accidents

A man crosses a nearly empty street in San Francisco, on March 17, 2020. Despite a reduction in driving last year, road fatalities increased, according to the National Safety Council.

Health & Safety

'Tragic': Driving Was Down In 2020, But Traffic Fatality Rates Surged

3:30pm March 05, 2021

by Camila Domonoske

A report estimates that traffic deaths rose 8% last year compared to 2019. When measured by number of miles driven, fatalities surged by 24%, the highest in nearly a century.

About one child a month dies from being entangled in cords from blinds and shades, a study finds. Efforts are underway to get corded blinds off the market, but many will remain in homes.

Window Blind Cords Still Pose A Deadly Risk To Children

12:02am December 11, 2017

by Tara Haelle

Nearly one child a month dies after being entangled in window blind cords, despite years of effort to reduce the toll. A new industry standard to remove most corded blinds from the market may help.

Hit-and-run accidents in California decreased by as much as 10 percent after the state passed a law in 2013 granting driver's licenses to unauthorized immigrants, say researchers at Stanford University.

How Offering Driver's Licenses To Immigrants Here Illegally Makes Roads Safer

4:58pm April 04, 2017

by Adrian Florido

A 2013 California law that granted driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally reduced hit-and-run accidents by 7 to 10 percent in 2015, meaning roughly 4,000 fewer hit-and-runs.

Michael Arnott, of Cambridge, Mass., says he used to have trouble staying awake on long drives. Sleep specialists discovered he has obstructive sleep apnea, though not for the most common reasons — he isn't overweight, and doesn't smoke or take sedative

Snooze Alert: A Sleep Disorder May Be Harming Your Body And Brain

5:23pm August 25, 2015

by Jon Hamilton

A lack of sleep can increase the risk of traffic accidents, heart attacks, diabetes and maybe even Alzheimer's disease, research suggests. Yet most people with sleep disorders don't get treatment.

Queue Listen Now

Competitive swimmers often practice breath holding to increase endurance.

Breath-Holding In The Pool Can Spark Sudden Blackouts And Death

4:57pm June 01, 2015

by Angus Chen

When you hold your breath underwater, you might pass out before you realize you need oxygen right now. Experienced swimmers have drowned as a result, and most people aren't aware of the risk.

AAA Carolinas Names Most Dangerous Counties for Driving

11:36am August 12, 2013

AAA Carolinas has come out with its annual list of the most dangerous North Carolina counties for driving.