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According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 51 percent of all fatal crashes are caused by lane departures. These crashes result in 25,000 fatalities a year, says the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The six common reasons lane departure accidents occur include excessive speed, distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drowsy driving, swerving to avoid another vehicle which has suddenly stopped, or a steering mechanism failure.

The Midwest Transportation Center at Iowa State University Institute for Transportation, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, released its report in December 2017 titled Estimating Crash Modification Factors for Lane Departure Countermeasures in Kansas. The objectives of this project were as follows:

• Identify suitable methods to develop crash modification factors (CMFs) for lane departure countermeasures
• Estimate CMFs for lane departure countermeasures in Kansas
• Provide recommendations for implementing lane departure countermeasures in the future based on roadway characteristics

The conclusions of the study showed that a combination of both centerline and shoulder rumble strips were the most effective countermeasure to reduce all lane departure crashes on rural two-lane roads (a 14 percent to 33 percent reduction) and curved road (an 11 percent to 24 percent reduction) segments.

Technology upgrades in vehicles, such as lane departure warning systems, are playing a role in decreasing lane departure accidents. The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) reported in 2017 that lane departure warning systems in vehicles, which are designed to address lane departure-type fatal accidents, are working. The latest study was done by Jessica Cicchino, Vice President for Research at IIHS, using data from police-reported crashes in compiling the report.

This new IIHS study indicated that lane departure warning systems lower rates of single-vehicle sideswipe and head-on crashes of all severities by 11 percent, and lower the rates of injury crashes of the same types by 21 percent.

"This is the first evidence that lane departure warning is working to prevent crashes of passenger vehicles on U.S. roads," Cicchino says. "Given the large number of fatal crashes that involve unintentional lane departures, technology aimed at preventing them has the potential to save a lot of lives."

“Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, please contact our experienced legal team. We are available 24/7, and there are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you,” said Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.