The safest way to drive up to intersections is by approaching with enhanced caution, scanning all directions, reducing speed, and maintaining situational awareness for vehicles, pedestrians, and potential hazards.
Key Safety Practices
- Reduce your speed before reaching the intersection to ensure you can stop safely if needed.
- Scan left, right, and ahead, checking for other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians—look at least twice for smaller road users like bikes and scooters, especially in low visibility.
- Use signals at least three seconds before turning to communicate your intent to other road users.
- Stay vigilant for vehicles running red lights, pedestrians crossing unexpectedly, and drivers making sudden maneuvers.
Defensive Driving Tips
- Always anticipate what other drivers and pedestrians might do, and be ready to stop or yield unexpectedly.
- Avoid distractions and focus entirely on the intersection environment as these are common collision points.
- Check mirrors—including the rear-view—for vehicles approaching from behind; this helps avoid rear-end collisions.
- Do not proceed through the intersection until vehicles in front of you have cleared safely to maintain space and prevent nose-to-tail accidents.
Entering the Intersection
- If you’re the first car at a stop, stop before the painted stop line, crosswalk, or, if neither is present, before entering the intersection itself.
- Only enter an intersection when it is clear, and never block it, especially if traffic ahead is congested.
Additional Considerations
- Extra caution is needed in poor weather—wet or icy roads increase stopping distances.
- Even if you have the right of way, be patient and only proceed once you’ve confirmed all paths are clear.
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead through the intersection, leaving enough room for sudden stops or evasive action.
By following these practices, drivers can minimize collision risks and protect both themselves and others on the road when approaching and crossing intersections.