Accidents along Highway-50 in Sacramento have risen sharply over the past few months. Already one of the busiest sections of freeway in the area. Sacramento’s Highway-50 capital city freeway has become the scene of a sharp increase in wreckages and minor car accidents.
Driving westward on Highway-50 has always been stressful. In the morning and evening rush hours, thousands of commuters hit the roadways each day to get to work and home during the week. On the weekends, the same stretch of freeway sees high traffic volumes for those traveling through Sacramento to reach other popular weekend locations. Those passing through this section of freeway may witness a dangerous stretch of highway for commuters due to the number of exiting and merging lanes. Some vehicles may need to go and merge onto I-5 or I-99, and others may need to take the Capital city freeway. However, the clear and present danger is the variating speeds of other drivers and surrounding traffic. As reported by some commuters, specific lanes will screech to a halt while other neighboring lanes remain at dangerous highway speeds. Many of the drivers stuck in these slow and impeded lanes try to merge into the fast lanes and misjudge the distance and speed of other cars, thus resulting in an increased amount of rear-end collisions and sideswipe auto accidents.
According to California Highway Patrol data, accidents have jumped significantly higher than in previous years. Officers responded to around 360 traffic accidents on the westbound stretch of highway 50. At roughly two accidents per day, data shows an approximate 70% increase in traffic accidents in the area. CHP reports that many of these accidents are created by speeding drivers or distracted driving. Others speculate that the rise in construction presence has affected the number of car accidents along that stretch of freeway. Namely, one of the most significant construction projects called Fix 50 has contributed to the highway’s congestion. Additionally, the number of DUI-related collisions and big-rig trucks collisions have increased as well.
Sacramento residents have voiced their concerns on the matter, citing a lack of police presence on that stretch of highway. Due to ongoing construction, there is little room for CHP enforcement of construction zone speed limits. This problem is concerning for commuters because most drivers follow speed regulations. Still, because of minimal CHP presence, other drivers tend to disregard the posted speed limit, creating substantial risk for auto accidents because of the significant differences between vehicle speeds.
Tips for Driving Safe in Heavily Congested Areas
- In construction zones, obey the speed limit.
- Turn off distractions such as radios or cellphones.
- Refrain from making unnecessary lane changes.
- Be prepared to stop quickly.
- Plan your route before you get into your vehicle.
- Wear sunglasses to shade your eyes and provide enhanced visibility.
Suppose you’ve been involved in a car accident along Highway-50 or anywhere else, and as a result, suffered a severe personal injury. In that case, you may be entitled to legal compensation for your injuries. Whether it is another passenger vehicle or a Semi-truck, our expert car and trucking accident attorneys want to help.
At Eason and Tambornini, our team of qualified car accident attorneys have a track record of success. With over twenty years of experience handling DUI accidents and severe personal injury cases, our team of attorneys will handle your case professionally by answering all your questions and concerns. To take advantage of your free no-obligation consultation, call us at (916) 438-1819 or visit our website at www.capcitylaw.com.
