New Texas laws tighten up on teen drivers, others
New laws went into effect this month for Texas drivers. Many target teens. But all drivers should take note. There are significant changes in laws affecting teen drivers. Those under the age of 18 must take a driving test with a certified official in the car to get a driver’s license. That law requires 32 hours of in-car instruction. Licensed teen drivers under the age of 18 can’t be on the road between midnight and 5 a.m. for one year after they receive their license. Safety experts say that’s the most dangerous, high-risk time for new drivers. Licensed teens under the age of 18 can’t have more than one person under 21 in the car with them unless it’s a family member. And they cannot use a cell phone to talk or text while driving. According to the Texas Transportation Institute, a 16-year-old is five times more likely to be in a fatal crash than someone in any other age group.
Anyone talking on a cell phone in a school zone is breaking the law. And that’s statewide. Anyone with a drunken driving record will have to take a blood test if arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. That new law raises fines for driving with a suspended license or without insurance up to 180 days behind bars and up to a $2,000 fine. Anyone without a license or insurance who causes an injury or death in an accident can spend up to a year in jail and be fined up to $4,000. No passenger younger than 5 can ride a motorcycle. Motorcycle riders have to complete a certified training course to get a license.
Of the 3,382 Texans killed in traffic accidents in 2008, 951 weren’t wearing seat belts. Seat belts are now mandatory for everyone in a car. That includes kids who are too big for infant seats. The new law says that kids younger than 8, or shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches have to be in a booster seat. Call the Texas Safe Riders program at 1-800-252-8255 for financial help with child safety seats if you need assistance.
Older drivers need to retool their driving skills, says the AARP, to protect themselves and others. The agency is recommending that seniors take a driving course to teach them how to compensate for slower reaction times and changes in eyesight, hearing and physical strength. Senior drivers may not be aware those changes are affecting them, but all have a bearing on handling a car safely. AARP’s senior driving course is available online. There’s yet another program that helps seniors adjust their cars to help prevent injuries if they are in an accident. It’s called CarFit. It’s the first of its kind and it takes just 15 minutes.
It’s called Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and its maker Merck & Co. is now the target of hundreds of lawsuits across the country brought by patients who say they developed osteonecrosis of the jaw after taking the drug. Osteonecrosis is a rare disease that breaks down the jawbone. Ironically, Fosamax is taken to combat osteoporosis, a condition that thins and weakens bones especially after menopause. Osteonecrosis can develop without causing symptoms for weeks and sometimes months. Symptoms include loose teeth, exposed bone, pain in the jaw or gums, infections in the gums, loss of sensation and significant gum loss. The Mayo Clinic considers Fosamax safe for most patients. But it notes that reports of osteonecrosis associated with oral doses of Fosamax began surfacing in 2003. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved generic versions of Fosamax in early 2008. Individuals who most often develop osteonecrosis are patients with cancer or dental problems.
Imagine being unable to stop smacking your lips, making faces or sticking out your tongue. How about constant blinking or moving your eyes, arms, legs or fingers? If you’ve taken Reglan and this happened to you, you could have Tardive Dyskinesia. It’s a side effect that is rarely reversible. Although there is no known cure, some symptoms may diminish once victims are off the drug.
We’ve all been led to believe that medical journals only publish studies that safeguard our health. Turns out, the journals and the public have been duped, according to court papers released in July by personal injury lawyers who are suing Wyeth, a company that manufactured drugs for hormone replacement therapy. Wyeth is now facing 8,400 lawsuits from women who claimed the drug caused their illnesses.
Try typing this into a tiny device with your thumbs at 60 miles an hour while you drive. Or even 30 miles an hour. No wonder texting while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk.
Never heard the term, you say? It’s pretty common among EMS personnel, lifeguards and child activists when they talk about the small, lifeless bodies they see every summer lying by swimming pools or on beaches. That’s why so many dread the season. And so many work hard to make parents and caregivers understand the awful truth: A child can drown in 20 seconds or less.
By now, we all know it’s not healthy to be overweight. Medical reports rail against excess body fat, citing statistics that show even a few extra pounds can cause serious illnesses, from diabetes to heart ailments. Americans trying to stay healthy fight battles with their bathroom scales every day all over the United States.
