We’d drive on freshly paved roads in the warm, breezy weather without a care in the world if we could. But, the reality is that hazards surround us on the road most of the time.
Encountering a hazard can be especially dangerous if you are distracted or otherwise unprepared to react quickly. Read on to learn about what you can do to stay safe if you spot one of these hazards on the road.
Faded paint lines
Hard-to-see lines on the road can be especially challenging for new drivers who are still learning to navigate lane changes and turns. Even for experienced drivers, lines that are difficult to discern in unfamiliar areas can create confusion.
In these situations, pay close attention to road signs, such as one-way signs, merge signs and traffic pattern signs. If you’re driving in an urban setting, you may also want to slow your speed, as signs and changes in the traffic will emerge quickly. A GPS device is another useful tool to guide your lane choices.
Weather conditions
It can be difficult to see the lines on the road if it is raining or there is flood water in the streets. Heavy rain also poses the risk of hydroplaning or being unable to see vehicles ahead. In fact, Florida topped the number of accidents in 2017 partly due to poor weather conditions.
In case of flooding, you should never walk, ride, bike or drive your car in water that is too deep to see the ground. When there’s heavy rain, it’s a good idea to pull off to the side of the road until the rain softens or stops. You’ll lose a lot more time in an accident than you will for waiting out a storm.
Traffic
While you can’t control the driving habits of others, you can limit the potential for an accident by driving defensively. A few defensive driving techniques include:
- Driving at an appropriate speed
- Anticipating the actions of other drivers around you
- Maintaining an adequate cushion of space between you and the driver ahead
- Removing all distractions from your own vehicle
Using these techniques is especially important when you are in congested traffic or stop-and-go traffic.
Pavement
The actual roads are oftentimes full of hazards. If you encounter the following hazards on or in the road, exercise extreme caution — especially while turning or driving at high speeds:
- Cracks
- Potholes
- Sand
- Oil
- Ice/snow
- Objects
Get help after an injury
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that car crash fatalities have reached a nine-year high. This goes to show that sometimes these hazards are unavoidable. However, just as you have a plan to avoid accidents, you should have a plan to deal with them.
If you are injured in an automobile accident, talk to a personal injury lawyer who will fight for the best outcome to your case. Getting legal representation is the best way to recover while managing accident-related expenses that would otherwise cause financial ruin.
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