Road hazards to avoid

There are many different types of road hazards. Many of the recurrent car accidents that take place on state and local roads are the result of:

• Shoulder dropoffs: A shoulder or berm that is two inches or more beneath the surface of the road is a possible hazardous area.
• Ice patches: Isolated ice patches occur when the weather is very cold, it has not rained or snowed, and there is inadequate drainage for the road. Therefore, the water freezes and the road becomes a hazard to the traveling public. The governmental entity responsible for the road, as well as the landowner from where the water source is located, could be responsible for any accidents or injuries that occur.
• Oil and chip operations: Rather than resurfacing a road thoroughly, certain governmental agencies would rather apply a petroleum solution and then cover that with what is referred to as an "oil and chip operation". A substantial number of oil and chip operations fail yearly when the aggregate material placed on top of the petroleum surface is lost and what's left is a petroleum base which can become very slippery when hot and wet. It is important to look for these types of problems on curves of roads where they occur most prominently.
• Clear zone issues: Did a fixed object located in the "right of way" of the roadway cause an accident? Examples include: utility poles, trees, uncovered culverts or drainage areas.
• Median Barriers: On four lane highways daily traffic is substantial, a jersey barrier (a raised concrete barrier thirty inches in height or greater) is recommended in certain circumstances and required in others under Pennsylvania law. Areas of concern arise when raised medians of only four to eight inches in height are used as dividers. When a driver comes in contact with these dividers, the vehicle may become airborne resulting in an accident.
• Work zone safety: All construction zones have state codes for work zone safety requirements that are supposed to be followed. Accidents in construction zones are often the result of improper and confusing signs. Construction zone accidents often result in critically injured construction workers who are working at these sites.
• Positive Guidance: Was a road properly marked to warn drivers or guide drivers through a roadway? This issue arises frequently on very curvy roads where yellow warning signs with black arrows on them should be used to show a driver the curving nature of a roadway. Additionally, yellow speed placards with warning speed signs on them are also types of positive guidance. Other examples of positive guidance include the use of white edgelines and line striping on roadways.
• Intersection Geometry: Does a given intersection lend itself to sight distance problems resulting in a possible hazard? For example:
• Were mirrors installed to help drivers turn at certain intersections where the slope of the roadway is extreme?
• Does an object such as a naturally growing tree, telephone poles, or sign in front of businesses block the driver's sight view?
• Are the roadways narrow or are there narrow bridges? The recommended width of new constructed roads is a minimum of ten feet per roadway lane. On high speed roadways, it is recommended that twelve foot roadway lanes be used. In some states, there are still numerous roads where the surface is only eight feet wide. This can create a possible hazard since it may be difficult to keep a vehicle on the road.
• Potholes: Pennsylvania requires actual written notice of a pothole defect on a given road. If you are injured due to a pothole, it is recommended that an attorney check to see if such notice was on hand and when it was received.
• Wheel Rutting: Wheel rutting occurs when roads have not been resurfaced in over 10 years. These roads have a greater propensity for hydroplaning when the driver is going over 40mph.
• Slippery When Wet Signs: The presence of a Slippery When Wet sign on either a municipal or state roadway shows that a skid resistance test has been done on the roadway and that the roadway does not meet the requirements of having a non-hazardous roadway surface. The placement of this warning sign is an attempt by the department to warn drivers of the hazards which may exits when it rains. Therefore, if a Slippery when wet sign is posted near an accident that occurred either during or after a rain, or on a road where there is a water runoff problem (especially in hot summer weather), it is a prime case for a hazardous road legal claim.

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