The rhythmic thrum of an engine idling in stop-and-go traffic. The rising impatience as minutes bleed into hours. Traffic congestion is a reality for millions of commuters worldwide, a frustrating symptom of bustling urban life.
However, beyond the inconvenience lies a hidden danger. In major cities like St. Louis, gridlock isn’t just a test of patience; it’s increasingly becoming a factor in a troubling trend – rising traffic accidents. This blog post delves into the intricate relationship between St. Louis’s growing congestion and the concerning increase in accidents on its roads.
Overview of Traffic Congestion
According to a study by 24/7 Wall St., St. Louis has the worst traffic in Missouri. To put things in perspective, in 2022, the average time spent by St. Louis drivers in traffic year-round was 17 hours. Moreover, the general commute time to any place was found to be just over 20 minutes.
Peak traffic occurs in the morning and evening, usually in the hours of 4:00–6:00 PM and 7:00–9:00 AM. Major thoroughfares including I-64, I-44, and I-270 turn into virtual parking lots during these periods, with extremely slow traffic movement.
The intersection of I-64 and I-270, in particular, has gained notoriety as one of the most congested spots in the city, regularly causing headaches for commuters and commercial drivers alike.
In St. Louis, New Halls Ferry Road is an especially hazardous pedestrian thoroughfare. During peak hours, its five lanes and lengthy blocks are severely congested. Walking to parks, grocery stores, Metro stations, and bus stops becomes tumultuous.
Congestion and Traffic Accidents
The relationship between traffic congestion and accidents is a complex one. There are multiple factors contributing to an increased risk of collisions.
Rear-End Collisions
The most common type of accident in congested areas is the rear-end collision. The stop-and-go nature of heavy traffic creates a perfect storm for these incidents, with drivers constantly required to brake and move. Even a momentary lapse in attention can result in a driver failing to react in time and hitting the vehicle in front.
Fatigue
Fatigue can also be a bummer. Inch-worming through traffic takes a toll. It just takes around 7-10 minutes for anxiety or irritation to set in. Drivers become exhausted from prolonged periods of concentration and frustrated by the delay. This state of mind can lead to slower reaction times, missed cues, and poor decision-making, and the cocktail for an accident is near-ready!
Distractions
Another fairly common source of passing time while waiting for the vehicles to move is using phones. In no time the driver can get completely into the reels or snaps, whatever they are hooked on. They can very well be slow to start and have a rear-end collision. Or, the constant honking from the nearby cars might send them into panic and make rash decisions.
According to Missourians, one of the most alarming practices they frequently witness on the roads is the usage of cell phones. Almost 90% of users use their smartphones while driving. And, more than half of the time, it is the other person who loses their life in distracted driving-related fatalities.
Your Legal Rights in Such Accidents
If you are a resident of St. Louis and have been caught up in such accidents, you can sue the other driver(s) for negligence and carelessness. You can team up with experienced St Louis personal injury lawyers to fight for compensation for the damages to your car and your health.
According to TorHoerman Law, these experienced professionals understand the local legal landscape to navigate the complexities more efficiently. With stringent regulations like the statute of limitations and comparative fault at play, these experts can be game-changers for you.
Moreover, such individual actions fuel society and encourage people to take action against wrong-doings. And, when more and more people take the legal course, authorities are bound to act and bring changes.
Factors Exacerbating Congestion in St. Louis
St. Louis’ congestion crisis is a multifaceted beast, fueled by a perfect storm of factors that have left the city’s roads bursting at the seams. The population continues to grow and urban sprawl is pushing the boundaries of the metro area.
Due to this expansion, the existing transportation infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Inadequate public transit options and a heavy reliance on personal vehicles have only added to the strain.
But it’s not just the sheer volume of cars on the road that’s causing headaches. Ongoing construction projects and seemingly endless road repairs have become a constant thorn in the side of commuters.
They have constricted traffic flow, causing frustrating bottlenecks. Outdated road designs and poorly optimized intersections only compound the problem, creating choke points that bring traffic to a standstill.
As St. Louis grapples with this complex web of factors, it becomes clear that addressing congestion will require a multifaceted approach. It needs to tackle both the immediate symptoms and the underlying causes.
Read also: Shifting TCPA Enforcement: What to Expect for Consumer Protection and Industry Practices
Steps to Combat the Traffic Menace
There’s a lot of optimism surrounding the city’s decision to allocate $40 million from the American Rescue Plan Act towards traffic-calming initiatives. Some believe it could be a significant turning point.
The plan has authorized the use of the funds as follows:
- $6 million for sidewalk upgrades,
- $3.5 million for safety improvements at the city’s ten most dangerous crash locations, and
- $8 million for arterial street resurfacing, among other appropriations.
- $1.25 million for the city’s first mobility and transportation master plan.
Moreover, the increasing public pressure has forced government authorities to closely monitor the new laws aimed at improving enforcement. These include the recent law in Missouri banning distracted driving and the St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s vote to reinstate red-light cameras.
Traffic congestion in St. Louis is a complex problem with far-reaching consequences. While lawsuits can offer compensation for individual accidents, a broader approach is necessary to ensure safer roads for everyone.
Long-term solutions likely lie in improving public transportation, managing urban sprawl, and modernizing road infrastructure. By prioritizing these areas, St. Louis can move towards a future with free-flowing traffic and a significant decrease in congestion-related accidents.
