The Verdict

General

• Webster County Crash Raises Questions about Driver's Distractions
• In my opinion, it's a failure to maintain control accident.
• Failing to slow down and running into front car is per se NEGLIGENCE!

view all

Client Toolbox

General

• Condominium Disputes Over Capital Expenses
• USCG Float Plan for Boaters
• Iowa State Fair 2009 Photography Competition

For good advice see a lawyer and if you have questions about this blog, the law or your case write or call me directly. Steve Lombardi, sdlombardi@aol.com and 515-222-1110. I handle all types of personal injury cases including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers' compensation cases. We help truckers all across the country who come through Iowa and end up in an accident. If we need other lawyers from other states we hire them and it costs you no more than what you would pay us; in other words, we split the fee between us. So call 515-222-1110 or email us at sdlombardi@aol.com. 

Blog Category: All CategoriesShortcuts on how to use this websiteCar-Truck-Cycle Damage Q&A'sWorkers' CompensationLife on CampusI-35 I-80 I-235 I-380 Collisions/AccidentsWrong-way Interstate and Highway Collisions in IowaPedestrian Collisions Causing Injury and DeathCar and Tractor Trailer AccidentsLarge Damage, Major-Serious Injury and Death CasesFire, Gas, Explosions and ElectrocutionsCheerleading Safety and the Law of CheerleadingWork-Comp For Doctors!Groundskeeper and Maintenance WorkersWhat do you do when you've experienced a wrong-site, wrong-patient or wrong-procedure surgical error?ATV, Bike & Motorcycle AccidentsConstruction Site AccidentsInjury - Property Defect-AnimalsBoating AccidentsDid you win big playing the Lottery?Adventure TravelWhistleblowers / Financially Ripped Off?Client Trial-Deposition PreparationDeforming Civil Rights through Tort ReformCivil damage lawsuits and criminal law deaths, OWI and drunk drivingCriminal Law Commentary - Todd MilerJobsWhisteblower ClaimsGeneral - Rants - Raves and HousekeepingMotorcycle AccidentsWorkplace InjuriesWrongful Death CasesNerve, Brain and Spinal Cord InjuriesBoating & Water Injuries and AccidentsCriminal Law & Injuries by Crime and CriminalsDefamation Including Libel and SlanderUnsafe ProductsProperty-Injury CasesTrial Practice - Mostly for lawyersTrial Practice - Mostly for non-lawyersGeneral

Wrong-way drivers are causing deaths in America’s interstate highway system all across the United States. Wrong-way collisions can have several causes and there are things we can do to educate ourselves from being involved in one. With two vehicles traveling towards one another at 70 mph death is almost certain.  So what can you do to avoid being in one?

For several months I’ve collected news items on wrong-way collisions and have analyzed where, when and how they occurred. There have been so many that I can only cover the month of July for 2009 and that is enough to provide us with 70 separate wrong-way collisions from hundreds of news stories.  From these news reported collisions that here are the general causes and how we can avoid being one of those who die from a wrong-way driver coming towards us at 50 to 70 mph.

About wrong-way drivers

Wrong way drivers present an obvious danger to all motorists on our highways. 

The most recent available crash statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates wrong way drivers are involved in 1.5 percent of all fatal crashes.

Drivers who travel the wrong way on one way highways generally fall into one of our different categories:

• Intoxicated driver
• Older drivers who easily get confused
• Purposeful acts including attempts to commit suicide and criminals attempting to elude the police
• Inattentive drivers who mistake an off-ramp for an on-ramp
• Mental defect or disease
• Prescription drug intoxication
• Inexperience
• GPS providing incorrect, inaccurate or confusing information

Safety tips and information related to wrong way driver situations:

• Watch far ahead for signs of a possible wrong way driver, looking for signs similar to pending problems or developing emergency situations such as other traffic braking or swerving to avoid something, or the obvious - headlights coming in the opposite direction.
• Caution against driving long periods in the left lane on freeways, especially on curves and over a hill or any rise in the road where you aren’t able to clearly see ahead.
• Be aware that wrong way drivers usually drive in the passing lane believing they are actually on a two-lane highway.
• The most common types of wrong way crashes are head-on or sideswipe crashes.

What should you do if you see a wrong-way driver?

·         Get to the shoulder and stop.

·         If you can’t get to the shoulder, slow down and attempt to safely stop your vehicle by pulling to the right.

·         Sound your horn.

·         Put on your lights and flash the high beams.

·         Call 9-1-1.

·         Before getting in the car wear your seat belts.

·         Drive in the right hand lane of travel on the Interstate.

·         When passing or coming to the crest of a hill look ahead for a wrong-way driver making sure the lane is clear.

·         Assume when in the left hand lane of a divided highway that you may come upon a wrong-way driver.

·         When driving on a divided highway stay vigilant and pay attention to what is ahead of you. Avoid allowing distractions to take your attention off the road ahead.

How can drivers avoid wrong-way driving?

·         Don’t drive drunk.

·         When coming to a divided highway come to a complete stop, look at and read the signs, making sure you know which way to go.

·         Don’t allow vehicles to the rear to rush you.

·         Stay off the telephone when driving.

·         Don’t allow distractions to interfere with being vigilant about your driving.

·         If you’re a young driver, don’t drive when the other passengers are a distraction.

·         If you’re an elderly driver, get evaluated once a year to see if your senses and skill level allow you to safely drive. Don’t be so stubborn about giving up your driver’s license that you ignore the signs of perception difficulties. Invest in and use a GPS.

 

Post a comment

Post a Comment to "Wrong-way drivers on Interstate Highways"

To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message."

Name:*

Email:* (will not be published)

Website:

Message:

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

For security purposes, please enter the graphic text in the box below: [hit F5 if you can not read the text]

Name *

Phone *

Email *

Tell us more *

Lombardi Law Firm
1300 37th Street, Suite 6
West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 515-222-1110
Toll Free: 800-383-0331
Get Directions