Although Pittsburgh may not have the worst traffic in the country, if you live in the Steel City, you know that it can take quite a bit of time to reach your destination during rush hour.
You need to take extreme caution when navigating rush hour traffic, as any mistake can increase the likelihood of an accident. Here are some rush hour safety tips to keep in mind:
- Give yourself more time: Rather than leave your home on time, head out a few minutes early. This will take a lot of stress off of you when sitting in traffic.
- Consider an alternate route: Don’t sit in traffic, day after day, assuming that things will get better. Take a different route with the idea of saving time.
- Choose a lane and stay with it: There is no point in jumping back and forth from lane to lane, as it’s not going to get you to your destination sooner. All it will do is increase the risk of an accident.
- Follow with caution: Leave more space between vehicles, as this gives you additional time to stop. Even if traffic is crawling, one to two car lengths is a good amount of space.
If you are part of a rush hour traffic accident, move your vehicle to the side of the road and call 911.
Your health is top priority, so don’t attempt to move if you are in pain. Instead, wait for an ambulance to arrive at the scene.
Once you receive treatment and begin to recover, learn more about the accident, contact your insurance company and identify the best strategy for seeking compensation.