After major changes to traffic flow, including roundabouts and prohibiting left turns into oncoming traffic, the number of accidents has decreased. But they haven’t disappeared as road design can only do so much, given the number of negligent drivers on Elizabethtown’s roads.
Before and After Improvements on Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown
Hardin County and Elizabethtown reduced the number of vehicle crashes at restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTs) and at roundabouts, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the News Enterprise reports.
New intersection designs are meant to make roadways safer for all types of traffic. Engineers reviewed Hardin County before- and after-construction crash data for 10 RCUTs and 11 roundabouts completed from 2021 to 2023. They found the following:
- For RCUTs along the Dixie Highway/U.S. 31W corridor completed in 2022 from St. John Road to Crutz Lane and for six RCUTs in the county, analysis through the end of October 2024 shows a 48% reduction in the number of annual crashes. They went from 267 per year before construction to 138 afterward
- In the same time frame and areas, there was an 82% decrease in injuries, from 44 annually to eight
- There was a 31% cut in crashes for the 11 new roundabouts, from 33 to 23, with an 81% reduction in injuries, from six to one annually
The data for specific intersections from pre-construction (2016-2018) to post-construction (2021-2023) are as follows:
- Dixie Highway and Blackjack Road: 23 injuries to none
- Dixie Highway and KY 434: 28 injuries and four deaths to five injuries and no deaths
- Dixie Highway and KY 220: 22 injuries and one death to four injuries and one death
The RCUTs and roundabouts eliminate multiple points where vehicles cross paths, including at right angles, reducing the risk of severe crashes and serious injuries. They also promote uncongested traffic flow.
Not only are there fewer accidents and injuries, but first responders can do work other than responding to vehicle accidents, which cuts down on their time on the roads and the resulting wear and tear on their vehicles. As of 2024, Kentucky was near the bottom, 47th or 48th, in the number of roundabouts built nationwide.
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How Do Road Designs Make Accidents More or Less Likely?
Drivers are to blame for most accidents, but road design and maintenance set the stage for vehicle crashes. The environment can make accidents more or less likely. If a government entity, through their negligent design, creation, or maintenance of a roadway is a partial cause of your accident and injury, they may be held liable for their actions (or failures to act) and pay you compensation for your injuries.
Our road system is like the interior of a supermarket. It can be easier or more difficult to get to the produce section then to the cereal aisle, and finally to the cash registers, depending on the following:
- How crowded is the store
- How it’s laid out
- The width of the aisles
- Whether they’re clear of obstructions
- How well the store is lit
- Whether the floor is clean and without spills to slip on
These factors affect how long it will take you to shop, whether you’ll bump into another shopper or employee, or slip, fall, and injure yourself.
The changes to the Dixie Highway show that creating new ways for vehicles to travel can prevent injuries and deaths. Many issues beyond a driver’s control can make a street more or less dangerous.
Negligent road design can include the following:
- Inadequate sight lines: Curves, hills, or obstructions can prevent drivers from seeing hazards in time to stop
- Poor intersection geometry: Angles or configurations can create blind spots or confusing traffic flow
- Lanes are too narrow: Traffic isn’t safe, given the volume or type of traffic they carry
- Improper drainage design: Roads with pooling water can result in crashes due to hydroplaning and ice build-up
- Inadequate shoulders: If there’s no safe place for a disabled vehicle to pull over, it may partially or fully block a travel lane, leading to an accident
- Failing to include appropriate safety features: Missing or damaged guardrails or barriers can result in crashes or make one more severe
By improving and making Dixie Highway safer, the state and city have shown how things can be done more safely elsewhere, potentially helping make the case that unimproved roads in other locations are negligently designed.
Construction and Maintenance Also Play Roles in Making Roads Safer
Construction defects that may lead to an accident can include the following:
- Substandard material: Pavement or concrete that deteriorates prematurely can result in a loss of traction, or a structure may fail
- Improper grading: A slope can cause a vehicle to drift or lose control, and may also result in pooling water where it won’t drain
- Faulty work zone setup: A construction zone with inadequate warnings, poor lane transitions, or dangerous temporary conditions can be catastrophic for workers or drivers
Maintenance failures that could cause your accident include the following:
- Potholes and pavement deterioration: If you’re traveling fast enough, you can damage your vehicle, lose control, and strike an object or another vehicle
- Faded or missing lane markings: You may not know where it’s safe to go, especially at night or if it’s raining, causing a collision
- Non-functioning or missing traffic signals/signs: Missing, damaged, or obstructed stop, yield, or warning signs or traffic lights can confuse drivers
- Icy or flooded roads: A failure to treat or close roads in dangerous weather conditions promptly
You’ll need a thorough and professional investigation into the accident to determine if design, maintenance, or construction were factors in your crash, and expert opinions to prove your case that those responsible for the road are also to blame for your crash.
Speak To a Elizabethtown Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’re injured in an accident on Dixie Highway despite these improvements and have questions about your legal rights to compensation, contact The Fleck Firm at (270) 446-7000 or complete our online contact form and schedule your free consultation. We’ll discuss your accident, how Kentucky law may apply, and your best options. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one, too.
