Driving in congested traffic is dangerous for several different reasons. The proximity of other cars, the frustrations that the drivers experience and other factors make traffic congestion among the most dangerous road hazards. Here are some tips for navigating it successfully.
Calm Down
Being in tight traffic gets to just about everyone. What makes it really dangerous is when you lose your cool and stop paying attention to what’s going on around you. If you’re angry, you’re paying attention to your anger, not to the other cars on the road. Be sure to stay calm in these situations.
Be Courteous
Being a bit extra courteous will help you in tight traffic. Make sure, for example, you give ample warning with your blinker when you intend to turn off. This ensures that people have time to react and to give you room.
Keep Space in Front of You
If you’re in very tight traffic, some people—including some traffic engineers—recommend keeping 2 car lengths open in front of you. This ensures that people can get in and out and it gives you enough room to stop if someone hits their breaks quickly. Remember: You lose no time doing this and it actually saves gas because you can keep slowing down and speeding up to maintain the distance without ever stopping and starting, in most cases.
Accept It
If you’re in a traffic jam or just tight traffic, being angry about it will not change that situation. If you just accept that you’re probably going to be late and relax, it won’t be so stressful, you’ll also have a much reduced chance of hitting someone because of making a mistake out of anger.
Turn on the Radio
Find something to listen to. Sitting in traffic, in addition to being frustrating, tends to be boring. Boredom can make you anxious and more prone to get angry with other drivers. Go ahead and find something to listen to. Sometimes it helps to diffuse the situation a bit.
Turn On AC or Roll Down the Window
If you’re in a car, the traffic is congested and frustrating and you’re hot, you’re going to get angry faster. Roll down the window or turn on the AC to get some relief.
If someone’s bad driving in bad traffic gets you injured because of being rear ended or some other wreck, call a car accident attorney.
