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Road Safety Laws: Saving People's Lives

Due to the high number of motor vehicles in a city like Los Angeles, road accidents have become very common, injuring and killing many people.

Road accidents normally result in different kinds of injuries, ranging from mild (such as bruises) to severe (such as brain injuries and burns). These horrible incidents can also result in death.

There are different types of motor vehicles that may get involved in road traffic accidents. Some of these vehicles include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Cars
• Trucks
• Buses
• Sports utility vehicles or SUVs
• Motorcycles

These accidents could have been easily prevented from happening, if safety measures are properly taken. Avoiding such situations can save the lives of many people.

Laws on Road Safety

One way of avoiding road accidents is to obey traffic safety laws. The following is a list of some of the laws of California that is being implemented in Los Angeles on road safety. Observing these laws can prevent accidents that result injuries and deaths, and if not, (in cases where an accident is inevitable or caused by the negligence of others) reduce the severity of injuries:

• General Seat Belt Laws
  
  Every individual who is riding in a motor vehicle is required to be contained by a standard safety restraint system, such as seat belts and safety seats. However, there are a few exceptions, such as those people who have some medical issues. These individuals may be exempted if they have a letter from their physician that excuses them from complying with the seat belt law.


• Helmet Laws
  
  Riders of motorcycles (these include operators and passengers) of any age are required to wear an approved helmet when riding on motorcycles or other vehicles of the same type, such as motorized scooters, motorized bicycles, and motor-driven cycles.
  
  For children who are under age 18, they are required to wear a safety helmet every time they do anything on wheels. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  
  1. Bicycles
  2. Skateboards
  3. Non-motorized scooters
  4. Inline or roller skates

  Safety helmets that are required to be used cannot be just any old helmet. It should be securely fitted and properly fastened. It also has to meet the standards of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

  This law is also applicable to children who are in restraining seats attached to a bicycle or in a trailer that is towed by a bike.

• Headlight Laws
  
  Using your vehicle’s headlights can increase the safety of your driving. Some instances in which it is necessary to use your headlights include, but are not limited to, the following:
  
  
  1. On frosty mornings when the windows of other motorists may be “fogged” or icy.
  2. When it is snowing, raining, foggy, or cloudy. If the condition of the weather compels you to use your windshield wipers, you are required to turn your headlights on.
  3. On mountain or narrow country roads. Turning your headlights on can help other motorists see you and may possibly help you in avoiding head-on collisions.
  4. When you find it difficult to see other vehicles. When this happens, chances are, other drivers also have trouble seeing you.
  5. When it is needed to get the attention of other drivers.

Getting Help

Even if all safety laws are properly obeyed, road accidents in Los Angeles are still likely to happen. In such situations, it is wise that you get the legal assistance from a competent lawyer to aid you in your case.