No one ever wants to become involved in an automobile accident. Drivers, law enforcement personnel and car manufacturers are all part of a concerted effort to reduce the number of accidents that take place in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. It turns out that turn signals may play a much larger role in driver safety than many people realize.
Members of the government have known for years that changing the color of a car’s headlights from red to amber can reduce the risk of accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration produced a 2008 report showing that cars with amber turn light indicators were about 20% less likely to be rear-ended by another vehicle when parking, changing lanes or making a turn.
The NHTSA conducted a more involved study a year later that sought to eliminate other factors that could have reduced accident numbers and focus on the independent role that amber turn signals play in accident prevention. When all other factors are equal, cars with amber turn signals still experienced 5% fewer accidents than their counterparts possessing red indicators.
The agency is considering making amber turn signal indicators a part of the required criteria for vehicles to receive a five-star safety rating. The good news for drivers is that a change from red turn signal lights to amber will not cost much more than $10. Most drivers will agree that $10 is a small price to pay to decrease the odds of their car being rammed from behind by another driver.
No one plans to become involved in an accident when they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, but accidents are always a possibility despite the precautions taken. Individuals who suffer injury or lost property in an automobile accident may be able to recover some of the damages incurred with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney.