When you stop to think about it, driving is actually an extremely dangerous activity. Fast speeds, quick turns, heavy machinery – combine these and you’ve got yourself a recipe for disaster. Luckily, New York car rental travelers can avoid a great deal of danger simply by staying alert while behind the wheel.
When it comes to staying safe behind the wheel of a New York car rental, most experienced drivers have developed a sense for trouble and uncertainty. For example, a good driver knows that construction zones are an area worthy of caution, or that wet roads can offer up some tricky driving conditions. But identifying trouble is just one part of the solution. The more important question is how to handle these driving danger zones?
The next time you encounter a problematic portion of road, consider the following tips and tricks from the New York car rental experts at Action Car Rental.
Danger Zone #1 – School Zones
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Whenever you encounter a school zone in your New York car rental it’s crucial that you hit the brakes. A school zone sign signals that it’s time to slow down; the speed limit around schools is normally 15-24 miles per hour. And that includes weekends and summer holidays. Just because school is no longer in session doesn’t mean that kids aren’t still hanging out on the playground.
If you’re dropping off or picking up a child at school in your New York car rental, you’ll want to exercise a great deal of caution. If possible, leave a few minutes early so you’re not in a rush or battling with increased traffic near the school. Park a street over from the school and walk your child back to your car in order to keep the road in front of the school free of traffic. And never, ever, park or stop your New York car rental in the school bus loading zone.
Danger Zone #2 – Construction Areas
Road work is an unavoidable frustration for many New York car rental travelers. And while those orange pylons might cause your stomach to turn with impatience, it’s important that you keep your cool when caught in construction congestion.
Since road construction zones often funnel cars into a single-file lane, drivers are often overcome with impatience, zipping up to the front of the line and forcing a merge at the last minute. Not only is this frustrating to other drivers, it’s an extremely dangerous practice. What is a road maintenance worker happened to be working close to the lane and you accidentally clipped him or her as you gunned your vehicle forward? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 669 road-work-zone fatalities occur annually. So show some restraint while behind the wheel of your New York car rental. It could safe someone’s life.
Danger Zone #3 – Animal Crossing Areas
Animal collisions can result in serious damage and/or injury for drivers and passenger (not to mention the animal). Luckily, there aren’t that many oversized animals out roaming the streets of NYC. Even so, if you see a cat or raccoon dart out in front of your vehicle, you’ll want to make sure you react in a way that’s not going to risk your safety or the safety of other road users. To help steer clear of animals on the road, lower your speed, especially during the hours around dusk and dawn. Keep your eyes peeled for “Animal Crossing” signs and don’t be afraid to use your headlights or horn to scare off timid animals.
Danger Zone #4 – Parking Lots
Just because you’re off the road, doesn’t mean the danger has disappeared. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a surprising 52 percent of all back-over injuries (accidents that involve a vehicle backing into a pedestrian or cyclist) take place in nonresidential parking lots. So keep your guard up searching for a spot. Always remember to check the blind spot in your New York car rental, use your turn signals and always obey standard traffic laws
Danger Zone #5 – Driveways
You read that right. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, roughly 39 percent of back-over fatalities happen in driveways. So take a moment and adjust your mirrors before making your way out of a laneway. Turn your head and look behind you while in reverse, and keep the windows down and the radio off so you can listen for animals, children and pedestrians.
Danger zones exist around every corner. Make sure that you and your New York car rental passengers are safe by exhibiting caution behind the wheel of your vehicle.