Driving in New York City can be hectic with all the pedestrians, cyclists, aggressive drivers and heavy traffic. A staggering 38 percent of accidents in NYC during 2022 involved an injury or fatality. If you’ve been injured in a recent accident, reach out to a NYC car accident lawyer to help your case. It’s important to stay alert at all times while driving to avoid car collisions.
Here are 5 tips to stay safe on NYC streets.
1. Don’t Speed
Speed limits in the busy streets of NYC are low, usually 25-30 mph. There’s a reason for that – with so much activity on the roads, speeding reduces reaction times. Drive at or below the speed limit and avoid sudden acceleration. Leave more stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. That extra few feet could help prevent rear-end car collisions, which are very common in NYC traffic.
2. Watch for Pedestrians and Cyclists
NYC has one of the highest rates of pedestrian and cyclist traffic in the country. Around 300 pedestrians are killed every year, and a further 15,000 are injured. Be prepared for them to dart out unexpectedly between parked cars or cross the road illegally. Pay special attention at intersections and give pedestrians and cyclists proper distance. Avoid blocking crosswalks or bike lanes, stopping too far into intersections, or making abrupt turns without signaling. Be predictable, and drive slowly and defensively around people outside vehicles in NYC.
3. Avoid Distractions
Distracted driving is dangerous and against the law in New York. In 2022, more than 28k auto accidents were caused by distracted driving. Do not use your phone, adjust controls, eat/drink, dig around in your bag, or attend to kids/pets while driving. As a driver, your eyes need to be on the road at all times. With so much activity on NYC streets, one lapse in attention could lead to tragedy. Stay focused and avoid accidents.
4. Check Blind Spots Thoroughly
NYC streets often have large vehicles like charter buses, tractor-trailers, and construction trucks. Their massive size can easily hide pedestrians, cyclists, and smaller cars. Before making lane changes or turns, thoroughly check blind spots, use mirrors, and turn your head to be sure you’re not hitting anything on all sides of your vehicle. Don’t rely only on mirrors – do a visual check whenever possible.
5. Follow Traffic Rules
In the chaos of NYC streets, drivers can be tempted to bend the rules to get ahead faster. However, not following traffic laws like stop signs, traffic signals, yield signs, lane markings, etc., is dangerous and illegal. Other vehicles/people expect drivers to follow these standardized rules. Don’t cut corners that could lead to collisions. However slowed down they may make your commute, obeying NYC traffic rules helps avoid accidents.
Staying Safe is a Shared Responsibility
While driving carefully is important, safety on chaotic NYC streets also depends on cyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers being alert and lawful. Nevertheless, if each person behind the wheel strives to remain focused, unimpaired, controlled, and fully compliant with traffic laws, accident rates will decline. We all need to do our part – drive without distraction, watch for people/objects around our vehicle, and follow the rules of the road. That collective effort helps avoid tragedy and keeps everyone safer.
So, be vigilant, be patient and comply with traffic regulations when driving in New York City. That mindset leads to accident reduction and safer streets for all. Despite the chaos, we’re sharing the roads – so stay alert in order to do your part in avoiding collisions in NYC.
