America's opioid crisis is hitting Pennsylvania's roadways, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. The study found that drivers found at fault for causing fatal two-vehicle crashes were almost twice as likely to test positive for prescription painkillers as drivers who did not cause the crash. The study was released in mid-February.
What teens should know about distracted driving
Distracted driving can be a problem for drivers in Pennsylvania and throughout the country regardless of the driver's age. However, statistics show that it is a major problem for teen drivers. Over 58 percent of accidents involving a teen driver occur because he or she was distracted at the time of the crash. According to a study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, cellphone use was not the main cause of distracted driving.
Study finds factors for misdiagnosis of optical tumors
Optic nerve sheath meningiomas, or ONSM, are a rare type of tumor that develops around the optic nerve. Though they are considered benign, ONSM cause vision problems as the tumor grows and presses on the optic nerve. Optic nerve sheath meningiomas account for one-third of all optic nerve tumors. The tumors can be difficult to treat as they are often initially misdiagnosed until loss of vision has occurred.
Clothing mistakes in winter lead to pedestrian accidents
While more people may not feel like taking their walks during the winter, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lack of pedestrian fatalities during the coldest months of the year. Drivers often cite the smaller walking areas and slippery roads as two major factors for these crashes around this time.
The rise in big-rig crash fatalities
Road Safe America has released its analysis of federal crash data pertaining to deaths caused by big-rig trucks. According to the data, Pennsylvania ranked fifth in states had the highest number of truck crash fatalities in 2017.
