The Three Ps Of Spring Driving That May Cause A New Haven Auto Accident

There is nothing more incredible then the first day you are able to roll down the windows in your car and feel the sun on your face as you drive through the streets of the Elm City.  After a long, cold winter you can enjoy the warm air and the bright sun as you drive to your destination.  Beware though because the roads in the spring have a number of different hazards that could bring your dream drive to a crashing halt and cause you to get into a New Haven auto accident.

All winter long the roads throughout the city have been freezing and unfreezing.  They have been beaten up by plows as they sweep past to plow away snow and ice.  The streets have been treated with harsh salt, sand and chemicals to keep them free of ice so we can drive on them.  All of this activity on our city’s roads causes some issues once the winter weather subsides.

Here are some things you should look out for on the roads throughout the city as you drive around this spring;

1. Potholes.  One of the biggest dangers for any driver in the spring is potholes.  There are two categories of potholes, one that are almost always there and you are expecting and then category two is potholes that popped up over the winter months that are surprising to you.  It’s the second category that can be the most damaging to your car.  These potholes come up out of nowhere and in all likelihood you are hitting them at full speed which can cause a serious impact.  Some potholes will be bad enough to throw your car out of alignment, pop your tire, or damage your suspension.  If you hit one really badly you might even lose control of your car and get into an accident.  The best way to avoid one of these potholes is to always be paying attention to the road ahead of you and never drive over the speed limit in the city.
2. Puddles.  There are lots of giant puddles throughout the city during the spring months.  Between melting snow and torrential rain storms in the spring, it takes hours, days, even weeks for some of the rain water to subside and for the puddles to recede.  There is an inherent danger to driving through standing water.  Even though a puddle may seem shallow and easily avoidable, driving through it is unknown and cause a serious impact on your vehicle.  You could hit a pothole that is not seen, you can get stuck in the puddle, the water can be deep then you might have thought and it could rise to come into your car and cause water damage.  Even if a puddle is shallow, you may be putting yourself in a situation where the risk of hydroplaning comes into play and you will lose control of your car.  If that is the case, you may be in serious danger of an accident and injury.
3. Pedestrians. There is no question that in the spring months there are far more people out walking and moving about the city.  If they follow all the rules of the road and you are paying close attention they may not present too much of a problem.  The only thing is that they won’t follow all the rules and it’s not likely you will always be paying attention.  It is so important for you, as the driver, to do your part.  Given the other uncertainties on the road during the spring months it’s important to always be paying as close attention as you possibly can to the road in front of you.

The Ps of spring driving can be completely avoided and may not cause a New Haven auto accident, but if you are not paying attention to the road or speeding through the streets they can present serious dangers to you or your passengers.  If you are following the rules of the road and being an attentive driver you should not have any problems.  As you are out and about driving through the city be on the lookout for potholes, puddles, and pedestrians and you will arrive at your destination safely and on-time.

If you happen to get into an accident and become injured you may need an experienced attorney to review your case.  Contact our office and one of our attorneys will work with you to understand the details of the case and protect your long-term interests.