One of the most terrifying sights a motorist can witness is a car or truck heading straight into their direction. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), each year, roughly 400 people die from wrong-way drivers. Wrong-way driving can occur in either one or two-way roads, parking lots, parking garages, and highways.
The cause of wrong-way driving can be many, and may be due to driver impairment (under the influence of drugs or alcohol or sleep deprivation), inattention, and confusing or insufficient road signage or marking. According to reporting done by ABC News, 22% of wrong-way crashes are fatal. Here are a few tips you can follow that could help keep you safe if you’re in the trajectory of a wrong-way driver:
Always look ahead. Usually people don’t look further than a couple hundred feet in front of them. In lighter traffic, you can easily look ahead a quarter of a mile, which can allow you to see any approaching danger and give you enough time to react.
Make your intentions known. If you have time, use your lights to signal to the wrong-way driver or use your horn. Lack of mental alertness or inexperience is sometimes the cause of these situations and alerting the driver could help.
Swerve to the right side. When you are avoiding a wrong-way driver, it’s always best to swerve to the right. Many wrong-way drivers hop on freeways and immediately head all the way to the right side or the fast lane because they believe it’s the slow lane.
Buckle-up and look out for others. Since the majority of wrong-way crashes are sideswipes and head on collisions, it’s important that you wear a seatbelt. As soon as you avoid the wrong-way driver, pull over and call 911. Be prepared to give the dispatcher the description of the vehicle, license plate number, and its direction of travel.
Know when you’re on the wrong side. If you see red reflectors, you are on the wrong side of the road and need to turn around immediately.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor, Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join the conversation by using #MCAA.
