When operating a motor vehicle, it’s critical to take great caution from the moment you start your vehicle to the moment you exit it.
However, there are situations in which heightened awareness is more important. Here are four times to take extra caution as a driver:
· Heavy traffic: Navigating heavy traffic is easier said than done. Even if you’re moving at an extremely slow pace, there are risks everywhere. Take extra caution by familiarizing yourself with what’s happening around you, watching for negligent drivers and ensuring that you always follow the rules of the road.
· Construction zones: Driving through a construction zone can bring forth many challenges. For example, lanes can quickly shift and/or tighten. Along with this, there are cones, construction workers and equipment all over the place. And that doesn’t even take into consideration what other drivers are doing.
· Inclement weather: From rain to sleet to snow, you never know when you’ll find yourself behind the wheel when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Take, for instance, a situation in which heavy snow begins to fall while driving on the highway. If you don’t take extra caution, such as by slowing down and watching for ice patches, you’re putting your safety at risk.
· When driving in close proximity to pedestrians: Maybe you’re in a city setting where there are people walking, jogging and bicycling everywhere. This is another variable you must contend with, as you never know what these people will do. Someone could dart out in front of your vehicle, cut you off on a bicycle or walk through an intersection when the “don’t walk” light is on.
Trouble is all around
While you’re taking extra caution in the situations above, you must also consider what other drivers are doing. You realize how important is it to remain safe, but some people don’t care about this.
Should a negligent driver cause an accident, move to safety, call 911 and care for your injuries to the best of your ability until help arrives. Eventually, you can file an insurance claim and look into other ways of obtaining compensation for injuries, lost wages and other damages.