Staying Safe on Your Commute

Every day, millions of Americans embark on their daily commute, a time not many might think of when asked to picture their most dangerous time of day. However, motor vehicle accidents are alarmingly common on these heavily traveled roads, particularly in South Carolina. In fact, South Carolina often ranks among the top 3 states with the most dangerous roads, with the I-85 and 385 highways, the main routes for many Upstate residents, being the leading causes of fatalities in our state. The severity of this issue cannot be overstated. At Morris Law, we believe that safety is a shared responsibility, and we are deeply committed to helping our local area be a safer community. So, it’s crucial for all of us to shed light on two prevalent hazards that can lead to these results: construction zones and distracted driving on our local highways. 

Construction

If you travel down either of these highways, you’ll notice that construction is almost always present. While these industrial efforts are intended to improve the conditions of the roads, they frequently tend to worsen the present situation. Uneven surfaces, sudden lane shifts, and reduced speed limits all contribute to the complexity of navigating through these areas. Moreover, the presence of construction workers adds an additional layer of vulnerability. Bringing highways down to one lane due to work being done can catch distracted motorists off guard when traffic flow stops on the road. In fact, the Cherokee County coroner once called these funneled lanes “death traps” because of the potential hazards they added for drivers on these interstates. It is always important to take extra caution when traveling through these zones in order to protect yourself and others from a major accident. 

Distracted Drivers

While touched on when talking about the frequent construction on our interstate highways, distracted drivers are one of the leading causes of accidents on those roads. Familiarity can bring with it a lowering of our guard to hazards that may occur. Driving the same stretch of highway throughout the week, drivers might feel more comfortable checking their phones or not giving what’s in front of them as much attention as they should.

Distracted driving encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including texting, talking on the phone, eating, and adjusting the GPS. While some of these actions may seem innocuous, they significantly impair a driver’s ability to react promptly to changing road conditions and dramatically increase the likelihood of accidents.

What are some hazards to look out for and try to avoid these risks? 

• Be mindful of your surroundings and signs of an accident or road signs signaling construction
• Always follow prescribed traffic laws
• Take note of drivers around you, just because are a careful and focused driver does not mean everyone is.

When commuting to and from work, many people take this time to zone out and just relax, taking the familiar daily roads and thinking of the upcoming day or evening. But this can be a dangerous habit to get into, as the statistics for I-85 and 385 show. Following these tips, we hope you never have to worry about becoming another number to our Upstate’s record of harmful collisions. However, even when you do everything right, accidents still occur.  If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by someone else’s distracted driving and not following proper traffic procedures, Morris Law is here to find the justice you deserve for the hardship you’ve gone through. Get in touch with our offices today to see how we can help.