New Jersey drivers know how stressful the roads can get, especially during rush hour or bad weather. While driver error often causes crashes, poor road design can also play a major role.
How poor road design leads to crashes
Roads should help drivers move safely and clearly from place to place. A poorly designed or maintained road can create hazards that drivers may not be able to avoid. Some roads have sharp turns without warning signs or guardrails. Others lack proper lighting at night, making it hard to see obstacles, curves, or pedestrians. Short or narrow merging lanes can leave drivers trapped or force them into risky lane changes. Faded paint or confusing intersections can also lead to wrong turns or crashes.
Even weather plays into road design. Poor drainage can cause standing water or black ice, leading to spinouts and pileups. Some roads slope the wrong way, which can send vehicles sliding into oncoming traffic during rain or snow. In cities or older neighborhoods, narrow streets without shoulders or safe pedestrian crossings raise the risk for both drivers and people walking nearby.
Who may be responsible and what injured drivers can do
When bad road design causes a crash, different parties may be responsible. Government agencies or contractors who design, build, or maintain roads could share fault. For example, if a town fails to repair a broken traffic light or never adds signs to a known danger zone, that failure can make them liable for resulting injuries.
Anyone who suffers injuries in a crash and believes poor road design played a role can start by documenting the scene with:
- Photos of confusing signs, hidden curves, or any road damage
- Contact information from witnesses
- Notes of anything that seemed unsafe
- Traffic reports or past complaints about that area
Roads should guide and protect drivers, not confuse or endanger them. When they fall short, injured people have the right to seek accountability. Holding the right parties responsible not only helps injured persons recover but also pushes for safer roads for everyone.