Recently in Roadside Accidents Category

January 24, 2012

Roadsides on South Florida highways are risky for those who leave their cars

0130916850085[1].jpgRecently, two young people were killed and another seriously injured when they were standing near the side of the road as a result of a prior automobile accident in Plantation, Florida. Two of the victims had stopped to assist the driver of another car which had been disabled car in an earlier single car collision. A passing car collided with them. Currently, the Plantation police have not stated who was responsible for this horrific accident.

Last year in Miami, five people were struck and killed when they left their cars after a three-car accident along Interstate 95. Police said the driver who hit them was drunk and has since fled. In April, a Fort Lauderdale tractor-trailer driver was killed attempting to cross Interstate 75 after his truck collided another truck. Both of these accidents occurred in the low light of early morning.

In Hallandale, a 15-year-old Miami boy was struck and killed by a passing car as he helped three others push a disabled vehicle off I-95 near Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

Similarly, in Palm Beach County, an 18-year-old woman was struck and killed when she decided to leave her car which was disabled on I-95 near Forest Hill Boulevard to cross the highway about 3 a.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, if your car is disabled, particularly on a highway in I-95, you should attempt to stop your car off the highway and as far away as possible from moving traffic. If conditions permit, you can try to find safety behind a guard rail or possibly stand in front of the car to the side. If you must get out of your car,you do not want to stand behind your car where it can be hit by passing traffic and propelled into you.

If your vehicle is disabled on a busy highway, you need to be very careful before you decide to leave your car, taking into consideration the weather, the traffic, and lighting conditions. Particularly in multiple lane highways like I-95 you need to be extremely cautious before attempting to walk across the lanes of traffic. If you must leave your car, try to stay as far away from the side of the road as you reasonably can.

Continue reading "Roadsides on South Florida highways are risky for those who leave their cars " »