Safety Tips For Rush Hour Traffic

Rush hour traffic, typically, lasts a few hours, peaking in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. or later in larger cities.

Drivers in a rush tend to drive more dangerously, which increases the likelihood of causing an accident.

If patience isn’t a virtue you possess, perhaps some of the following tips will help get you through rush hour.

Eliminate Distractions

You can’t eliminate distractions outside the vehicle, but you can inside the vehicle. Children, electronic devices, and self-grooming are examples of common passenger distractions. Anything packed that may come ajar and move during travel is another potential distraction.

Plan Ahead

Most people who drive during rush hour are making their daily commute to and from work. But not everyone drives during rush hour for this reason.

Anyone making a special trip during rush hour should make sure they know where they’re going ahead of time. Listening to the traffic updates on the radio for the latest accident reports may also help avoid long delays.  

Allow Enough Time

Allowing extra travel time during rush hour is good common sense. Extra time eliminates the need to rush. Eliminating the need to rush eliminates the need to speed, tailgate, or haphazardly change lanes.

Follow Cautiously

One of the most important safety tips is allowing yourself enough room to stop your vehicle. During dry weather conditions, there should be three seconds of space between you and the vehicle in front of you.

Use a fixed object such as a bridge, tree, or even a crack in the road to see if your vehicle passes it two seconds after the vehicle in front of you.

Drive Defensively

Aggressive driving such as swerving in and out of rush hour traffic is a recipe for disaster. Driving in rush hour traffic may cause stress, frustration, even anger. These emotions can cause you to drive aggressively or worse.

To survive rush hour traffic, don’t rush, allow yourself extra time, and stay in your lane. If you drive slowly, always stay in the right lane to allow other drivers to pass on the left.

Sadly, even skilled drivers can be involved in a rush-hour accident. And when someone else’s poor driving or negligence causes an accident or injury, the victim can and should be compensated for their damages. 

The attorneys at Heintz Law — Steven E. Heintz and Eric D. Bruce — have perfect 10.0 ratings on AVVO, a top legal review site.

Additionally, Steven E. Heintz has a perfect 5.0 AV peer review ratings through Martindale-Hubbell, among other honors and awards.

More importantly, our attorneys work on a contingent fee, which means our clients don’t pay unless we win their case.

If you were in a car accident caused in traffic, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our distinguished attorneys, call 941-748-2916 or contact our law firm online. Our website is available in both English and Spanish. We have offices conveniently located in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.