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If you drive a vehicle, you are responsible for following the rules of the road, not just to protect other drivers but also to protect pedestrians and bicyclists. In a car, it can be easy to get complacent about the power of the machine you’re driving, but it’s important to stay cautious and vigilant.
When operating a vehicle, you need to look out for others you share the road with, as they are usually much more vulnerable. So, while they also have a responsibility to follow the rules of the road and think of others surrounding them, cyclists and pedestrians are a lot less likely to hurt someone in a vehicle.
Learn how to keep bicyclists and pedestrians safe by following these simple tips.
Why You Need To Share The Road
To start with, it’s the law. Depending on where you live, most people might drive cars, and seeing cyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians may be uncommon. But, regardless, all of these individuals have a legal right to use the roads. Of course, there are different rules regulating this spending on the state, city, and roadway, but you must follow these laws.
Secondly, you’ll protect yourself and others. Getting in a wreck is always stressful and often costly. Even if you aren’t hurt in the accident, your insurance premium could go up, and your vehicle could be damaged. And, causing an accident where someone else gets injured is always upsetting. If you are in the wrong, you could also end up in a lawsuit as the other party seeks compensation for a personal injury claim.
Specific Tips To Follow
If you’re driving a car, remember to keep these things in mind to watch out for others around you:
- Do not pass vehicles that are stopped at a crosswalk.
- Make sure pedestrians have entirely crossed crosswalks before moving.
- Follow speed limits.
- Leave three feet of space for cyclists.
- Give yourself extra time to brake. If you see a pedestrian or cyclist close by, slow down a little to give yourself spare time to react.
- Check your blind spots when switching lanes. It’s often difficult to see motorcycles on the road, so be extra careful.
- Look at your rearview mirrors often, especially when cyclists and motorcyclists are often on the roads.
- Never drive while under the influence.
- Use your blinkers whenever you turn or change lanes.
- Cut down on distractions. While driving under the influence is dangerous, it’s also perilous to do things like check your phone and eat.
Many of these tips are things you must do to follow the laws, but they are also just common sense ways to be a good driver and keep yourself and others safe.
Defensive Driving Is A Must
You’ve probably heard the phrase defensive driving before, but unless you’ve recently been through a driver’s training or education course, you may have forgotten exactly what this means. Unlike aggressive driving, defensive driving is all about reducing the risks and dangers associated with operating a vehicle. It’s the practice of using good techniques to make accidents less likely.
It can be easy to get upset when driving, especially if other drivers cut you off or don’t follow the rules of the road. But, defensive driving helps you keep a level head so that no one ends up hurt. Being a defensive driver is especially important when considering the dangers of running into a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist.
Being collected and thinking ahead is the best way to keep everyone as safe as possible. You don’t need to be a timid driver. But instead, be level-headed and careful.
