Never Trust Intersections

As we grew up, we learned about trust. We learned to trust our family, members, teachers, coworkers and public officials. The element of trust grew to a point that many people seem to drop their guard and trust almost everyone near them. That’s not always the best thing to do, especially while driving through intersections.

Many drivers trust the actions of other drivers. They trust other drivers will always do the proper thing, especially as they approach intersections. As they approach green lights, many drivers trust the intersection will be clear enough to enter and exit it. They believe the red light at the cross street will hold all of the other vehicles in place until they at least exit the intersection. That’s not always true. One thing we should always remember – red lights don’t stop vehicles. Drivers stop vehicles.

Considering that we’ve all seen drivers running red lights, we know it does happen. Trusting another driver to stop could be our mistake. But what if we began checking the cross streets before entering the intersection. We often do it as a pedestrian to ensure it’s safe to cross the street, so why not do it for the same reasons while driving? That mentality may keep you safe before entering the intersection.

Making a left turn is one of the most dangerous things a driver can do on the road on a regular basis, considering we tend to turn across the path of oncoming traffic. A side impact collision is a very common type of collision at intersections, but they can be avoided, from both sides.

While waiting for a gap in traffic to make your turn through, if the light changes from green to yellow, never assume the oncoming driver will stop. Compare the speed of the approaching vehicle to the stationary items it’s passing. If you see a change of their speed, you know they are slowing so you can generally turn in front. Keep watching to ensure they are stopping for sure before you turn. If you do not see a change of their speed, you know it’s not safe to cross their path. It’s best to wait, even if the traffic light has changed to red before you proceed.

If you’re the driver going straight through the intersection, a quick glance at their wheel direction will give you a few seconds head start to know if they plan to turn in front of you. If they are close to you, the second you see the wheels begin to turn to your direction, tap your horn to attempt to stop them before their reach your immediate path. Slowing down once you notice the wheels begin to turn can also help if they continue through the intersection. Being cautious anytime you approach intersections is always worth it.