The more you drive your car, the more expertise you have driving in different situations. For example, you’ll be sharing the road with various types of cars and people and this can mean that the unexpected will happen at times. If you are alert to this you can prevent accidents from happening and you especially need to take account of the different types of road user and the challenges they can present. In the following paragraphs we’re going to look at a number of the ways you can adapt your driving to reduce the chances of an accident by giving consideration to others on the road.
The first style of highway user we shall consider are motorcyclists and some of the situations you will encounter with them. Like any driver, you’ll have cyclists who are riding by the rules of the road while others drive recklessly. On the list of hazards with cyclists is that in busy traffic they are more difficult to see and if you are driving in particularly slow traffic they can approach you from the rear and you may not see them. Before you switch lanes or pull out, you’ll want to check your rear view mirror, look over your shoulder and be wary of your car’s blind spots. A lot of bikers ride alongside one another in groups so do not overtake them until it is safe and be cautious when you approach them.
Motorcyclists are like cyclists however they are obviously faster. The majority of motorcyclists will try to drive defensively but there are always those who want to ride at speed and this can be particularly dangerous when they appear all of a sudden from behind. One of the advantages of having a motorcycle is the ability to weave in and out of slow moving traffic, so never ever assume that there is nothing behind you that can overtake your car.
Larger sized motor vehicles such as lorries and coaches present different challenges and you certainly want to avoid accidents with these if you can. When someone is driving a lorry they most likely are not familiar with the area as they can travel all over the country, so unexpected maneuvers can happen particularly at roundabouts and junctions. These lorry drivers are inclined to drive for extended hours causing them to be tired so you want to be sure that you are not in their blind spot in case they doze off. There may also be lorry drivers from various other countries who probably won’t understand some of the road signs and you need to give them plenty of room and only overtake when you feel completely safe to do so.
However, it’s not a bad idea to be prepared for the worse. Make sure to have your local tow trucks contact information all the time whenever you are doing a road trip.
Of course, be even more careful of pedestrians especially around busy areas like schools. In this situation, the speed at which you drive can make the difference between stopping without risk and a tragedy. Once you establish the habit of driving with consideration to other road users you’ll be able to prevent accidents and keep yourself safe on the road.