Do you think that you have what it takes to pass these two winter driving quizzes?  These tests, provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Allegheny College, will test your knowledge about safe driving habits and winter guidelines in Pennsylvania.

Try the quiz from PennDOT here:

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/pdNews.nsf/WinterHome?OpenFrameset

Or the one from Allegheny College here:

http://sites.allegheny.edu/safety/safety-committee/winter-driving-quiz/

The PennDOT website also has a wealth of useful information relating to getting your car, home, and even mailbox ready for winter.  You can also watch a winter video and access a printable winter services guide by going to this link (ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/Bureaus/Press/Winter/PUB628.pdf).    Some general helpful tips that the department offers in order to get ready for winter include the following travel tips:

• Follow the law and turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.
• Watch for wet-looking roads, they may indicate black ice.
• Don't use your high beams in periods of heavy or blowing snow.
• Don't use cruise control when traveling on icy or snowy roads.
• Don't stop and start suddenly, and leave more room than normal between cars. 
• Be careful on the especially dangerous road areas, such as ramps or bridges.
• Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line.
• If you do become stranded, don't leave your vehicle. Also, turn on the engine every hour or so, and make sure the tailpipe is clear. 

If you have been the victim of a winter driving accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and potential pain and suffering.  This may include cases where other drivers failed to follow common winter driving safety procedures, such as leaving enough room between cars or failing to remove the ice and snow from their vehicles, which caused an accident.   Attorney Doug Stoehr takes cases for clients who have sustained njuries due to the fault or negligence of another. For more information on his Altoona, PA area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his firm at 814-946-4100.

Be safe in the winter weather!  Unfortunately for people living in Pennsylvania during the winter season, along with the beautiful snowy landscapes come a variety of winter-related dangers. One of the most common injuries during this time of year, especially in older adults, are slip-and-fall accidents.    How can you protect yourself?  Try and following the guidelines below, courtesy of Denver Health.

1. Try and plan ahead as much as you can, and base your trips around breaks in bad weather.  Use common sense, and don't go out if you don't need to do so.
2. Don't rush!  Give yourself much more time to go from Point A to Point B, whether you are walking or driving a car.
3. Be aware, and take the safest looking paths while walking and driving.  Alternate routes may be necessary, so familiarize yourself with where you are going!
4. Help others and let others help you.  Assist each other in crossing icy patches on foot.
5. Wear the appropriate shoes!  Choose shoes that give you the most traction, and remember that you can always bring in a change of shoes to put on after you've arrived at your ending destination.
6. Be especially careful in parking lots! Entering and exiting cars can be a particularly troublesome area for injuries.  Also be aware of cars who may be stopping or sliding.
7. Keep your hands free. Don't walk while using your phone or texting, and avoid carrying a large amount of heavy items.
8. Do your part to keep your sidewalks and driveway clean and ice-free.  Frequently apply ice melt or sand as often as possible to melt icy patches and give yourself and others traction on winter surfaces.

 If you have slipped and fell on the property of another, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and potential pain and suffering.  This may include cases where sidewalks were improperly maintained due to the winter weather, such as failure to remove snow and ice.   Attorney Doug Stoehr takes cases for clients who have sustained slip-and-fall injuries due to the fault or negligence of another. For more information on his Altoona, PA area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his firm at 814-946-4100.

According to a slew of media sources, a recent national study published research by the Clinical Pediatrics medical journal that suggests that children are treated for toy-related injuries about every three minutes in the United States.  Those statistics account for over 3 million children within the past 13+ years.  The vast majority of these cases were the result of foot-powered toy scooters and other self-propelled toys. 

Alarmingly, most of these injuries occurred in children five years old and younger. Another large chunk of injuries was accounted for by children under three who have choked on small toys or parts of toys.  During the study, about 14 cases of children swallowing/inhaling foreign objects occurred per day over a period of about 11 years.  However, between the ages of 5 and 17, riding toys accounted for over 40% of the injuries.   These injuries were three times more likely to result in broken bones or dislocated joints.  Additionally, foot-powered scooters alone resulted in over 580,000 injuries in a period of 11 years.  Overall, falls and collision were the most common injury types across all toy accidents. 

Parents and caregivers can follow several common and practical tips to help prevent injuries for their children this holiday season.  Of course, all children should be wearing proper protective gear when using self-motored toys, including a helmet and elbow/knee pads.  They should also avoid riding these toys on uneven and/or icy grounds.  Young children should also be supervised at all times.   It is also important for parents and caregivers to frequently check online with various safety commissions to see if commonly used toys have been recalled due to safety hazards.

For more information on the Clinical Pediatric study, please click this link through MyFoxNY.

Attorney Doug Stoehr is a central Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer.  He takes cases for clients who are experiencing pain due to an accident or injury caused by the fault of another.  For more information on Attorney Doug Stoehr's Altoona, PA area practice, please call his office at 814-946-4100 or continue to browse his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com.  Attorney Stoehr and his law firm wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.