Auto Accidents On Interstates Article

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Auto Accidents on Interstates

Millions of drivers use the Interstate every day, traveling across the country and commuting to and from work. All those people traveling at high rates of speed with no traffic signals or controls contribute to the number of auto accidents on Interstates.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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The Interstate highway system is more than fifty years old and is one of the most vital elements of the infrastructure of the United States. In 2007, there were 1,491 fatalities on Pennsylvania roadways and many more injuries.

There are 23 Interstate highways in Pennsylvania including 12 primary routes and 11 auxiliary routes. The primary routes connect communities throughout the state together while the auxiliary routes ease congestion around major cities. The Interstate system in Pennsylvania accommodates 24 percent of Pennsylvania's vehicle traffic. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is considered to be one of the earliest portions of the Interstate Highway System.

There are typically many factors that contribute to auto accidents on Interstates. The very design and purpose of the highway system actually promote those very same factors, because they are also factors of conveniences. Speed is a major factor in most auto accidents and speed limits are typically highest on Interstate highways. Traffic flows one way and there is no cross traffic which allows for higher speed limits. Damage from accidents involving speed is generally exacerbated exponentially.

Approximately one third of all traffic is driving on the Interstate system. The system is designed to accommodate high volumes of traffic for both cross-country travel and short commutes. The sheer number of cars and trucks on the roadways increase the risk of an auto or truck accident. Traffic control on the Interstate is limited to tollbooths and ramp lights that slow down oncoming traffic during peak periods, otherwise volume on the freeways are not restricted.

Adding to the traffic congestion is another major purpose for the Interstate Highway system, commerce. Most of America's goods are transported along the Interstate in large, heavy vehicles. Despite their size, large trucks, loaded with all sorts of cargo, including hazardous materials, barrel down the highway at high rates of speed, increasing the likelihood of trucking accidents. Accidents involving these big rigs are often more devastating than other auto accidents on Interstates.

Truck drivers and other vehicle operators often succumb to the long, boring stretches of Interstate roadway. Many auto accidents on Interstates are related to the driver falling asleep at the wheel and losing control of the vehicle. The Interstate provides long, unimpeded access to all parts of the country and it is easy to drive for long periods of time without a break. Truck drivers, who are usually on a very tight schedule, may push themselves beyond what is safe.

In many of the auto accidents on Interstates in Pennsylvania and across the country, the Interstate system itself may be a contributing factor for crashes, rollovers, and running off the road accidents. The higher rates of speed, longer distances, and enormous volume of traffic increase the risk of auto accidents for all drivers. Drive defensively, because you know that other drivers on the Interstate do not drive carefully themselves.

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If you or a loved one is involved in an auto accident on Interstates in Pennsylvania, please contact the auto accident attorneys at the Falvello Law Firm in Sugarloaf.

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Auto Accidents on Interstates