Wednesday, June 1, 2016

AAA Reveals Top Driving Distractions for Teens as “100 Deadliest Days” Begin

Research from AAA Foundation Finds 60% of Teen Crashes Involve Distraction
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 1, 2016)- Over the past five years, more than 5,000 people have been killed in crashes involving teen drivers during the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period starting at Memorial Day when teen crash deaths historically climb. As the summer driving season begins, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is releasing a follow-up study confirming that nearly 60 percent of teen crashes involve distractions behind the wheel. The research also finds a disturbing trend showing that texting and social media use are on the rise amongst teen drivers.
Crashes for teen drivers increase significantly during the summer months because teens drive more during this time of year. Over the past five years during the “100 Deadliest Days”:

An average of 1,022 people died each year in crashes involving teen drivers
The average number of deaths from crashes involving teen drivers ages 16-19 increased by 16 percent per day compared to other days of the year

This year’s new follow-up report from the AAA Foundation is part of the most comprehensive eight-year research project ever conducted into crash videos of teen drivers. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Iowa, the AAA Foundation analyzed the moments leading up to a crash in more than 2,200 videos captured from in-car dash cameras. The latest report compared new crash videos with those captured from 2007 -2012 and found consistent trends in the top three distractions for teens when behind the wheel in the moments leading up to a crash:

Talking or attending to other passengers in the vehicle: 15 percent of crashes
Talking, texting or operating a cell phone: 12 percent of crashes
Attending to or looking at something inside the vehicle: 11 percent of crashes

“Every day during the summer driving season, an average of 10 people die as a result of injuries from a crash involving a teen driver” said Jurek Grabowski, Research Director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “This new research shows that distraction continues to be one of the leading causes of crashes for teen drivers. By better understanding how teens are distracted on the road, we can better prevent deaths throughout the 100 Deadliest Days and the rest of the year.”

Additional Resources

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Report: An Examination of Trends in Teen Driver Crashes Using Naturalistic Data

Infographic

State Maps of Teen Driving Laws: Passenger | Mobile

Chart of Teen Driving Laws by State

B-roll video

AAA Keys2Drive Teen Driver Website

Researchers also found that how teens use their cell phone when behind the wheel changed significantly over the course of the study. In the moments leading up to a crash, teens were more likely to be texting or looking down at the phone than talking on it. This supports findings by Pew Research Center, which shows text messaging has become a key component in day-to-day interactions amongst teenagers. Fifty-five percent of teens spend time every day texting, sending an estimated 80 text messages per day.
“It’s no secret that teens are extremely connected to their cell phones,” said Jennifer Ryan, AAA Director of State Relations. “Many teens are texting or using social media behind the wheel more often than in the past, which is making an unsafe situation even worse.”
Research by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that texting creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted. A recent AAA Foundation survey shows that nearly 50 percent of teen drivers admitted they had read a text message or email while driving in the past 30 days. NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey also shows that from 2007 to 2014, the percentage of young drivers seen visibly manipulating a hand-held device quadrupled.
“Nearly two-thirds of people injured or killed in crashes involving a teen driver are people other than the teen themselves,” continues Ryan. “This shows that teen drivers can be a risk to everyone on the road and it is important to regulate their actions when behind the wheel.”
Keeping cell phones out of the hands of teen drivers is a top priority for AAA. The Association’s advocacy efforts are helping to protect teens by working to pass graduated driver licensing laws and teen wireless bans in states across the country.
In preparation for the “100 Deadliest Days”, AAA encourages parents to educate their teen about the dangers of distracted driving and monitor their actions behind the wheel. Parents should:

Have conversations early and often about the dangers of distraction.
Make a parent-teen driving agreement that sets family rules against distracted driving.
Teach by example and minimize distractions when driving.

TeenDriving.AAA.com has a variety of tools to help prepare parents and teens for the dangerous summer driving season. The online AAA StartSmart program also offers great resources for parents on how to become effective in-car coaches as well as advice on how to manage their teen’s overall driving privileges. Teens preparing for the responsibility of driving should enroll in a driver education program that teaches how to avoid driver distraction and other safety skills.
Established by AAA in 1947, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, publicly-supported charitable research and educational organization. Dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads, the Foundation’s mission is to prevent crashes and save lives through research and education about traffic safety. The Foundation has funded over 300 research projects designed to discover the causes of traffic crashes, prevent them and minimize injuries when they do occur. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org for more information on this and other research.
As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 56 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

Several wet days for Houston

Storms are moving in, and could cause street flooding.

Wednesday, June 01, 2016 01:05PM
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Storm chances are on the rise as a slow-moving weather system meanders through Texas the next several days.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect through Friday evening for Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton counties.

The rest of the afternoon will feature scattered showers and storms. The storms should be moving fast enough to keep major from happening. Rain chances will climb even more Thursday and Friday as the main storm system gets closer to Houston. Some of these storms may become severe with damaging winds the main threat. Periods of heavy rain and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning strikes are likely with each wave of rain.

The storm will stay over Texas through the weekend, bringing multiple rounds of heavy rain. Timing the rain is difficult in this weather pattern, so we'll all need to monitor MegaDoppler radar closely the next several days. We'll also be keeping a close eye on the local rivers that are still in major flood stage: Brazos, Colorado, and Trinity.

Stay weather-aware this week. Download the free abc13 weather app to check the radar while you're out and about.

Dozens of cows stranded in flood waters in Simonton

Dozens of cows stranded in flood waters in Simonton (KTRK)

Updated 18 mins ago

SIMONTON, TX (KTRK) -- It's an emergency situation in Fort Bend County where water from the Brazos River continues to rise. One of the hardest hit areas is Simonton, where homes are flooded and some animals have been left to fend for themselves.

Eyewitness News received this video of dozens of cows stranded in deep flood water. The cows are barely able to keep their heads above the water as they search for higher ground with no pasture in sight.

Fort Bend County Sheriff, Troy Nehls told us some of these cows did make it to higher ground, but it's not clear how many survived.

Meanwhile, in another part of Simonton, flood waters forced about a dozen horses to take shelter on the porch of a home. The house is surrounded by water and the porch was the only place where the horses could find some refuge.

The Brazos River flooded a home near Simonton, forcing horses to take shelter on the porch of a home. (May 31, 2016) WATCH NOW: Horses take refuge from flood water on home's porch in Simonton area

Four injured in massive gas explosion in N. Houston

A home in north Houston went up in flames this morning. Andy Bass has the latest from SkyEye (KTRK)

Wednesday, June 01, 2016 10:10AM

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Four adults were badly burned on up to 50 percent of their bodies in a devastating gas explosion in north Houston this morning, according to the Houston Fire Department.

The victims were a 19-year-old woman, a 46-year-old woman, a 73-year-old woman, and a 26-year-old man.

A dog that was in the backyard died as a result of the explosion.

When firefighters arrived at the home on Glen Maor near Elbert, they found heavy flames and smoke pouring from the roof of the home.

Sky Eye coverage of north Houston explosion

Neighbors heard the explosion.

HFD officials say there was a partial roof collapse as crews worked to contain the fire.

The four victims were taken to nearby hospitals.

We're following this story on Eyewitness News. Watch for updates on air, online and on our mobile news app.

SAVE YOUR LIFE, AVOID SALT: FDA issues new guidelines on salt

FDA issues new guidelines on salt, pressuring food industry

Wednesday, June 01, 2016 11:58AM

WASHINGTON --

The Obama administration is pressuring the food industry to make foods from breads to sliced turkey less salty, proposing long-awaited sodium guidelines in an effort to prevent thousands of deaths each year from heart disease and stroke.

The proposed guidelines released Wednesday are voluntary, so food companies won't be required to comply, and it could be a year or more before they are final. But the idea is to persuade companies and restaurants - many of which have already lowered sodium levels in their products - to take a more consistent approach.

It's the first time the government has recommended such limits. Sodium content already is included on existing food labels, but the government has not set specific sodium recommendations. The guidelines suggest limits for about 150 categories of foods, from cereals to pizzas and sandwiches. There are two-year and 10-year goals.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said that many people may not be conscious of how much sodium they are eating until they have a heart attack or stroke.

"Our great hope is that this will initiate a very serious national dialogue," he said.

Americans eat about 1 teaspoons of salt daily, or 3,400 milligrams. That amount hasn't gone down over the years, and it's about a third more than the government recommends for good health. Most of that sodium is hidden inside common processed foods and restaurant meals, making it harder for consumers to control how much they eat.

The guidelines are long-delayed. The Food and Drug Administration first said it would issue voluntary guidelines in 2010, after an Institute of Medicine report said companies had not made enough progress on reducing sodium and advised the government to establish maximum levels for different foods. The FDA decided to go with a voluntary route instead.

The delays came as food companies balked at the idea of government guidelines, pointing to myriad efforts already underway to reduce sodium. The food industry has also pointed to a newer, 2013 IOM report that said there is no good evidence that eating sodium at very low levels - below the 2,300 milligrams a day that the government recommends - offers benefits.

Some companies have worried that though the limits will be voluntary, the FDA is at heart a regulatory agency, and the guidelines are more warning than suggestion. But the wait means that Obama administration officials probably won't be around to see if individual companies follow the guidelines. A new administration will be likely be tasked with making the proposed guidelines final, as they could take a year or more to complete.

If companies do eventually comply with the guidelines, Americans won't notice an immediate taste difference in higher-sodium foods like pizza, pasta, bread and soups. The idea is to encourage gradual change so consumers' taste buds can adjust, and to give the companies time to develop lower-sodium foods.

Many food companies and retailers already have pushed to reduce salt. Wal-Mart, ConAgra Foods, Nestle and Subway restaurants say they have achieved major sodium reductions in their products. Mars Food, a subsidiary of Mars Inc. that produces Uncle Ben's rice among other products, said in April that it would support the upcoming FDA sodium regulations.

In a statement just after the guidelines were released, Mars Inc. said the guidance "will drive a broader dialogue within the food industry and help inform consumers about the role sodium plays in their diet and overall health."

The companies say that in some cases, just removing added salt or switching ingredients does the trick. Potassium chloride can also substitute for common salt (sodium chloride), though too much can cause a metallic taste. In addition to flavor, companies use sodium to increase shelf life, prevent the growth of bacteria, or improve texture and appearance. That can make it more difficult to remove from some products.

Levels of sodium in food can vary widely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sodium in a slice of white bread ranges from 80 milligrams to 230 milligrams. Three ounces of turkey deli meat can have 450 milligrams to 1,050 milligrams.

The guidelines could face some backlash in Congress, where Republicans have fought the Obama administration over efforts to require calorie labels on menus and make school lunches healthier. When the administration attempted to create voluntary guidelines for advertising junk food for children, the industry fought the idea and Republicans in Congress backed the food companies up, prompting the administration to put them aside.

Health groups have argued for mandatory standards, but say voluntary guidelines are a good first step. Michael Jacobson, the head of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the government should assess how the voluntary standards work, and set mandatory targets if they don't.

"It's disappointing that the FDA is only proposing targets and not formal limits, but in this political climate with a Republican Congress and such massive industry opposition, we're gratified that the administration is at least coming out with voluntary targets," Jacobson said.

The proposal follows new regulations in New York City that requires chain restaurants to post a salt shaker icon next to menu items that contain more than the daily recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams of salt, or about the amount found in a teaspoon.

More than 30 injured in major accident involving Houston METRO bus

A METRO bus was involved in a crash with a pickup truck (KTRK)

Updated 1 hr 15 mins ago

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A METRO bus was involved in a wreck near downtown, and police say there are more than 30 people injured.

The accident happened just before 1:30pm near 2200 Runnels. Authorities say a pickup truck traveling westbound on Runnels ran a stop sign and crashed into the bus that was going northbound on Chartres, forcing the bus into a freeway sign.

Several people were injured Wednesday afternoon after a bus and a truck collided near downtown Houston.

The bus driver had to be extricated from the bus. The HFD AMBUS Mass Casualty Mobile Hospital/Transportation Bus was brought to the scene.

Chase ending in crash kills innocent person in City of Industry

A chase in the City of Industry ended in a crash and killed an innocent person late Tuesday afternoon, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials.

By ABC7.com staff

Wednesday, June 01, 2016 12:18AM

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. (KABC) --

A chase in the City of Industry ended in a crash and killed an innocent person late Tuesday afternoon, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials.

The wreck happened near Gale Avenue and Johnson Drive around 4 p.m., LASD officials said.

Officials revealed in a late-afternoon press conference the chase began when they responded to a burglary in progress in the 5200 block of Folger Street in Hacienda Heights. Upon arrival, deputies witnessed a black Chevrolet Camaro flee the scene.

"I looked out the window and they were kicking the door in, so I called the police," said one burglary witness, who said she also saw the black car get away.

Deputies chased the driver for about two miles before the suspect crashed into an SUV, killing the man inside, LASD officials said.

At one point during the chase, authorities said deputies pulled back because of the danger to the public.

"They briefly pulled back because of the amount of units that were in the pursuit. Then they were attempting to re-engage, at which point they saw that the vehicle had collided," said Lt. Joe Mendoza of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators said after the crash, three male suspects jumped out of the car and ran. After a brief foot-pursuit, they were captured. All three suspects were taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

The identity of the deceased person was not immediately released.

Wrong-way driver sentenced in NYPD detective's death

Tim Fleischer has the latest details.

Updated 4 mins ago

GREENBURGH, New York (WABC) --

A man who pleaded guilty to driving the wrong way on the Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh and causing an accident that killed an NYPD detective was sentenced Wednesday.

Efren Moreano, of Yonkers, received a minimum of four years and a maximum of 12 years.

He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree vehicular manslaughter. The indeterminate sentences for each of the three counts run concurrently.

The crash happened around 3:45 a.m. in February of 2015, when Moreano drove a Honda Civic sedan northbound onto the southbound Jackson Avenue exit of the Sprain Brooky. He entered the parkway going in the wrong direction and crashed head on with 46-year-old Detective Paul Duncan, of Hartsdale.

Duncan was driving his Honda Pilot SUV on his way to work at a police precinct in Queens, and he was killed instantly.

"This was truly the most tragic thing that ever happened to myself and to you guys," Moreano said to the Duncan family in court. "And I'm really sorry."

Moreano tried to express his sorrow, even saying he wishes it had been him who had died instead of Duncan.

"I don't necessarily think about Moreano, but I do think about who my husband was, and I think about the the life that we had, and the friends and the relationships and the family, and my daughter," widow Rechelle Duncan said. "My daughter has no father, and there will never, ever be a replacement."

Moreano sustained serious injuries to his right arm and leg and needed to be extricated from his vehicle.

Toxicology results showed he had a blood alcohol level of .16 and marijuana in his system at the time of the collision. He was also traveling about 100 miles per hour, officials said.

He faced a maximum term 15 years.

3 dead, including child, in Middletown wreck after car runs out of gas

Eyewitness News

Updated 43 mins ago

MIDDLETOWN, New York (WABC) --

Two women and a child were killed when a tractor-trailer struck a car early Wednesday after the sedan ran out of gas on Interstate 84 in Middletown.

The crushed Volkswagen Passat and its three passengers had no chance when the semi truck slammed into them on the darkened highway around 4 a.m. The car ran out of gas in the right driving lane, and the driver had called 911.

"(She) was able to stay on the line with 911 for three minutes when the accident was heard by the 911 operator," New York State Police Captain Brendan Casey said. "The line was cut off."

The wreckage was pushed into the center medium. The two adults in the front seat, a child in the back seat and two dogs lost their lives.

Two of the victims have been identified as 29-year-old Jesenia Valentin, of Bridgeport, and her 9-year-old daughter Angelina Rodriguez. The other victim has not been identified.

Westbound lanes was closed for eight hours as accident investigators worked to recover the victims and interview the truck driver, 52-year-old Gino Ruggiero, who was not injured and who stayed at the scene.

Police have also learned that all three people in the car were moving from Bridgeport to Virginia. But more importantly, police say the crash illustrates how vital it is for drivers and passengers to leave a vehicle that suddenly becomes disabled in the driving lanes.

"I would exit the vehicle and walk over the guard rail into the woods and wait there," Casey said. "That vehicle has a high probability that it's going to get struck."

No charges were immediately filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Texas River Expected to Rise to Record Levels as Floods Overtake State

By JULIA JACOBO
Max Golembo
MELISSA GRIFFIN

May 31, 2016, 4:17 PM ET

PHOTO:The Brazos River has exceeded its banks and is flooding nearby properties, May 29, 2016, in Rosenberg, Texas. — WATCH Record Rain and Devastating Flooding Tear Through the Southwest

Several rivers in Southeastern Texas are experiencing major and even record flooding on roadways and homes after receiving almost 20 inches of rain over the Memorial Day weekend.

This morning, the Brazos River at Richmond rose to more than 52 feet of and is expected to crest at 53.5 feet by tonight -- more than 3 feet above record flood stage. Two years ago, The Brazos River had run dry in places due to drought, the Associated Press reported.

The Brazos River near Rosharon is not yet in a major flooding stage, 51.3 feet, but is expected to reach it by 11 p.m. tonight. The river will continue to rise and crest on Thursday.

PHOTO:Irene Martinez, who lives near the Brazos River, leaves her flooded home, May 29, 2016, in Richmond, Texas.

Video posted on YouTube by the Rosenberg Police Department shows the water from the Brazos River also reaching the height of the bridge used to cross it. Another shot shows the waters spilling over barriers onto a roadway, while several other images show entire neighborhood streets and the homes that line them flooded.

Mandatory Evacuation Issued for Rosenberg, Texas, As Floods Turn Deadly

Rescuers Save Trapped Woman From Fast-Moving Floodwaters

19 Rescued After Flash Flood Traps Them in Kentucky Cave, Officials Say

Powers lines looked as if they were in danger of toppling over from the flooding on the Brazos River. A video posted to Twitter shows the Texas National Guard assisting in search and rescues on the river.

Another river, The Trinity River in Liberty, Texas was at 26.7 feet around 11 a.m. Tuesday and is expected to stay in major flood stage, or 29 feet, all week. The record flood level at the Trinity River is 31 feet.

The Colorado River at Wharton, Texas crests today, rising to 46.5 feet around 11 a.m., although this river is quickly receding. The record flood level for the Colorado River at that point is 51.9 feet.

PHOTO:Flood warnings were issued Tuesday for several parts of eastern Texas.

Flood warnings have been issued in several areas around eastern Texas, but in the next few days the area is not expecting heavy rain, which will stay in central and western Texas and the southern plains. About 13 million Americans from Texas to Arkansas could see severe storms through the afternoon and evening. But, the main threat will be damaging winds and scattered hail.

Parts of Texas have seen their wettest May on record. Austin Bergstrom has gotten more than 15 inches of rain this month, with more than half of the rainfall occurring on Friday alone.

PHOTO:Over the next few days, southeastern Texas isnt expecting much heavy rainfall, which will mostly stay in central and western Texas. — PHOTO:Over the next few days, southeastern Texas isn't

Six people have died in floods along the Brazos. Four of the six dead were recovered in Washington County, between Austin and Houston, according to the AP. More than three dozen people were rescued from homes in low-lying neighborhoods in Simonton between late Sunday and Monday reports said. Simonton, home to less than 1,000 people, was issued a mandatory evacuation Saturday.

SLIDESHOW: Texas Grapples With Severe Weather

On Sunday, Rosenberg mayor Cynthia McConathy declared a state of disaster for the town and ordered its residents to evacuate. According to a 2010 census, 31,676 people live in the area.

Aerial shots over Rosenberg show the extent of the damage the flooding has done to homes in the area.

In Montgomery County, a family pushed several dogs on a paddleboat through floodwaters.

Startling new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals the disturbing behaviors behind distracted driving among young drivers.

June 1, 2016, 6:53 AM

Top distraction for teen drivers in crashes may surprise you

Startling new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals the disturbing behaviors behind distracted driving among young drivers.
Usually, AAA refers to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the "summer driving season," but now, it's giving it a much more ominous name - the "100 Deadliest Days."
During the summer months, more teenagers are on the road and the number of deaths from crashes involving teen drivers soars to an average of 10 every day -- 16 percent higher than the rest of the year.
Working with the University of Iowa, AAA studied teen drivers over the past eight years, using dashboard cameras and documenting more than 2,200 moderate to severe collisions. Over that time, they saw a disturbing change in behavior.
"They're more likely to interact with their phones via texting or social media, which is particularly scary because they're actually then looking down, taking their eyes off the road," said Jennifer Ryan of AAA.

Play Video

AAA: Hands-free devices can still cause distracted driving

According to the study, 60 percent of teen crashes today are caused by distracted driving. But perhaps surprisingly, the study found that cell phones are not the number one problem.
The top distraction for teens is other passengers, accounting for 15 percent of teen driver accidents, compared to 12 percent caused by distracted by texting or talking on a cell phone.
"What we know about teens is that when they add a passenger, they're more likely to be distracted, they're more likely to engage in risky behavior," Ryan said.
Stacy Robinson lost two daughters in a crash in Texas in March. A teenage friend who was driving was looking at her phone moments before hitting an 18-wheeler head on.
"I will miss both of my daughters very much," Robinson said, sobbing.
Now, Toron Woolridge, the brother of the two girls, spreads the word about the dangers of distracted driving.
"The best way that I can honor my sisters, the best way I know possible is to talk to youth and talk to parents and help them to understand what could happen," Woolridge said.
AAA recommends complete bans on wireless devices for drivers under age 18, which is now the law in 30 states.

Trying to put the brakes on road rage

A motorcyclist and the driver of a red sedan engage in a protracted example of road rage at high speeds in Homestead, Fla.

Take a deep breath before you head out on that holiday drive -- all the better to help keep your cool if you have an unwelcome brush with ROAD RAGE. Our Cover Story is reported by Kris Van Cleave:
Punches thrown in the middle of a Houston intersection ... grown men and a woman brawling in front of stunned onlookers ... then one of the drivers purposely ramming his truck into the other car before speeding off.
Road rage, it seems, is everywhere (and caught on video) as drivers use bats, fists, guns, even golf balls in street showdowns that can sometimes have tragic consequences.
"I would hope he wasn't doing it with the intention of killing someone, or paralyzing someone, but that's what ended up happening," said Stevie Vanausdale.
For Vanausdale, road rage wasn't a video that went viral; it was a life sentence.
"I want people to learn from what we did," she said. "Because we were good kids. We were honors students. We were varsity athletes. We were good kids with bright futures."

Futures that forever changed one June night in 2006.
Then-17-year-old Stevie and four high school friends went for a drive, and one of the boys in the backseat threw a water bottle at another vehicle. It was a mindless teenage prank, but in response car ended
up chasing the teens at 90 mph down a country road. The driver of the car Stevie was in lost control and hit a tree (left).
Stevie's best friend, who was sitting next to her, died. Stevie was paralyzed from the waist down.
Both drivers went to jail.
"I think people don't realize that the moment that could change their life is something so miniscule," Vanausdale said. "And I would say it's really hard to realize that that one water bottle changed five families, five individuals, forever."
A survey by AAA found nearly half of drivers believe aggressive driving is a very serious threat to their personal safety.
Fatal road rage incidents are up more than 30 percent since 2010, and were the cause of more than 1,700 deaths between 2010 and 2014.
But anger behind the wheel is not a new phenomenon; it's played out in popular culture for decades.
In the 1950 Disney cartoon "Motor Mania," a mild-mannered Goofy turns Jekyll-and-Hyde when he gets behind the wheel.
But the very real violence of road rage is no laughing matter.
Mike McCloskey, an expert on aggression and a professor of psychology at Temple University in Philadelphia, says one of the aspects about driving that makes some people so angry is that it is stressful: "The days of taking a leisurely drive have kind of gone. Now when you're driving, you're really trying to get from A to B, and you usually haven't given yourself enough time to do that. So just the trip itself is very, very stressful."
"Is there something about being in the car, though, that makes people feel more comfortable to express that anger?" asked Van Cleave. "You don't see people screaming at each other in the grocery store because somebody's in the express lane with one extra item. In the car, you see people lose their minds."
"Yeah. The car kind of affords us a certain level of safety and anonymity. Even though we may be on the road with a whole bunch of other people, we kind of feel like we're in our own little cocoon in our car."
This weekend 33.9 million Americans are expected to hit the roads, and McCloskey says millions of them will be driving angry: "The statistics suggest about one in three people engage in some form of road rage."
"That's a lot of road rage."
"Mind you that the majority of that is relatively minor," said McCloskey. "It's the honking your horn real loud, flipping someone off, screaming. But for a small portion, like a couple percent, they engage in much more violent, destructive behaviors -- trying to run people off the road, trying to attack people."
That's the kind of rage Evan Wilder ran into in 2014 when he was cycling home in Washington, D.C. Evan was riding, legally, on a shared roadway when a pickup cut him off, sending him crashing into its bumper.
That's when the driver became irate. "It was like this wall of anger from this guy, coming at me," Wilder recalled.
Three years earlier, he was almost killed when a truck sideswiped him.
"That happened so fast," Wilder said. "By the time it happened, you don't even know what's going on, what had just happened."
"Is this hard to watch?" Van Cleave asked.
"Yes. This is hard to watch," he mused. "His intention was to strike me with his truck."
When Mike Shen moved from New York to Los Angeles, he was shocked by some of the rage he encountered on the crowded roads -- including his own.
"When I came out here, I was literally rolling down the window -- I was like, 'Do you walk the way you drive?'" he told Van Cleave. "I'm like, 'Stay on the right.' And you can't do that, 'cause here the ego is so attached to people's vehicle, and people start really shouting back, people pulling cars in front of me. I was like, OK, someone's going to get hurt."
The father of three decided it was time to put his own anger in park. So he started a blog instead called L.A. Can't Drive. He calls it a "platform for cathartic release."
Van Cleave asked, "Do you really think L.A. can't drive?"

A driver (and her cat) behind the wheel in Los Angeles.

L.A. Can't Drive

"Yes, hands down. They absolutely cannot drive," Shen replied. "I've seen people -- actors constantly driving with their knee, reading scripts. I have a picture I could show you of a woman holding a cat on the freeway. She was going, like, 20 miles per hour slower than everyone else in the left lane."
The site is home to video and pictures of Southern California drivers behaving badly: swerving through traffic, blowing red lights, or using the shoulder as a passing lane -- the kind of behavior that often provokes road rage.
There is, Shen said, a lot of anger and frustration on the roads. "And it's understandable. I'm not immune to it, I feel it."
Van Cleave asked McCloskey, "How do we decrease the risk of road rage?"
"Before you even get in the car, give yourself time," he replied. "Don't cut everything to last-minute. One of the biggest things that exacerbates road rage is someone being stressed out, and time-urgency. When you're in the car and someone does something and they cut you off, they're driving too slow, they're tailgating, whatever it is, one of the simplest things to do -- and it sounds trite, but it's helpful -- just take a deep breath.
"If nothing else, it buys you some time. Puts things in perspective. This is not a major thing -- unless you do something to make it a major thing."
Of her experience, Stevie Vanausdale said, "I don't remember exactly what our intentions were that night, but I do know that we did NOT think through the consequences."
Vanausdale now works with a group called ROARR (Reaching Out Against Road Rage). She hopes by telling her story to high school students, her tragedy can be their life-saving cautionary tale.
"Just stop for one moment before you engage in that, and think," she said. "Because I think if any of us had done that that night, maybe Charlie would still be here and maybe I would still be walking. That's one thing that I really wish I would have done."

Nigeria in Meltdown as Terror Group Issue Chilling Threat Before Bombing Shell and Agip Installations

Published in Oil Industry News on Saturday, 28 May 2016

– The Niger Delta Avengers have blown up trunk lines belonging to shell and Agip
– NDA’s latest attack was carried out in the early hours of Saturday, May 28
– The group has threatened to continue their vandalism until their demands are met
– The group sent a tweet just before their latest attacks warning that "something big was away to happen"
– Shell ban all staff movements
There is tension in the Niger Delta, the Niger Delta Avengers in their determination to get the government to meet their demands, have blown up trunk lines belonging to Agip and Shell.
NDA struck early Saturday, May 28, in Bayelsa state, blowing up trunk lines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
Vanguard reports that the group in a tweet revealed that its strike teams, in the early hours of today blew up trunk lines belonging to NAOC and SPDC.
“At About 2.15am on Saturday the @NDAvengers blow up Nembe 1, 2 and 3 Brass to Bonny Trunk Line belonging to Agip and Shell,” the NDA stated in a tweet.
The NDA has threatened to do something that will shock the whole world. In a series of tweets, the militants revealed that they blew up another oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday, May 26, which they claimed was heavily guarded by the Nigerian military.
The group also blasted the Niger Delta stakeholders over the meetings they held in the region, stating that they want a sovereign state and not pipeline contracts.
In a related development, soldiers invaded Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom, at about 1.52 am, this morning and were still laying siege to the community as at 8am.
The soldiers, who came in no fewer than seven gunboats, allegedly beat up residents, including an octogenarian community leader, Chief Atiti Mala, with the butt of a gun.
“They were asking the helpless villagers to produce former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and members of the Niger Delta Avengers,” a youth leader told the newspaper on phone.
Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, who confirmed the attack on Oporoza, said: “Information available to me is that the military invaded Oporoza again in the early hours of today. As I am speaking to you, they are still there molesting people.”
“They have arrested many persons and villagers have fled into the bush. This is wrong, they are going to worsen issues with what they are doing. I posted on Facebook that they invaded Oporoza and a military man called me to tell me that they would deal with me.
“We are not safe, we have said it over and over that Gbaramatu people are not synonymous with Niger Delta Avengers, they should leave my people along. If they want to kill me, let them go ahead, but I will continue to say the truth, why are they harassing my people, they should harass the militants whose activities we condemn,” he added.

Super Puma Crash - Missing Safety Pin May Have Been Cause - Preliminary Report

Published in Oil Industry News on Monday, 30 May 2016

Airbus Helicopters has acted to allay concerns over the safety of its Super Puma aircraft after Norwegian investigators declined to rule out a repetition of past gearbox problems being the cause of a crash that killed 11 oil workers and two pilots.

The Accident Investigation Board of Norway said in a preliminary report on Friday that it was examining three possible causes for the April 29 crash near Bergen in which the main rotor section separated from the aircraft.
These included the struts that attach the rotor head to the helicopter, and two parts linked to the gearbox that drives the blades — the "epicyclic module" and the main gearbox housing.
Britain and Norway have grounded commercial Super Puma flights, a workhorse of the oil industry, amid concerns over a repeat of gearbox problems linked to previous accidents.
In an unusual move during an investigation, Airbus Helicopters issued a statement narrowing the probable cause to the attachment of the struts, known as "suspension bars", rather than the gearbox. It also pinpointed maintenance.
It said its own analysis had produced seven potential theories to explain why the main rotor detached.
"Out of these seven scenarios, only one — the failure of the attachment of a suspension bar — can be assessed as probable by Airbus Helicopters, based on the information available to date," it said.
"Analysis of the helicopter’s maintenance history has just started and should provide a better understanding of the most likely causes," it added.
Speculation has been rife on Aviation site pprune.org for several weeks since the crash that failure to insert a simple clip through the pin that keeps the strut in place, may have been the cause of the crash.
Oil and Gas People wanted to avoid speculation so we have been following the issue closely but the new report seems to add considerable weight to this theory. We have also been informed by industry insiders that operators have specifically been asked to check that the 'Nappy Pins', as they are known, are in place. If the Nappy Pin was not in place the main pin that holds the strut in place could work its way loose over time with the vibration of the aircraft.
Operator CHC Helicopter reiterated the three areas for investigation listed in the report. In early May, Airbus asked operators to check installation of the three suspension bars, but safety authorities went further and called for gearbox checks.
A spokesman for the Norwegian investigators said it was too early to say what caused the crash. "There are still many doors open and we will close them one by one in due time," he said.

Oil Worker Killed In Derrick Collapse Incident

Published in Oil Industry News on Tuesday, 31 May 2016

An Australian man believed to be in his 50s has been killed in a workplace accident in the occupied Golan Heights in Israel.

The man was an employee of the global oil and gas drilling company Viking Services, which was contracted to conduct oil well tests in the region.
A spokesman for the company told the ABC that the man was fatally injured while moving a mobile well servicing rig and that a full investigation into the incident would be carried out.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the man was injured around 10:30am (local time) on Sunday while disassembling equipment for well tests at the Ness-2 site, and later died from his injuries.
He was employed by a company called Viking, which was chartered by Afek to do the well tests.
Viking Services confirmed that the man's family has been notified of his death.
A work colleague told Oil and Gas People that the derrick collapsed during rig down operations. The Toolpusher was trapped and tragically died at the scene.
The Australian embassy in Tel Aviv said they could not comment on the matter until they received further details of the man's death.
Representatives from Viking Services are expected to land in Israel tomorrow to begin the investigation

Fort McMurray residents to return home after massive wildfire that displaced 90,000 people

California Initiates Offshore Renewables Task Force

By MarEx 2016-05-31 20:23:55

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced it will initiate planning with the State of California to establish an Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to examine opportunities for offshore renewable energy development.
California Governor Jerry Brown requested formation of the task force in a May 12 letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. The announcement was made during a BOEM-sponsored Offshore Wind Roundtable that brought together representatives from foreign governments, state policymakers, experts in offshore wind and members of industry to share information on offshore wind development. The roundtable was convened in advance of the 7th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting being held this week in San Francisco, California.
"California is now part of a worldwide movement of states and provinces that have committed themselves to combating climate change," said Brown at the meeting.
The task force, a non-decisional entity, will facilitate coordination and communication in a partnership between BOEM and state, local and tribal governments and federal agencies concerning potential renewable energy leasing for research activities and commercial development on federal submerged lands on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), offshore California.
“While offshore renewable energy resources have not yet played a significant role in California’s energy system, they present important potential future opportunities,” said Brown in his May 12 letter. “There are significant offshore resources along most of California’s coast that complement the profile of onshore solar resources, and new developments in offshore wind technology – such as larger facilities that are not visible from land and present little to no adverse avian impacts – will likely make projects more viable.”
BOEM has established Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces for 13 other coastal states, which provide critical information for our decision-making process, including how to resolve potential conflicts between development and environmental concerns and other uses.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, areas of the west coast of the United States (and Hawaii) hold great renewable energy potential. In particular, these areas have the potential to generate over 1.5 terawatts of offshore wind energy. This potential presents a compelling market opportunity that would assist states in meeting many of their ambitious and critically important renewable energy goals, says BOEM.

Cook Attacks Head Chef on Cruise Ship

The Celebrity Constellation (file image courtesy Celebrity Cruises)

By MarEx 2016-06-01 12:25:24

[Brief] On May 30, the Italian maritime border police arrested a Jamaican crewmember of the Celebrity Constellation after he allegedly stabbed the ship's head chef in the abdomen.
The accused, a 31-year-old cook identified only as "OG," faces charges of "attempted murder aggravated by petty reasons.” The two men were preparing breakfast early on Monday morning and began a verbal altercation which escalated into a physical attack.

Evidence from the scene (image courtesy Italian Maritime Border Police)
Italian media reported that the head chef was taken to hospital in Salerno and was listed in critical condition: the cut was very deep, and he came close to losing his spleen. Doctors have not made public mention of a prognosis.
“OG” tested positive for alcohol; he reportedly told police that he had become exasperated with the head chef's tone.
The vessel's operations continued uninterrupted.

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