The seemingly minor decisions that people make in traffic can have a direct influence on their chances of a crash. Many of the most dangerous driving decisions involve violations of the law. People choose to exceed the speed limit or perform a rolling stop at a red light. Those major traffic violations can directly increase collision risk, and the driver who violated or ignored traffic statutes may be liable for the wreck they caused.
However, drivers do not need to break the law for their choices to increase their chance of a wreck. Perfectly legal decisions in traffic can result in major, preventable collisions. One seemingly common traffic choice is responsible for more than half of the collisions reported at intersections every year.
Turning left is legal and also very dangerous
Traffic flows on the right side of the road in the United States. Turning right is fast and easy, which is why traffic laws allow for free right-hand turns at stop signs and red lights when there is no oncoming traffic. Drivers can quickly move through the intersection without impeding traffic.
Turning left, on the other hand, has a direct association with increased collision risk. Drivers have to expose themselves to every lane of oncoming traffic and generally have to move slowly when completing a left turn. The risk is so serious that municipal authorities install special left turn lanes and signals at busy intersections. They also sometimes replace intersections with high crash rates with roundabouts.
Drivers can choose to take routes that take slightly longer but minimize left turns. They also need to pay close attention to approaching traffic when they need to turn left. Particularly when approaching busy intersections at times with high levels of traffic, extra care may be necessary. When left-hand crashes do occur, they have the potential to be particularly severe. They may involve angle collisions where the front end of one vehicle hits the vulnerable side of another vehicle.
Successfully pursuing compensation after an intersection collision can help people cover their vehicle repair costs, lost wages and medical expenses. Motorists who understand what puts them at risk and who adjust their habits accordingly can increase their overall safety on the road. Yet, because accidents happen at times, despite people’s best efforts, understanding one’s rights in the wake of a crash is important too.