What’s Being Done to Reduce Wrong-Way Accidents in Florida?
Sadly, wrong-way collisions often end up in head-on impacts, which generally results in serious injuries and fatalities. Although it is up to a driver to pay attention to the road and drive in the correct direction, traffic officials can take part in helping to minimize wrong way crashes.
Because there is a wrong-way driving epidemic in Florida—as wrong-way accidents killed 12 people just in Tampa Bay alone last year—the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is discussing what they can do to help minimize wrong-way accidents.
What Is FDOT Doing to Reduce Wrong-Way Collisions?
In a recent Safety Summit, transportation experts talked about the concern over wrong-way drivers and discussed what can be done to help prevent drivers from driving the wrong direction. The outcome? FDOT is planning on rolling out new technology that will alert drivers they are driving in the wrong direction.
The new technology is currently being tested out on the Florida Turnpike. Here’s how it works:
- It’s a sign that can detect wrong-way movement
- The technology can detect this movement before a driver even reaches the sign
- The LED sign will light up and flash to notify the driver of the wrong-way movement
- If the car goes past the sign, an alert message will be sent to the traffic center
The hope is that using more dynamic signs will help reduce wrong-way accidents in Florida.
According to research from the University of Michigan and Brigham Young University, people react better to warning signs that have a great amount of movement. As a result, there is a need for more dynamic signs that can better grab a driver’s attention. When road signs show more action, it may help to reduce accident-related injuries and fatalities.
Although FDOT is on the right track and using more dynamic signage is a great start to minimizing wrong-way crashes, there will still be people who drive impaired and drive in the wrong direction. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed as a result of a wrong-way driver, contact a trusted accident attorney in South Florida. You can reach the Law Offices of David Benenfeld at 866-9 HELP NOW or 866-943-5766 to learn about your rights in a free consultation today.
