The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) released its annual list of Top 100 Truck Bottlenecks in the U.S. Massachusetts made the list with I-93 at SR 3 in Boston coming in as the 99th most congested corridor in the nation.
According to ATRI, the list is compiled by analyzing “a massive database of truck GPS data at freight-significant locations throughout the U.S. and an algorithm that quantifies the impact of congestion on truck-based freight.” More than a list, the most-congested corridors can help transportation planners to target problem areas for improvement.
Congested roadways create conditions for increased crashes. If you are injured in a crash with a commercial truck in Massachusetts, contact our skilled legal team at Percy Law Group, PC. You may be eligible for compensation.
Big Drops in Speed Create Bottlenecks
Bottlenecks cause traffic to often grind to a halt. The average speed on I-93 at SR 3 is about 50 mph in the late morning to noon but drops significantly to slower than 25 mph by 4 p.m. Truck drivers and other motorists are at greater risk of a collision.
Having a chokepoint for trucks in the Boston area isn’t surprising. Global Traffic Scorecard identified Beantown as the most congested city in the nation in 2020. Boston commuters spent an average of 149 hours each year in their vehicles. In 2021, the city dropped to fourth place, with 78 hours lost in congestion. New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia now rank above Boston.
The state’s Department of Transportation has also released its own list of the most congested roads:
- Route 28
- Fresh Pond Parkway
- I-93
- Route 1A
- American Legion Highway in Revere
- Morton Street and Gallivan Boulevard
- Route 27
- Route 9
- The Sagamore Bridge
Prevalence of Truck Accidents
According to the National Safety Council, there were more than 5,000 large trucks involved in fatal accidents in this country, a 43% increase since 2010. Large trucks (defined as having a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds) comprised 10% of all vehicles in fatal collisions yet make up only 4% of all registered vehicles.
Large truck crashes killed more than 4,000 people in 2019. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the majority of the deaths – 67% – were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles. Almost three-fourths of the deaths in large truck crashes involved tractor-trailers.
There are several reasons why truck accidents can be so deadly:
- Trucks can weigh up to 30 times more than a vehicle.
- Trucks are taller with greater ground clearance.
- Loaded tractor-trailers take up to 40% longer than cars to stop.
- Truck drivers are allowed to drive up to 11 hours straight, possibly causing fatigue.
Vehicle accidents with much larger-sized trucks also cause catastrophic injury. The collisions also don’t always involve another vehicle. Earlier this year, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer in the middle of the afternoon on Route 3 Northbound near exit 84.
Legal Counsel to Fight for Maximum Compensation
If you are injured in a truck crash because of someone else’s negligence, you might have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. At Percy Law Group, PC, we use our extensive background and knowledge to help our clients fight for maximum compensation.
The Bay State has “no-fault” laws for some car accident cases. Anyone injured in a car accident must seek compensation through their own insurance coverage.
Exceptions to the no-fault law include the following:
- You have more than $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses
- You have suffered significant disfigurement, broken bones, or hearing/sight loss
If an exception applies in your case, we have three years from the date of your accident to file a claim. Under the state’s comparative fault rules, you won’t be eligible for compensation if you are determined to be 50% or more responsible for the accident.
Unsure if you have a case? Contact us for a free initial consultation. We will offer a preliminary assessment and potential next steps. Schedule by calling (508) 206-9900.