Wrong Way Drivers
Florida has a catchy saying, “Stay Right at Night” that is meant to prevent crashes with wrong way drivers. Wrong way crashes are more likely to occur at night, dusk, or dawn and staying to the right could allow a driver to avoid being hit by a car that swerves from their lane of traffic over the center yellow lines. While wrong way driving is not a frequent problem on the roads, the outcome of a wrong way crash is often tragic.
How Do Drivers End Up Going The Wrong Way?
- Distracted drivers – Drivers who are looking down at their phone or are otherwise distracted are likely to miss key signage that might indicate one-way traffic. They are also likely to swerve lanes and accidentally cross the double yellow lines into oncoming vehicles.
- Drowsy drivers – If a driver falls asleep they will stop controlling the steering wheel and could swerve either into oncoming traffic, or into the lane next to them, causing a multiple vehicle crash with vehicles traveling the other direction.
- Drunk drivers – Drunk drivers have trouble following directions, staying a straight line, and maintaining safe speeds. All of these factors can contribute to a driver taking the wrong way down a one-way street or simply drifting into opposing traffic.
- Misreading street signs – According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the majority of wrong way driving crashes occur when a driver accidentally attempts to enter a freeway from an exit ramp. With phones that provide directions and navigation apps installed in cars, a driver may trust what the directions are instructing them to do without looking at the road to see if the directions make sense.
- Impatient/aggressive drivers – Drivers who are impatient may choose to cross the double yellow line to pass another driver, which puts them at risk of causing a crash with oncoming traffic.
- Sick drivers – If a driver has a seizure, faints, or is emotionally impaired they are not able to control the vehicle and could cause a wrong way collision.
Why Wrong Way Collisions Are So Dangerous
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, 81 percent of all wrong way crash fatalities are caused by head-on collisions. Head-on collisions are incredibly dangerous because both cars are going in opposite directions at the time of the impact, so the force of the crash is equivalent to both cars’ combined speeds. Those who survive such crashes are likely to experience whiplash, head trauma, broken bones, lacerations, internal bleeding, or other medical emergencies.
Contact an Orlando Auto Accident Attorney Today
Wrong way collisions often result in severe injuries if not wrongful death. If you or a loved one has been hit by a driver going the wrong way, seeking compensation will help you financially recover from the trauma. An Orlando car accident attorney can help you begin the legal process and collect all of the documentation needed to file a personal injury claim. Call 407-307-2979 to a free consultation with a skilled attorney at Payer Law today.
Resource:
flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/wrong-way-driving/
fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/research/reports/statewide-wrong-way-crash-study.pdf?sfvrsn=e905dafb_2
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