Interstate Highway Driving Is Different
Dangers of Interstate Driving
Traffic on interstates usually moves more safely and efficiently because access is controlled. There are no stop signs, no railroad crossings and no traffic lights. Interstates usually have few steep hills or sharp curves to limit the view of the road ahead. Limited access or controlled access means that drivers enter or leave the roadway only at entrances and exits, called interchanges, without ever crossing the path of other traffic. Interstates and divided highways have largely removed the chance of head-on collisions. Interstate driving requires good skills and habits so you can safely get where you are going. Safe use of the interstates demands a complete awareness of a higher speed type of driving and constant alertness by the driver.
A recent article on the web site of Chattanooga TV station WRBC recounts a horrible accident on I-75 that caused the death of a 24-year-old man. According to the article the man was driving North on I-75 when for some unexplained reason he hit a guard rail. We are not aware of the circumstances that caused him to hit the guardrail, whether he had a medical emergency, was under the influence or was distracted by something inside his vehicle, all of which cause what are known as RORs (Run Off Road) accidents. Fortunately the collision with the guardrail did not force his vehicle to rollover or careen back into the traffic. He stopped his vehicle to inspect it for damage and as he walked around to the highway side he stepped into on-coming traffic and was hit by a tractor-trailer and then thrown into the path of two other vehicles.
According to the Tennessee Rules of the Road, if you have vehicle trouble on an Interstate Highway, move to the right shoulder or emergency stopping area as soon as you can. Turn on your emergency flashers to warn other traffic. If you need help, raise your hood and tie a white cloth to the hood or radio antenna. If possible, it is better to stay in or near your vehicle on the side away from traffic. Walking along the interstate is dangerous. Keep children away from traffic.
If you stay with your vehicle, a police patrol will stop to help you when they drive by, if they are not on another call. If you are within one of the major metropolitan areas of Tennessee (Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga or Knoxville), you may also receive assistance from one of the yellow Tennessee Department of Transportation Incident Response Units (HELP Truck). HELP operators have the authority to “remove or cause to be removed” any vehicle that is an “obstruction or hazard to traffic”. HELP operators are trained to deal with incident scenes. You should follow their instructions just as you would those of other police or traffic control personnel. During this dangerous event you should never put yourself into or near the lane of oncoming traffic.
If you or a loved on is injured or killed in an automobile accident on a Tennessee Interstate Highway you owe it to your family to contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and take advantage of a free consultation to find out about your rights and remedies.
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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