Safe Driving at Rush Hour

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Safe Driving at Rush Hour

Whether you are on your way to work in the morning or heading home in the evening, there are always periods of time when road traffic is likely to be higher. It is also at these times that driving may be a little bit more dangerous. 

Something as simple as one impatient driver making a careless mistake due to their frustration at wanting to get home can cause setbacks that may last for hours, especially if their actions cause an accident between numerous cars. This can prove to be quite costly, both to human life and for any necessary repairs – if this is something you would like more information on, click the link to call a New Orleans accident lawyer. Staying vigilant at all times can help to reduce this risk, both to those in your vehicle and others.

Keep it Slow

Quicker driving may not get you to your destination any faster. During the rush hour period, there is likely to be more traffic and, therefore, more queues. Speeding will not only jeopardise your licence. It can also lead to more accidents through your own actions or where others have to move as a result of your driving. Staying within the speed limit can help you to have more time to react to situations and properly judge any potential hazards. If an incident does occur, it is generally less likely to be as severe if you are driving at a slower speed.

Maintain a Safe Distance

Tailgating is not good driving practice. Keeping a safe distance from the car in front of you can help give you some extra braking room should the situation arise. If another vehicle uses the gap as an opportunity to join your lane, simply slow down gradually to increase the gap again, while being mindful of any vehicles driving behind you. This distance should increase in wet weather, where stopping distances will be significantly higher. 

Pay Attention to Signs

If an accident has occurred, road signs may direct you to alter your speed or ask that you vacate a lane. These should always be followed, even if the road ahead seems clear. It can also be a good idea to move lanes carefully, but in good time, to avoid a bottleneck occurring where that lane has ended. Sometimes, speed limitations may be put into place to avoid a potential incident, or where one has been cleared up. These should still be followed as they can help to prevent potentially fatal accidents, particularly on highways. 

Altering your driving to keep yourself safe during rush hour is always advisable. Despite this, you will need to be mindful that you have no control over the driving styles of others. This is why it is best to always remain vigilant, and to treat any movement of other drivers as a potential hazard. Assuming that another driver will stop or slow down could be the very thing that causes an accident. Due to this, it is good practice to always consider what you can do to avoid incidents and make the roads a little bit safer.