You are driving home and all of a sudden you see a vehicle coming your way. Uh-oh, the vehicle approaching you appears to be in your lane. You are facing a wrong-way driver. What do you do?

Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common scenario. Here we discuss detection systems and other safety tips for you and your family. If a driver who was driving the wrong way injures you or a family member, consult with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

Wrong-Way Driving Accidents

Accidents involving a driver who is going the wrong way are extremely dangerous and can be deadly. Nationwide there is an average of 360 deaths per year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Wrong-Way Driving – Highway Special Investigation. About 260 wrong-way collisions cause these deaths. Alcohol is a major factor in wrong-way driving accidents. The Highway Special Investigation found that drivers impaired by alcohol caused more than 60% of wrong-way collisions.

Nevada Accidents

Between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2015, there were 409 wrong-way crashes in Nevada. These crashes resulted in 75 deaths (Nevada Department of Transportation). Drivers in and around Las Vegas are not immune to the dangers of wrong-way drivers. In the past month, there have been four wrong-way vehicle crashes in and around the Las Vegas area. Three of these accidents have been deadly.

On December 5, 2019, a driver who was going the wrong way on Interstate 15 south of Las Vegas caused two deaths. On December 3, 2019 (only two days earlier!), another driver going the wrong way died in a head-on collision on the same road. The driver was going south on northbound Interstate 15. The driver collided with a semi-trailer that collided with another semi-trailer. The crash injured the passengers in both vehicles. On November 22, 2019, a two-vehicle crash critically injured a seventy-five-year-old woman. Investigators suspected impairment. On November 14, 2019, a driver on Interstate 15 traveled the wrong way in the northbound lanes. The driver died in a multi-vehicle accident involving four vehicles.

As you can see, these accidents, due to their severity and suddenness, can sometimes end with a fatality. Wrong-way accidents can be prevented, and we encourage you to read on for more tips from our Las Vegas law firm. If you’re a victim in a wrong-way driving accident, don’t wait to seek out professional representation. Call Anthem Injury Lawyers at (702) 857-6000 for a free initial consultation. Our team’s experience can help you receive the just compensation that’s due to you for your injuries. Call us today for your free consultation: (702) 857-6000.  

If a driver who was driving in the wrong direction injures you or a loved one, consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers are experienced personal injury lawyers. We provide free initial consultations. If necessary, we will travel to you at home or in the hospital.  We are located in Henderson but handle personal injury cases all over the Las Vegas area including North Las Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation.

Wrong-Way Driver Detection Systems

The Nevada Department of Transportation currently places “Wrong Way” signs on all freeway ramps to notify drivers errantly entering in the wrong direction.

As a pilot program, the Nevada Department of Transportation is installing additional flashing warning signals and detection systems on certain interstate and freeway off-ramps. Nevada is one of a handful of state Departments of Transportation testing these detection systems. Preliminary research shows that such systems are 80% effective in stopping drivers from driving the wrong way.

Wrong-Way Driver Detection and Alert

Detection systems can now determine when vehicles are entering roadways in the wrong direction. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, these alert systems use radar and closed-circuit cameras. Detection activates two sets of red flashing wrong-way signs on the ramp. A standard wrong way sign stands seven feet high. The new system includes a highly-visible additional indication to stop drivers from entering the wrong way. The first set of signs in the new system stands four feet high. This lower height is meant to reach the lower eye level of sleepy or impaired drivers.

These detection and alert systems have the potential to prevent dangerous wrong-way accidents. However, not all accidents can be prevented.

If you are injured in a wrong-way driving accident in Nevada, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. At Anthem Injury Lawyers, we have an experienced team of personal injury lawyers ready to help you navigate this difficult time.  Contact us today for a Free Consultation at (702) 857-6000.

Keep yourself and those around you safe: learn how to prevent wrong-way driving accidents with potentially lifesaving tips from Anthem Injury Lawyers. Anthem Injury Lawyers offers the safe driving tips below to help keep you from being the cause of a wrong-way driving accident, and so you can avoid or reroute those who are driving the wrong way. These tips can make the difference between safe driving in Las Vegas and a tragedy. 

Are you a victim of a wrong-way driving accident? Get the experienced team at Anthem Injury Lawyers to represent you. Call us today for a free initial consultation: (702) 857-6000.

Safe Driving Tips

Wrong-way drivers are unpredictable and unexpected. These drivers may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or distracted by their phones or passengers. They are often unaware of the danger they are bringing to the road. You and your family can increase your chances of staying safe while on the road by being attentive drivers.

Stay attentive with Nevada Department of Transportation’s safe driving tips:

• Buckle up.
• Never drive while impaired or extremely sleepy.
• Do not allow those you know to drive impaired or sleepy.
• Drive attentively.
• Continually scan the road ahead so you have time to react to upcoming conditions.
• Do not tailgate.
• Leave a safe amount of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Leaving space gives you time to react. (ex: if the vehicle in front of you changes lanes to avoid a driver who is going the wrong way).

Wrong-Way Driver Safety

• Stay right at night. The largest number of wrong-way crashes occur at night. Be aware that drivers who are going in the wrong direction frequently travel in the left, or fast lane. A driver traveling in the wrong direction may actually believe they are traveling in the slow lane. The wrong-way driver does this is an effort to avoid authorities stopping them for speeding.
• If you encounter a driver who is driving in the wrong direction coming toward you, ease your foot off the gas to slow down. After looking to avoid other vehicles next to and behind you, steer away from them. Dial 911 or *NHP to report the driver once safely off the road and away from the path of the wrong-way vehicle.
• If there is an opportunity to do so, alert the driver to stop and reroute in a safe manner. You can alert the driver by flashing your vehicle lights or honking your car horn.

Freeway Safety

Freeways can be dangerous because of increased speeds and traffic. Many wrong-way accidents occur on freeways. Freeways can be the most deadly locations for wrong-way accidents. According to Nevada’s Drivers Handbook,  freeway safety includes the following:

• Before you start, plan your route.
• If you are not sure of the way, study a map.
• Know the entrances and exits you will need to take.
• Also, check your gas gauge!

When you are entering a freeway:

• Be sure you are using the on-ramp when you enter the freeway.
• Signs will say “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” if you have made a mistake.

Anthem Injury Lawyers

We hope these safe driving tips help you and your family stay safe from drivers who are going the wrong way. However, wrong-way drivers can injure even the safest drivers. If you are injured in a wrong-way driving accident in Nevada, you should speak with an experienced lawyer immediately. At Anthem Injury Lawyers, we have a team of experienced personal injury lawyers and staff ready to meet with you.

Our office is in Henderson, but we handle personal injury cases all over the Las Vegas area. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation.