If you get nervous driving over a bridge or have a friend or relative who panics whenever you cross one, you are experiencing what is known as gephyrophobia. Gephyrophobia is the fear of bridges or tunnels. It may sound silly to some, but the fear can cause intense anxiety and panic. Depending on the extent of your fear you may take an alternate route to avoid a bridge or behave nervously or erratically when you encounter one. But is it really that dangerous to drive on a bridge? Continue reading to learn if your fear is justified.
If you or someone you know was injured in an accident on a bridge, work with a Bergen County injury lawyer to learn if and how you can pursue compensation.
How is it More Dangerous to Drive on Bridges than Other Roads?
Driving a car can be risky no matter where you are. However, some reasons that a bridge may be more dangerous than a regular road can include the following.
- Narrow lanes
- No shoulder
- Poor design
- Weight limitations
- Lack of structural integrity
- Ineffective drainage systems
- The road freezes very quickly
What Are the Risks of Driving on a Bridge?
The main risk of driving on a bridge, as with any road, is the risk of a collision. Car accidents occur every day in the United States, with an average of over 6 million passenger car accidents occurring each year. However, the accidents that you may get into when driving over a bridge could be slightly different than on another road.
A major risk when driving on a bridge is the lack of space. The road and lanes tend to be narrower than the regular road and there is not always a shoulder to offer extra space. If the car in front of you stops suddenly and you do not have enough time to brake, you cannot swerve to avoid the collision without risking hitting the cars in the lane next to you. This could result in a rear-end accident and even a multi-car pileup depending on the situation.
Side impacts can also result in devastating consequences. Again, the lack of shoulder space means that if your car is pushed up against the wall or barrier there is no way for you to get yourself out. Your car could sustain serious damage and any passengers could be severely injured.
Perhaps the scariest thing about driving across a bridge, especially for someone with gephyrophobia, is the idea that the bridge might collapse or that your car could fall off. The good news is that these occurrences are extremely rare. However, they are not unheard of. There are generally some guardrails and walls that aim to prevent a car from veering off. However, if you are involved in a serious collision it could force your car overboard. A bridge may collapse under the following circumstances.
- There is too much weight for the structure to handle
- It was poorly designed or lacks structural integrity
- There is a natural disaster such as an earthquake or tsunami
- Something strikes the bridge causing structural issues
If you require legal assistance or representation, reach out to an experienced attorney at Feitlin, Youngman, Karas & Gerson, LLC today.
