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Whether people are drunk, distracted, dumb, or for whatever other reason they end up going the wrong way on a one-way road, it shouldn't take them too long for them too realize they're doing so. Unfortunately, however, the roads in the US are pretty ambiguous as to which direction they are heading.
One time when I was driving on a divided highway, I saw some signs which were facing the opposite direction and it caused me to freak out for a second. When I looked it my rearview mirror, I saw they were just signs posted up that said "wrong way." I realized shortly afterwards that this was probably the "wrong way" to indicate that people are heading in the wrong direction.
Take a look at this following image for example. Is there any way to tell if you're going in the right or wrong direction?
Nope, not really.
But a little bit of additional paint could make it a bit more obvious:
This seems like a simple and cost-effective solution, but is there any good reason why this isn't already being done? I'm sure it could potentially save a lot of lives, since high-speed, head-on collisions seem to be a recipe for disaster.
But one does not enter onto these limited-access roadways from the air. Guessing as to the direction of this roadway is meaningless if not looking at the entrance.
Here's an example in an urban setting (Albuquerque).
Anyone willing to take a gander as to whether we'd be heading in the right or wrong direction?
Looks like the camera is facing the 'right' direction. The lines on the right hand side are yellow, right? It's kinda hard to tell with glare.
But either way, if you're tired or drunk, I don't think signs and markings would help either way. Those little divets in the side of the road might though.
But one does not enter onto these limited-access roadways from the air. Guessing as to the direction of this roadway is meaningless if not looking at the entrance.
True, but unfortunately sometimes people miss the cues that tell them not to go a certain direction on a street, and when that happens sometimes the next clue is a car heading right at them.
One time when I first started driving (luckily it's never happened since) I turned onto a street downtown, and there was a guy crossing the street who didn't seem like he was paying attention. He stopped and looked at me and gave me a strange look and gesture, and right when I was trying to figure out what he was doing I saw cars in all 3 lanes heading in my direction, so I turned off the road right then and there.
Looks like the camera is facing the 'right' direction. The lines on the right hand side are yellow, right? It's kinda hard to tell with glare.
It's actually facing against traffic. To the left is a bike lane and to the right is a shoulder.
Quote:
Originally Posted by animatedmartian
But either way, if you're tired or drunk, I don't think signs and markings would help either way. Those little divets in the side of the road might though.
In an ideal world nobody is tired or drunk or distracted, but unfortunately that's hardly the case. If the roads were built to be 'drunkproof' they could be safer for everyone.
Do we have some kind of epidemic of people driving the wrong way on divided freeways that I am not aware of?
This looks like a solution in search of a problem.
Here in NM there seem to be a few each year, not sure about the rest of the country, though.
According to Wikipedia, "U.S. statistics show that in 2005, head-on crashes were only 2.0% of all crashes, yet accounted for 10.1% of US fatal crashes."
I'm not sure, however, how many of those were on divided highways compared to 2-way roads.
Here in NM there seem to be a few each year, not sure about the rest of the country, though.
According to Wikipedia, "U.S. statistics show that in 2005, head-on crashes were only 2.0% of all crashes, yet accounted for 10.1% of US fatal crashes."
I'm not sure, however, how many of those were on divided highways compared to 2-way roads.
Perhaps a little data first. . .I mean - the only time I've seen someone drive the wrong way down a divided freeway is in a movie.
Unless you're drinking some serious firewater out in Albuquerque I seriously doubt this is a pressing issue. It's actually really hard to end up the wrong way on a divided freeway - even blotto.
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