At the beginning of October, the Mississippi Highway Patrol launched a campaign expected to run through the month to help combat careless drivers. The campaign, which is called “Pay Attention or Pay a Fine” was initiated after officers acknowledged the increasing number of car crashes that have occurred in various cities within the state. WLOX highlighted that “so far this year, more than 1500 crashes have occurred on the Mississippi Gulf Coast [with] more than 600 of those accidents [happening] in Jackson County alone.” Sadly, officers reported that 34 people have died as a result of these accidents.
State Troopers are hoping that the campaign will help cities begin to see a decline in accidents and deaths. Troopers began the campaign with Troop K, which is responsible for covering the lower six counties in the state, according to Capt. Johnny Poulos. Poulos told the news source that “people don’t drive the way they should.” Unfortunately, this has led to multiple accidents occurring all of which range in severity.
Poulos went on to explain some of the main causes of car accidents today which include:
- Failure to use a turn signal. Poulos stated that “fifty-seven percent of American drivers do not use their turn signal when changing lanes.” He went on to explain that “this is a huge problem when it comes to merging. People just merge without looking in their mirrors or using their turn signals,” which can pose as a hazard to any driver traveling nearby.
- Drivers neglect to use rear-view and side-view mirrors. Poulos said that these mirrors are “the most neglected pieces of safety equipment in a vehicle” as “people do not utilize this equipment when changing lanes.”
- Motorists fail to acknowledge when there is a red light. When drivers are stopped at a red light and are approached from behind by other motorists who aren’t paying attention, it increases the chances of a rear-end collision occurring. In fact, Poulos said that the majority of crashes he and his team investigate on Highway 609 are rear-end accidents.
- Cell phones. Poulos recognized these devices as being the “worse danger” to drivers. He said, “people don’t associate the cell phone with loss of life in traffic crashes. But now it is a major contributing factor. We have to change that mentality.”
Despite the fact that the campaign is only set to last a few more days, drivers throughout Mississippi should be aware that patrols are going to continue looking for motorists who aren’t following the roadway rules in an effort to prevent more accidents from occurring. Aside from the fact that being caught displaying illegal roadway behavior could lead to you being issued a ticket, the real message officers want you to take away from the campaign is that you need to pay attention to your driving and always follow your state traffic laws.
Now, if you are the unfortunate victim of a car crash that transpired in Jackson, MS and you are wanting to learn more about how much your injuries entitle you to collect, now would be a good time to contact Jackson, MS personal injury attorney William E. Ballard. At Ballard Law, PLLC, we understand the challenges a car wreck can bring to a victim’s life which is why we are here to help you in any way we can. Whether you are looking to file a claim to recover the compensation you are rightfully due or sue a driver and/or the company they work for, our office is capable and qualified to do either one.
Therefore, to get your initial consultation scheduled so that we can discuss in person the circumstances the accident has left you facing and what your expectations are, call us at 769-572-5111.
You can reach Ballard Law, PLLC. at:
108 S. President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
769-572-5111
