When you approach a crossroad in Kansas, you’re heading into a high-risk section of roadway. More than half of all fatal collisions occur in areas where one or more roads intersect with another. You can improve intersection safety by keeping several helpful tips in mind.
First, remember that there are two types of intersections: secured and unsecured. The latter does not contain any traffic lights or stop signs. This is the most dangerous type of crossroad. It is always best to decrease speed and yield the right-of-way, especially when making a turn.
Improve intersection safety by scanning your surroundings
It’s not only traffic in the immediate vicinity of an intersection that is worrisome. If you’re in a busy area, there might be bicyclists or pedestrians entering the crossway unexpectedly, which poses additional risks. Before proceeding, even if you have a green light, always scan your surroundings in all directions.
Make sure you have full visibility before entering the intersection
Garbage dumpsters, trees or shrubbery, signs, construction site objects, parked vehicles and other objects can obstruct visibility at a crossroad. If something is blocking your full view, proceed with great caution. Keep checking as you slowly proceed until you determine with certainty that there is not an approaching vehicle or pedestrian behind the object that is blocking your view of the road.
Never assume that a vehicle with an active turn signal is going to turn
If you observe another vehicle’s turn signal flashing at an intersection, it’s best to pause and wait until the driver begins initiating the turn before proceeding through the crossroad. Many collisions have occurred in the past when a driver using a turn signal fails to turn and, instead, goes straight or turns in the opposite direction.
Did you suffer injury in an intersection collision?
No matter how alert and cautious you are at a Kansas intersection, you cannot control another driver’s behavior at the wheel. If someone hits you and you suffer an injury, it is best to seek immediate medical attention, even if you believe your injuries are minor. Going to the hospital documents the incident, which may come in handy later, especially if you decide to seek restitution in court.
State law allows recovering accident victims to do so when driver negligence was a causal factor in a collision that resulted in physical, emotional or economic damages. Sadly, many intersection collisions are fatal. In such cases, an immediate family member of a decedent may seek justice by filing a wrongful death claim.