Earlier this week, Philadelphia commuters started facing a new obstacle: SEPTA’s large-scale service cuts. Of the city’s 1.5 plus million residents, SEPTA served approximately 800,000 riders each day. The agency’s cuts, which are the product of a lack of state funding, will affect more than 50,000 students, 65,000 senior citizens, and hundreds of thousands of other riders who regularly rely on the agency’s service to get to their jobs, school, appointments, errands, recreational activities, and more.

The reductions in service are the most significant rollbacks the agency has ever made. SEPTA reduced rail and bus service by 20%, leading to trip reductions on nearly 90 service lines and eliminating 32 bus routes altogether. In addition to leaving locals struggling to find ways to go about their daily lives in a timely and cost-effective manner, authorities also expect SEPTA’s cuts to result in more cars being on the road. More cars on the road mean longer commutes, an increase in traffic, and, they say, an influx of motor vehicle accidents.

Some riders who needed to take one bus line to reach their destination now need to take two or three to get to the same place. Not only is the commute longer, but depending on how many transfers someone needs to make, their fare may also end up being more expensive. In just over one week, thousands of Philadelphians have said they were forced to find alternative ways to commute — for most, this meant traveling with SEPTA for two to four times as long as usual or using a far more costly rideshare service or personal vehicle.

Ways to Stay Safe During Your New Commute

Since more cars on the road mean more accidents, let’s take a brief refresher course on safe driving behaviors with some important tips. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, recommends taking the following efforts to make your drive safer:

• Buckle up. Every trip. Every time. Make sure that you and all of your passengers are wearing their seat belts correctly; always place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. Place the lap belt across your hips, not on your stomach. Never put the shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.
• Drive sober. In every state, it is illegal to drive impaired by any substance — alcohol or other drugs, regardless of whether they are legal.
• Make sure that children are in the right seat, that the seat is installed correctly, to use the seat every time that your child is in the car, and to know when it is time to transition to another type or size of car seat or to use a seat belt.
• Obey speed limits. Not only does speeding endanger everyone on the road, but it also increases the likelihood of sustaining a serious injury. Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving the speed limit, but it is too fast for certain roadway conditions, like bad weather, at dusk or dawn, or through a construction zone.
• Avoid distractions. Pay attention to the road! Distracted driving actions, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating, drinking, changing the music, or fiddling with your vehicle’s navigation system. Remember, any action or behavior that takes your attention away from driving constitutes driving distracted. Talking or texting is also illegal in many states.
• Avoid driving drowsy. Certain medications can also affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Adjust your schedule or arrange for alternate transportation whenever it is necessary.
• Pay attention to flashing lights. If you see a vehicle with flashing lights on the highway, move over into a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle. When moving over is not safe, slow down. If you see a school bus with flashing yellow lights on, slow down and prepare to stop. If the bus’s red lights are flashing and its stop-arm is extended, you must come to a full stop and wait for the bus’s flashing lights to turn off and for the bus to start moving again before you do.
• Talk to teen drivers about wearing their seat belt, obeying speed limits, avoiding distractions, driving sober, and more. Set an example for the young drivers in and outside of your home.
• Always share the road responsibly. Remember, you share the road not only with other motorists, but also with motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Make sure to give others enough room, yield to individuals on the road, and never underestimate others’ speed.

Since the story regarding SEPTA’s service cuts is still developing, we have to wait to see the full effects that they have on residents. One thing we can know for certain is that when it comes to traveling in the city, there are big changes underway.

Contacting an Attorney

If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, someone at our firm can help. At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have been representing car accident victims for decades. Here are just a few examples of cases that we have handled:

• Our client was left paralyzed after a car accident. Our firm pursued a claim not only against the at-fault driver, who hit our client head-on, but also against the vehicle manufacturer for the overall crash-worthiness of the vehicle and for a defective seat belt. We successfully recovered $4,500,000.00 on behalf of our client. You can read more about this recovery at https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/39-2/.
• Our client was struck by a tractor-trailer on an interstate highway, suffering severe injuries, including an amputation of both the left and right legs below the knee. We were able to uncover that the tires on the trailer were bald and that the brakes were worn out; we also found evidence that the tractor-trailer driver’s log was inaccurate, indicating that he was driving excessive hours. Our attorneys secured $3,000,000.00 in favor of our clients. To learn more, visit https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/45-2/.

If you would like to speak with someone about filing a claim for your injuries, we can help. Contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Car Accident Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.