The risks of an accident when in heavy traffic are fairly high. The stopping and going can easily lead to rear-end collisions or other accidents.
When traveling in such conditions, there are a few things you can do to help reduce your chances of ending up in an accident, according to Your Mechanic.
Watch your distance
While it may be tempting to pull as close as possible to the vehicle in front of you when stuck in stop-and-go traffic, you should not do that. Always leave space. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you can see the vehicle’s back tires. Once you start moving, you should allow at least a car length between you and other vehicles.
Check your brakes
You should stay on top of the maintenance of your vehicle’s brakes. Make sure they are reactive and there is no delay. You should be sure they will work when you need them to and do so immediately.
Stay alert
It may be boring to stare ahead and wait for traffic to move, but you should pay attention to what is happening around you. Do not play games on your phone or do other distracting activities. As long as you are behind the wheel and driving, you need to pay attention to that task. This will help you to react as needed to brake lights and to anyone trying to merge.
Being aware and practicing safe habits are important even when you are not moving at high speeds. Avoiding accidents in bumper-to-bumper traffic relates to being an alert driver.
