People who watch the delivery drivers working for the largest delivery organizations may notice a trend. Specifically, drivers sometimes seem to loop around repeatedly instead of taking the most direct route to their destination.
The reason for those complicated routes is simple. Drivers must follow specific routes planned by their employers and deliver the packages they carry in a specific order. The company plans routes based on statistical risk and efficiency. Efficiency is important, but so is the minimization of collision risk.
Routes often prioritize the elimination or minimization of left turns because they have a strong association with crashes. People driving their personal vehicles can take a safety lesson from these companies.
Turning left is legal but dangerous
Left turns leave drivers exposed in traffic. Researchers have found that the majority of collisions at intersections (roughly 61%) involve a vehicle turning left. Even when there are special lights, a four-way stop or a designated turn lane, collisions with other vehicles are a major safety concern when turning left at an intersection. Turning left into a driveway or parking lot is also a risk.
Other drivers may not monitor their surroundings. They may fail to yield the right of way. They may even misjudge their speed as they approach the turning vehicle.
While drivers don’t necessarily have to forgo turning left at any cost, they do generally want to make decisions based on what increases the chances of a wreck. When another driver doesn’t yield or when someone turning left fails to use their signals, they may be responsible for the collision that results.
Pursuing an insurance claim or a lawsuit can help people cover the cost of a recent motor vehicle collision. Drivers who are aware of what choices increase their traffic safety risks can make appropriate choices to protect themselves.
