Intersections are the most dangerous points on the road. Over 50% of collisions where someone is injured or killed happen at them.
This is due to the need for drivers to look in several directions at once as they travel across each other. If one person does not check properly, misjudges what others are doing or moves too fast or slow, a crash is likely.
Knowing this is one thing, but what can you do to reduce the likelihood you get caught in a crash at one?
Slow down
It is safer to have a slow crash than a fast one, as the faster you go, the more severe your injuries are likely to be.
Too much speed also reduces the time you have to react to someone in your way. Going slower gives you a better chance of braking in time.
Proceed with caution
Hitting the gas to try and make it through a changing light in time increases crash risk. So it is better to stop and wait until the lights turn your way again.
Allowing an extra second before moving once the lights change green makes sure anyone who has jumped a light is clear.
Avoid checking your phone
It can be tempting to pick up your phone when stopped at a red light. Yet it is not as safe as you think. Doing so takes your mind away from where it needs to be – in the present and focusing on what is happening around you.
If you are injured in an intersection crash, consider that the other driver may not have been so cautious. Discovering what they did wrong can help you secure the compensation you need.
