What Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Henderson?

Henderson experiences more than 50 accidents every day. Therefore, if you live in the Henderson area, you should be extra careful on the road to avoid getting into a road accident.

According to a report by the Henderson Metro Police, there are various car accident trouble spots in metropolitan Henderson. These spots have the highest number of auto accidents resulting in some of the most severe physical injuries.

As a Henderson resident, you should know these dangerous roads and intersections to reduce your chances of causing a road accident.

Why Are Accidents More Common at Intersections?

Many factors contribute to the increase in car accidents at intersections.

These include:

• Negligent behavior: While some intersection car accidents are a result of honest mistakes, others are caused by drivers who don't follow traffic rules. Distracted, aggressive, and intoxicated driving can also lead to accidents at intersections.
• Incorrect judgment: When approaching an intersection, you should make quick judgments about when and where to turn. However, factors such as unfamiliar roads or dark intersections can affect your ability to make split-second decisions, resulting in a collision.
• 
  Illegal or Unsafe Turns: Illegal turns are hazardous because drivers are unable to anticipate each other's actions, leading to sudden braking or swerving to avoid a collision. For instance, a driver attempting to make a left turn without a green light signal may fail to yield the right of way or misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic, leading to a T-bone collision.

Accident-Prone Intersections in Henderson

According to the Henderson Police Department, most collisions occur in some of the city's busiest intersections. Here's a table detailing some intersections with the highest numbers of accidents recorded in a year:

The Henderson Police Department is working hard to make these intersections safer. The officers focus their efforts on violations that cause most of these accidents. According to them, speeding and distracted driving are the most common causes of collisions at intersections.

While avoiding these accident-prone roads and intersections may reduce your risk of being in a car accident, other factors beyond your control could still expose you to accidents, even on other roads in the Henderson metropolitan area. The best way to avoid being in an accident is to drive carefully and observe all traffic rules.

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents at Intersections?

Some of the most common accident types at Henderson intersections include:

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end accidents at intersections mostly happen when a vehicle slows down or stops abruptly, catching the driver at the back off guard.

This mostly happens when the driver behind isn't paying attention to the road or when they are following too closely, leaving little to no space for braking.

T-Bone Collisions

A T-bone accident happens when two vehicles approaching an intersection from different directions collide, forming a T shape. T-bone collisions are some of the most dangerous types of accidents due to their severity and the lack of enough reaction time from drivers involved in the crash. Most of these crashes occur at intersections due to poor driving habits, such as:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield right-of-way
• Taking illegal left turns
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence

Other factors beyond the driver's control can also cause T-bone collisions, including the following:

• Poor visibility due to inclement weather
• Mechanical failures such as brake problems

Head-On Collisions

Head-on-collisions mostly happen at intersections when one vehicle makes a wrong turn and crosses into oncoming traffic. This is often due to a misjudged turn or failure to obey traffic signals. Head-on collisions can result in serious injuries because the vehicles involved are moving towards each other, and their combined speeds can result in a huge impact.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Intersections are high-risk zones for multi-vehicle accidents because they're a point of convergence of traffic from different directions. While traffic rules and lights ensure that traffic moves smoothly through intersections, a single mistake from one driver can cause multi-vehicle accidents.

How to Avoid Intersection Accidents

Here are several strategies that you can use to avoid intersection accidents:

• Be careful when approaching intersections. You should slow down and get ready to stop, even if you have the right of way.
• Don't always assume that other drivers will follow traffic rules. Therefore, you should look left and right before proceeding.
• Make your actions predictable to other drivers by using turn signals correctly.
• Put away your phone and avoid other distractions that might take your attention off the road when approaching an intersection.
• Don't follow the vehicle in front of you too closely. Allow enough braking distance just in case they stop abruptly.
• Be extra cautious when driving in poor weather. Fog, snow, or rain can significantly reduce visibility, increasing the chances of colliding with other vehicles.
• Be careful when approaching large vehicles since they can block your view of oncoming traffic.

Can I File an Auto Insurance Claim After an Accident in Henderson?

Yes. You should file an insurance claim against an at-fault driver to ensure you get compensated for the damages incurred in the accident.

However, while you must notify your insurer of any accidents that can potentially lead to a claim, there are situations where you don't necessarily need to contact them. An example is when you are involved in an accident, but you are not injured, or when there is little to no damage to the vehicles involved.

Be Careful When Approaching Intersections

Intersections are points where traffic from different directions converges. Therefore, pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists are generally at a higher risk of getting into accidents when navigating these areas. 

To avoid getting involved in an accident at an intersection, you should practice safe driving habits, such as yielding the right-of-way, maintaining a safe speed and following distance, and paying attention when approaching intersections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fred Felton          

Content Creator / Editor

Fred Felton is a copywriter, editor and social media specialist based in Durban, South Africa. He has over 20 years of experience in creating high end content. He has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world. Currently Fred specialises in the motorbiking adventure space, focussing on all types of biking both on and offroad. He is also a keynote speaker and has presented talks and workshops in South Africa.