No matter what time of year it happens to be, the roads will present safety challenges. As for springtime, you have more people on the road enjoying the sun; you’ll even see more wildlife coming out of hibernation. Add to this the fact that the roads could be wetter and slippier than normal and you can see why it’s vital to be careful during the springtime months.
If you want to keep yourself and your family members — as well as your fellow drivers and their passengers — safe this springtime, be sure to review the following key pieces of advice carefully:
More motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians, skateboarders and rollerbladers
If it’s a sport that you can enjoy outside on the roadway, expect to see more people enjoying the sport in the springtime after they’ve been cooped up inside all winter long. These sporting enthusiasts will be out in force at the first time of winter’s thaw, so keep your eyes open to avoid crashing into them with your vehicle.
More bears, deer and other animals
A bear or a deer in the middle of the road could cause you to veer out of control or — if you hit it directly — it could cause serious damage to you and your car. To avoid these dangers, look out for animals and never assume the road to be clear of obstacles.
Drive according to the weather
You may find the roads wet, icy, slushy or a mix of all three during the spring months. Add to this the many potholes that winter leaves behind and you have a dangerous mix of obstacles on your hands. Be careful and slow down your driving any time the weather gets wet.
Are you ready to be as safe as possible this spring? If you still get hurt in a crash in spite of your best efforts to stay safe, make sure you examine whether another party may have been at fault and potentially liable to pay for the costs associated with your medical care and other damages.
Source: AARP, “Spring Driving Tips,” accessed April 26, 2018