Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
There were more than 1,400 wrong way crashes in FL in 2015, resulting in 1,454 injuries & 96 fatalities, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Wrong way driving collisions occur when a vehicle has failed to observe a posted traffic sign or pavement marking and proceeds in a lane travelling in the wrong direction.
Motorists are encouraged to stay in the right lane to avoid a crash with a wrong way driver, especially at night and during transitional light times such as dawn and dusk. In most wrong way wrecks, vehicles are hit head-on, resulting in 81 percent of all wrong way fatalities. Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous crashes, and sadly, result in the most fatalities.
The FLHSMV offers the following safety tips for drivers to avoid a wrong way driving crash:
- Stay Right at Night to avoid crashes with wrong way drivers.
- Call 911 right away to report wrong way drivers. If you see a wrong way driver approaching, you should reduce your speed right away and pull off the roadway.
- Stay alert. Do not drive distracted and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Learn and obey all traffic signs. If you drive past a wrong way sign, turn around immediately. When you see a posted red sign, think about what red traffic sign colors are for: “Stop.” “Do Not Enter.” “Wrong Way.” Orange is used for construction and maintenance warnings. Yellow is for a general warning and advisory of unexpected roadways conditions. Fluorescent Yellow Green is for added emphasis warnings of school, pedestrian and bicycling activities. White/Black are regulatory signs, such as “Left Lane Must Turn Left.” Green signs are for guide or directional information. Blue signs are for motorist services guidance and to identify parking spaces or disabled drivers. Brown signs are reserved for areas of public recreation, cultural and historical significance.
Our Tampa Bay Auto Accident Lawyers at Whittel & Melton know how devastating it can be to suffer a serious injury or lose a loved one because of a wrong-way driver collision. If you or someone you care for has been harmed because of the negligent actions of a wrong-way driver, we can help.
Call us today at 727-823-0000 or contact us online for a free consultation.