Wrong Way Accidents

Author: Sara Goldstein

Imagine the terror of driving down a highway and seeing another vehicle's headlights coming toward you. For an instant you wonder whether you or he is driving the wrong way. You've been told never to correct by pulling left on two-way roads because the offending vehicle might also correct and pull back into his "lane." But, on a divided highway or ramp is there room to pull to the right? Is there time?

And then it happens…you collide! "Wrong way accident" is the term used to describe driving the wrong way on one-way roadways, as compared to crossing the center line into oncoming traffic.

How Could This Happen?

Wrong way accidents happen and if you're not prepared to avoid one then you and your passengers could be seriously injured or killed. What makes drivers drive the wrong way, especially on clearly divided highways? Aside from the infrequent medical emergency, wrong way accidents have occurred because:

• The driver of the wrong-way vehicle is intoxicated on drugs, alcohol or both.
• The driver was distracted by:
• A cell phone call
• Texting
• Programming a GPS, Blackberry or other device
• Studying a map or otherwise finding directions
• Changing CDs
• Looking for something in his vehicle
• Reading
• Sight-seeing
• Multitasking
• The driver deliberately chose the oncoming lane to pass slow or stalled traffic in the correct lane (yeah, this really happens, folks.)
• Problems with road signage.
• Poor lighting.
• The driver was rushed.
• Driver inattentiveness.
• Driver fatigue, dozing at the wheel.
• Sadly, suicide attempts must be included.

How to Avoid Wrong Way Collisions

• Consider the rule of "Every Inch Off-Center." The more off-center a head-on impact is, less the damage and fewer injuries are likely to occur.
• Slow down as much as possible. If you collide, the impact will be less severe.
* If you must collide with something, try to find a bush or something that has some "give" upon impact.
• Pull as far to the right as possible. Use your turn signal to both draw attention and to communicate you intention.
• Flash your lights to alert the other driver of the danger of colliding.
• Scan the highway at least one-quarter mile down the road and continually assess the traffic patterns over that distance. This gives you much more time to react.
• Always have an exit strategy. Know where you can pull over.
• If you find yourself going the wrong way, stop your vehicle and turn it around when it is completely safe to do so.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-and-safety-articles/wrong-way-accidents-2971404.html

About the Author

If you need a Texas wrong way accident attorney, please visit the website of Gonzales & Gonzales, Austin's personal injury and accident lawyers.