Fatal Accident in Red Bluff
On the afternoon of Sunday, August 22, 2021, a 48-year-old man from Paradise, California, was killed when his car crashed into a tree north of Pugh Avenue on southbound State Route 99E.
Details of the State Route 99E Incident
According to a report from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the man had been driving a 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck at an unknown speed at approximately 3:50 a.m. on Sunday. He executed an unsafe turning maneuver toward the right, which caused his vehicle to collide with a road sign. Subsequently, the truck struck a tree, then came to rest facing northbound on the west shoulder of the highway.
Unfortunately, the driver was not wearing his seat belt. He suffered fatal injuries from the crash, according to the CHP traffic report.
The identification of the deceased man has not yet been released, pending notification of his family.
Continuing Investigation
The Red Bluff area office of the CHP is continuing to investigate the incident. The scene investigation did not require the closure of State Route 99E.
It has not yet been determined if alcohol or drug impairment played a role in the deadly incident.
Is it More Dangerous to Drive at Night?
The National Safety Council (NSC) analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and found that night driving is more dangerous than daytime driving, especially during weekends. Some additional risks associated with night driving include compromised visibility, driver fatigue, and driver impairment. Depth perception and peripheral vision, both important driving factors, are also compromised in darkness. The glare of headlights from other vehicles can temporarily blind a driver, adding to the dangers.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a clip with safety tips for night driving.
Increasing Visibility While Night Driving
If you are planning to drive in the dark, here are some tips to increase visibility:
- Ensure that your headlights are clean and aimed correctly.
- Dim the lights on your dashboard.
- If you wear prescription glasses, ensure that they have an anti-reflective coating.
- Do not look directly into oncoming headlights.
- Thoroughly clean your vehicle’s windshield.
- Drive at a slower speed to compensate for reduced visibility and less stopping time.
Another thing to consider concerning night driving is that as we age, we have more difficulty seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver could need two times as much light to see as well as someone who is 20 years younger. The vision issues continue to progress as we age. Here are recommendations for older drivers:
- Reduce speed.
- Get your vision checked every year.
- Minimize distractions while behind the wheel.
- Ensure you know the side effects of any prescription drugs you are taking.
- If necessary, limit your driving to daylight hours.
Driving at Night – Fatigue
Results from a national poll indicated that 60% of adults have driven while fatigued. Additionally, 37% – nearly 103 million people – have fallen asleep at the wheel. This phenomenon, known as drowsy driving, puts all road commuters at risk. Driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as driving after a few beers.
Below is some advice from the National Sleep Foundation to avoid drowsy driving:
- Sleep for at least seven hours every night.
- If you have been awake for 16 hours or more, do not drive.
- While on long road trips, stop to rest every two hours.
- If you feel drowsy, pull over to a safe place and nap.
- Limit your road travel to hours that you are normally awake.
Red Bluff Personal Injury Attorney
Hello, and thank you for reading. I’m Ed Smith, a Red Bluff personal injury attorney. We never want to write about fatal car crashes in our local area, but they happen with alarming frequency. For nearly four decades, my law firm has helped injured Northern Californians get monetary compensation for their damages. We have also advocated for grieving families in wrongful death cases. If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact us for free and friendly advice at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400.
Photo: pixabay
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