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Pedestrian and Bicyclist Injury Prevention
Walking and biking to get from point A to point B has
long been a popular, healthy alternative to transportation
for commuters in the state of Illinois and across the
globe, but a plethora of
pedestrian accidents
and bicyclist incidents create the need for ongoing
accident prevention efforts. It is estimated by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
that there are around 127 million walking trips and nine
million bicycle trips made every day in the United States
alone, placing an astounding number of commuters at risk
each day.
Designs Aimed to Increase Safety
As a response to the overwhelming need for increased safety measures, engineers and designers have worked together in the past and continue to team up in order to share ideas and find ways to improve road infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. The development of special technologies and the use of innovative highway designs have allowed us to create more efficient, safer avenues of transportation for those choosing to commute by walking or biking.
Studies: Most Dangerous Times to Drive
The sheer volume of
car accidents
that take place due to distracted and intoxicated driving
incidents is astounding, but studies reveal other factors
that contribute greatly to overwhelming crash statistics,
such as certain times of the day. For example, experts
have revealed that traveling during specific times of day
or during certain window periods tends to increase our
chances of collision, as those times tend to represent
peak accident incidences.
High Risk Driving Time Trends
So, what times of day are considered the most dangerous times to drive, and what does that mean for our daily transportation routines? Should we attempt to work around these peak collision times to avoid accident and injury, or does prevention simply begin with good driving habits from the get-go? Forbes reported findings from a combination of sources, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and AAA’s Foundation for Traffic Safety, as well as Berkeley’s Traffic Safety Center from the University of California. Together, these studies uncovered the following:
Yellow Light Signals and Intersection Safety
With the abundance of
car accidents
that take place at intersections across the state of
Illinois and all throughout the nation, it is no wonder
experts have been compelled to take a closer look at
traffic signal efficiency. While countless other factors
contribute to the overwhelming number of collisions at
intersections, such as distracted driving, speeding, and
influenced driving, studies have shown that traffic
signals often play a big role in the moments leading up to
intersection-related accidents.
The Red Light Risk
One issue in particular that has prompted an ongoing, controversial debate among authorities and experts alike is the issue of red-light running. Many drivers take the risk of sailing through red lights at the very last minute, placing everyone in close proximity of the intersection in great danger. Red light camera installation has been a widespread response to this problem over the years, using the enforcement of traffic violations via camera to discourage the running of red lights.
Winter Weather Driving Safety
All across the nation, drivers must brace themselves for
snow and icy weather conditions when the winter season
rolls around. Similar to driving in rain, fog, or other
conditions that limit visibility and create hazardous
situations, driving in winter weather can significantly
increase your chances of experiencing a
car accident. Thankfully, there are a number of actions you can take
to prevent a collision when snow season strikes. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
suggests every driver take the following precautions
before venturing out onto the highways when winter weather
conditions are present:
1. Schedule your car for maintenance.
Accident prevention begins with the start of the winter season. Before snow begins to fall and icy weather begins to pick up, schedule your car for complete service and have a proper tune-up. Ensure your windshield wipers, tires, and brakes are in good working order, and have anything else repaired that needs attention. Breaking down is never fun, but it is especially dangerous when driving on ice or in snow.
Traffic Signs that Drivers Should Never Ignore
All roadway signage exists for a reason: To direct and
protect us as we navigate the highway, ultimately
preventing
car accident
and injury. Certain roadway signs are especially
important, however, as some are more prevalent than
others. We may see them multiple times a day throughout
the course of our commute, at multiple locations. Usually
stationed at busy intersections, these are sadly the signs
that are most often disobeyed or disregarded entirely,
causing a surplus of collisions that could have easily
been prevented.
Stop and All-Way Stop
Running stop signs is one of the most common causes of pedestrian and vehicle accidents on our roadways. Regular stop signs require you to come to a full stop and to yield to the right of way to pedestrians and other oncoming traffic. All-way stops must be obeyed in the same way, but they indicate that there are four stop signs at the same intersection. This means all traffic must stop and that each driver must take turns. The first driver to stop should be the first driver to go when approaching this type of intersection.
Who Is at Risk for Drowsy Driving?
There are a number of causes for drowsy driving, making
the problem a widespread danger all across the nation.
Everything from
driver fatigue
and drug or alcohol intoxication are common factors that
lead to drowsy driving, which all too often results in car
accidents, injury, and even death. The problem is so
prevalent that the National Sleep Foundation has named the
first week of November each year “Drowsy Driving
Prevention Week” with goals to raise awareness and
hopefully reduce the number of sleep-related collisions
around the country.
Who Are the Drowsy Drivers on Our Roadways?
No one is immune from the danger of driving while tired; all it takes to cause a collision due to sleepiness is the simple decision to get behind the wheel when tired and fatigued. While everyone is capable of causing a sleep-related accident, there are certain drivers more at risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The following drivers have a greater chance of driving while drowsy:
Filing a Car Crash Insurance Claim
There is no getting around the headache that accompanies
the insurance claim process following an
auto accident. The moment you are in a collision, you are faced with a
number of challenges, especially if any kind of injury was
incurred due to the crash. Add potential passenger injury
to the list of concerns, and you have your work cut out
for you. If your passenger experienced injury alongside
you, the situation instantly turns messier, further
complicating the insurance claim process.
Choosing a First-Party or a Third-Party Claim
As tricky as the claim process can be after an accident, it is crucial to follow through with the help of proper legal assistance to ensure your rights are protected in the aftermath. In the state of Illinois, the law requires drivers to carry bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. This coverage is intended to help pay for any damages they cause in an accident. A first-party claim means you are filing with your own insurance company (assuming you have the proper coverage), while a third-party claim means you are filing with the other driver’s insurance company. You have the option to choose the type of claim you will pursue, but be aware that insurance laws can differ, depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Pedestrian Crosswalk Dangers
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC)
reported that since 2013, nearly 5,000
pedestrians
were killed due to car accidents in the United States
alone, and more than 150,000 were treated in the ER due to
crash-related injuries. Older adult and children
pedestrians are at most at risk of injury and fatality and
accounted for the largest portion of these reported
statistics.
Crosswalk Markings Make a Difference
Although pedestrian accidents happen on all kinds of roadways, intersection crosswalks are particularly dangerous, posing the biggest threats to those commuting by foot. One study that found that a significant number of drivers tend to ignore crosswalk protection laws. When other safety features are present, however, such as stone or brick crosswalks or in-road “stop for pedestrians” signs, the same study found that 61 percent of drivers did stop for pedestrians. This observational survey was conducted at 52 separate locations, scattered through the Chicago area and its surrounding suburbs.
Law Enforcement Efforts to Reduce Car Accidents
Drivers and pedestrians are susceptible to
car accident
and injury on our Illinois roadways on a daily basis, for a
variety of reasons. Certain factors, like weather
conditions, are simply out of our control and may affect the
safety of a roadway at any given time. Other factors that
are within our control, such as distracted driving behaviors
or roadway design and development, also have the power to
shape the overall safety of the highways on which we travel.
Illinois Department of Transportation Law Enforcement
Efforts
While we may not have the ability to prevent every single
collision or resulting injury, the Illinois Department of
Transportation believes we can make efforts to seriously
reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our
roadways. A number of state and federal sources work with
the IODT to help fund these traffic law enforcement efforts.
Here are three enforcement efforts that exist to protect all
Illinois drivers and pedestrians:
Photo Speed and Red Light Running Automated Enforcement
Speeding Dangers on Illinois Tollways
The Illinois State Police report an overwhelming number
of alarming statistics regarding speeding and its impact
on
car accidents
and injury throughout the state, drawing our attention to
the ongoing need to reduce speeding behaviors on our
roadways. According to their statistics, approximately 32
percent of all fatal crashes are speed-related, and the
number of vehicles operating at 65 mph or higher has
increased over time, which has resulted in higher crash
impact incidents and a significant increase in fatalities.
Tollway Speed Study Findings
Speeding is especially problematic on our Illinois tollways. A surplus of vehicle traffic operating at such a fast pace, particularly during rush-hour times, creates a prime opportunity for collision and injury. Still, many drivers choose to drive over the limit in an effort to get to where they need to be. The Chicago Tribune revealed a tollway report that found that only one in 20 people obey a 55 mph speed limit on tollways. Even worse is the finding that the average driver speed on tollways floats in the mid to high seventies.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.
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