I frequently write about the various offenses for which a traffic ticket can be issued and the consequences that follow from them. I do this because I want to help as many people as possible who receive traffic tickets so that they receive a fair result. I take that responsibility very seriously; after all, this is my job. However, I would also like to inform other Florida drivers about various issues that I come across, be it new traffic laws, changes in DUI and drug laws, or the causes and effects of driving behaviors.
There are countless driving behaviors that lead to traffic accidents. Most of these accidents do not end in injuries to the occupants of the vehicles involved. Unfortunately, a large number of these crashes result in injuries and deaths each year. We hear or read about them almost daily. All accidents are investigated by various law enforcement agencies, especially when a death occurs. Accidents that result in death are often attributed to speeding, driving under the influence or reckless driving.
However, there is one type of accident that we do not hear about very often, and those are accidents that occur as a result of driving the wrong way on a highway. A 2012 National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) report defines reverse driving as “… vehicular movement along a travel lane in a direction opposite the legal flow of traffic on divided highways. speed or access ramps “.
The reason we don’t hear about these types of car accidents as often as others is because, frankly, they don’t happen as often as some of these other types of accidents do. While that is statistically true, they only represent 3% of accidents, they are of particular concern because the fatality rate in reverse accidents is vastly higher than those found in other types of accidents. It is difficult to say for sure why these types of accidents are so much more deadly than many other types, but it is surely due to the fact that they are almost exclusively head-on or near-head-on collisions.
There is also a lot of conjecture about the real causes of accidents to the contrary. One area of concern is construction sites. No matter what work is being done on the roads, it is very easy to find changes in traffic patterns confusing. I know there have been times when I have not been sure of the right way to go until I approach the construction site. Changing traffic patterns can be confusing enough, but when traffic veers in a completely different direction and the correct way to go is unclear, it can be very confusing AND dangerous.
Another problem that can cause these horrible accidents can be that sometimes the access ramps are poorly marked. When this is combined with some of the strange access swaps I’ve seen, it should come as no surprise that a wandering driver thinks they know the direction they are traveling only to end in tragedy. Add other factors to the mix – like poor lighting, having to go under bridges to get to the correct ramp, and signs that aren’t always obvious – and you end up with a recipe for disaster.
Research on these types of accidents indicates that alcohol and / or drugs also feature prominently in reverse crashes. In a report published by the National Traffic Safety Board in 2012, its data showed that approximately 60% of those responsible for oncoming crashes were affected by alcohol or drugs, and between half and a quarter of they were caused by people who had a blood alcohol content. of 08 or higher.
The drugs involved do not necessarily mean illicit drugs, but they can be prescribed for various diseases. Even when medications are taken correctly, reactions can often vary from person to person. There is also consideration of how taking multiple medications affects the drivers, however there is little to no real data that can predict how an individual’s body may react to the combination of medications.
The 2012 report is not the first study the NTSB has conducted. In fact, they have been investigating the causes and effects of reverse crashes since 1968. In the most recent study, they obtained their data by analyzing information from 9 crashes that occurred in various states. Probably the most telling piece of information the report revealed was the small number of reverse accidents that occur, but the large number of deaths they represent.
Due to the severity of these accidents, the state of Florida is working to create a system to try to prevent these tragedies. Currently, there is a pilot program in the works at 15 locations, including the Homestead Extension of the Turnpike and the Sawgrass Expressway, that involves adding flashing lights so drivers know they are about to go in the wrong direction. This is phase one of what many hope will incorporate a 2 phase process. The second consideration is to install multiple pop-up posts along the lane that say “wrong way.” This is for the driver to realize that they are traveling in the wrong direction and to make the necessary corrections before someone is injured. So far, there have been positive comments about the program, as it has interceded 10 times when vehicles have tried to travel in the wrong direction.
Turnpike spokesman Chad Huff said: “I’d say the circumstantial evidence is pretty good that the system is having some effect on driving behavior.”
Although Florida ranks third in the country for deaths attributed to these horrendous accidents, it is not the first state to try to solve this problem. Rhode Island, New York, Virginia, and other states have already addressed this serious problem using similar systems or are considering addressing it by installing some type of alert system. A German automaker has even gone to great lengths to install warning systems on a couple of its car models. Each of these methods is different, but I have yet to see data evaluating their success or failure rate.
Unfortunately, when I was researching information for this article, I came across dozens of images of cars that had been involved in these types of accidents. Some were so horrible that they were virtually unrecognizable as vehicles, and there was little doubt that the accident resulted in the death of someone. The best hope of reducing this problem is by installing some kind of alert system that can be done inexpensively. Central Florida will install a system in five different locations at a cost of just $ 300,000. That cost is certainly a bargain when you consider how many lives it can save.
As a traffic ticket attorney, I focus on trying to help drivers who receive traffic tickets, but I would also like to help keep drivers safe. I hope the information in this article helps at least one reader avoid making this deadly mistake. However, if you have received a traffic ticket for any reason, please call me at 954-967-9888 for a free consultation. Our decades of experience can help you reduce or completely dismiss your traffic ticket.