If you find yourself navigating heavy traffic in downtown Pittsburgh, it won’t be long before you realize that you’re in a high-stress situation. In addition to finding where you’re going, you must contend with other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Here are some safety tips to follow if you find yourself in this situation:
- Keep your head on a swivel: This is another way of saying you should be aware of your surroundings at all times. By doing this, you can plan in advance, giving you the opportunity to quickly deal with any situation.
- Don’t tailgate: Not only is it common courtesy, but it’ll also keep you safe. Even if you’re stopped in traffic, leave a couple of car lengths so you have a buffer zone between your vehicle and the one in front of yours.
- Follow the rules of the road: When you’re in a hurry to get home or to work and stressed out because of the traffic, it’s easy to violate the rules of the road. This takes on many forms, such as running a red light or traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. This puts you and others at risk of an accident. It could also lead to trouble with the law.
When you do these things, you should feel more confident in your ability to drive safely in city traffic.
If someone else causes an accident, do your best to move your vehicle out of traffic. You can then call 911, seek medical treatment, review your insurance policy and file a claim. Your goal is to stabilize your injuries while taking steps to receive compensation for your damages.