Bloomfield Hills, MI, September 07, 2012 -- Bloomfield Hills car accident attorney Thomas L. Stroble said today that smart car technology to be tested in Ann Arbor that will warn drivers of potential road hazards is a great technological advance – but it’s still no substitute for safe, responsible driving.
“Devices that alert drivers of potential dangers on the road ahead and help them avoid car accidents deliver on the promise of 21st century technological advances,” said Stroble, whose Bloomfield Hills personal injury lawyers of The Michigan Injury Lawyers, P.C., represent Michigan car accident victims throughout Oakland County and surrounding areas.
“But as we enter this new age,” Stroble said, “we should not lose sight of the fact that the best safety ‘device’ in a car is a driver who is alert, sober and not distracted by cell phones or texting.”
On August 21, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood officially launched a $25 million project to test about 3,000 cars outfitted with wireless devices capable of monitoring other vehicles and terrain and alert drivers to avoid collisions. About 500 connected vehicles have been on the road since early August, and the full test will roll out by October, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) is working on the yearlong data-collecting project with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
LaHood said the vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity being tested in Ann Arbor could prevent or reduce the severity of up to 80 percent of car crashes. Last year, 32,310 people died in traffic accidents in the U.S., LaHood said.
Stroble, whose law firm investigates auto accidents in the preparation of personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits for clients from Oakland County and across Michigan, said technology will not abrogate driver responsibility anytime soon.
“Negligent and careless drivers cause the majority of car crashes that result in personal injury or death, and WiFi technology is not going to eliminate the harm they do,” Stroble said. “A beeping monitor will not increase the speed of a drunk driver’s reflexes or tear a teen away from a text any better than the scream of a frightened passenger does.
“This technology, assuming it proves itself, will assist safe and responsible drivers, which makes it a wonderful advance,” the veteran car crash attorney said. “It will not make careless drivers safer.”
Stroble said anyone injured in an automobile accident in Michigan should contact an experienced Michigan car accident attorney.
“Legal action against negligent drivers not only helps those who are injured in wrecks caused by drunk driving, distracted driving and similar recklessness obtain needed compensation for their losses, it sends a message that Michigan residents will not tolerate this kind of behavior on our roads,” Stroble said.
About The Michigan Injury Lawyers, P.C.
The Michigan Injury Lawyers, P.C., is a full-service law firm based in Bloomfield Hills, MI, which represents car accident victims and their families throughout the state of Michigan, including Macomb County, Oakland County, Warren, Clinton Township, Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Utica, Roseville, Troy, Farmington Hills, Waterford, Southfield, Pontiac, Birmingham, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills. The firm’s personal injury practice areas also include truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, birth injuries, slip and falls, dog bites and wrongful death cases. The firm’s Bloomfield Hills office is located at 2525 S Telegraph Rd, Ste 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 (local phone (248) 454-0800). To learn more about The Michigan Injury Lawyers, P.C. call (248) 454-0800 or (888) 454-0801 or use the firm’s online contact form.
Thomas L. Stroble
FOUNDER
Mr. Stroble is a highly accomplished graduate of Michigan State University, with degrees in both science and law. He specializes in commercial lawsuits and personal injury cases. Licensed to practice law in Michigan and even the U.S. Supreme Court, he’s a well-qualified legal expert. Besides his career in law, he loves outdoor activities and volunteers as a part-time police officer in Birmingham.
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