Are you prepared to share the road?

On Behalf of | Jul 18, 2022 | Personal Injury |

When you’re driving your vehicle, one of the things you should keep in mind is the variety of people that you’ll share the road with. You know that you may see motorcyclists, truck drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on or around the roads you travel on, so it’s important that you are able to change your driving habits to make the space safer for everyone.

Following the traffic laws can help to keep you safe, but there are also some precautions you can take to make the roads safe.

Sharing the road means staying alert to other drivers’ needs

Not everyone thinks about this, but sharing the road is about more than staying in your lane and traveling at the speed limit. You also need to stay alert and be ready to avoid others who might make mistakes.

For example, if you see the driver next to you wanting to move over, there is no law that says you have to yield. However, if you know that you can move over a lane safely and allow them to come into yours, you could be accommodating and do that to allow them to move into the position they want. They might be trying to avoid a slower driver or a hazard, so being flexible as you drive is necessary.

In another situation, you might see pedestrians trying to cross and recognize that the roads have a lot of traffic at the moment. Slowing down and stopping for the pedestrians helps make sure they cross safely in front of you. Turning on your hazard light for a few seconds may be helpful in alerting other drivers who may not be paying as close of attention to the roads.

Courtesy goes a long way towards preventing serious crashes

It is simply the reality that being courteous to other drivers helps prevent crashes. If you see an error or notice that someone is going to do something they shouldn’t, taking evasive action ahead of time or being flexible enough to yield might be helpful while preventing a serious collision with a driver who wasn’t being as cautious as you.

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