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The 3 Most Common Road Hazards that All Drivers Face

When you drive on the road, there may be unexpected things that fling themselves in front if your vehicle. If you’re not careful, these unexpected items can force you to collide with another vehicle and cause an accident.

While it’s not always possible to avoid things in your driving lane, it’s good to be aware of common road hazards and recognize them when they cross your vehicle’s path. Read on to learn about the most common road hazards and how you can avoid them.

1.      Animals

Animals ranging from deer to raccoons migrate across highways and other roads in search of food or new homes. Most roads have animal crossing warning signs to help you know the most common animal crossing areas, but animals can cross anywhere.

The question then is, swerve or don’t swerve? Experts say that if you run across an animal and have to choose between swerve-or-don’t-swerve, choose the latter. While you don’t want to hit an animal, the consequences of swerving and possibly hitting another car are far worse. 

The only time you should swerve to avoid an animal is if a moose is in the road. Moose weigh up to 1,600 pounds and will cause significant damage to your car upon collision. Other than moose, do not swerve to avoid animals.

2.      Road Debris

Road debris comes in many different forms. Items from cars, semi-truck spills, and tree branches are just some examples of common road debris. Most of the time you will be able to spot debris from afar, but sometimes debris can get blown on to the road and force cars to move into other lanes and cause accidents.

When you see debris in the road, slow down and safely pass debris before you speed up again. 

3.      People

When you drive down the road you may see people pulled over on the side, construction workers, or people crossing the street. Most people are sure to avoid the path of cars, but other times you might catch people unaware and find them in the path of your car.

To avoid people in roadways, drive slower in residential areas, school zones, and other high pedestrian areas. When people are crossing in front of your car, make eye contact so you know that they see you. Drive carefully at night to make sure you don’t miss someone in your line of sight.

Stay as Safe as Possible

Try to avoid road hazards as much as possible, but if you hit a hazard and need legal counsel, seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer like someone from Cohen Placitella Roth PC. They can help you with insurance claims, take legal action, and advise you on the best course of action.