How Road Design and Poor Maintenance Can Contribute to Car Accidents

People often focus on driver behavior after a car accident. However, poorly designed roads and inadequate road maintenance are two factors that are often overlooked.

If you’re involved in a car accident due to these factors, it is important to react quickly. Hire the best car accident lawyer to protect your rights. A professional lawyer can provide the legal advice and guidance you need to get justice.

In this article, we’ll explore how road design and poor maintenance contribute to car accidents.

The Impact of Road Design on Car Accidents

Road designs greatly impact the driver’s behavior and vehicle condition. They also influence the number of car accidents in a specific area.

Poor road designs without proper visibility and traffic flow consideration increase the likelihood of accidents. However, motorists aren’t the only ones affected by these accidents.

They can hit pedestrians and cyclists on the road and cause serious fatalities. The U.S. Department of Transportation recorded that 42,939 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021. Of the previously mentioned number, 7,388 fatalities were pedestrians.

Here are some design flaws that can contribute to road accidents.

Narrow lanes: Drivers need to maintain one lane to avoid collisions. However, narrow roads can make it difficult for trucks and SUVs to stay within their lane. This can lead to head-on collisions and side swipes.
Lack of pedestrian crossings: Pedestrians are just as important as motorists on the road. However, poorly designed roads don’t have crosswalks for pedestrians. This can lead to accidents affecting people trying to cross busy streets.
Sharp curves without warning: Warning signs help drivers make better judgment. But dangerous curves without proper warning signs often cause drivers to misjudge their speed. This can result in fatal accidents, especially when there is low visibility due to bad weather.
Poor signage: Unclear or inadequate road signs can confuse drivers and cause accidents. This is especially common on the highway or at intersections where dangerous maneuvers can result in fatal accidents.
Improper drainage: Poor drainage can result in water accumulating on the road, which can cause hydroplaning. When this happens, there is an increased likelihood of a crash.

How Poor Maintenance Contributes to Road Accidents

Roads designed with safety in mind can quickly become dangerous without proper maintenance. Let’s look at some maintenance problems that contribute to road accidents:

Potholes: Potholes are a major problem because of the damage they cause. The American Automobile Association (AAA) revealed it costs over $15 billion to repair vehicles from pothole damages. Potholes can also make drivers lose control, which might cause accidents.
Debris on the road: Rocks, leftover tires, or fallen tree branches can force drivers to make sudden, dangerous movements. This action can result in crashes that may cause serious injuries.
Broken Traffic Lights: Traffic signals help drivers navigate at various intersections. However, poorly maintained traffic lights can create confusion that may result in accidents.
Faded lane markings: Visibility is important for drivers, especially on busy roads. However, unclear lane markings may cause drivers to make mistakes that lead to collisions. This is especially possible at night or during poor weather conditions with low visibility.
Unrepaired guardrails: Without guardrails, vehicles are at risk of getting into an accident. Damaged or missing guardrails are especially dangerous on bridgesdangerous on bridges or steep drops.

What Next?

It is important for the concerned authorities to make sure that the roads are in top condition. The failure to do so often leads to accidents.

As a motorist, it is your responsibility to report any issue as soon as possible. Timely reporting of issues is essential to reduce the chance of accidents on our roads.

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