September 1st, 2010
Population for the greater Nashville area is projected to hit more than 2.5 million by the year 2035. That means we’re making plans for more transportation options, including more infrastructure for safe pedestrian and cyclist travel.
The cycling trend has exploded in Middle Tennessee during the past 10 years. According to a 2008 census by The League of American Bicyclists, Tennessee as a whole is ranked 47th when measuring the percentage share of people who commute to work on a bike. But, the number of Nashville commuters on bikes actually tripled during the 2000-2008 time period.
So, of course, it’s impossible for car drivers not to notice the ever increasing number of cyclists on our roads during rush hour, on weekends, on holidays; at every time of the day! As the blistering summer heat fades into less blistering fall heat, the number of riders will increase even more. So before Nashville turns its road rage towards our friends on two-wheels, here are a few tips for drivers from Tennessee3Feet.org.
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August 25th, 2010
Opinions vary as to the accuracy of the adage, “You are what you eat,” but do you even know what you eat?
A growing trend has many foodies working to ensure a clear answer to that question. In opposition to fast food restaurants, prepackaged portions and unpronounceable ingredients, the “slow food” movement has taken off here in middle Tennessee and many other parts of the country. Some fans of local produce want to discover local eating traditions. Others are mainly interested in organic farming practices. But there’s a third element to the slow food trend that may tip more scales to the side of local produce even right here in Nashville.
Ethical buying might seem superfluous when compared to the convenience of a neighborhood big box grocery store. But ethical buying is a nod to smaller farms, literal hands-on attention to production and, last but not least, healthy management of the final product – both plants and animals alike. In light of recent egg-related Salmonella enteritidis (SE) outbreaks, having the opportunity to actually see a farmer grow the dinner that ends up on your table could be a worthwhile endeavor.
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August 18th, 2010
How many sliders does it take the counter the effects of two-for-one drafts night at the corner pub?
Think you can you handle two Sidecars from the hipster speakeasy without eating a real meal beforehand?
Did you take an antihistamine with your glass of wine at dinner?
It all adds up. Even a little means a lot. A Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08g/dL is all it takes to get you arrested on a drunk driving infraction. But a BAC of .04g/dL is all it takes to impair your brain function. So, before that after-work cocktail, check out this blood alcohol content chart and double check your assumptions. If you have no designated driver, it might be best to wait and have happy hour at home.
This Friday, law enforcement organizations nationwide will start a three-week crackdown on impaired driving. Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest is the 2010 Labor Day Impaired Driving Prevention National Enforcement Crackdown lead by the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA). Drunk driving crashes have decreased over the last few years, but the NHTSA still sees room for improvement. Nationally, 32% of fatal car accidents and other vehicle crashes involve a driver with a blood alcohol level at .08g/dL or higher. That means, in the United States, there is one drunk driving-related fatal car accident every 45 minutes. An estimated 12,000 people died in DUI crashes in 2008, says the NHTSA.
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August 11th, 2010
Walking in a school zone could be the most dangerous part of your child’s school day.
So put pedestrian safety high on the list of subjects to review with the entire family before Metro Nashville Public Schools reopen for a half-day of class this Thursday, Aug. 12.
There are multiple causes for car accidents involving child pedestrians. Firstly, vehicle drivers can be at fault.
According to Safe Kids USA, one out of six vehicles moving through a school zone is being driven by a distracted driver. Safe Kids USA’s 2009 study, called Characteristics of Distracted Drivers in School Zones: A National Report counted more than 40,000 observations of drivers in school zones in the United States. The leading distraction observed was, no surprise, use of an electronics device. But drivers were also observed attempting all the common car accident-causing activities: eating, drinking, smoking, grooming, reading, or reaching for something elsewhere in the vehicle.
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August 4th, 2010
Known for an inclination to buck societal norms, motorcyclists seem to be moving in line with a trend they should be happy to follow: not dying on America’s highways.
After a decade-long increase of almost 20% in the annual number of deaths from motorcycle crashes, preliminary reports for 2009 motorcyclist fatalities indicate at least a 10% decrease, which is the first such drop in 12 years.
The numbers come from a survey by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) that asked states to report their motorcycle fatalities for 2009. All 50 states and the District of Columbia responded and the GHSA analyzed the findings and published a report in April.
In Tennessee, the number of deaths from motorcycle accidents for the first nine months of 2009 was 101, a decrease of 31 deaths, or 23.5%, from the same period in 2008.
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