Ten Highway Dangers that Cause Accidents

1.  Construction Zones

Construction zones top the list of highway dangers.  What’s worse than sailing along at highway speed, coming upon a construction zone and having to hit the brakes to slow down for the bottleneck of reduced lanes. Good drivers fall into line. But there are always those who take advantage and try to go around the traffic.

Worse are drivers too zoned out to react properly.

Failure to slow down despite posted construction zone warning signs on the New Jersey Turnpike was cited as one cause of the June 2014 crash that seriously injured comedian Tracy Morgan, and killed comedian James “Jimmy Mack” McNair. The National Transportation Safety Board also cited other factors including lack of adequate sleep on the part of the Wal-Mart Truck driver in the study of that accident released August 11, 2015.

2.  Rain & Wet Roadways

When it rains, many motor vehicle operators forget that rain makes the roads slippery. Especially when it hasn’t rained for a while. During dry spells vehicles drip and drop oil on the road. On dry surfaces, no problem. But when it rains, water on top of the oil creates slick conditions.

Drivers often fail to reduce speed and increase following distances in the rain. Rear end and other accidents are the result.

3.  Snow and Ice

Snow and ice also create hazardous conditions. As obvious as that sounds, more shocking is the fact that every year when the first snow falls people forget and accidents happen.

Other weather hazards include fog, sudden hail and bright sunlight low in the sky.

4.  Distracted Drivers

Much has been said about texting, talking on the cell phone and numerous other driver distractions. One 2014 study called driver distraction and inattention the leading contributing factor in crashes involving injuries. We’ve said much about this subject in other blog articles.

Many states have passed “hands free” laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving.

5.  Distractions in vehicle

With so much focus on texting and cell phones, other every day distractions deserve attention. Arguments in the car, kids, dogs, eating, changing the music and other distractions cause accidents. Would you want the pilot of your jetliner chomping away, looking down at a pile of French fries or shuffling around for the right tune while bringing the aircraft down for a landing? Why should drivers do this while operating two tons of metal that can kill in a split second of inattention.

6.  Accidents in Roadway

Accidents cause long backups and stop & go traffic. Approaching emergency vehicles attempting to reach the scene are often forced to weave in and out of inattentive drivers. Secondary accidents happen, causing even more highway dangers.

7.  Heavy Traffic, Stop & Go Traffic

City roads and interstates are choked beyond capacity. Failure to pay attention while traffic is in stop-and-go mode presents major dangers and causes accidents every day.

8.  Pedestrians

Pedestrians are not always in the crosswalk and they don’t always wait for the light. Major highway dangers occur with pedestrians in unexpected places like rural roadways and interstate highways. Joggers, bicyclists and others cause similar highway dangers.

In the three year period between 2010 and 2013 there was a 19% increase in the number of bicyclists killed in traffic accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Pedestrian deaths increased by 15 percent since 2009. The dangers are so bad that the Massachusetts Governor’s Highway Safety Association issued a report on August 10, 2015 recommending ways to improve pedestrian safety and listing dangerous pedestrian behaviors.

9.  Defects and Highway Dangers

Dangerous highway defects include potholes, large gaps in aging roadways, and aging defective metal “expansion joints” on bridge overpasses. The only thing more dangerous than actually driving into a huge hole in the road is swerving into another lane to avoid the hazard without looking.

10.  Drunk Driving, Impaired Driving

Highway dangers caused by drivers under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol are obvious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that almost 30 people die every day in the United States in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers. Loss of life and catastrophic injuries are the worst, but CDC also pegs the annual cost of alcohol related crashes at over $59 Billion.

The category of impaired driving includes drowsy driving. Drowsy driving by a Wal-Mart 18 wheeler was cited a major factor causing the Tracy Morgan Jersey Turnpike accident. Drowsy driving, a highly dangerous activity, is discussed in another blog article.

Those are the top ten highway dangers, not in any particular order. You hear about them in the news or elsewhere. But they are daily challenges facing every driver every inch along the road.

Information Sources:

Traffic Safety Facts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May, 2015.

Understanding & Addressing Pedestrian Safety, Massachusetts Governors Highway Safety Association, August 10, 2015.

Traffic Safety Facts, 2011 Data, NHTSA.

State of New Hampshire Strategic Action Plan, NH Highway Safety Agency, Fiscal Year 2014.

Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 15, 2015.

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