How to avoid accidents and stay safe when driving at intersections

Intersections can be dangerous places for drivers, as well as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Vehicle accidents often occur more at intersections because traffic is moving in several directions. So, you need to be extra vigilant when driving through intersections if you want to avoid accidents.

Here are some helpful tips to help you stay safe.

Make Sure You Know Who Has Right-of-Way

If you pull out when you do not have the right-of-way, you are likely to cause an accident. But you also need to make sure you pay attention to other drivers who pull out because they mistakenly think they have the right of way.

Because traffic is often moving in different directions at an intersection, when drivers do not know who has the right-of-way, there is a high risk of a collision. So, simply ensure you check who has the right of way in order to stay safe and avoid accidents from happening.

However, if you do find yourself in a vehicle accident that takes place in Chicago, London, or anywhere else, and the intersection accident causes are not your fault, you could gain compensation to cover the costs of things like the medical bills for your personal injuries, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering.

Therefore, make sure you contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help you gain the financial compensation you are entitled to.

Go Slow Through Intersections

Speeding is never a good idea, but speeding through intersections is an especially bad choice. By doing so, you have a greater risk of causing an accident; putting yourself and others in danger.

Furthermore, intersection collisions often happen due to drivers making false assumptions about other drivers’ behaviour.

If you are going fast through an intersection, you will not have time to adjust your driving if another driver makes a sudden lane switch or unexpected turn.

So, take it slow through intersections and remain extra vigilant of other drivers’ behaviour to avoid accidents.

Keep Your Distance from the Vehicle in Front

Because accidents are common at intersections, it is important that you do not follow the vehicle in front too closely.

If someone pulls out in front of you quickly, as long as you have remembered to keep space between your vehicle and the one in front, you will have a buffer of space and time to help you avoid a crash.

Make Sure You Signal

It is important that you always let the other drivers at an intersection know your intentions, so make sure you use your signals.

When changing lanes or turning, always give other drivers enough time to plan for your move by using signals. But remember not to signal too early or you could confuse other drivers, cause them frustration, and increase the likelihood of accidents happening.

Enter Intersections Carefully

When lights at an intersection turn yellow or have just turned green, drivers tend to try to beat the lights. That is when more accidents at intersections occur, so make sure you do not try to beat the changing lights yourself.

When a light turns green, enter the intersection carefully, even if the right-of-way is yours. There could be another driver still at the intersection, which means a collision could happen when you pull out. Also, be wary of drivers running stop signs at four-way intersections.

At the end of the day, you need to remember to scan the intersection and the traffic coming from the opposite directions before you carefully pull into an intersection.

By remaining vigilant at all times, you can reduce the risk of vehicle accidents happening.