An intersection is where two roads or more meet. A conflict can occur as vehicles attempt to cross over, turn left, or turn right. Approximately 25% of automobile accidents and 50% of all injuries occur at intersections. Some major cities have a number of particularly dangerous intersections. To prevent accidents, drivers must be aware of the dangers of intersections.
Inadequate surveillance
A large percentage of accidents occurring at dangerous intersections are the result of inadequate surveillance. This is because drivers have to make split-second decisions about what other vehicles are doing. This can lead to incorrect actions and false assumptions. Fortunately, there are some ways to prevent these accidents. Follow these tips to reduce your risk of getting into a crash at dangerous intersections.
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The first step is to always check that other drivers are using their turn signals. A survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 44 percent of all collisions at intersections are the result of inadequate surveillance. Insufficient surveillance means that a driver did not look both ways before making a turn or failed to check for pedestrians before making their turn. It also means that the driver may have made a false assumption about another driver’s actions, and this could lead to an accident.
False assumption of other’s action
Drivers’ false assumptions are one of the main causes of accidents at dangerous intersections. These situations can be caused by inadequate surveillance, inattention, external distractions, or an illegal maneuver. In addition, drivers must make sure they know exactly what other drivers are doing, and the intersection’s conditions must be safe for them to safely maneuver.
The causes of crashes at dangerous intersections may vary from driver to driver. For example, a female driver may be driving unsafely because she has an internal distraction or was turning with an obstructed view. A male driver, on the other hand, may be driving too fast or aggressively or making a critical non-performance error.
Design of intersection
The design of intersections must be effective at preventing accidents and collisions. These accidents often happen because of poor visibility. This can be due to inadequate lighting, narrow sight lines, and physical obstructions. Other factors include poorly placed signage and trees. It is vital to consider how pedestrians and drivers will recognize the intersection before starting construction.
There are a number of resources available that will help cities make better intersections. One source is the National Association of City Transportation Officials. The NACTO has written resources that can help city officials make better decisions. The resources contain helpful terminology and illustrations of various solutions.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving at dangerous intersections is an alarming problem. One study found that three out of five drivers who were stopped at a red light were distracted, while nine out of ten who were delayed were distracted. Drivers who are distracted lose situational awareness and increase the risk of collisions, which can lead to serious injuries and fatalities.
Distracted drivers are especially dangerous at intersections, as they have to process a lot of information at the same time. When they are distracted, they are likely to make mistakes, like misjudging the speed of other drivers or failing to notice an obstruction in their view. They may also fail to notice cyclists, pedestrians, or other cars in the road. As a result, they increase their risk of a side-impact collision or head-on collision.
