In the past few weeks, there have been a number of catastrophic wrong-way car accident cases here on Long Island where drivers were under the influence of alcohol causing fatalities, trauma, broken bones and hospitalizations. These were horrific accidents. Unnecessary death and destruction. Just awful.
Frankly, it's extremely frustrating to read the newspaper each day to see one drunk driver after another causing fatalities without regard for their life or anyone else's. In yesterday's Newsday, Sunday, December 5, 2010 edition, an article titled “High-tech help to stop wrong way cars,” offers an innovative solution to significantly limit the chances of wrong way drivers.
Most highway exit ramps have “Do not enter” signs, however these are generally insufficient and offer no comfort when a drunk driver barrels past it heading in the wrong direction. Intelligent transportation systems range from sensors built into the pavement to detect wrong way movement and roadside video cameras. This is the future of transportation technology.
Another preventive accident system attempts to alert wrong-way motorists with flashing lights on roads and through the use of electronic signs.
The article also points out that in Texas they use the most advanced transportation avoidance system in the country. The impetus for this system was a pair of fatal highway accidents in 2006. In that system, radar detectors are built into the side of the road to detect wrong way drivers. Road signs then activate and tell the driver he is going wrong way. Importantly, electronic signs along the highway flash a warning to all motorists on the highway saying “Wrong way driver ahead. All motorists pull to the shoulder and stop.” Not only does this system attempt to alert the driver who's heading the wrong way but also attempts to alert all other drivers on the highway of the impending tragedy and tries to prevent it.
Why can't all states implement this novel system? Simple. The cost is prohibtive. It costs $350,000 just for one road.
Here's my question: "Isn't just one life worth much more than that?" Let me know what you think.
Gerry practices law exclusively in the State of New York. Within New York he practices primarily in the following counties: New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk. Technically, Brooklyn is known as "Kings County," and Manhattan and New York City are known as "New York County." Staten Island is known as "Richmond County." These counties make up the New York metropolitan area.
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