Wrong-way interstate highway collisions for December 29, 2010

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12/29/2010
Steve Lombardi
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Wrong-way interstate highway collisions for December 29, 2010

Once again we bring you the recent news stories about wrong-way accidents and events on the U.S. Interstate Highways from all across America. See the bottom of this blog post for our recommendations as to how to recognize and to avoid a wrong-way driver and also how to avoid being a wrong-way driver. These are usually head-on collisions at a high rate of speed and prove many times to be deadly. Call with questions. 2010 Year in Review: Amid Deadly Drama, There Are Signs of Good News Noozhawk Wrong-Way Driver Sentenced in Fatal Crash: In June, 21-year-old Richard Rodriguez was sentenced to 13 years in prison for the wrong-way Highway 101 crash ... See all stories on this topic » Noozhawk Wrong Way Driver Arrested After Head-On Crash - Elusive's ... Wrong Way Driver Arrested After Head-On Crash. According to authorities a 30 year old Hollywood man identified as Ezekial Rodriguez allegedly drove the wrong way in the southbound lanes of the San Fernando Road underpass early Sunday ... Elusive's Posterous About Stuff I Like - http://elusive.posterous.com/ Christmas Drug Bust Valley News Live Officers at first spotted a car driving the wrong way on a one-way street. When they pulled the driver over, they found one and a half pounds of marijuana ... See all stories on this topic » Alcohol initiative gets OK for ballot | AZ Articles By AZ Tacoma: 4 kids of cancer doctor OK after crash with wrong-way driver on SR 16. Five people were injured early Christmas morning in a head-on crash involving a suspected DUI driver in a BMW headed the wrong way on state Route 16 in ... AZ Articles - http://www.azarticles.net/ Wrong Way Driver Causes Head On Crash On Hwy. 16 - KCPQ Suspected DUI Driver Sends Five People, Including Himself To The Hospital After Head On Crash. www.q13fox.com/.../kcpq-wrong-way-driver-causes-head-o-1... Wrong-way driver crashes head-on into car, arrested on DUI charge Los Angeles Times A alleged drunk driver was later apprehended by police at Victory and Burbank boulevards. (Ross A. Benson / Special to Times Community News) Comments are ... See all stories on this topic » Wrong-way semi on I-70 slams into car head-on Denver Post The driver of the car was airlifted to a hospital in Denver, and two passengers, including a child, were rushed to a hospital in Hugo by ambulance, ... See all stories on this topic » Alleged drunken driver crashes into 5 parked vehicles Citizens Voice He then crossed North Main Street and continued the wrong way down West Chestnut Street, which is posted as a one-way road, police said. ... See all stories on this topic » 3 injured in wrong-way semi crash in Elbert Co. kwgn.com The driver of the vehicle hit by the semi was airlifted to an unknown hospital. An adult passenger and child were taken to Hugo hospital. See all stories on this topic »

Category: Wrong-way Interstate and Highway Collisions in Iowa

Labels: attorney collisions highway I235 I35 I380 I80 Interstate iowa law legal commentary safety wrong-way

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.