Practice Intersection Safety

I often blog about the danger of intersections and a story from Memphis TV station WMCTV brings this problem into clear focus. According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2005 alone, nearly 9,200 people died and approximately one million people were injured in intersection-related crashes-approximately 40-45 percent of all collisions. The studies report that the two main causes of collisions at intersections is red light running (RLR) and speeding through the intersection.

The intersection crash in Memphis this past week occurred on a rainy morning as an ambulance was making a non-emergency run, and as it entered the intersection of Winchester and Brooks Road a pick-up truck traveling at a high rate of speed smashed into it and sent it skidding over a hundred feet and caused it the roll over. Fortunately, for all involved, the patient, two paramedics and the driver of the pick-up truck not seriously injured.

An intersection is a planned point of conflict in the roadway system. With different crossing and entering movements by both drivers and pedestrians, an intersection is one of the most complex traffic situations that motorists encounter. Dangers are compounded when we add the element of speeding motorists who disregard traffic controls.

In an effort to address this problem in Memphis the leadership has instituted a program of digital camera enforcement of certain intersections with identifiable problems. Red light running (RLR) is a dangerous form of aggressive driving. Based on self-reported behavioral surveys, RLR is a result of people wanting to save time. However, several factors can lead to RLR such as impatient and inattentive drivers, improperly timed traffic signals, lack of enforcement efforts and the attitude that no harm will come from running a red light.

The jury is still out on whether or not the use of this technology gives a good return on investment. Recent studies show the following results:

*25% decrease of total right-angle crashes

*16% decrease of injury right-angle crashes

*15% increase of total rear-end crashes

*24% increase of injury rear-end crashes

The increase in rear-end collisions is problematical for the authorities and the increase in injury related rear-end collisions can be addressed in time, as drivers become used to the camera systems and learn to keep from following too close as they enter intersections. These issues can and should be addressed with education and public service announcements.

If you or a loved one is injured in a Nashville intersection collision contact the experienced Nashville automobile accident attorney’s at Phillip Miller & Associates and find out about your rights and remedies

As an experienced Tennessee car accident attorney I am sometimes left wondering how certain drivers passed their drivers license tests. I have taught my two year-old nephew to watch the traffic signals and he can tell when a light is red and when a light is green. Whenever we are together he watches like a hawk and tells me just when to stop and when to go. This isn’t rocket science but some Nashville drivers, more than you would think, can’t seem to get it right.

A case in point; Nashville ABC TV affiliate station News2 reported an incident today in which the intersection light was blinking red for one direction and yellow for another. A Nashville Metro Police Officer was driving along into a blinking yellow light. As he entered the intersection another vehicle simply ignored the blinking red light and T-Boned the police car trapping the officer inside. He had to be cut out of the vehicle. The police officer got a trip to the hospital and the red light runner got a citation for failure to yield.

This driver’s odyssey through the system is just beginning. The citation will cost somewhere around a thousand dollars and either his insurance will be canceled or his premiums will shoot through the roof. Then come the lawsuits, Metro will seek compensation for a totaled patrol car and the officer will then seek damages for his injuries. All of this grief follows because the guy didn’t stop at a blinking red light.

In 2008, there were 37,261 fatalities on our Nation’s roadways. Of these, 7,772 (20.8% of total fatalities) were intersection or intersection related. An intersection is a planned point of conflict in the roadway system. With different crossing and entering movements by both drivers and pedestrians, an intersection is one of the most complex traffic situations that motorists encounter. Dangers are compounded when we add the element of speeding motorists who disregard traffic controls. Despite improved intersection design and more sophisticated applications of traffic engineering measures, the annual toll of human loss due to motor vehicle crashes has not substantially changed in more than 25 years.

In Tennessee the traffic signal law is very clear. When the light is flashing red you must come to a complete stop, the same as a stop sign, look both ways, yield to traffic and pedestrians and proceed when it is safe to do so. When you come to a yellow light slow down and proceed with caution through the intersection.

If you or a loved on is injured by a driver who runs a red light call our experienced Nashville car accident attorneys

Red Light Means Stop

and find out about your rights and rememdies.