When you drive on the interstate, it becomes very clear that there shouldn’t be any wrong-way drivers. Traffic never crosses paths or shares the same road. As you drive up or down a ramp, you’ll see plenty of warning signs indicating which ramp you’re supposed to use and which direction you should be traveling.
However, studies have found that there are still wrong-way accidents on the interstate, and they may actually be growing more common. But if the road system is set up to specifically prevent this issue, then why does it keep happening? Why are people still making this mistake?
The role of intoxication
What researchers found was that, in the majority of these accident cases, the driver was intoxicated. There are also cases where drivers may not have been using alcohol but could’ve been using other substances like prescription medication or illegal drugs.
But this highlights some of the safety issues on the road. The road design can be flawless, and it may be very clear to a sober driver what they should do to stay safe. But as long as people are going to drink and drive, there’s nothing that can fully prevent them from making such catastrophic mistakes. Their impairment leads to errors that they wouldn’t make while sober, and one of the most serious is driving up the offramp and heading the wrong direction down the interstate.
When these accidents happen, they’re often without warning and at very high speeds, so they can lead to severe injuries. Those who have been harmed must understand all of their legal options to seek compensation.
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