One of the world’s largest suspension bridges has been seeing closures to certain vehicles this past week, due to high speed wind conditions. The Mackinac Bridge, the bridge that connects the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula, is the world's longest suspension bridge between anchorages. This makes it very susceptible to weather advisories such as wind.
WILX reported that the bridge was closed this past Wednesday, March 16, 2016 to all vehicles except passenger cars, passenger vans and empty pickup trucks. This was due to high wind speeds in the area at the time. More closures are on the forefront however, as high wind speeds are supposed to be in effect throughout this weekend and into next week.
The Mackinac Bridge Authority has kept a very keen eye out for high winds ever since a woman died after her 1987 Yugo flew over the railing and was thrown off of the bridge. The Yugo is a very small vehicle and reports stated that the woman was driving far too fast for the given weather conditions. The blame was given to high wind speeds and speeding. Though that is the only recorded case of a car blowing off of the bridge, drivers can never be too cautious when it comes to driving in extreme weather conditions.
As such, it is very important for drivers to always monitor weather conditions when driving, and to always check the weather report before heading out. High wind speeds, heavy rain, and snow are all very threatening to drivers, especially those who drive smaller vehicles.
Bridges similar to the Mackinac Bridge, such as the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, The Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, and other tall bridges or bridges over large bodies of water are all susceptible to higher winds than recorded on the ground. Drivers need to always pay attention to the weather and keep an eye out for any developing weather if they are taking a longer trip. It is a safety issue more than anything, because the weather can have a huge impact on any given drive, especially in a state like Michigan where the weather is moody. By monitoring their drives and keeping updated on the weather report, drivers can help prevent car accidents.
While keeping up on the weather is a good way to help avoid motor vehicle accidents, it doesn't eliminate automobile accidents completely. If you or someone you know has been injured in a car crash or any other time of vehicular collision, contact The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. One of our highly experienced attorneys can help you find out what benefits you may be entitled to under Michigan law. Contact us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM, for a free consultation.