Improving Intersection Safety for Pedestrians

It is no surprise that many automobile accidents take place at intersections. Drivers are attempting to determine who has right of way, are braking more frequently and sometimes more suddenly, and are generally executing turns in addition to the normal process of going straight. The additional options make it much more potentially confusing.

In most cases, accidents that happen at intersections are less likely to result in significant injury or death than those that happen on the open road. This is because the vehicles tend to be operated at lower speeds, and lower speed collisions involve the transfer of less force. But for pedestrians, even low speed accidents are likely to cause major damage or even death, as the significant weight disparity between a car and the human body all but guarantees the pedestrian will be injured even at moderate speeds.

Though completely mitigating risk to pedestrians at intersections is only possible by eliminating motor vehicles entirely, there are steps locales can take to address potential issues, including:

• Traffic calming curbs and other features to lower speed
• Lane restrictions
• Disallowing right turns
• The use of one way streets to keep traffic flowing in only one direction

In many cases, motorists will protest these changes, as they tend to add travel time to commutes. But safety is more important than a few extra minutes driving every day, and communities should not allow convenience to justify putting the health and safety of others at risk.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, and you believe the design of the roads or intersection may have played a part, please reach out to an experienced attorney. A full investigation of the incident is the only way to ensure that responsible parties are held accountable for their actions.