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Using variable speeds in reducing highway accidents

On Behalf of | Nov 24, 2020 | blog, Personal injury

Auto accidents happen in a wide variety of scenarios in Pennsylvania, ranging from reduced speed zone crashes to open highway collisions. Studies have shown that many accidents occur in construction zones and other congested traffic situations in general. Many of these mishaps could have been avoided if drivers were warned well ahead of time that there was slower traffic ahead as they were approaching a specific highway obstacle or work zone.

Speeding has long been a problem on the U.S. highway system. Not all vehicles on the highway are equal; they range in size from small two-seat vehicles to 18-wheelers that often run in tandem. Collisions on the highway result in thousands of fatalities each year.

Local governments and state DOT officials are concerned about the current accident numbers, and one method they have introduced to reduce motor vehicle accidents is establishing variable speed limits along certain stretches of highway. These areas can range from merging traffic zones to exit ramps and cloverleafs, all of which are significant highway sections where collisions are common.

One study showed that variable speed limits can be very effective in reducing the number of accidents, including those producing serious injuries. Researchers noted that rear-end crashes decreased by 30%, and there were 20% fewer accidents due to lane changes.

Some victims of motor vehicle accidents are injured due to excessive speeds in highway sectors. It does not take much of an impact for serious injuries to happen regardless of whether they are side-swipe crashes or rear-end collisions. A personal injury attorney may be able to help victims of such accidents seek compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages and other damages.