Look More Than Both Ways

Navigating through busy intersections can challenge any driver. The key is to stay alert and drive defensively.

Traffic from all directions, pedestrians and bicyclists, right turns on red — the combination of all these factors makes intersections less than driver-friendly places. The fact is that some of the worst vehicle crashes occur at intersections, particularly urban intersections. The most common crashes are rear-end and broadside collisions. Incidents involving pedestrians are also common. The message, when it comes to intersection safety, is the same for all drivers, regardless of age or experience. Stay alert and drive defensively. Below are some additional tips for safely making your way through the chaos.

TIPS To Safely Navigate Intersections

• It’s never a good idea to do things like adjust your radio or change air temperature settings as you’re approaching an intersection.

Keep Your Eyes Open

• Road signs can get knocked down. Be on the lookout for turn restrictions, pedestrian crossings and construction detours. Also watch for brake lights and turn signals of vehicles ahead of you — not just one vehicle ahead, but several.
• Be wary of vehicles stopping for pedestrians or abruptly changing lanes.
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians and cyclists in all directions before making a turn at an intersection.

Be Patient

• Don’t race a yellow light, and don’t run a red light. Red-light-running is the leading cause of intersection crashes.
• Don’t enter a backed-up intersection unless you’re sure you can make it all the way through. Getting stuck in the middle of an intersection is very dangerous.
• Treat an inoperable traffic light as an all-way stop.
• Always stop behind the marked stop line or crosswalk.
• Don’t change lanes while driving through intersections.

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