When it comes to traffic accidents, there are a lot of things that factor into how they are caused and how they are resolved. As is the case with many things, technological advances have allowed technology to play a role in making sure that fewer accidents occur. Consider the following ways that technology helps reduce traffic accidents.
Providing Data
Since the Global Positioning System, or GPS, has improved, people have been able to view road conditions and traffic statistics in real-time. One of the things that a GPS can do now is tell you that there has been an accident so you can find an alternate route so you are not delayed. One of the downsides, however, is that it takes a while for the accident to appear. The reason is that accidents, like construction zones, have to be reported. Therefore, it is effective as a delayed notification instead of a real-time announcement.
Assisting in Court Cases
Traffic cameras are responsible for helping with evidence in many court cases. In fact, when it comes to a lot of accidents, the footage from traffic cameras is some of the most sought-after evidence, and sometimes can be one of the only pieces of evidence that can be obtained. If someone gets into an accident and needs an NYC truck accident lawyer, the lawyer can help their client get more compensation. For instance, if there is a person trying to cross the street and get hit by a truck that ran a red light, footage from a traffic camera can make the difference between the truck driver being held accountable for their actions and the case getting thrown out of court. Knowing that traffic cam footage can be used in court encourages people to drive more safely, especially in places where a lot of cameras are used. However, that only works in places where a traffic camera is installed. If an accident occurs in a more rural area, there may be no footage to look at.
Improving Road Conditions
There are a lot of things that technology does to contribute to improving road conditions. One of the ways that this is done is by looking at the average weather forecast. Weather forecasting technology allows the Department of Transportation to maintain a watch for inclement weather and make preparations for when a bad storm comes. This means that, if there is an imminent blizzard, preparations can be made to send word to stay indoors and salt the roads once the blizzard has passed so drivers are not having to fight the ice and snow on their commute.
Directing Traffic
Traffic lights are a given when it comes to directing traffic, but a special kind of light that has severely reduced traffic accidents is the ramp meter. A ramp meter controls the number of drivers that are allowed to merge onto an expressway or interstate. They do this by measuring the amount of traffic that is currently on the road that people are trying to merge onto. They then allow a specific number of cars to merge onto the road so they have a better chance of merging safely. This prevents accidents that occur when there are too many people trying to merge into already congested traffic.
However, if the power goes out and the ramp meter signals are not working, there is nothing stopping the drivers from going ahead and merging onto the busy road. Alternatively, if the signal to stop freezes and does not ever change, not only will the drivers be sitting still for a long time, but they will eventually get tired and feel compelled to merge whether or not it is legal or safe to do so.
There are more and more traffic accidents every year, and technology has helped reduce them. Still, progress must be made and more advances implemented so the roads can be made as safe as possible.
Hello, My name is Shari & I am a writer for the ‘Outlook AppIns’ blog. I’m a CSIT graduate & I’ve been working in the IT industry for 3 years.