Common Hazards That Road Users Face

Making the decision to learn to drive a car or ride a motorbike can be pretty exciting; suddenly your world is opened up to a whole host of new opportunities and destinations to visit. You’ll have to spend a lot of time practising with your instructor, as well as doing further studying for your driving theory test if you want to become a proficient road user as well as making sure you pass your test successfully. It’s a whole new experience once you pass your test though, as you’re free to use the roads at your free will without anyone pointing you in the right direction or giving you tips on how to do particular manoeuvres.

Taking to the roads every day will present new obstacles, situations and hazards which you will learn to handle better over time; it can be a bit scary at first though so it’s a good idea to know what you should be looking out for. Just think of it as a real-life hazard perception test… To get you started, here are few common hazards that road users face.

Other road users

Regardless of the time of the day, there will always be other motorists using the roads. Even if you become a brilliant driver, you must be aware that others on the road may not be at your standard for a number of reasons. One example might be because a person took their driving test many moons ago and has picked up some bad habits since then, and you also have to consider impatient drivers or people who have no license at all and are driving illegally.

Pedestrians

In populated areas, the speed limits will be reduced so make sure you adhere to them. The reason for the 30 mile an hour zones is that there is a risk of pedestrians crossing the road. It can be difficult to see people when they step out from between two parked cars, so you must pay close attention to these hazards to avoid causing an accident.

Cyclists

You must also be aware of cyclists; they of course must obey the rules of the road but not every single pedal bike user does this, much like motorists. Therefore you may see certain cyclists ignoring traffic signals, or moving from the pavement to the road. Where there are cycle lanes running adjacent to the road, make sure you give any passing cyclists plenty of space, and pay close attention to any signals they give other road users.

Animals

One type of hazard that will not give you any signals is animals. In the UK you will have to contend with birds and other types of wildlife including deer, badgers and foxes. You’ll have to react fast when faced with these situations and consider the impact of your actions on other road users, so always pick the safest option for you and them.

You can find out more about the other risks for motorists from Evolution Legal Concierge Ireland online.

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Category: Car Insurance