People in the Oakland area know that the freeways are sometimes filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. These situations may seem harmless because the vehicles aren’t moving very fast. However, accidents can occur during traffic jams if drivers aren’t paying close attention.
Some drivers in newer vehicles might think that safety enhancement features like stop assist and lane assist will prevent accidents. These help to increase the safety, but the onus is on the driver to make sure they are remaining accident-free. Several things can promote the chance of everyone making it home safely.
Don’t rush
If you know it is likely that you are going to have to deal with traffic, leave early. Rushing can lead you to take risks that are unnecessary. There are apps you can download on your phone that will help you to find out what traffic is like before you head out. This gives you a chance to find an alternate route to your destination so you don’t have to deal with a traffic jam.
Pay attention
You can’t focus on anything other than driving. It is dangerous when any driver tries to eat, read or do anything else when they are in a traffic jam. The cars around you can stop suddenly or people might try to dart in and out of lanes. Unless everyone is truly focused, they aren’t going to be able to avoid making errors in these situations.
Remain in your lane
You need to pick a lane and stick to that one unless you need to move to another lane to exit or because the one you are in is ending. Zipping in and out of lanes can lead to accidents since other drivers might not be as vigilant as they should be when they drive.
Don’t follow too closely
People tend to slam on their brakes during slow traffic. Following too closely can lead to your slamming into the back of another vehicle. Some drivers will get as close as they can to the car in front of them to prevent anyone from being able to slip in. However, this can lead to rear-end crashes.
Keep your cool
Getting upset when driving increases the chance that you will drive aggressively. Try not to get upset when you are driving because this may lead to road rage. Instead, remember that everyone wants to get to their destination and that you will make it eventually.
