POST PANDEMIC STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC DRIVING

No one enjoys rush-hour traffic. But frustrating and boring, stop-and-go traffic is part of life in the Bay Area, even during the time of the pandemic. And unfortunately, stop-and-go traffic is the most common place for accidents to occur. And although these accidents usually aren’t very serious, because the traffic is moving more slowly,  it’s still an awful experience to have to deal with your vehicle being damaged while you are stuck in the middle of a heavily congested freeway.

Since there are so many vehicles in a relatively small stretch of freeway in bumper-to-bumper traffic, there’s no guarantee you can avoid an accident. However, here are a few simple tips that can improve your safety when driving in heavy traffic, decrease your chances of having an accident and hopefully reduce your rush-hour stress levels..

Is your vehicle safe?

During stop-and-go traffic, your right foot is mostly positioned on or above your brake pedal. But this is an ineffective behavior if your brakes don't work well. Make sure your brakes are in top working condition and that they are inspected frequently by a reputable mechanic. If you drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic, you may have to replace your brake pads more often. Brake failure during rush-hour, especially in bad weather can make it difficult or impossible to avoid an accident. But that isn't enough. You must also make sure your brake lights are also working. The drivers behind you in traffic focus on your brake lights to let them know when you are slowing down or stopping. If your brakes lights fail, those drivers may not stop when you do, resulting in them rear-ending you. So, it's  good idea to check your brake lights on a monthly basis, and if they don't come on when they are supposed to get a mechanic to fix them before you drive any further.

Preparing to drive

Before you head out in traffic, be sure to adjust your mirrors. You should be comfortable with the visibility you have from both your side and rearview mirrors prior to heading out into traffic. Make sure that you can see as many cars on the road as possible, adjusting all your mirrors before you start driving to give you have maximum visibility. If your vehicle does have a blindspot monitor, pay special attention to it when you’re stuck in traffic.

While driving

While you are driving, it's important to keep your eyes moving. If your eyes are constantly moving, there is a better chance that you will be able to spot any potential dangers on the road. Remember, that although cars move very slowly in stop-and-go traffic, you also have much less reaction time for any evasive action. Keeping your eyes moving is one of the best ways to reduce your chances for an accident. You should constantly check your rearview mirror AND your side mirrors, and always look over your shoulder before merging. You should merge and  change lanes as safely and carefully as possible. Use your Drivers don't always follow the "rules of the road" when driving in traffic so cars and motorcycles can come out of nowhere onto the shoulder of the freeway or other unexpected areas. 

Remember, a traffic accident that commonly occurs is when two cars merge into the same lane at the same time. The more you’re aware of this possibility, the more you can do to keep it from occurring. Therefore, even though it is best to keep your eyes primarily focused on the road directly in front of you. But there are also many potential dangers to the side and behind your car, so it is also necessary to be constantly aware of all your surroundings. Be sure to turn on your blinker so that the vehicles around you know that you’re planning to merge. Also check your blindspots for any surprises. You should also also avoid sharp movements and know that you might not be able to swerve back into your original position because some other car may have already merged into it.

You should also pay attention to the brake lights of other cars, both directly in front and in front of you but to the sides. When you travel at a low speed, it affects your depth perception and it can be hard to tell when a car is moving, slowing down or stopped. And if you haven't been paying attention to the brake lights in front of you, there may not be enough reaction time for you to brake safely. Additionally, brake lights of cars in other lanes can signal to you that there is a road obstruction or hazard that is not directly visible to you. If you see brake lights of cars in other lanes, be aware that some vehicles may take unexpected evasive action into your lane.

Don’t tailgate other cars. Always maintain as large a distance between you and the car in front of you as you need to have the amount of time you'll need to slow down or stop if the vehicle ahead of you slams on the brakes. This not only helps prevent you from rear-ending the car in front of you, it decreases "road rage" stress for the person in front of you.

Avoid distractions. This is an important part of driving in general, but it’s especially important when you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic when a split-second lapse in attention can mean a collision. That means that even though your car is moving at a snail's pace, never text, read emails or use hands-on features of your phone. If your passengers are distracting you, ask them to be silent until you’re no longer in traffic.

Don't have a lead foot! Always accelerate slowly. Stop-and-go traffic can be very frustrating, and this causes some drivers to accelerate as fast as they can when they get a little room to move. There is really little benefit to this. Whether you accelerate slowly or quickly, you’re still going to have to come to a stop as soon as you catch up to the car in front of you and you've essentially just reduced your reaction time. 

Be aware unique vehicles and situations around you. Heavy traffic has motorcycles that may dart in and out between lanes to avoid stopping and emergency vehicles may have to take whatever path they need to get around you.  

Avoid road rage. Someone may end up annoying you or frustrating you. They may cut you off, block you from entering another lane or even honk at you. Don’t get caught up in anger and road rage. When you get upset behind the wheel, you can often become a worse and more aggressive driver. There is no amount of satisfaction "getting even" with someone who wronged you that is worth getting in an accident and potentially injuring someone or yourself.

In short, drive safe...stay safe...even in stop-and-go traffic.