Most drivers are only a second or two away from causing an accident at any given time. Even when you feel like you’re completely in control, just a second of inattention can lead to a crash. This is why distracted driving is so dangerous. Someone could be driving safely, glance down at their phone, not see a light turn red, and hit someone else in the intersection. It happens fast.
This is part of the reason that complicated road designs can be an issue. As soon as you introduce something that the driver is not used to seeing, it makes it harder for them to react properly. This, in turn, can lead to a second of confusion and inaction. That could lead to an accident.
For example, roundabouts are widely used in the United Kingdom. While there are thousands of them in America, the general consensus is that Americans do not have a clue how to use them. This means that a driver who approaches a roundabout may feel intimidated, confused, irritated and stressed. If they make the wrong call — such as entering the roundabout instead of yielding — they can cause a crash. A common refrain after this type of accident is the offending driver saying they’re sorry but they just didn’t know what to do. That mindset can make them freeze up or make poor decisions.
Now, that confusion doesn’t let the driver off of the hook. It’s still their fault and the driver they hit may be able to seek financial compensation. But it helps to see why you need to be extra careful around complicated road systems.