If you usually drive on two-way roads, you may feel a bit out of your element if you find yourself on a one-way street. In some cases, you’ll have a one-way road with two lanes, meaning you can drive on the “wrong” side of the road.
This can all feel a bit jarring, and you may find yourself wondering why they would use one-way roads in the first place. Are they safer than two-way roads?
There is an increase in safety
It is true that one-way roads can tell help keep people safe. This is especially true when looking at pedestrian accidents, which tend to decline notably when a road that used to be a two-way street is converted into a one-way street. It makes crossing the road a lot simpler for pedestrians, so they don’t make mistakes, and it makes it easier for drivers to navigate safely through these pedestrian crossings.
You can also look at examples like the interstate system. All of the roads are one-way roads, and this is a big reason why the interstate is so much safer than any other roadway. Everyone moves in the same direction and all the traffic is controlled by the on-ramps and off-ramps. You don’t have the risk of head-on accidents, and you have far fewer vehicles crossing in front of oncoming traffic. This can still happen from cross streets, but it doesn’t happen simply when someone is making a left-hand turn.
Of course, you can get injured in an accident on any street if another driver is negligent. Be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.