While road work is a necessary part of maintaining and improving the infrastructure of our nation’s most popular mode of transportation, roadways can become quite dangerous while they undergo construction.
Unfortunately, drivers don’t always know to expect road work and may be unfamiliar with roadway changes as they are actively worked on.
As a result, car accidents are significantly more likely to occur. The construction zone on I-5 in Tacoma is no exception.
The area has seen an increase in the number of traffic accidents as construction continues. Here’s what you need to know:
Traffic Collisions are Up 33% in the Region Since 2019
According to Trooper Robert Royer with the Washington State Patrol, “We’re looking at a little more than two collisions that happen on this stretch per day.”
Data collected and provided by the Washington State Patrol reveals that the stretch of I-5 from mile marker 132 near State Route (SR) 16 to mile marker 136 near the Port of Tacoma Road offramp has seen a 33% increase in traffic accidents since 2019.
Royer expressed that the main reason for the majority of the crashes is distracted driving.
In addition, heavy traffic congestion has exploded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have noted that people’s driving habits are four times as bad as they were before COVID. During the height of the pandemic restrictions, many drivers were going 80 mph on the highway because there were so few cars on the road.
It’s said that many people are still driving at 80 mph even though there are many more cars on the road these days.
For context, the highway speed limit in Washington is only 60 mph around South Puget Sound. In the construction area, the speed limit is just 50 mph.
If You’ve Been Hurt, We Want to Help
If another’s negligence has caused you to sustain injuries in a car accident, we may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Don’t delay—reach out right away to learn how we can help.
Give our Kent personal injury attorney at Dore Law Group, PLLC a call today at (253) 236-3888 to discuss your case.
