Get Ready To Avoid These Spring Road Hazards

While many people would like it too, the winter cold has not quite subsided so there is still time to consider how you’re going to drive when our world does thaw out. The impact of the early spring thaw can be felt in a number of different ways. You will likely need to wear different clothes. You may want to open up some windows in your home and let some fresh air in. You may also want to drive a little bit differently.

Driving differently between seasons is one way you can help avoid a New Haven auto accident and there are some significant differences between driving in the winter cold and the early spring thaw. There are steps you can take to make sure that when you are driving in the spring you are ready for the change. For one, you can start to think about your tire pressure. As the temperatures warm your tire pressure from the winter may not suffice so you will want to keep an eye on the pressure and adjust it accordingly. This is just one way you can prepare to drive in the early spring conditions. Others include, making sure you have plenty of windshield washer fluid ready to go for the treacherous spring rain storms that are bound to happen and ensuring that all of your lights are fully functional, especially your turn signals so pedestrians and cyclists can be notified when you’re ready to turn.

With all of the steps you can take to ensure that your car is prepared for spring driving, there are also some things you can do when you are behind the wheel. There are plenty of new road hazards that may exist when you are driving and the temperatures are warming up. The road you were driving on last month may not have the same hazards as the road you are driving on now. This is due to the significant changes in weather patterns that can impact your safety while driving. Here are some things to be on the lookout for;

1.) Potholes. Yes, it is in fact pothole season and some really significant potholes can open up on the road in front of you. If you’re not careful you can hit a pothole and have it damage your vehicle or worse yet, throw you off your driving path and put you at risk of getting into an accident. These potholes may not be there yesterday, but then all of a sudden open up today, so you will need to make sure you are prepared for changes in your road, even if you drive on the same roads every day.

2.) Gravel or debris. Throughout the winter months there are times where crews will put down sand or gravel to allow you to get some grip in the wintry weather on the road, but in the spring these materials dry out and become hazards when you are driving. Big patches of gravel can become a hazard when you drive over it causing your car to spin out and find its way into an accident. You will want to be on the lookout for this type of debris and avoid it at all cost. If you cannot avoid it, you will want to slow your vehicle down while you pass over it.

3.) Pedestrians and Cyclists. As mentioned above, when the weather gets warmer there will be more and more people that are out on the road. These pedestrians and cyclists should be following their rules of the road, but it is not always guaranteed that they will. Therefore, as a driver you will need to make sure you are vigilant about being on the lookout for them as they pass by. It can be very easy to forget after a long few months of not sharing the road, that in the spring and summer you will need to share the road safely with others who are traveling in different ways.

As the weather warms up over the course of the next few weeks and into spring you will want to be on the lookout for these hazards and make sure you are taking the actions necessary to avoid them at all costs. If you do this vigilantly you will be taking the important steps you need to take to not get into a New Haven auto accident and keep yourself and your passengers safe.

In the event that you do get into an accident you may want to seek the advice of an attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.