COPING WITH CONGESTION: Safe-driving on crowded streets

We’ve all been there – bumper to bumper, bristling because of those seemingly endless brake lights.

Although congested roads are a chronic problem in cities such as Los Angeles, which the Texas Transportation Institute ranked as the nation’s worst place for traffic delays in 2010, gridlock happens almost everywhere.

It happens before and after work. It happens when children are being picked up or dropped off at school. It happens during holidays when people are hurrying to the store or visiting family.

So how can you stay safe when traffic is at its worst? Collision Guard has some pointers, and a little perspective, about how to drive safety during peak traffic hours.

It’s about planning ahead, staying relaxed and avoiding risky behaviors that could cost you a lot more in the end than wasted time.

DATA/STATISTICS

• Congested roads delayed commuters an average of 34 hours in 2010. That’s up from 14 hours in 1982, according to the Texas Transportation Institute. Those delays cost U.S. commuters about $101 billion, or $750 per traveler.
• However, car crashes are more costly. The automobile advocacy group AAA found that crashes in 2009 were three times more expensive than sitting on the highway and waiting for traffic to clear, $299.5 billion, compared with $97.7 billion.
• Among the leading causes of crashes is distracted driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one out of five crashes that result in injury are linked to drivers texting, eating, reading, rubbernecking or doing something other than paying attention to the road. Distracted driving also contributes to 16 percent of fatalities.

TIPS/AWARENESS

• Plan ahead: Allow extra time for driving when traffic, for whatever reason, is expected to be heavy. You will be less likely to tailgate, weave across lanes or vent frustration on other drivers when you aren’t pressed for time.
• Minimize distractions: If you plan to drive on congested streets, make sure that your attention is on the road. Avoid behaviors such as talking on a cell phone, texting while driving, eating messy foods or putting on make-up in the car. Your chances of being involved in a crash will drop considerably by taking those steps.
• Avoid rubbernecking: Just as there are distractions inside a vehicle, there can be distractions outside a vehicle as well. Don’t let your attention wander when passes a crash scene, a window display or a pretty girl. You may find yourself kissing the bumper of the car in front of you.
• Relax: Don’t take unnecessary risks to shorten your commute by a few minutes. You could end up spending a lot more time beside the road. Take it easy, be courteous and know that you’ll get to your destination safer and less stressed.

TECHNOLOGY/GADGETS

How about an App?

Sigalert.com: This app is one of the foremost providers of accurate, up-to-date traffic information that will estimate travel times and accurately gauge speeds along your route.

Mobile AASHTO: The American Association of State Highway and Safety Officials has developed this app that also provides real-time traffic conditions, along with news and video content, to help avoid congested areas.

Traffic.com: This app offers color-coded traffic information that will show you, at a glance, how severe the delays are along your route.

LAST LAUGH