The Dangers of Highway 70
I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville Personal Injury Attorney. No matter what kind of auto accident takes place, it is important to think about the causes that led to the accident and why they occur. For Highway 70, the recent accident that resulted in at least three fatalities is another statistic in a growing trend across the country.
The Statistics Regarding Passing on a Two-Lane Road
While drunk driving remains a serious issue, the statistics on passing on a two-lane road share a dark story. First, a two-lane road is defined as one lane on either side with moving traffic in opposite directions. Two-lane roads are significantly more common in rural areas than in urban and suburban ones. The United States Department of Transportation released information in 2010 showing that although few people live in rural areas, over half of the car accidents in the country took place in rural areas. It is reasonable to believe that this disconnect in statistics is due to the dangers of driving and passing on a two-lane road which can lead to a wrongful death.
Why is Passing on a Two-Lane Road Dangerous?
Among the frequently asked questions on car accidents includes why passing on a two-lane road is dangerous. Those who have been stuck behind a slow driver on a two-lane road understand the frustration of being unable to pass the car in front. This can spark road-rage accidents that can also lead to reckless driving accidents as people become impatient. Furthermore, on rural two-lane roads, many people think that the open road is a great place to push the car’s engine. This can lead to speeding accidents among other common varieties of motor vehicle accidents. The crux of the problem on a two-lane road is that people cannot see far enough ahead to pass with safety. While the dotted and dashed lines on the road can give some guidance, these are only appropriate for people who follow the speed limit, which few people do. This leads to car accidents, including some hit and run accidents which can lead to pedestrian injuries.
A Four-Lane Highway is Needed
Taking the specific case of Highway 70, this is not the first set of injuries caused by car accidents on this road. To find other tragedies, people do not need to look back very far. Just two months ago four other people were killed on Highway 70, including a young girl. These tragedies are senseless and must be addressed before more families lose their loved ones. A four-lane highway on Highway 70 is necessary due to the increased safety that is granted by the extra lanes, including:
Passing: People try to pass on a two-lane road when their line of sight is less than ideal. This can be fixed with a four-lane road because people do not have to worry about oncoming traffic.
Speed: Instead of speeding down a two-lane road, people will have more width and margin to drive at higher speeds. While speeding is never a good idea, it is safer when there is more road to work with.
Circumvent Road Defects: On a two-lane road, people often have to swerve into the other lane to avoid problems such as potholes, poor maintenance, or other conditions, leading to an increased chance of severe accidents. If the highway is four lanes, people can circumvent road defects more easily.
If people are truly serious about cutting down on the accidents on Highway 70, particularly from passing on a two-lane road, then the road must be made into four lanes.
Oroville Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, an Oroville Personal Injury Attorney. Passing on a two-lane road is a dangerous affair. Anyone who has been injured in a car accident or has lost a loved one in a tragic accident can contact me at (530) 392-9400 for friendly, free advice. My practice also has a toll-free line available at (800) 404-5400.
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Image Credit: By Eugene Kim from San Francisco, USA (Highway 160) via Wikimedia Commons
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