The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has been collecting and processing truck GPS information since
2002. They use the data from 600,000 trucks in support of the Federal
Highway Administration’s Freight Performance Measures initiative
to quantify the impact of traffic congestion on truck-borne freight at
250 specific locations across the U.S., Indiana included. Bottlenecked
traffic has a major impact on the trucking industry. One statistic says
the cost is equivalent to 264,500 truck drivers sitting still for an entire year.

The GPS data results show that Indiana has three of the top 100 congested
roadways where truck bottlenecks occur. They can all be found in Indianapolis
at these interstate locations:

  • #34 I-65 at I-70 (North)
  • #38 I-65 at I-70 (South)
  • #100 I-465 at I-69

Most recently, a wreck between three semis closed both lanes on northbound
I-65 for two hours. While semi drivers Jim Collins and Troy Lweandowski
were not injured in the crash, Thomas Jones of Paoli was pinned inside
his rig. Reports say he had to be extricated before taken to IU Health
Arnett Hospital for leg injuries. Thomas did not see the slow, bottlenecked
traffic and hit one truck, knocking it into the next.

BOTTLENECK TRAFFIC IS A CHAIN REACTION

Bottlenecks in these areas typically happen when there is a limited physical
capacity for the amount of vehicles on the roadway. Truck bottlenecks
can quickly turn into car and other motor vehicle bottlenecks, slowing
everyone on the roadway into turtle-like speed. Analysts do see an association
between truck and other vehicle backups resulting in accidents. Accident
reports on I-65, I-465 and I-69 have shown the congested areas having
stop-and-go traffic, increasing a risk for front- and rear-end collisions
for all types of vehicles.

In addition, with the rise of distracted drivers, poor driving habits and
bottleneck traffic we see a major chain reaction of accidents and injuries
on these Indiana roadways.

HOW INDIANA COMPARES

ATRI says that the worst bottleneck in the country is in Atlanta, where
northbound I-85 meets I-285 in what’s known to most drivers as “spaghetti
junction.” The report continues to name, “Fort Lee, Chicago
(I-290 and I-90), Louisville (I-65 and I-64), Cincinnati (I-71 and I-75),
Los Angeles (State 60 and State 57), Auburn, Wash. (State 18 and State
167), Houston (I-45 and U.S. 59), Atlanta (I-75 and I-285) and Seattle
(I-5 and I-90),” as top bottleneck locations as well. The State
of Illinois has been working on the reconstruction of the Chicago Circle
Interchange since 2012 when ATRI identified it as the nation’s No.
1 bottleneck. The project is expected to be complete by 2019 and cost
more than $500 million.

INDIANAPOLIS CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

If you or a loved one sustained injuries as the result of a bottleneck
and someone’s negligence behind the wheel,
Wagner Reese can help. Don’t fight that battle alone, let Wagner Reese deal with
the insurance company, while you focus on recovering. Call the law firm
of Wagner Reese today at (888) 204-8440 for your FREE consultation!