People are going to be heading out soon for holiday gatherings. Those who are traveling long distances will likely use the interstate system for a good bulk of their trip. They may not realize that some very specific safety features are beneficial to drivers on these very busy roads.
All of the following safety features are important, but drivers must still operate their vehicles safely. They must ensure they’re sober, rested and focused on driving.
What types of features enhance interstate safety?
The high speeds and considerable traffic on these busy roads could easily make traveling on them very unsafe. Fortunately, the safety of people on interstates is taken seriously. These are some of the interstate design features that enhance safety:
- Rumble strips on the shoulder of the road
- Gentle curves and paved shoulders
- Median barriers and separation from other roadways
The fatality rate for non-interstate roads is 1.3 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. On interstates, that rate is only .55. This shows that these safety features are doing exactly what they’re meant to do. It’s estimated that these safety features saved around 6,555 lives in 2019. Even with the increase in traffic that occurred from 2000 to 2019, these safety features were able to reduce the number of fatal crashes on these busy roads.
Even with all the safety features in place, it’s still possible to be involved in a crash. Victims of these wrecks may opt to pursue a claim for compensation if the crash was the result of another person’s negligence. Missouri law limits how long you have to file your claim, so don’t wait too long to get this done.
