Many of the most serious crashes occur at intersections. While drivers know they should slow down and monitor their surroundings, sharing the road with others traveling in different directions is innately dangerous.
A variety of different issues can contribute to intersection collisions. Sometimes, infrastructure issues mean that stoplights cease functioning, and some drivers may forget how to respond in that situation. Other times, local authorities may have failed to trim vegetation near the road, leading to difficulty monitoring oncoming traffic. However, many intersection collisions occur due to one of the three issues explained below. Drivers often make choices that directly lead to preventable collisions.
Turning left
Technically, turning left is legal and sometimes even necessary. Drivers trying to follow the most direct route to their destinations may need to turn left. Many intersections feature specialized turn lanes and even left turn signals to help reduce the risk of a collision. Despite infrastructure investments, researchers estimate that more than three-fifths of all intersection collisions involve at least one driver turning left. Motorists need to use extra caution when they intend to turn left or notice someone with their turn signal engaged.
Failing to monitor surroundings
Another common reason that intersection crashes occur is that drivers don’t check for oncoming traffic. People driving late at night or particularly close to home might assume that they are safe because there is minimal traffic. When people don’t check before proceeding through an intersection, they can cause major crashes.
Misunderstandings about intent
Another leading cause of intersection collisions, including some left-turn crashes, is that drivers misunderstand the intentions of others. In some cases, they may use inadequate surveillance, resulting in a driver failing to notice turn signals. Other times, drivers may choose not to use their turn signals to communicate with others, which can result in inaccurate assumptions about intent. Finally, the failure to maintain a vehicle might mean that brake lights or turn signals don’t illuminate when drivers try to use them.
Understanding the top causes of intersection car crashes can help people take steps to keep themselves safe. Those involved in collisions caused by other drivers may need help holding the right party accountable for the aftermath of a car wreck, and that’s okay.