Wrong Way Accidents on the Rise

Wrong-Way Accidents on the Rise

They account for only 3 percent of the collisions on highways in North Dakota and throughout the U.S., but highway safety officials are concerned about the rise in wrong-way driving accidents. The reason for their concern is the severity of such accidents as two vehicles collide head-on at high speeds. The impact and devastation is so great that the likelihood of dying in a wrong-way accident is 27 times higher than it would be in other types of motor vehicle accidents.

A study of wrong-way collisions completed by the National Transportation Safety Board noted that most states have taken steps to prevent motorists from traveling in the wrong direction. Signs warning motorists that they are traveling in the wrong direction are in use in on most highways and ramps leading to and from them. Sensors have been developed that can detect a car, truck or SUV going the wrong way and trigger warning lights and messages to alert the driver, but the problem of wrong-way collisions continues.

The NTSB identified some of the causes of wrong-way driving. The primary causes included:

• Driver impairment: The consumption of alcohol and drugs to the point at which an individual is driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of wrong-way collisions. The NTSB estimates that up to 75 percent of wrong-way drivers are driving under the influence of alcohol. Impaired drivers were involved in 60 percent of the fatal wrong-way collisions.
• Age of the driver: Older drivers, specifically those drivers over 70 years of age, are involved in a disproportionately high number of wrong-way accidents as compared to other types of collisions.
• Confusing signs: Signs to alert motorists when they have entered a roadway by going in the wrong direction might be missing or obstructed. Signs designed to alert motorists of the correct entrance and exit ramps for a highway may be confusing and result in drivers going the wrong way.
• Road maintenance: Altered traffic patterns associated with road maintenance and construction zones can cause drivers to become confused as they enter a highway.
• Distracted drivers: Drivers who are talking on their cell phones, texting while driving, programming their vehicle’s GPS device or engaged in other forms of distracting behaviors can stray onto a highway traveling the wrong-way.

The best way for drivers to avoid the dangers associated with wrong-way driving is to remain vigilant and always aware of their surroundings. A simple trick drivers can use to verify they are traveling in the right direction is to take notice of the location of the solid yellow line that appears on most highways. The yellow line painted on the pavement should always be on the driver’s left side.

Victims suffering serious injuries in a collision with a wrong-way driver, or the families of victims killed in wrong-way driving accidents, need a knowledgeable Minot car accident attorney on their side. Our attorneys have more than 50 years of combined experience helping victims and families obtain maximum compensation from negligent drivers. Call the Larson Law Firm, P.C. today at 701-484-4878 to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. Or, contact us online.