Do you know anyone who blamed road-signage for his/her accident? Accident Investigator Stan Bezuidenhout has raised this question in an email we would like to share with visitors to the Road Safety Blog:
“Dear colleague,
As a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist, I read a lot – as you probably do as well.
As part of a current research project, I have come across numerous references to driver distraction relating to extra-vehicular influences.
Among these, the age-old argument relating to one particular aspect (road-side signage) is among the elements I am currently researching.
As much as I am fully aware of numerous research papers relating to this, and that some might address “artificial” distractions, like shop-fronts, shop-front signage, highway signage, etc., while others address billboards more specifically.
I am also aware that there are many research and statistical papers analyses that hold opposing views, i.e. that “signs cause distractions that could lead to accidents” and that “there is no causal link between accidents and road signs.”
Since I have had extensive personal experience at thousands of cases all over South Africa and abroad, this piqued my interest.
Although I have never come across a case myself where involuntary (take note) distractions as a direct result of the presence, placement or influence of any kind of sign, I was wondering if my experience is typical or novel.
For this reason, I appeal to you to share with me any (referable) case that you might have ever investigated anywhere or reconstructed at any time, where there was factual proof and/or a direct causal link between the presence (as opposed to absence), placement (location or place of installation) and/or the specific known influence (like a driver having no option but to look at a sign, due to any reasonable explanation) of a sign, billboard or any form of non-animated advertising.
I am specifically not interested in cases involving the sign as a final impact dynamics, i.e. “running into a street-sign.” I am trying to establish by factual reference, rather than by theoretical possibility, any evidence that “signs caused accidents” anywhere.
In the interest of independence and showing no bias, I would appreciate any references, explanations and/or documents you may offer in support of your real-world experiences.
Please note that it is not my interest to prove that signs do-, or do not, or could- or could not “cause accidents” or that they either “distract drivers” or not.
My only interest remains any and all real-world cases involving any such instances.
Please also feel free to attach or add any further comments, thoughts, ideas, arguments and/or references as you may feel satisfied to.
If you represent a group, organization, institution or department, please feel free to include or refer to any of the above as it applies to your whole scope of services.
While I welcome your view/s, I would prefer replies only in reference to actual real-world (proven and or reasonably proven) cases.
This is a very important effort, and I would greatly appreciate your soonest reply.
Thanking you most kindly,
Stanley Bezuidenhout
(Forensic Collision Homicide Reconstructionist)
IBF Investigations cc, South Africa
PO Box 5037, Tyger Valley, 7536
http://www.ibfsa.com
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