New Kentucky Study Illustrates Need For Warning Signs at Dangerous Curves

On curved and complicated roads (via Listverse).

August 14, 2012 — Kentuckian Gerard Gerhard spent 10 years analyzing the causes of car crashes at dangerous curves. The retired state attorney discovered that the main factor was not the driver, but rather, the lack of warning signs.  According to report, released yesterday, 25% of fatal car crashes occur at or near dangerous curves. In 2011, that amounts to a whopping 8,000 deaths.

These accidents are attributed to drivers’ failure to negotiate a curve or because they overshot the curve.  Since curves require drivers to decelerate, a failure to do so can result in the car rolling over or going off the curve.

A winding road sign gives drivers time to respond to dangerous roads (via RoadTrafficSigns).

Drivers fail to decelerate at curves for many reasons, but important factors include inattentiveness, impaired driving, distracted driving, and speeding.  Sometimes responsible drivers are caught in accidents, when there is a lack of warning signs and drivers are caught unaware of an approaching curve.

Astonishingly, police don’t consider a lack of signage as a contributing factor to car crashes.  In fact, the Uniform Police Traffic Collision Report fails to indicate a section for proper signage. While erecting signage is the duty of safety engineers, it’s important that standard regulations are issued.

Warning signs prepare drivers to decelerate well before the actual curve (via RoadTrafficSigns).

To prevent accidents related to short deceleration time, warning signs signify an approaching curve. They should be posted at a distance well before the curve, to provide drivers with ample time to decelerate. These warning signs can be complemented with arrow signs that indicate the direction of the curve (right, left, or winding), and may be posted in multiples to ensure visibility. Moreover, any overhanging trees or brush that would obscure the signs should be carefully monitored and trimmed as needed.

Signs might be useless for impaired or distracted drivers, but they are invaluable to responsible drivers who need to know what type of road lies ahead.

–   N. Gilliat