Many collisions take place at intersections, making them high-risk locations for most drivers. Motorists know they have to perform certain tasks when they approach an intersection. Even if they have the right of way based on signage or lights, they generally reduce their speed. They also need to look carefully for the presence of pedestrians or oncoming traffic.
There are numerous laws specifically addressing how people behave at intersections. Unfortunately, regulations cannot prevent people from making mistakes and negligent oversights. Quite a few crashes occur at intersections, and many of them are preventable.
Oftentimes, drivers make mistakes such as running a red light or failing to check for pedestrians before proceeding through an intersection. An analysis of what causes intersection collisions found that one common and perfectly legal choice connects a significant majority of all intersection crashes.
Turning left is quite dangerous
Many intersections have designated left-hand turn lanes so that those turning left don’t cause traffic delays for others nearby. People who want to turn left may have to wait longer to obtain the right of way. They then have to cross multiple lanes of traffic to complete the turn. They have exposure to multiple different oncoming lanes of traffic.
Research into crashes at intersections has established that approximately 61% or three-fifths of those crashes involve at least one vehicle conducting a left turn. Other vehicles can strike a vehicle turning left, which can lead to severe vehicle damage and major injuries.
What can drivers do?
Simply avoiding left turns isn’t particularly realistic. Unless local authorities redesign roads to eliminate left-hand turns, such as replacing intersections with roundabouts, turning left is necessary in many scenarios. Drivers may sometimes want to plan alternate routes where they drive around a block to avoid turning left at a busy intersection during times of high traffic. It is also typically advisable to yield the right of way if necessary to ensure safety before turning left.
Small decisions can go a long way toward reducing the risk involved in a turn. Unfortunately, even the most conscientious drivers sometimes end up in motor vehicle collisions. Holding others responsible for unsafe traffic decisions can compensate those dealing with injuries and property damage losses despite making every effort to avoid traffic hazards and comply with traffic statutes.
