Blog Topic

Rural Road Safety
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
November 20, 2008

When it comes to crashes on Missouri highways, the chances that an accident will be a fatal one dramatically increase if it happens on a rural roadway.

According to the traffic crash statistics released by the Missouri Department of Transportation for 2007, 700 fatal crashes occurred on the state's highways. Seventy-one percent of those crashes took place on a rural road.

The experience at the national level is similar. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorists on rural roadways have a much greater risk of being injured or killed than those in urban or suburban areas.

Robert F. Dallas, the director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia, highlighted the issue of safety on rural roads in an open letter dated Nov. 14. He noted:

"Rural roads frequently become fatal crash sites because they're often narrow, two-lane roads with no physical barriers or division separating oncoming traffic. Add the element of frequent entering and exiting traffic and it creates a formula for fatalities."

If you were seriously injured in a car or truck accident, seek serious counsel from an experienced lawyer who only handles motor vehicle accident claims. Schedule a free consultation today by calling us at 314.480.3378 or filling out our personal injury intake form. In motor vehicle accident claims, experience matters.

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Crashes on I-44 Jump after Lanes Narrowed
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
November 13, 2008

As the lanes on Interstate 44 in St. Louis County have narrowed, the number of car crashes on the same stretch of highway has expanded.

According to an analysis of Missouri Highway Patrol crash data by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the number of nonfatal injury and noninjury crashes on I-44 has jumped 27 percent since lane widths were reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet.

To accommodate increased traffic on I-44 as a result of the Highway 40 closures, the shoulders were trimmed and the lanes were narrowed. This allowed highway officials to add an extra lane.

Despite the fact that the speed limit was lowered from 60 mph to 55 mph, the number of accidents rose after the lanes were narrowed.

The increase is consistent with data compiled by the Federal Highway Administration. Post-Dispatch reporter Elisa Crouch writes in the Nov. 12 article:

"The skinnier the lane, the less room there is for error."

When lanes were narrowed to 11 feet, the crash risk rises to five percent. If the lanes were trimmed to ten feet, the risk would increase to 30 percent. As a result, the FHA recommends that interstates have lanes that are 12 feet wide.

The Missouri Department of Transportation also notes that increased traffic on I-44 could be contributing to the uptick in accidents. Since the Highway 40 closures, traffic is 10 to 30 percent heavier on I-44.

Other factors cited in the article as contributing to the rise in accidents include speeding and tailgating.
The greatest number of accidents on I-44 happens near the exit and entrance ramps at Lindbergh Boulevard, Big Bend Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue.

At the Hoffmann Law Firm, we hope you can avoid a future accident. However, if you were unfortunate enough to be involved in an auto accident, rest assured that help is available. Please schedule a free consultation with motor vehicle accident attorney Chris Hoffmann by calling us at 314.480.3378 or filling out our personal injury intake form.

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Passing Car Triggers Deadly Crash
Posted by: Christopher Hoffmann
November 06, 2008

An elderly man who passed a car in front of him on the highway triggered a chain reaction crash that left two people dead and one person seriously hurt, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Floyd Bowman, 78, was traveling south on Highway 79 in St. Charles County. His car came up behind another southbound vehicle driven by Earl Fetters, 70. Fetters’ 65-year-old wife, Bernice, was also in the car.

Bowman passed Fetters’ car and then side-swiped an oncoming auto driven by Bruce Cannon. Cannon, 53, then lost control of his vehicle and slammed into Fetters’ car. Earl Fetters and Cannon were killed. Bernice Fetters was seriously injured. Bowman was not hurt.

The news report does not indicate whether any citations were written or charges were filed as a result of the deadly crash.

Every year, countless numbers of people are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents.  In 1997, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration conducted a national survey on aggressive driving. The survey found:

In addition to unsafe speeds, other types of unsafe driving commonly encountered were weaving in and out of traffic (24%), tailgating (17%), driver inattention (15%), unsafe lane changes (10%), unsafe passing (9%), ignoring stop signs (8%), failing to yield (6%), drinking and driving (5%), and running red lights (5%).

A car accident can change your life, and the lives of those you love, forever. Call 314.480.3378 to speak with a personal injury attorney who focuses on car accidents and truck accidents or fill out our online contact form.

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