Have Road Improvements Helped Curb Traffic Accidents at Schoolcraft Road and Telegraph Road Intersection?
Nationwide in 2017, nearly half of all traffic accidents (roughly 2.5 million) were caused at intersections. In Michigan, 43 percent of all injury crashes and 31 percent of all fatal crashes occurred at intersections according to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts (MTCF) via University of Michigan studies. The intersection of Schoolcraft Road at Telegraph Road in Redford Township in Wayne County was listed as one of the most crash prone crossroads in the state. Last year, a total of 112 crashes resulting in 16 injuries occurred where the roads met.
In 2018, efforts to improve intersection safety in Wayne County included a $3.1 million project funded by The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to mill and resurface areas of US-24 at Telegraph Road. The project included concrete patching, repairing curbs and gutters, upgrading sidewalk ramps to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, improved pedestrian signals, drainage work, and pavement markings.
MDOT said improvements to traffic safety for both drivers and pedestrians were made by creating a smoother riding surface and less cluttered drains, plus the addition of sidewalks and push buttons at intersections. The intersection of US-24 and I-96 now is now equipped with new safety signs and pavement markings which created a second turn lane for southbound US-24 traffic turning onto Schoolcraft Road, the I-96 service drive and entrance to westbound I-96. The previous single turn lane caused traffic back-ups and several intersection crashes and rear-end collisions during rush hour.
Our team of motor vehicle accident injury attorneys are prepared to review traffic crash statistics for this intersection in 2019 to see if the expensive road project paved the way for less accidents and injuries to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Most Common Causes of Intersection Crashes
The Federal Highway Administration reports intersection accidents remain the second largest category of accidents, led only by rear end collisions year-after-year. And an estimated 165,000 intersection accidents occur annually by drivers who make the poor choice to run a red-light, a dangerous decision that causes 700-800 motor vehicle-related fatalities a year. Several other bad driver habits and choices play a role in intersection and rear-end collisions, including:
- Following too closely
- Improper or erratic lane changing
- Prohibited and dangerous passing and merging
- Sudden and erratic speed change
- Failure to yield right of way
- Failure to obey traffic control devices and signs
- Driving too fast and/or racing
- Making improper turns (predominantly, left turns)
With that said, alert and sober driving at safe speed limits should remain important measures toward improving all accident rates.
We took a closer look at Michigan’s Most Dangerous Intersections here. Do you know of other crossroads in Michigan that should be reviewed as dangerous?
Contact Us Now About Your Michigan Intersection Accident
If you have been injured in an intersection related accident, the vehicle accident attorneys at the Lee Steinberg Law Firm are ready to use our decades of experience to get justice so you can move forward and start the healing process. Not only can a personal injury lawsuit help ease financial burdens, but it can help create change at a location, like a dangerous intersection, that poses serious risks to other users every single day.
Please call and speak to our car accident attorneys at 1-800-LEE-FREE (1-800-533-3733) or fill out the Free Case Evaluation Form. We are happy to help you!
