Connecting cities all over the country, its no secret that the public highway system is a boon to our countries’ economy and overall well-being. However, nothing comes without a price. Tragically, the high speeds of our freeways take thousands of innocent lives every single year.
In 2015 alone, a confirmed 1,057 lives were lost on Ohio freeways – a significant rise from previous years.
With America’s interstate highway system becoming increasingly dangerous by the day, it is more important than ever before to recognize, and avert, the dangers associated with high-speed driving
High Risk, High Reward
Highways offer a tantalizing combination of attractive options for drivers. They give drivers the fastest route to reach their destination all while avoiding the annoyances of stop signs and traffic signals. Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold. Due to the high speeds of the highways, a freeway collision is almost always more damaging than a regular street crash.
Moreover, the very nature of the freeways means that existential threats – like the presence of multiple lanes – are a real issue. To make matters worse, their tendency to become overcrowded during rush hour makes the costs of distracted driving even greater. If you aren’t aware at all times, the potential for a high-speed collision exponentially increases.
While hitting pedestrians isn’t usually a concern, that doesn’t necessarily mean that reckless driving is suddenly more permissible. Motorcyclists, who are among the most vulnerable drivers, litter the freeway system, making prudent driving as important as ever.
How to Stay Safe on the Freeways
While highway driving is rightfully terrifying at times, there are numerous measures that drivers can take to prevent getting into accidents:
- Check your vehicle. From trivial things like making sure you have enough gas to identifying larger problems with your car, making sure that your vehicle is in top shape is vital before getting on the freeway. Even a small problem becomes a big deal when you’re driving at high speeds.
- Keep your eyes on the road. The effects of distracted driving are extremely pronounced on the highway where even a normally inconsequential action can result in an accident.
- Adapt to the situation. Adjust your driving based on the circumstance at hand. Snow, ice, rain, and overall activity on the roads each have their own set of negative ramifications.
- Respect the law. Speeding is among the leading causes of freeway incidents. With most highways allowing you to exceed speeds of 60 miles per hour, there’s no reason to push it.
- Change lanes with caution. Always make sure that you have an appropriate amount of time and space before changing lanes. Be extra careful around semis and other large vehicles.
Following these tips will go along way in ensuring that freeway driving is both easy and efficient. Stay safe and happy driving! If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, contact my offices today for a free consultation.
As your Ohio car accident attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373
