Whether you’re planning on visiting a big city or are just needing to drive through one in order to get to your final destination, if you’re not used to driving in these types of areas, you may find yourself feeling very intimidated about being behind the wheel here. But luckily, with a little knowledge and some adjustments to your normal driving behavior, you can increase your chances of safely driving on these streets and roads.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to avoid getting in a car accident when traveling through a big city.
Stay Off The Road During Rush Hour
In most big cities, rush hour is the most dangerous time to be on the road. Because everyone is either trying to get to work or trying to get home from work, there are generally far more people on the road between 7:00 and 9:00 am and 4:00 and 6:00 pm than any other time during the day. And when there are more people on the road, there are more chances for something to go wrong between the drivers.
Knowing this, one of the first and best ways to keep yourself safe is to not be on the road during rush hour. If you can manage it, try to plan your day so that you’re not traveling on the roads at the same time as everyone else. Not only will this help you have fewer drivers to deal with on the road so you’ll reduce your chances of getting into an accident, but you’ll also find that it’s easier and faster to maneuver your way through city streets at times other than rush hour.
Keep Your Following Distance In Check
When you’re in a busy downtown area, you likely won’t be going very fast. Because of this, you might find that your following distance becomes smaller and smaller. However, if the person in front of you has to quickly brake, like for pedestrians, you won’t have much time to react and stop without hitting the car. But by increasing your following distance, you’ll have more time to react to anything around you and avoid getting into an accident.
Additionally, if you’re driving on a highway, freeway, or expressway through a large city, you should try to keep a reasonable following distance here as well. Generally, allowing for three seconds between you and the car in front of you should be sufficient.
Always Use Your Signals
With so many cars and people around you when driving through a big city, the best way to keep everyone safe is to let them know what your plans are for moving your vehicle. To do this, be sure that you’re always using your signals before you make any movement, especially if you’re planning to turn or change lanes.
If you’ll soon be traveling through a big city and you’re nervous about driving there, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you stay safe and avoid getting into an accident.
