As the nice weather rolls in, spring is in the air! With the arrival of spring, we happily welcome longer days, sunshine, and new blooms. However, like all the other seasons, springtime brings unique driving challenges and hazards. As such, it’s essential to identify the most common spring driving hazards. Please continue reading to learn what driving hazards you may face this season and how our adept New York City Car Accident Attorney can help you understand your legal options.
What Are the Most Common Spring Driving Hazards in New York?
Although spring is a great opportunity to hit the road and find a new adventure, familiarizing yourself with common springtime driving hazards is crucial to mitigate collision risks. Common dangers associated with spring driving include:
- Allergy season. Many people suffer from seasonal allergies, and to combat them, many drivers take medication. However, allergy medications can cause drowsiness. Fatigued or drowsy driving is hazardous as it affects a driver’s attention, judgment, decision-making, coordination, vigilance, and reaction time. In addition, seasonal allergies can cause individuals to sneeze and scratch their itchy eyes while driving, resulting in swerving or reckless driving. Before taking allergy medications, you should check the label to see if it indicates drowsiness as a side effect.
- Sun glare. While driving on a sunny day has its perks, the sun’s glare can increase the likelihood of accidents. When the sun comes directly in your line of sight as you drive, it can diminish your ability to see the road. Keeping a pair of polarized sunglasses in your car is vital to protect your eyes.
- Inclement weather. Springtime brings rain, floods, strong winds, and fog, making driving more dangerous. With rainstorms comes the risk of hydroplaning. This occurs when the tires of your vehicle lose their grip on the road’s surface, gliding and skipping atop the water, making it harder to brake. If drivers brake too hard, they could lose total control of the vehicle, increasing the chances of an accident. In addition, spring weather conditions present visibility issues for drivers on the road. To ensure visibility, ensure your windshield wipers and headlights are functioning correctly. If a rainstorm is intense, you should safely pull your vehicle over to the side of the road until the storm passes. If there are flood warnings, you should stay off the streets.
- Increased wildlife activity. Although animals are active at all times of the year, watching out for them crossing the road in the springtime is essential. Be alert, especially at dusk and dawn, as animals are usually active. Whenever you drive through a wooded area, make sure you slow down.
- Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Warmer weather means more people will be outside. Drivers must be cautious and more aware of their surroundings, especially in residential areas.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact a trusted attorney from Swerling Law, who can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
