Brooklyn print edition (PDF) - Caribbean Life

Avoid car accidents on city streets 

Many people fi nd the 

allure of the big city 

too hard to resist. In 

addition to more employment 

opportunities, large 

metropolitan areas typically offer 

more convenience than their 

suburban counterparts. As a result, 

metropolitan roadways are 

often busy. 

According to the U.S. Census 

Bureau, three-quarters of the 

population live in the country’s 

metropolitan areas. The majority 

of the nation’s growth over 

the next 25 years is expected to 

be in metropolitan areas. Traffi c 

in these areas stands to increase, 

which will no doubt lead to a 

spike in accidents as well. 

City statistics 

Crashes that cause injuries 

and property damage are more 

likely to occur in urban areas. 

However, fatal crashes occur at a 

higher rate in rural areas. There 

are a number of accidents that 

are common to populated areas, 

according to the Insurance Institute 

for Highway Safety. These 

include: 

• Running red lights or other 

traffi c controls, such as stop or 

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Metropolitan areas can be ideal places to live. Driving safely within 

city limits often requires placing a greater emphasis on driving 

defensively and staying aware at all times. 

yield signs, and having a collision. 

• Stopping or being in the process 

of stopping and being struck 

from the rear. 

• Running off of the road and 

striking an object. 

• Swerving into an occupied 

lane. 

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• Turning left and colliding 

with an oncoming vehicle. 

Avoid accidents 

Accidents in urban areas can 

be largely prevented if drivers take 

action. Here are ways that many 

common accidents can be avoided. 

• Exercise caution when ap- 

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proaching an intersection. Drivers 

should slow down when approaching 

any intersection. They should 

be prepared to stop, even if they 

have the right of way. Don’t run 

through red lights or attempt to 

“beat” the yellow light. Someone 

on the other side of the intersection 

may be harboring similar 

thoughts. 

• Leave several car lengths between 

vehicles. Tailgating can be 

troublesome to drivers. Not only 

does it limit the amount of response 

time a driver has, but also it could 

anger another driver and lead to 

a dangerous altercation. As more 

and more drivers are distracted by 

technology, driving with several 

car lengths between cars takes on 

even greater importance. 

• Check blind spots often. Drivers 

should repeatedly check for 

cars in their blind spots, especially 

when changing lanes or making a 

turn. Cyclists, motorcycle riders, 

and even pedestrians may be hidden 

in a blind spot. Err on the side 

of safety. 

• Drive slowly. Urban areas do 

not offer the open road of rural areas. 

That means drivers will have 

to maintain slower speed limits to 

stay safe. Excess speed makes it 

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diffi cult to see obstacles, including 

pedestrians or debris on the road. 

Driving too fast can also make 

handling turns treacherous. 

• Electronic enforcement is 

present. Many towns and cities employ 

the use of speed-monitoring 

devices or cameras to catch traffi c 

violations. Red light cameras have 

been shown to reduce violations 

by 40 to 50 percent. Drivers should 

keep in mind that cameras may 

be in use where they frequently 

travel. 

• Be cautious during left-hand 

turns. According to research, 

many side-impact accidents occur 

when a collision takes place during 

a left-hand turn into oncoming 

traffi c. Drivers should wait for a 

left turn signal when possible and 

make sure oncoming traffi c has 

completely stopped before turning. 

If the intersection is particularly 

treacherous, motorists can 

choose another place to turn, even 

if it means going out of the way for 

a few minutes. 

Metropolitan areas can be 

ideal places to live. Driving safely 

within city limits often requires 

placing a greater emphasis on 

driving defensively and staying 

aware at all times. 

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Page 49 Caribbean Life • Brooklyn/Staten Island • Aug. 31–Sept. 6, 2012 CAR DEALS

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