The Reasons Why Some Roads Are Notorious for Accidents

Newark, one of New Jersey’s busiest cities, is known for its bustling streets and heavy traffic flow. As a major transportation hub, it experiences significant vehicular movement daily. Unfortunately, this high traffic volume, coupled with various road conditions, makes certain areas more prone to accidents. In fact, there are car accidents concentrated areas in Newark where collisions occur more frequently due to specific contributing factors.

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High Traffic Volume

Let’s explore how roads with heavier traffic are more prone to accidents

• Congested Highways & City Roads: If a road is constantly crowded, it will likely be prone to accidents. Such roads often experience more accidents during peak hours.
• Frequent Lane Merging: If a vehicle rashly changes or merges in lanes, especially near exits and interchanges, it is at a higher risk of an accident.
• Aggressive Drivers: Heavy traffic often makes people frustrated, which could lead them to drive recklessly. They could break laws by tailgating, speeding, and rashly changing lanes, leading to an accident.
• Distracted Drivers: In slow-moving traffic, some drivers could get distracted by using their phones, zoning out, eating snacks, etc. This causes them to lose their focus on the road, possibly causing an accident.

Hazardous Environmental Conditions

Let’s explore how weather conditions can lead to accidents.

• Poor Weather: Bad weather conditions such as rain or snow are a potential hazard, as wet or icy roads could cause vehicle control issues. This can be especially dangerous if there is black ice. Ice and water on the road reduce the traction, increasing the risk of skidding.
• Low Visibility Areas: Road conditions that hinder the driver’s vision can make driving risky. Visibility can be reduced due to natural or man-made causes, such as heavy rain, snow storms, fog, lack of streetlights, etc. Lack of visibility can make it extremely difficult for the driver to spot any obstacles on the road.
• Unpredictable Terrain: Having proper control over a vehicle can be difficult when the terrain is unpredictable. Roads with steep inclines and declines can make it difficult for drivers to maintain the speed and trajectory of their vehicles. Roads with sharp turns and curves can also be dangerous, especially if the driver fails to adjust the speed.

High-Speed Zones & Reckless Driving

Let’s examine how roads with high-speed limits and reckless driving can lead to accidents.

• Speeding Hotspots: Roads with a higher speed limit or areas where drivers often tend to speed pose a serious cause of accidents. This is especially true for long straight roads that urge the driver to speed, decreasing their reaction time.
• Drunk Driving & DUIs: People driving after indulging in alcohol, prescription, or illegal drugs are also one of the major causes of accidents. This is especially applicable to roads that are near bars and clubs. Anything that hinders the driver’s senses can cause accidents.
• Street Racing & Illegal Maneuvers: Roads with lower surveillance tend to attract reckless behaviors. This includes activities such as street racing, sudden lane changes, and illegal U-turns. It is crucial to follow traffic rules to avoid serious accidents.

Conclusion

Some roads become accident hotspots due to various contributing factors. These factors can include both natural and man-made reasons. While some reasons are avoidable, the rest can be reduced by following traffic rules and taking precautionary measures.

The responsibility of maintaining road safety falls on citizens and government entities. It is crucial that the public is made aware of the potential dangers of such roads so they can take the required precautions. This can help promote a safer environment for all road users.