Of all the tasks that fill out your day, driving may be the most challenging one.
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Your safety is at risk, partly because of certain driving scenarios you don’t always face but can definitely impact your day.
From paying attention to road hazards to spotting an impaired driver, driving can be tough because of things that are not necessarily under your control.
That’s why safety driving matters. That’s why local authorities remind us of driving safely all the time. And that’s why there are schools that offer defensive driving courses.
Below we grouped 5 dangerous driving scenarios and how to own each one of them with confidence.
1. Handling a four-way stop
In principle, the motorist that arrives at the stop sign first has the right of way.
In some cases, both drivers may arrive to the stop sign at the same time. If you ever experience such driving scenario, you should yield to the driver on the right.
It’s not hard at all. But communication is important to avoid making wrong assumptions.
2. Facing a yellow light
You are approaching an intersection with a yellow light and you are rather unsure whether to beat the light or simply stop.
While many drivers try to beat the light, you better think twice.
When the light turns yellow, it is in your best interest to gradually slow down and stop before the light turns red.
3. Deer crossing
You cannot get the blame for spotting deer while on the road, even if that means braking unexpectedly to let them cross safely.
But you could always be prepared for the unexpected and that’s what smart drivers do.
When driving on a highway, pay attention to the road signs around you. They usually alert you of dangers including deer crossing.
Once you spot the sign, adjust your speed and be prepared to stop when seeing one. Keep your hands on the steering wheel and brake firmly. Avoid dodging the deer as you can hit another vehicle.
4. Sun glare affects your driving
When the sun glare intensifies, your visibility is reduced and your chances of crashing increases significantly.
For that reason, you should never brake abruptly or swerve between lanes as you may disrupt or hit another vehicle in the process.
Stay in your lane, continue driving, and make yourself predictable until you are no longer blind.
5. Spotting an impaired driver
Drunk driving has always been an issue on the road and local authorities remind residents to choose a designated driver or avoid driving to reduce buzzed driving stats.
Yet there is still a chance you’ll be sharing the road with a buzzed driver. To detect an impaired driver, check your surroundings and look for patterns.
An impaired driver typically goes over the speed limit, stops abruptly, and switches lanes randomly.
Keep an eye on them and give yourself some time to react in case the buzzed driver makes an unexpected maneuver.
There several driving scenarios which may put your safety at risk. But the more attention you pay to your driving and your surroundings, the more prepared you’ll be to remain safe.
If you know any other driving scenario that requires extra attention, please let us know in the comments below.