After a series of semi truck crashes around the city, including one in which thousands of mangoes spilled onto a highway ramp, the Indiana Department of Transportation has renewed efforts to reduce crash rates by adding safety features to high-risk interstate ramps.
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The plan is to install speed limit signs, digital signs that tell drivers what speed they are driving and rumble strips in order to keep traffic cohesive and safe in seven key areas around Indianapolis. In the following year, INDOT plans to analyze crash rates to determine whether the new safety features have a meaningful impact, and if so, to begin planning to introduce similar measures across the entire Indianapolis highway network.
Here is a list of INDOTs seven high crash risk interstate ramps that will be used as a petri dish for future safety enhancements:
- Southbound I-465 to eastbound I-70 (east side)
- Northbound I-465 to westbound I-70 (east side)
- Westbound I-70 to southbound I-465 (east side)
- Eastbound I-70/Northbound I-65 to northbound I-65 (north split)
- Eastbound I-70 to Keystone Avenue
- Eastbound I-70 to I-465 (west side)
- Northbound I-465 to westbound I-865 (northwest side)
Over the last three years, over 100 vehicles have crashed on these seven interstate ramps. The most dangerous location on the list was the westbound I-70 ramp to southbound I-465, with over one-third of the total reported accidents.
On-ramps and off-ramps pose unique dangers to drivers, especially in heavily congested areas. For on-ramps, the most dangerous action is speeding up to enter the flow of traffic and merging without causing an accident. For off-ramps, the most dangerous factor is when vehicles fail to slow down from highway speeds. This risk is compounded with semi trucks, which weigh much more than a passenger vehicle and require more room to stop. Additionally, off-ramps can potentially cause a rollover accident, or release an unsecured load into traffic with devastating results.
The post 7 Indy Roads with High Crash Rates, According to INDOT appeared first on Doehrman Buba - Indianapolis Injury Attorneys With Decades of Success.
