Coming across someone driving down the wrong side of the road toward you can be frightening and astounding. You may wonder how on earth they did not notice they were going the wrong way.
Research shows there are several principal causes of wrong-way driving:
Alcohol
Reports show six in ten wrong-way drivers were impaired by alcohol. While many of them were over the legal limit, even a small amount of alcohol can negatively affect driving safety.
Age
Statistics show a high proportion of wrong-way drivers were over 70. Because they tended to do fewer miles than their younger counterparts, they were more likely to make a mistake and set off down a street in the wrong direction. In some cases, the onset of dementia might also play a role or they might just be slower to notice than when they were younger and more alert.
Driving solo
Driving solo does not cause you to go the wrong way down a road, but passengers increase your chance of noticing fast if you have made a mistake as even if you don’t notice they probably will.
Tiredness
It’s understandable that people get tired, but unfortunately, a lot of people fail to consider the effect that can have on their driving. Leaving the car and walking might seem more inconvenient and costly than getting in the car and driving anyway, but crashing is far more costly and inconvenient.
Wrong-way crashes tend to be head-on, which can result in serious injuries. Be sure to learn about your legal options if a wrong-way driver injures you.