Wrong-Way Driving Accidents in Tampa Bay
Wrong-way accidents are some of the most terrifying – and dangerous – accidents that victims can endure. Seeing another vehicle barreling at you from the wrong direction is not something any of us expects to see, and when it does happen, the options available to you for protecting yourself to whatever extent possible are often severely limited. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a wrong-way driver, don’t wait to consult with a Tampa car accident attorney.
New Safety Technology in Use
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) takes the threat of wrong-way driving incredibly seriously, and according to Channel 9 News, FDOT has been putting up hundreds of “Wrong Way” signs that are enhanced by flashing LED light at key locations throughout the state to help notify drivers when they are going the right way and to alert the same drivers to the fact that traffic investigators have been notified and will soon be on the way.
The Goal Is Safer Roads
The Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa was closed in January for scheduled construction, and the FDOT took the opportunity to test all the cameras that are already installed on the bridge. After simulating nearly 150 wrong-way driving incidents, the authorities were heartened to find that the cameras caught all of them. Florida has also been busily installing Wrong Way Driver road markings and message boards – wherever there is a chance of them helping, including:
- On off ramps
- On entrances to roads
- On entrances to highways
The goal is, naturally, to help keep our roadways safer for everyone who travels on them – by alerting drivers to the danger of entering a road while traveling in the wrong direction and by getting troopers to the scene that much earlier. When it comes to wrong-way driving accidents, timing is critical.
Recent Tragic Wrong-Way Accident
In early March, a Tampa Master Patrol Officer was killed in a wrong-way traffic accident. The 45-year-old, highly decorated, officer was killed in the line of duty while responding to a call that stemmed from a wrong-way driver on I-275. The call initiated when a white sedan was witnessed driving at top speeds (while swerving in and out of traffic) traveling southbound in the northbound lanes. Within a minute of the first call, the 25-year-old driver of the rental car had fatally crashed into the officer’s police vehicle (killing both men and prompting a police escort of the officer’s body to the medical examiner’s office).
Reach out to an Experienced Tampa Car Accident Attorney Today
Wrong-way accidents are terrifying, often-deadly, accidents that should never happen in the first place. If you or someone you love has been injured – or worse – by a driver traveling the wrong way on the road, the formidable Tampa car accident attorneys at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos have the experience, drive, and compassion to help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. For more information about how we can help, please don’t wait tocontact us online or call us at 813-223-6405 today.