New York Cyclists Say Rumble Strips May Present Serious Hazards

November 8, 2013

Failure to maintain lane position is one of the leading causes of serious and fatal motor vehicle accidents today. To combat this problem, New York is planning to install devices known as rumble strips along the center dividing lines of the state’s highways. The New York Bicycle Accident Lawyers with the William Mattar Law Offices point out that many citizens feel doing so may put cyclists at danger of being hit by vehicles though.

According to an article from Your News Now, the devices emit a sound and create vibrations in vehicle when a motorists drives over the equipment at speeds above 45 mph. Experts say the state’s campaign to install the devices along highways’ center lines could reduce head-on collisions by as much as 35 percent.

Some cyclists say that installing the devices may put them in danger of being hit, since the devices can startle motorists causing them to overcompensate when returning to their lanes of traffic. This overcompensation could lead to cyclists being hit if the vehicle is attempting to pass them when they hit the rumble strips.

William Mattar and his New York Personal Injury Lawyers recognize the numerous dangers that cyclists face when traveling along public roads and encourage cyclists and motorists to work together to prevent accidents by sharing the road.