Driver Inattention + Roadway Departure Crashes = Death
Distracted Drivers
Whenever you see an accident, usually involving one car that leaves the road, an experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney starts thinking about driver distractions. Just what was the driver doing moments before the crash that caused his/her vehicle to go off the highway? What caused the driver to change focus from driving to other things?
I’ve noticed several accidents like this in East Tennessee this past week and I thought I might use them as examples to my readers of why it is so important to keep your focus on your driving and ignore distractions.
Item One – A man and his 7-month old baby were injured when their SUV left the road and rolled over;
Item Two – A Lenoir man was driving along I-75 when he lost control of his car and ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a tree killing one of his passengers and injuring himself and his teenage daughter. None of the people were wearing a seat belt.
Item Three – In Chattanooga a mother and her child were driving on a County roadway when their car left the road and struck a railroad crossing sign, trapping the occupants in the vehicle.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes. Nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness.
As an experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney we know that these crashes are referred to as “Roadway Departure Crashes” (RDCs). The Federal Highway Administration defines a RDC as a non-intersection crash that occurs when a vehicle crosses an edge line or a centerline, or otherwise leaves the traveled way.
According to the Federal Highway Administration roadway departure crashes are frequently severe and account for the majority of highway fatalities. In 2008, there were 19,794 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 22,080 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal crashes in the United States. FHWA uses the Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to compute statistics on roadway departure crashes.
Who Is Responsible for Roadway Safety?
Everyone. We all are responsible for driving, walking, and biking safely on our Nation’s roads. The engineers and planners have the responsibility to make sure that roads are designed and operating properly — with safety for all road users in mind. Drivers and pedestrians have the responsibility to always be alert and obey the traffic rules. Passengers should always buckle up and act responsibly. The police and the courts have the responsibility to make sure that the traffic and pedestrian laws are enforced. Public safety agencies have the responsibility of responding to and securing crash locations and enforcing traffic laws. Local communities and county and state governments need to allocate funding for safe roads and increase public awareness about road safety. Everyone should take responsibility for roadway safety.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a Tennessee automobile accident by a distracted driver contact the experienced Tennessee automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and firnd out about your rights and remedies. There is no cost to you or your family for a consultation.
Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.
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