Intersection Crashes Can Be Deadly

The transience of life was clearly illuminated in March 2021, as five more lives were lost in a tragic intersection collision. Surely, no one could have anticipated that three youngsters and two adults would not make it home one Spring evening, yet that is precisely the outcome suffered after a sedan making a left-hand turn was slammed by an oncoming vehicle.  Both cars flipped over, and everyone in the sedan was ejected, resulting in their deaths.  The emotional trauma to family and friends will reverberate for years to come. If you have had personal experience with a traffic accident due to no fault of your own, a local personal injury attorney may be able to help with the fallout.

Frightening Statistics

 The numbers tell a horrific tale:  40 percent of all collisions, or 2.5 million crashes– occur in intersections across this country every year.  The majority, not surprisingly, are related to left-hand turns.  Other concerning facts include:

• Of all serious traffic accidents, half occur in intersections;
• One in five fatal collisions occur in intersections;
• Running red lights is one key factor related to intersection crashes in a large number of scenarios.

Time to Tackle Intersection Safety:  Driver Behavior 

Certainly, drivers can do a lot to improve their chances of making it through intersections without event.  Choosing to slow down to prepare for a stop on a yellow light instead of trying to rush through is a good starting point.  Additionally, drivers simply must get serious about focusing on the road and minimizing distractions.  Defensive driving requires that eating, texting, disciplining the kids and so forth wait until drivers are not behind the wheel.  Finally, insisting that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up is an absolute must.

Time to Tackle Intersection Safety:  Improving Intersections 

Improvements to intersections correlate improved safety.  What do these improvements look like?  The list of possibilities is intriguing:

• Accommodating turning lanes with protected turns using arrows;
• Changing the timing on lights to optimize change and clearance intervals;
• Coordinating signals based on traffic patterns;
• Reducing the number of pole-mounted signals in favor of more overhead signals;
• Installing larger signal heads with one per lane;
• Restricting—or totally eliminating parking related to intersection approaches;
• Installing signals for bicycles;
• Eliminating items that hamper visibility;
• Improving lighting to enhance visibility;
• Provide enhanced signage to alert to pedestrians;
• Provide orange flags at pedestrian crossings;
• Alerting drivers to upcoming intersections well in advance;
• Improving pedestrian and bicycle crossing facilities;
• Moving from typical intersections to round-abouts and other formations.

When It’s Not Enough 

Unfortunately, even with enhanced safety infrastructure and 100 percent focus on the road, reckless and negligent drivers will still find a way to cause harm to innocents on the road.  If you or a loved one is the victim of a roadway tragedy, the experienced Kissimmee personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group, P.A. have your back.  Contact our office for a confidential consultation today.

Resources:

mobility.tamu.edu/mip/strategies-pdfs/system-modification/executive-summary/intersection-improvements-1-pg.pdf

abcactionnews.com/news/state/3-children-2-adults-killed-in-central-florida-crash