Avoid A New Haven Auto Accident When You’re Stuck In Traffic

Traffic. It’s the dreaded word that we always try to avoid whenever we are traveling somewhere. Going through the city? When can we leave to limit our exposure to traffic? Visiting friends far away? How is the traffic? It’s a continuous conversation between us all if we’re traveling anywhere and we’ll do just about anything to avoid getting caught in traffic. The only trouble is, planning for traffic and trying to avoid it is almost impossible. Hitting an inevitable snarl in your travel plans can be frustrating and leave you late for where you are trying to go.

With all of that said, you will want to make sure that when you get stuck in traffic you don’t exacerbate the problem by not only being stuck in traffic but also by getting into a New Haven auto accident while you’re driving at a slow pace. There is only one thing that is worse than being stuck in traffic, being stuck in traffic and then getting into an accident while you’re trying to navigate it. The only saving grace if you do get into an accident while stuck in traffic is that it will likely be an accident at a low speed which will hopefully not leave you injured. While this is not always the case, you may have one silver lining in the event that an accident were to occur.

Whether you’re traveling for work or headed out to a summer vacation destination there is the inevitable chance that you will run into traffic. When this happens you will want to make sure you are prepared and follow some simple guidelines when driving in traffic. While rules of the road don’t necessarily change some of the best practices might change and if you end up following the best practices you can put yourself in a situation where you will be safe and avoid any property damage along the way.

So, what can you do when you’re stuck in traffic to make sure you are not putting yourself at risk of getting into an accident and slowing your travels down even further? Here are a few things you will want to make sure you are doing so your trip remains quick and safe.

1.) Keep your eyes on the road. This might seem like a simple one, but when you’re stuck in slow moving traffic it can be tempting to take your eyes off the road and let your mind wander. When you do this you are not able to adapt to traffic patterns that may be changing quickly. It is not uncommon for traffic to go from moving along at a good speed to all of a sudden coming to a complete stop. If this happens and you’re not focused on the road in front of you, you could be putting yourself at grave risk of getting into an accident and either getting injured or causing property damage. Staying focused on the road ahead is the best thing you can do to keep yourself safe while driving in traffic.

2.) Stay back. It may be tempting to ride very closely to the person in front of you, but this is putting yourself in a situation where you may have a significant risk of getting into an accident. When driving in traffic a short stopping distance often happens when someone hits their brakes and suddenly comes to a stop. If you do not give yourself enough distance between you and the car in front of you you may run the risk of rear-ending that car and causing an accident. Keeping a safe distance between you and the other cars you are sharing the road with will put you in a good position to remain safe.

3.) Stay calm. This is a tough one, but it is critical. Especially in the summer when you are hot and may already be agitated, the grind of sitting in traffic can become overwhelming and put you in a bad mood. It is critical that you don’t let that mood overtake you and put you in a place where you are acting out of control. A few deep breaths will help here and can keep you calm so you can approach the situation in a responsible way. There is no room for road rage when you’re stuck in traffic even if you’re feeling like screaming at every car that passes you by because your lane is the “slow” lane.

When you’re driving in traffic it is important to follow these simple guidelines so that you can avoid making a mistake that will put you at risk of getting into a New Haven auto accident and cause you to get injured or cause property damage. While not all accidents are preventable, taking a few simple steps to make sure you are keeping yourself safe will go a long way to helping you avoid these types of accidents. Also, by all means, if you can avoid getting stuck in traffic in the first place through good planning for your trip, this is probably the best way for you to avoid an accident.

When an injury occurs or property damage pops up you may need to speak with an attorney who has experience with this type of incident. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.