Truck Traffic from Mexico – Standards are Different on the other site of the Boarder
On the same day a tanker truck explosion in Mexico City killed at least 22 people and injured 36 others, families of U.S. truck crash victims spoke out to urge Congress to support legislation that would address truck weight and size limits.

While our Atlanta truck accident lawyers have yet to learn the cause of the massive tragedy in Mexico, we do know that the natural gas tanker exploded after the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed on the highway, which was lined with dozens of homes. Authorities there say the death toll could rise, as several of the victims remain in critical condition.

We also know that the heavier one of these large trucks is, the more difficult it can be to control and the more prone it may be to crashes.

Mexico doesn’t currently have the same kinds of weight and size regulations that the U.S. has implemented, but we need to ensure those regulations are protected from special interest groups who may work to pressure the Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration. This proposed legislation is one way of doing it.

The Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act was re-introduced by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) after two previous failed attempts, the latest in 2011.

The measure would apply the current tractor-trailer truck weight limit of 80,000 pounds and a size limit of 53 feet to the entire national highway system, which would include both interstates as well as smaller highways. Certain exemptions, such as those for firefighting equipment, would be maintained under the bill.

As it now stands, those standard size and weight restrictions are already applicable to the 44,000-mile interstate system. This bill would extend most of those same restrictions to the larger 220,000-mile national highway system.

Additionally, this measure would expand the current halt of triple tractor trailer runs on interstates to the broader national system. It would also seal any loopholes that allow overweight trucks to remain in operation. Additionally, an enforcement program would be established to ensure that violators would have a clear chain of accountability.

Trucks that are heavier and bigger have a disproportionately high share of motor vehicle deaths, when we’re looking at the statistics on a per-miles-traveled basis. These vehicles are known to be at increased risk for rollover, swaying and they also require longer distances to make a safe stop.

Lautenberg was quoted as saying that not only do these massive vehicles pose an immediate risk to motorists, they also take a toll on the integrity of our bridges and highways.

This measure is co-sponsored by other Democrats in New Jersey, California and Missouri. A companion bill in the House is also being sponsored by a Democrat from Massachusetts.

The Truck Safety Coalition reports that a new poll found overwhelming public support for truck weight limitations, with nearly 70 percent opposing heavier trucks and nearly 90 percent expressing a strong opposition to paying higher taxes for the infrastructure damage caused by heavier trucks. Mhttps://caraccidentattorneysa.com

Should you have a standby Generator

Hurricanes serve as a wakeup call for many of us, with thousands of people left without power for weeks. The breakdown of the electrical grid, damaged by flying debris and high winds as well as flood waters, is a sobering reminder that the infrastructures we all take for granted are fragile against the most formidable of enemies – the weather.

That’s why more and more people are turning to standby generators to keep the power on at their house and business. Standby generators can be your lifeline, keeping the food safe to eat and maintaining the temperature at healthy levels. Self-Installed Power Generators

However, you want to make sure you have safe hookups for your generator. Some people assume that all they have to do is plug their generator into a wall outlet, and they have all the power they’ll need. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Dirty Power” is the term used for electrical power that surges, lags, and is full of static. This type of power comes from an unsteady power source that pulsates. It is also caused by the use of cords and electrical wiring that are insufficient for the voltage being sent through them. This can create a serious fire hazard at the best, and a shock hazard as well.

When you install your own generator, there is the additional complication of accessibility. Do you have to get your generator out of storage when bad weather threatens? Is it located out in the barn, and connected to the house with an extension cord? How involved is the process you follow to switch from grid power to generator power?

Another problem with self installed generator power is that it can actually ruin your appliances. Anything that uses a generator or compressor must have a steady supply of clean electricity. Your refrigerator, freezer, and air conditioning unit all run with a compressor. Power that surges will cause the compressor to burn out, causing you to have to replace some of your most expensive appliances.Professionally Installed Power Generators

If you hire licensed electricians to hook up your standby generator, the danger will be avoided. Your electrician can install a breaker switch that makes your switch from grid to generator much safer and cleaner. There won’t be any threat of electrocution, and there won’t be the fire hazard associated with the “suicide hookups” that many people try. The electrician will make sure that clean power is processed to your home or business from your standby generators. When the power goes out, all you have to do is start your generator and flip a switch, and you’ll have no interruption to your service. What can run on a generator?

You can’t always run everything you have on generator power. It depends on the size of your unit and the amount of power you need. However, there is usually enough power to keep your refrigerator and freezer running, which will preserve your food. You can also run some type of heating unit with these generators. There will also be enough power to keep your land line telephones working, if the wires are still up, and to charge your cell phones so that you can stay in communication.

If you use medical machinery, a standby generator is a must. Clean electricity is even more important to keep these units running properly.

Orthodontics Combines Health and Good Looks

Family Dental Care: Helping everyone.

When I was younger, I used to think that braces were only about looks. I thought that braces were tools used to make your teeth straight and neat-looking. But as I got older, I began to realize that it is far more complicated than that. Braces are also about health. And there are ways that bad teeth can harm you, more than just your image. You want your teeth to fit together neatly. Your teeth are like little gears that fit together neatly. When they do, you are able to chew effectively but you are also able to speak more clearly. People sometimes forget that speech has more to do with the tongue than other parts of the mouth. If the tongue is crowded by misplaced teeth, then you child could develop speech patterns indicative of a speech impediment. But problems can be even more severe. Some people end up needed surgery on their jaws. There can be deeper problems related to the jawbone that needs adjustment. Left untreated, these can produce agonizing migraines and other problems. If you are having migraines, you first guess might not be that it has to do with your jaw. The first person you see would probably not be an orthodontist. And yet these are the far-reaching problems that a lack of orthodontic care can produce. On the other hand, who are we kidding? It is also very much about aesthetics, as well. We want straight-looking teeth that are neat and beautiful. We could say that straight teeth are the epiphenomenon of dental care. As a lack of bad breath from using mouthwash is just the indirect consequence of killing all of the germs, we could also say that straight beautiful teeth is just the after-effect of straight, properly functioning teeth. But I think that this would be somewhat disingenuous. Good-looking teeth is a lot of people’s primary goal, which is fine. As long as they have proper dental health, what does it matter? And there are ways that you can have a great smile while you still have your braces on. Invisalign braces are all the rage right now. They are transparent braces. No one will even know that you are wearing them. Invisalign braces are great for adults that do not feel comfortable donning the trappings of a junior high student. They will feel great, look great, and you will be well on your way to a beautiful smile and good dental health. Orthodontics combines both of those in one swift motion. Because of this, you do not have to choose. It is not always the case, but braces are an instance in which the thing that makes you look good is also the best thing for you. This point can be overstated in other fields, like exercise. You can certainly overdo it with exercise. But with braces, a beautiful smile is an indication of a healthy smile. So go take your kid down to the orthodontist’s office and get an inspection today.

Like Invisalign, Orthodontics Technology Is Changing

Family Dental Care: Helping everyone.

What must it have been like to be an orthodontics patient in the late 19th century or the early 20th century? Sometimes, I have the tendency to idealize the past as rustic and idyllic, but I am less inclined to do so when I think about early American orthodontists. We have certainly come a long way in terms of our orthodontics technology. Not only does this make the process more comfortable and less prone to injury or medical mistakes, I have to imagine that it makes the entire process more effective. So there is no reason not to harness the advantages of our modern era. While there may be some virtue in adhering to tried and true methods, there is also virtue in not fearing technology and novelty.

Consider invisalign braces.

These are transparent braces. They are hard to see, and they save teens and adults alike from the embarrassment of those big, gaudy metal braces crammed into our mouth. Furthermore, you do not have to adhere to any dietary restrictions. That means that you can eat popcorn, caramel, gum, and all of the other things that are normally prohibited by the normal braces of brackets and wires. The best part of invisalign braces, in my humble opinion, is that they do not scratch your mouth. These braces look like small mouth guards. They set right over the faces of your teeth. There are no pointy edges of brackets. When I had my braces, the worst part was the scratches to the inside of my cheeks or my gums. These scratches would sometimes turn into canker sores. Then the brackets would continue to exacerbate the sore. It was as bad as it sounded. Invisalign braces completely sidestep this feature of orthodontics.

So these braces do not hurt your mouth, let you eat whatever you want, and they are invisible so that you do not have to declare to the world at large that you are wearing braces. It must be too good to be true. They must not work properly. They must take considerably longer than brackets and wire braces, right? Nope. They work just as well. It is not a trick. It is just a technological advancement. I notice in older generations the tendency to think that a certain level of discomfort or effort is necessary for something to be good. This can preclude them from taking advantage of the tools at their disposal. Orthodontics is just the same. We have just come a long way. Can you imagine if we transported an orthodontist from the year 1890 to the present day and showed him our brackets and wire braces? He might also think that it were just a trick or a charlatan sham. We would also think that he is naïve. It is exciting to think of the possibilities for medical technology in the future. And this extends beyond just orthodontics. Orthodontics, however, will also be on the receiving end of these innovations. Invisalign is just one example of how technology innovation has made dental health easier to achieve.