Taking over the spot as the number one cause of death for teen drivers may force more people to take texting and driving seriously. Despite the proliferation of laws banning texting and driving, including some geared directly toward teen drivers, the hazard is growing according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While many people would express outrage at the notion of teens drinking and driving, texting does not yet illicit a similar response. A California survey recently showed that roughly two out of three drivers in the 30-64 age group use their cell phones while children are in the car and one out of three admit to texting with kids in the car.
]]> Some the news surrounding dangerous teen driving habits is improving. The CDC tracks data concerning drinking and driving among teens and suggests that the practice is diminishing. Teen driver alcohol us is 54 percent lower than it was in 1991. The issue appears to be how to avoid swapping out an impaired driver with an inattentive one.Source: Newsday, "Study: Texting while driving now leading cause of death for teen drivers," by Delthia Ricks, 8 May 2013
]]>A runway incursion occurred yesterday at Newark airport when a plane operated by Scandinavian airline SAS collided with another plane while taxiing. The SAS plane lost part of a wing in the incident. The other plane, a United Airlines ExpressJet Embraer 145 lost its tail fin and had to be towed back to the terminal. Thankfully, none of the 253 passengers on board the SAS plane or any of the 31 passengers on the United Airlines plane were injured.
]]> It is not yet clear what caused the two planes to collide. It appears the planes were lined up to take off when the SAS plane turned to get to a different taxiway and clipped the United plane in front of it.In 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board listed runway safety on its Top Ten Most Wanted List of safety initiatives. The group listed improving the situational awareness of pilots and increasing the time they are given in which to take action to avoid collisions as the keys to reducing the likelihood of runway collisions.
The Newark collision is currently under investigation by safety authorities.
Source: The Local, "SAS plane loses part of wing in Newark collision," 2 May 2013
]]>The study simply reviewed successful medical malpractice claims over the given time period. It did not seek to answer the question of why diagnostic errors are as common as they are. One of the two leading authors of the study referred to the diagnostic process as "complicated" and suggested that uncertainty and time pressure were complicating factors in making an accurate diagnosis. He further pointed out that there is no public reporting requirement for "measuring diagnostic accuracy or error."
]]> Diagnostic errors that resulted in successful medical malpractice claims involved fatal mistakes in 41 percent of cases. These errors led to an average payment of $389,000, with individual results varying widely depending on the circumstances of the case. The total payments in cases involving missed diagnoses, delayed diagnoses and incorrect diagnoses made up 35 percent of all money paid in medical malpractice claims.Source: The Washington Post, "Diagnostic errors are leading cause of successful malpractice claims," by David Brown, 22 April 2013
]]>Roughly 85 percent of the surgical patients were insured through Medicare or through private insurers. The report showed that surgical errors led to hospitals realizing a 330 percent higher profit margin if the patient was privately insured. It further showed that Medicare patients who suffered surgical errors provided hospitals with a 190 percent increase in profit margin. In terms of straight numbers, a privately insured patient who was the victim of surgical error provided the offending hospital with, on average, $39,000 more in contribution margin (revenue minus variable costs) than if the hospital committed no error. Medicare patients provided $1,800 more in contribution margin if they were the victim of surgical mistakes.
]]> The co-author of the study pointed out that this functionally rewards hospitals for committing surgical complications. He said in a press release, "This research provides dramatic evidence that hospitals lack financial incentives to invest in improving surgical quality." A spokesperson with America's Health Insurance Plans indicated that private insurance companies and Medicare might revise their practices to refuse to cover expenses for certain hospital errors. Whether that would leave the injured patient or the hospital to deal with the bill was not specified.Hospitals should be financially and morally incentivized to improve the quality of the services provided to patients. A system that rewards a hospital for committing a surgical error is a threat to patient safety.
Source: CBS News, "Surgical complications and errors bring in more money for hospitals," by Michelle Castillo, 17 April 2013
]]>The DOT released a policy notice, specifically informing truckers and trucking companies that state laws will not trump the current federal Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations. The issue likely arose as Colorado is considering a bill to set new rules regarding driving under the influence and marijuana. It is considering a limit of 5 nanograms per mL of blood.
]]> Under federal rules, THC is a Schedule I drug. If a driver tests positive for marijuana, that driver must undergo a specific return-to-duty process, consisting of an interview, an education program and further drug testing. The driver cannot operate a commercial vehicle until that process is complete. While the driver may be allowed to use marijuana according to state law, he or she cannot operate a commercial vehicle while any THC remains in the bloodstream.Source: Land Line, "Trucking regs trump state laws on marijuana use," by David Tanner, 4 April 2013
]]>According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one in six fatal crashes involves a drowsy driver. The NHTSA estimates that tired drivers are responsible for more than 1,500 deaths and 70,000 injuries per year. To combat fatigue, many drivers turn to coffee, energy drinks, cola or other caffeinated beverages. While some of the health effects of caffeine are disputed, it is clear that caffeine stimulates the nervous system and improves a driver's ability to focus, at least in the short term.
]]> Australian researchers gathered data from more than 500 truck drivers regarding several lifestyle and health issues, with caffeine consumption making up only a part of the picture. The drivers who consumed caffeine suffered accidents 63 percent less frequently than the drivers who did not. Those results were adjusted for age, driving experience and other factors. The lead author of the study was quick to point out that caffeinated beverages were not necessarily a valid answer to improving road safety.Source: New York Times, "Caffeine May Boost Driver Safety," by Nicholas Bakalar, 21 March 2013
]]>All Boeing 787 Dreamliners have been grounded since January 16, pending the results of the investigation. The FAA took that unusual step after several incidents involving the battery system on the new, high-efficiency plane. Boeing has indicated that it is engaging in "around-the-clock efforts to return the 787 fleet to service." Those efforts include substantial cooperation with the NTSB investigation.
]]> The companies affected by NTSB investigations sign legal forms agreeing to cooperate with the agency, as well as to "refrain from providing opinions or analysis of the accident." The dispute seems to arise over Boeing's decision to provide analysis before the NTSB had decided to release the information. Investigators have not yet determined why the battery in the January 7 incident shorted out.The NTSB could choose to remove Boeing officials from participating in the ongoing investigation. It could also choose to restrict access to aspects of the investigation. At this point, the NTSB has only chosen to inform Boeing of its disagreement with the release of analysis and opinions at this time.
Source: Businessweek, "Boeing Faulted by NTSB for Comments on 787 Battery Fix," by Alan Levin, 21 March 2013
]]>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention track statistics regarding auto accidents, including those involving teenaged drivers. In 2010, kids between the ages of 16 and 19 suffered car accidents that lead to 282,000 being treated for injuries. There were roughly 2,700 highway fatalities in that age group. The fatality risk for drivers between 16 and 19 is 300 percent that of older drivers. The National Center for Health Statistics indicates that car accidents are the leading cause of death for the age group of 15 to 20.
]]> The accidents last week demonstrated several of the factors that contribute to high fatality rates among teens. Six teens were killed in the Ohio accident. There were 8 teenagers in the vehicle, which was only designed to carry 5. None of the teenagers killed had a seat belt on. All of the accidents involved teen drivers with multiple passengers. Teens driving with other teens in the car is a known risk factor. Many states have included passenger restrictions as part of the graduated licensing laws governing new drivers.Source: CNN, "Fatal wrecks underscore risks for young drivers," by Tom Watkins, 13 March 2013
]]>The health of a pregnant mother is obviously a factor in the health of the unborn child. Seat belts help pregnant women avoid serious injury in the event of an auto accident. While that benefit alone should convince pregnant women to buckle up, it does not answer concerns about damage to a fetus caused by a seat belt or the deployment of an air bag.
]]> The study identified situations where women in the second or third trimester suffered a car crash that led to trauma. The results were pulled from a trauma registry at the Duke University Hospital and were gathered over the period from 1994 to 2010. During that time period, 3.5 percent of the fetuses of mothers who were wearing seat belts died as the result of the accident. Twenty-five percent died in serious accidents where the mother was not wearing a seat belt.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises women to wear the lap belt low across the hip bones. This places the belt below the belly. The group suggests that every pregnant woman should wear a seat belt.
Source: Reuters, "Buckle up during pregnancy: study," by Kerry Grens, 8 March 2013
]]>Patient engagement has been tied to improved results, as well as reduced expense for doctors and hospitals. A recent study in the journal Health Affairs showed that patients with the lowest engagement levels cost 8 percent more to treat in the first year and 21 percent more in the first half of the second year. Study authors suggested that engaged patients were more likely to follow the recommended course of treatment, including taking medications and following up with diagnostic tests.
]]> It is important for patients to be aware of the benefits and risks of any course of treatment. An engaged patient is in a better position to choose the treatment that is right for his or her situation. Patient engagement can help decrease errors that occur due to lack of communication. Patients should feel free to ask questions and get all the information they need to make the right decisions about their care.Source: Niles-Morton Grove Patch, "Illinois CyberKnife Celebrates Patient Safety Awareness Week," by Sarah Tiambeng, 5 March 2013
]]>2011 marked the first increase in car accident deaths among teens in 8 years. The increase was a modest 3 percent, but has still sparked concern among safety experts. A second straight year of increasing highway fatalities will draw further scrutiny. According to a compiler of the GHSA report, the increase may demonstrate that graduated driver licensing programs may have reached their maximum benefits. In addition, he suggested that the improving economy may have led to an increase in teen driver deaths. With poor employment numbers and little disposable income, teen driving habits may be more susceptible to change in a down economy.
]]> Illinois is considered to have among the strongest, or strictest, graduated licensing laws in the nation. While no state has adopted all the recommendation of the NHTSA regarding graduated licensing programs, Illinois has adopted the majority of the preferred requirements. Restrictions typical to GDL programs include limiting the hours teens can drive, the passengers they can carry, and the age a person must attain before full licensing.Source: USA Today, "Deaths rise among youngest drivers," by Larry Copeland, 16 February 2013
]]>Food recalls have increased in recent years, according to Food and Drug Administration data. Concern has grown that the large number of recalls, 414 in the third quarter of 2012 alone, is desensitizing people to the danger that tainted food represents. The FDA has stated that it does not comment on trends in recalls, but an increase is certainly bad news for consumers.
]]> The Malt-O-Meal recall was announced and carried out quickly. At this point, no known consumers were sickened by the products tainted with the defective ingredient. An employee at a MOM Brands plant detected an unusual odor from the Vitamin C supplement and an independent lab was commissioned to study the problem. The lab found the ethylene glycol and the products using the supplement were pulled.Source: Star Tribune, "MOM Brands settles tainted-ingredient suit," by Mike Hughlett, 19 February 2013
]]>The NHTSA has played a strong role in changing how drinking and driving and seat belts were perceived. Stricter laws, information and public relations campaigns have changed how those issues are viewed. The NHTSA may be hoping that distracted driving follows a similar path.
]]> Part of the NHTSA plan to tackle distracted driving is developing a set of voluntary guidelines for automakers. In-vehicle devices, including navigation, telephone, and Internet capabilities, may distract drivers and lead to accidents. The NHTSA is hoping to establish guidelines that will allow drivers access to the latest technology without sacrificing safety.Few states had laws against texting and driving just a few short years ago. Now, the vast majority of states have such laws and enforcement is on the rise. Cell phones have been connected to thousands of accidents and the spread of these devices has been blamed for the rise in distracted driving. The NHTSA has stated that it intends to continue the fight against distracted driving and make traveling by car safer for everyone.
Source: The Detroit News, "Distracted driving to remain post-LaHood NHTSA focus," by David Shepardson, 31 January 2013
]]>Perhaps the most controversial of the recommendations made by the safety organization pertains to background checks for truck drivers. The driver of the semi in the truck-train collision had several citations and crashes on his record leading up to the fatal accident. The NTSB has recommended that there should be a mechanism by which the employment history of a driver could be gathered and recorded. This information would then be accessible to employers when making hiring decisions. In addition, the NTSB would like motor carriers to retrieve records for all applicants from the Commercial Driver's License Information System and the National Driver Register.
]]> The NTSB has called for 10-year driving records to be pulled for new hire truck and bus drivers. Currently, the records from only the previous 3 years are checked. When the NTSB made this suggestion, at least one industry professional expressed the opinion that an additional 7 years of records would be unlikely to change hiring decisions.The recommendations also included a recommendation for the Federal Highway Administration to work with the Federal Railroad Administration in an attempt to design a model grade crossing action plan, as well as suggestions about the side-impact standards for passenger railcars. The NTSB does not have the authority to mandate any of these recommendations.
Source: Truckinginfo, "NTSB Issues Safety Recommendations in Wake of 2011 Truck-Train Crash," by Evan Lockridge, 6 February 2013
]]>According to All Nippon Airways Co., the lithium-ion batteries or chargers were changed 10 times prior to the incident that led to the emergency landing. The majority of 787 Dreamliners in service are flown by Japanese airlines. The battery changes were not reported earlier because they did not lead to cancellations or delays. The company further acknowledged that there were more than 100 units that failed and were returned to the manufacturer prior to the two January incidents.
]]> The widening of the probe likely means that the 787 will not be put back into use in the short term. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all 787 Dreamliners on January 16. The FAA had not been forced to ground an entire aircraft for more than 30 years. The FAA order requires Boeing and the airlines flying 787s to prove that the batteries are safe before the 787 will again be cleared to fly. At this point, the NTSB investigation has not revealed the cause of the battery failures.Boeing stated that the batteries that have been returned were not returned for safety concerns. A spokesperson indicated that batteries were returned because they had been deeply discharged, improperly disconnected or had simply exceeded their shelf life.
Source: Bloomberg, "Boeing Batteries Said to Fail 10 Times Before Incident," by Alan Levin and Chris Cooper, 30 January 2013
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