Just about every highway is dangerous. There is a part of the Inner Loop in Rochester that is considered one of the worst in the country. There are many reasons for this. Some of it is due to age and the amount of traffic that it sees each day. The quality of the road is also a factor. Regardless of the reasons, there are steps you can take to protect yourself while driving. About 30% of all commercial truck accidents are caused by driver fatigue, and many truckers drive the Inner Loop.
Self Care
This may seem like an odd tip for keeping yourself safe while driving the Inner Loop in Rochester, but it’s not. You want to take care of yourself, so you can remain focused and aware while on the road. This means getting enough sleep, at least seven hours, and eating well. Most importantly, do not drink or take drugs while driving. The alcohol legal limit when driving is a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% in some states. While you are driving, be sure to wear your seatbelt. You are less likely to be ejected from the vehicle while wearing your seatbelt. You want to limit distractions as much as possible. This means that you should not use your phone while driving. You want to turn off the radio if there are poor road conditions, extreme weather, or heavy traffic. Be sure to set your GPS before you start driving.
Awareness of the Road
While you’re driving in Rochester or anywhere, you can only control yourself and your vehicle. This is why you should practice defensive driving. This means you want to be awake, aware, and prepared for whatever might happen. It would help if you always kept an eye on your blind sports. You never know when someone is going to appear out of nowhere. Just because you are alert and attentive does not mean others are. You should consider exercising caution when changing lanes or turning. You want to make sure you are always a safe distance away from other vehicles. Sometimes it is better to stay in your lane and adjust your speed. When driving in Rochester, you may come upon work zones. You must be extra cautious and aware of these areas.
Be Mindful
You always want to watch other drivers around you in Rochester. This also means leaving a good amount of space for their unpredictable driving. It is a good idea to scan the road and traffic ahead of you. On a highway, you should be able to see about a quarter-mile ahead of you to anticipate what is coming up. This can help you plan if you need to react quickly if there is an accident or a hazard on the road. According to the New York State Department of Transportation, an auto accident average cost is dependent on where it occurred. Most accidents fall in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, with a low end of $15,000 and a high end of $63,000. While you should always keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, you should increase that distance in bad weather. You should check your mirrors constantly, about every 10 seconds, to know when someone is entering your blind spot. You want to constantly scan all of your mirrors.
While driving in Rochester may be challenging, it is possible to keep yourself safe if you follow these tips. They are simple tips that are easy to follow, but in some cases, you may have to be disciplined enough to follow them.
