July 30, 2021 | Car Accident
Vehicle accidents are not uncommon on the roadways throughout West Virginia. Unfortunately, thousands of individuals sustain injuries each year in crashes throughout this state, and hundreds lose their lives as a result of vehicle accidents. However, most people do not take the time to actually look at where most car accidents occur. As we go through this list of the most common areas where crashes occur in West Virginia, our Martinsburg auto accident lawyers want you to take this information and use it to assist your defensive driving when you get behind the wheel of your vehicle.
Most people have heard that accidents are more likely to occur closer to home. In fact, many websites say that there are plenty of “studies” that prove this without actually citing the source. Here, we do want to provide information directly from a peer-reviewed publication published by the US Health and Human Services.
This study looked at thousands of patients over a five-year period who were harmed in vehicle accidents. The researchers discovered that 88% of people were injured within 10 miles from their homes. When we dig a little bit deeper into the data, we can see that injuries involving children, the elderly, cyclists, and pedestrians or much more likely to occur closer to a person’s residence. 77% of motor vehicle collisions occurred within 10 miles from a person’s home.
Intersections can be dangerous areas because they represent places where many different people are converging in one spot. These individuals are all trying to accomplish different goals. Information available from the Federal Highway Administration reveals that more than 50% of the combined total injury and fatal crashes occur at or near intersections. These collisions typically occur because individuals fail to yield the right of way when they are supposed to.
Data released from the National Conference of State Legislatures shows us that rural roadways carry less than half of this country’s traffic but account for more than 50% of the nation’s vehicle crash deaths. Even though crashes that occur in rural areas are not as common as those in urban areas, the reality is that these incidents are more likely to result in severe injuries or fatalities for victims. Often, those on rural roadways are traveling too fast for conditions and do not have enough time to stop before impacting other vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians.
Rush hour traffic means different things to individuals depending on where they live in this country. In West Virginia, those who live in rural areas typically do not have to worry about too much rush hour traffic. However, for those in larger urban areas in the state, rush hour traffic can be hazardous. This is when many more drivers are on the roadway, and they are often fatigued. Any driver operating during the hours of 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM needs to be extra vigilant and watch out for potential hazards. Defensive driving is the best way to stay safe during this time frame.
