The Surprising Role That Your Hearing Plays In Safe Driving

When you’re thinking about how you can be safe when driving, there are a lot of things to think about. Your mind might go to making sure you keep both hands on the wheel. You may think about the fact that you need to keep your eyes on the road at all times. Do you ever think about what your ears need to be doing to make sure you are avoiding a New Haven auto accident?

It turns out that one of the unexpected truths about safe driving is that your hearing can play a significant role in helping you avoid an accident. While your hearing isn’t something that is checked when you take a driving test you wouldn’t think it is something that is all that important, but think about how you drive and what you are doing the entire time you are behind the wheel and you will quickly realize that the things you are hearing may be just as important as the things you are seeing.

The first and maybe the most important thing you’ll be listening for while you’re driving are signals that your own car is giving you about the road around you. Many newer cars have things like back-up sensors and accident alerts that will warn you audibly that you are getting too close to the car in front of or in back of you when you are driving. These alerts, which can be jarring at times, can also save lives. If you pay attention to them you will likely be in a better position to stay out of an accident. Your vehicle will also give you other audible signals like hearing that your turn signal is engaged so that you know you are making yourself visible to the vehicles around you. You will also hear signals like low-fuel alerts that will make sure you don’t wind up stranded on the side of the road because you forgot to fill up your gas tank. All of these signals that your own vehicle is giving you require your hearing to be tuned up and ready to help with your ability to drive safely.

Once you have mastered the sounds of your own vehicle you will then want to master keeping your ears ready to hear the sounds of the road. If you are driving with all of your senses intact you will be ready to be safe and avoid accidents. Some of the sounds you should be listening for while you’re driving include;

1.) Hazards along the road. While many hazards will be visible to you, they may become something you can hear long before you can see them which will allow you to prepare to adjust your driving to account for these hazards. Take for instance an ambulance who may be driving quickly to get someone to a hospital to seek medical attention. The ambulance may not be within your sight yet, but you may be able to hear the siren. In this event you can start to be alert for the ambulance and where it is coming from so you can take the necessary steps to allow it to pass without incident. Other hazards that you should be listening for include the honk of a neighboring cars horn or other vehicles that may be approaching from behind, especially the noisy commercial vehicles that can cause you danger.

2.) Changes in traffic. If you are able to keep your ears ready and waiting to hear the next thing that happens on the road you will be able to identify changes in traffic flow just by listening for it. For instance, before you see brake lights to indicate that traffic is slowing down, you may hear the brakes of vehicles around you that would indicate that a slow down is about to occur. Similarly, if you are in stand still traffic, you may hear the indication of a change in the speed of the traffic just by listening for the sound of the vehicles around you accelerating.

When you’re driving, to stay safe, you will need all of your senses functioning well together. You cannot avoid a New Haven auto accident just by using your eyes. In order to have a clear picture of the road around you, you will also need to make sure you are listening for the changes in your own vehicle and the traffic around you. When working in concert, all of your senses can become powerful tools in your efforts to stay safe when you’re driving. If you notice that you begin to see a decline in any of these senses over time you may want to consult a medical provider who can assist you in tuning up your senses so you continue to have a full picture of the road in front of you and can drive safely.

If an accident does happen you may become injured or experience property damage. In this case, you may need to seek the advice of an attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you on protecting your long-term interests.