INDOT rolls out new plan to pay for accident damages

Almost all of us have been there or know of someone who for one reason or another has lost control and smashed into a guardrail, bridge or median barrier. The Indiana Department of Transportation is now taking a harder line on the phrase, "you break it, you buy it."

"Partnering with State Police and other local law enforcement agencies we have worked to better identify the damage with the accident, making sure the to keep people properly billed for the damage that occurs," said INDOT Spokesperson Will Wingfield.

It's $2,500 to fix a guardrail and $600,000 to repair a bridge support. The amounts are the same as they have always been, but the way they are being collected is changing. A study, done by researchers at Purdue, revealed $3.5 million in repairs were billed out over a 15-month period and a little more than half of that was actually collected.

"Which is obviously paid by you and me and everyone else who pays fuel taxes or other fees that support transportation," said Wingfield.

The biggest change drivers will see are pink roadway damage cards. They will be zip-tied at every accident scene involving damage. They will help track how much damage was done and who is responsible.

"What that does is it helps keep the transportation system maintained at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers, but also it helps us get the damage repaired as quickly as possible," said Wingfield.

Nancy McLaughlin said knowing she will have to foot the bill if she has trouble keeping her car on the road will make her a safer driver.

"I think there has to be a level of accountability," McLaughlin said. "If I am distracted or I am texting and I hit something, I have to own that."