Factors that Contribute to Wrong-Way Driving
Any vehicular accident can result in severe and catastrophic injuries and death, but when a vehicle travels on a highway in the wrong direction and at high speed, the most serious type of collision can happen. Wrong-way car accidents make up approximately 3.7% of all of the deadly crashes reported on divided highways. On an average year, as many as 300 lives are lost due to wrong-way driving crashes.
There are several contributing factors behind wrong-way driving. Understanding what causes a driver to travel in the wrong direction and be a danger to others is essential to figuring out what methods may be implemented that could prevent or reduce the number of wrong-way driving accidents.
If you were the victim of a wrong-way driving accident in New Jersey or if someone you know was hurt or lost their life in a wrong-way driving crash, the South Jersey car accident lawyer at Monaco Law PC can assist you with a car accident injury claim. Since these types of crashes usually result in severe injuries and can be deadly, victims may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
How Wrong-Way Driving Accidents Happen
Luckily, wrong-way collisions are rare occurrences. However, when they happen, they can create cataclysmic physical bodily harm for those involved and considerable destruction to personal property like a car.
According to the data from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), wrong-way driving accidents happen mostly on the weekends and at night. In many cases, a driver who is in the lane closest to the median has the highest chance of being a wrong-way driver.
The primary reason why wrong-way driving occurs is alcohol. Over 60% of the wrong-way accidents that happen are the result of a driver intoxicated by alcohol. Likewise, despite limited data on drivers with drugs in their system impairing them and causing wrong-way driving, it is believed that there is a real possibility that drugged drivers are also causing wrong-way driving accidents.
Another factor that contributes to wrong-way driving accidents is a driver’s age. The NTSB reports that drivers aged 70 and older are overrepresented in wrong-way driving accidents.
Finally, roadway signs that are confusing, not the correct size, or not placed in the right location are also causing wrong-way driving.
Certain safety countermeasures may be practical and effective for reducing wrong-way driving, including:
- Ensuring that all driving while intoxicated (DWI) individuals have mandatory alcohol ignition interlocks on their vehicles.
- Widely implementing the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS).
- Greater efforts aimed at the reduction of older drivers in wrong-way traffic accidents.
- Addressing roadway lighting, signage, and markings to make exit ramps clearly distinguishable from entrance ramps.
- Identification of wrong-way driving trends through wrong-way driving monitoring programs.
- Improving wrong-way navigation alert systems.
Speak to a New Jersey and Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney Today
Call our experienced South Jersey personal injury lawyer at Monaco Law PC at (609) 277-3166 for our New Jersey office and (215) 546-3166 for our office in Pennsylvania to discuss your car accident case today.
We are a New Jersey and Pennsylvania personal injury law firm serving Atlantic County, Bucks County, Burlington County, Cape May County, Camden County, Chester County, Cumberland County, Delaware County, Gloucester County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia, Ocean County, Salem County, and all of South Jersey.
Source:
ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1201.pdf
