Even a careful driver, when faced with unsafe roads that are dangerous purely by design, may be fighting a losing battle to avoid an accident on some Georgia roads. Some four-lane, undivided roadways designed for maximum speed and efficiency as well as some of Georgia’s intersections actually encourage unsafe driving and create hazards for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists.
On a single two-mile stretch of Chamblee-Tucker Road in Tucker, GA, between 60-90 accidents occur yearly, resulting in at least one fatality. Local government officials have been dragging their heels on plans to redesign the road for five years. Meanwhile, Atlanta motor vehicle accident lawyers continue to see more and more people injured on dangerous roadways.
Throughout Carroll County, officials have identified multiple unsafe intersections. The intersection of Highway 27 with Primary School Road is considered the most dangerous in the county, and several intersections along Highway 166 tie for a close second, according to a recent article in the Times-Georgian.
Dangerous Georgia Roadways Aren’t Limited to One or Two Locations
There are more than just a few intersections or stretches of road that pose a danger to Georgia drivers. But, Georgia is not alone. According to a 2009 report by the Transportation Construction Coalition, roadway deficiencies are cost the nation more than $217 billion annually.
The study found that 10 car crashes related to roadway deficiencies occur each minute. Those deficient road conditions are causing 22,000 fatalities a year and contributing to 38 percent of non-fatal motor vehicle accident injuries.
Accidents related to dangerous roads are preventable and they are expensive. Financial and emotional costs are involved in every car accident. Even a ‘minor’ crash can create problems for victims for many years down the road; in fatal accidents, the costs are immeasurable.
Engineering Safer Roads: Putting Georgia on a ‘Road Diet’
Increasingly, municipal and county governments are implementing “road diets” to trim the fat from wide roads that encourage speeding. Such unnecessarily wide “speedways” are re-lined, with some existing space allotted for bike lanes and turn lanes. A 2004 Summary Report by the U.S. DOT found that road diets could reduce crashes by approximately six percent.
It is possible to maintain safer roadways at the same time as encouraging a more effective flow of traffic with the use of the necessary resources. If you’ve been injured while traveling on a roadway that was defective by design, a Georgia personal injury attorney can help you understand your rights to recovery.