident. Because of the sheer size and weight of the vehicle, the damage they can cause to other drivers is much greater than a standard car. Because of this, truck drivers have a greater level of responsibility to be safer than most other people on the road. They are responsible for their safety, their cargo, and the safety of others on the road. This is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly. According to the National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, more than one of every seven work-related deaths was directly related to heavy-duty trucking. The data suggest there was an increase from the previous year. In 2019, there had been 843 trucker deaths, which was 1.4 percent higher than the previous year which had 831 trucker deaths. There has been an uptick in trucker deaths since 2015 where the numbers had previously been falling off.
Truckers die for a lot of reasons. Road infrastructure can play a role in creating dangerous situations for truck drivers. So can defective truck parts. Perhaps the greatest risk, though, is poor health.
Trucking is a sedentary job. They are required to travel long distances and only really make stops for food and fuel. Sitting and eating is not good for anyone, and is a reason why obesity in the US is such a major problem. Obesity leads to a number of health problems, the most fatal being heart disease. The Corporate Wellness Magazine stated that more than 50% of truck drivers are obese, compared to the national rate of 26.7 percent. Compared to the general population, the prevalence of diabetes is 50 percent higher and 87 percent of truck drivers have hypertension (high blood pressure) or pre-hypertension.
On top of that, truckers work long hours and are pressured to meet time deadlines. They often don’t get as much rest as is recommended, causing them to become fatigued while driving. Sleep deprivation not only leads to poor health, but a fatigued truck driver is more susceptible to causing an accident, injuring himself and others.
As time goes on, more and more vehicles are equipped with tools that help drivers with navigation and safety. However, a lot of this technology is not being implemented into trucks. This means that truck drivers have no assistive tech to help them maneuver these excessively large vehicles around. The implementation of features like blind spot warnings, forward collision alerts, and more can make a drastic difference in how truck drivers stay safe on the road.
Although we are focusing on truck driver deaths, we must also keep in mind that they are not the only ones who face hazards from the trucking industry. Trucks also have to share the roads with other drivers. It is rare to drive on the Long Island Expressway without seeing at least one truck on the road with you.
Car accidents, although scary, happen all the time and most of them are not fatal. However, If a vehicle is involved in an accident with a heavy-duty truck, the chances are higher that there will be severe injuries and even death. It is not uncommon for the passenger vehicle to be left unrecognizable after a collision with a truck.
Unlike standard cars, the sheer size and dimensions of a truck make it more difficult for them to make an evasive maneuver if necessary. This means that sometimes a truck accident may be unavoidable. Additionally, trucks have larger blind spots that make it more difficult to spot cars on the road next to them.
When you consider other dangerous jobs, they typically do not involve the possible injury of another person. Those dangerous jobs are isolated and do not typically cause harm to others around them, although they can. In 2018, it was reported that 4,678 people who had been involved in a collision with a large truck died as a result. Some injuries that can occur if you are involved in a truck accident involving:
Traumatic brain & Spinal Cord injuries
All of these injuries can require long-term medical treatment and can alter your life entirely. This is why it’s important that truckers and drivers alike are extra careful when sharing the road with trucks.
About the Author
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.