Daily in this blog you can find different ways that people get injured on the roads. Whether they are pedestrians or bicyclists, cars or semi trucks, many of the accidents could have been avoided if only there were some simple changes to the roadways that make all the difference in traffic safety.
There is research constantly being done on the subject of traffic safety. Of course the largest cause of car accident injuries and traffic fatalities is drinking and driving. That is an enforcement issue. But many other collisions can be prevented by merely changing some of the configurations of the roads.
Recently the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration revealed some of the traits that the best roads have and what kind of difference they make in the safety of drivers.
*Please note that this list is in no particular order.
10 Things to Help Make Washington Roads Safer
1) Roundabouts – These are a rare sight in Washington, but have been employed in major intersections in some cities around the country and are a very common sight in Europe. Roundabouts may seem to add more confusion and are more of hazard, but the statistics show that, in fact, they reduce collisions by up to 87% in intersections that have a high rate accidents. They reduce speeds considerably and at the same time promote constant traffic flow. Plus, many times they add to the aesthetic environment of the area.
2) Sidewalks – In the outskirts of many municipalities in Washington there is a severe lack of sidewalks. This forces pedestrians to walk or jog on shoulders of roads merely within two feet of vehicles driving at roadway designated speeds. Bad vision or a misjudged corner can cause the driver to drift into the shoulder where the pedestrian is walking and cause a serious personal injury. Studies show that the addition of sidewalks can reduce pedestrian injuries by as much as 88%. This is particularly good if there are children in the area. Sidewalks give them a safe zone to travel and a buffer zone between the yard and the street.
3) Median Barriers – On major thoroughfares there are often barriers in the middle of the road separating lanes discouraging drivers from accidentally drifting into oncoming traffic. But as speed reduces to 40 or 50 miles per hour on some highways these barriers are eliminated and head-on collisions increase. Median barriers have an extensive track record of preventing serious car accidents.
4) Longer Yellow Lights – This may be the subtle change with the most benefit and perhaps the cheapest on this list. Studies have shown that by merely adding one second onto yellow lights consistently throughout an area can reduce red light violations by up to 50%. That is bad news for intersections with camera’s since they yield so much revenue for a municipality, but just like the cameras, its all about protecting people’s safety.
5) Safety Edge – Many people equate roll-over accidents with particularly forceful impacts, but in reality roll over accidents generally happen when the texture or conditions of a roadway changes. It often begins with fishtailing or spinning and then the roll over begins. This can certainly be caused by impact, but more often than not it’s caused by speed. A safety edge can warn a driver when adverse conditions are coming or they are about to stray off of a steep edge.
6) Larger and More Legible Signs – Though many signs are generally the size of a large pizza, this may not be big enough for people to quickly recognize and comprehend. They are also able to be better seen and comprehended from a distance allowing the driver to prepare. Larger signs are also harder to cover with overgrown foliage or large sized parked vehicles.
7) More Time In Crosswalks – There is somewhat of a Catch 22 in society that elderly people are forced out of their vehicles, but then are not given enough time by the crosswalks to cross the street. This is not only limited to our seniors though, it often takes extra time to cross the street with small children or a stroller. Of course, most of us are courteous and cognizant, but there are some that are either distracted drivers or impatient and as soon as the light turns they take off. To avoid accidents and injuries crossing times should be extended.
8 ) Rumble Strips – Many highways that suffer bad weather already have ruble strips to help drivers with sight problems associated with adverse weather conditions to stay on the roadway. But this doesn’t exactly need to apply to only roads with occasional bad conditions. Many drivers can often drift, especially on open country roads or long winding roads. This can cause them to suddenly hit gravel or soft dirt without them noticing, causing some terrible accidents. Rumble strips are a loud and abrupt wake-up to stay within the lines of the roadway.
9) Pedestrian Refuge Crossing Areas – Long 6 & 8 lane roadways of retail shops are common in America and can go on for up to a half mile between crosswalks. If a pedestrian’s destination is in the middle of each block this could mean that they must go far out of their way to merely reach the other side of a street. Often times the pedestrian may choose to jaywalk to save time, but this is when many pedestrian injuries occur. These crosswalks often also have raised areas in the middle of the roadway or a “sanctuary” for them to wait while crossing across the next lanes of oncoming traffic. These can considerably reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and fatalities in these types of areas.
10) Solar Powered Signs – Signs with solar panels on the tops of the posts that power lights that illuminate the sign at night rather than drivers having to rely on their headlights to reflect upon the sign is not a new innovation. Up to this point is has seemed frivolous and expensive to municipalities, but as this type of technology advances and gets cheaper to produce it may be a serious consideration. These signs can be seen from a distance in bad weather and though there isn’t a ton of research so far on their effectiveness, being able to better see road signs can only be a good thing.
Roadway Collisions
The roads are getting much safer now that patrols are out focusing on DUI and DWI drivers and launching successful campaigns such as the “Click it or Ticket” seatbelt campaign. With these types of initiatives there was a dramatic drop in roadway fatalities in 2009 that lowered the number of people killed in car accidents to 1955 levels, even with more than triple the number of cars on the road.
This was inspired by an initiative introduced by Governor Chris Gregoir called “Target Zero”. This initiative is aimed to have a time when there are zero fatalities on Washington highways, thoroughfares, and streets. As we see the numbers drop perhaps slight improvements to the way roadways are built can further help reach that goal.
If you or someone you know has suffered a personal injury or wrongfully killed because of a dangerous intersection or dangerous roadway then it is important that you find an experienced attorney that can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call Phillips Webster for a consultation into your legal rights.
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Four people were injured in a head-on collision on State Route 9 in Arlington on Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 p.m. between 204th Street and Eaglefield Drive.
Head on collisions that happen in the afternoon like this one are generally caused by distracted driving. This can be caused by a hand held device, fiddling with the radio, or caused by a passenger, yet, it only takes less than a second to drift and cause a serious car accident.
