Intersections are an essential component of urban city layout. Whether you prefer to drive or walk, they are unavoidable. Junctions are the points where pedestrians and traffic from all directions coordinate to maintain proper flow.
While intersections provide refined space to handle heavy traffic, they are still common areas for pedestrian accidents. In simpler words, despite regulating the flow of traffic and traffic rules and regulations, sometimes both drivers and pedestrians are unable to regulate themselves with the sea of vehicles and people surrounding them. Thus leading to accidents.
However, by becoming aware of the leading causes of these accidents, both walkers and car drivers can reduce the risk of unnecessary collisions. And if you find yourself in a collision, the Jersey City personal injury lawyers at Brady Reilly & Cardoso, LLC, may be able to help.
In this article, we will examine the primary causes of pedestrian accidents and even explore some useful road safety improvement tactics.
Poor visibility and inadequate lighting
One of the most prominent factors leading to pedestrian accidents at intersections is inadequate lighting and poor visibility. Without proper lighting and a clear view of the road ahead, most drivers are unable to figure out the pedestrians ahead, leading to collisions.
Also, poor weather conditions like snow, rain, or fog also make it hard for both cars and pedestrians to see each other as visibility is reduced. Not only this, parked cars, overgrown vegetation, and construction can also hinder people’s visibility of their surroundings.
Therefore, to avoid the fiasco that can occur due to poor visibility and inadequate lighting on the road, every intersection should be integrated with proper lighting that provides good visibility to people in bad weather conditions as well as at night.
Driver-Related Factors
The way drivers behave at crossings directly affects the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. If the driver is distracted and not attentive behind the wheel, they are unable to focus on their surroundings, leading to a low response time.
In addition, speeding is another driver-related factor that leads to several accidents at intersections. Pedestrians cannot move at the raging speed of vehicles, and the high speed leaves drivers with less time to react, resulting in severe outcomes. Another reason why a driver might be responsible for a pedestrian accident is that they might be unaware of key road laws, impatient behind the wheel, or simply not care enough to follow law and order.
If all the car drivers become attentive behind the wheels, especially at intersections where the traffic is always at its peak, start following road rules and traffic laws, and avoid using distractions like mobile phones while driving, they can be responsible for saving many lives.
Pedestrian-Related Factors
Car drivers are not the only ones responsible for pedestrian accidents occurring at intersections. Sometimes, the on-walkers are in the wrong. Pedestrians that jaywalk, use their smartphones, or listen to music while crossing the road are more likely to get in the way of oncoming traffic, resulting in a mishap. Also, there are many foot travelers who do not follow the traffic rules, causing problems for drivers and fellow walkers.
Thus, if pedestrians want to ensure their own safety on the road, they need to follow traffic laws religiously and avoid any kind of distraction until they cross the road. This way, pedestrians will be able to take account of their surroundings, and oncoming cars will also take proper notice of them.
Issues with infrastructure and design
Poorly designed intersections can be confusing for both car drivers and pedestrians. There are high chances of a serious collision when the parties at the conjunction do not know what their designated path is or which way they are allowed to go.
Malfunctioning traffic lights, a lack of pedestrian signals, and inadequate crosswalks that are either too faded to see clearly or are located in poor locations increase the risk of ruckus at the intersections.
To handle the bustle at the intersections, the government needs to restructure them There need to be proper pedestrian signals telling car drivers to slow down and stop accordingly. The traffic lights should be working properly, and the crosswalks should be repainted at regular intervals and made in areas where the vision of both pedestrians and drivers is not hindered.
Tips for Increasing Pedestrian Safety
There are several ways to improve pedestrian safety at crosswalks. Increasing the lighting and removing the hindrances to visibility are great ways to start.
Implementing traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and lower speed limits can force drivers to keep their speed in check and pay more attention to their surroundings and other people using the crossing. Not only that, but starting public awareness campaigns that educate both drivers and walkers on safety behaviors at intersections can help immensely in reducing the frequent mishaps that occur.
Most modern cars now come with advanced safety suites like BlueCruise, which have features like pedestrian detection systems that notify the driver about the condition of the road ahead and give them ample time to react to avoid any collision.
Reducing the Prevalence of Pedestrian Accidents at Intersections
Pedestrian accidents at junctions may be avoided. If both walkers and drivers understand the consequences of their irresponsible road behavior, they can handle the situation effectively.
Mitigating the impact of inadequate visibility, reckless driving, and flawed infrastructure design can substantially lower the frequency of crashes.
However, in the end, it comes down to the understanding that everyone, from car drivers and pedestrians to municipal planners, must share responsibility for maintaining safety at intersections.
And the next time you and your loved ones walk the streets of your city, we hope that this information will help you stay safe.
