Should You Use the New Express Lane?

Changes are coming to Atlanta this summer.  The Georgia Department of Transportation expects to complete its high occupancy toll lane during the summer of 2011.  The lane will run for 16 miles along the heavily congested I -85 roadway, just north of the city. 

Our Atlanta car accident lawyers believe that the decision about whether or not to use this new express lane comes down to two factors: cost and safety. 

Officials indicate that it will cost between ten cents and one dollar per mile to use the new express lane.  The cost will be determined by the traffic congestion on the road at the time you are traveling.  If traffic is heavy, then you will pay more to drive in the express toll lane.

The safety of the express toll lane, and how it compares to safety on the rest of the road, remains to be seen.  Distracted driving can be a serious concern in stop and go traffic and rear-end accidents are not uncommon.  However, accidents that occur at higher speeds often result in more significant injuries which may make the express lane more dangerous.

Our Atlanta accident attorneys will be watching the Atlanta traffic changes this summer, and we encourage anyone who has been hurt in an Atlanta highway crash to contact us at 770.518.1133 or via our online contact form for more information.