Extra Attention Needed When Driving in Construction Zones on Highways
On behalf of Brown & Crouppen, P.C. posted in Motor Vehicle Accident on Saturday, November 3, 2012
Road construction adds one more dangerous element to the urban interstate highway system that is already home to a vast number of hazards.
From drivers on cell phones who are not paying attention, to lost drivers from out of town, who suddenly change lanes or veer suddenly to make an exit, St. Louis’s urban interstates are a high-risk environment for motor vehicle accidents.
KMOV.com reports that the warning signs that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot) uses to alert drivers of road conditions may be giving drivers the wrong information.
Drivers complained that exit ramps on I-64 for 14th, 10th and 6th streets were often closed when the message signs indicated they were open. While this may be of little consequence when traffic is light, when the road is crowded and a driver is planning to exit, they may be flustered and behave in a manner other drivers may not expect.
Because most people drive so frequently, it is easy to pay less attention, and be lulled into a trance by the familiarity of driving the same section of road every day. The process, known as “habituation” means we do not react to similar stimulus as quickly as the first time we experience it.
And not reacting to stimulus, when it potentially consists of lane changes and vehicles cutting in front of your vehicle, when you are moving at 80 to 100 feet per second, can be a very dangerous thing.
Car crashes can happen at any time on any highway. If you have been involved in a crash, no matter how it happened, you want to speak with an experienced attorney, who can help obtain compensation for your injuries.
Source: KMOV.com, “MoDOT signs pointing drivers to wrong exits on I-64,” Jasmine Huda, November 1, 2012