Staying Safe During Stoplight Power Outages
Traffic lights help regulate the flow of traffic and keep drivers safe while on their commute. While we rely heavily on this technology, what happens when traffic lights go out due to weather conditions, malfunctioning in the wiring or accidents such as cars colliding with the stoplight itself? More advanced drivers usually know how to navigate the streets when traffic lights are out, but more novice drivers may begin to panic and may even end up in an accident and injury if they aren’t careful.
In this blog, we’re going to be talking about how you can safely drive through an intersection if the traffic lights happen to be down. These tips will be essential in avoiding an accident and injury, as well as a call to your auto injury accident lawyer.
Remain Calm and Reduce Your Speed as You Approach the Intersection
When you first notice that the traffic light is out, you may begin to slightly panic, especially if you’ve never been faced with this situation in the past. The first thing that you should do is to remain calm and reduce your speed as you approach the intersection; nerves will only increase the chances of a mistake that could lead to an accident and injury.
Once you begin to inch closer to the intersection, you’ll notice that traffic may begin to slow down and back up, so driving slowly and cautiously will help ensure your safety, as well as the safety of other drivers. If you’re not sure of what to do, watch other drivers and access the situation⎯ pay attention to how other drivers are handling the incident and then follow the flow of traffic as safely as possible.
Treat the Intersection as a Four-Way Stop
There is one major rule of thumb that drivers should follow when they come across a malfunctioning stoplight at an intersection. When faced with this situation, drivers should remain calm and treat the intersection as a four-way stop. This information is valuable to newer drivers, as it can help them avoid a serious accident and injury.
Authorities May Step in Sometimes
There are a few times where local authorities will respond to a traffic light outage and conduct the traffic to ensure everyone’s safety on the road. When this is happening, it is crucial for you to be attentive and watch for the officer’s directions, as they will decide who goes and when. While this is a more convenient and effective way of dealing with the situation, you can’t always rely on the authorities to direct traffic.
To really avoid an accident and injury during a power outage, drivers need to be attentive of one another, stopping to yield and taking turns to cross the intersection. Failure to yield or recklessly driving into the intersection out of frustration can lead to a serious auto accident, one which may require the assessment of an auto injury accident lawyer.
Traffic light outages can be intimidating to new and experienced drivers alike, but they don’t have to be complicated. However, there will always be reckless or impatient drivers, and where you find them, an accident and injury is sure to follow. If you or someone you know have been injured in an auto accident due to another driver’s recklessness, contact an auto injury accident lawyer at Robert J. DeBry and Associates. Our attorney team will help you build a strong claim and get you the compensation that you deserve.
Sources:
https://drivinginstructorblog.com/what-to-do-when-the-traffic-lights-are-out/