As someone who drives commercially on a regular basis along the Route 1 corridor and Coastal Highway, I’ve drawn the following conclusions.
There are three main causes leading to accidents in the area. In addition to personal hardships, these accidents lead to miles-long backups.
1. High speeds – Racing past the posted speed limit and driving too fast for conditions (weather and heavy congestion) are primary contributors to vehicular wrecks
2. In combination with No. 1, tailgating leads to pileups – Drafting is not confined to the NASCAR circuit. It’s evident on local highways. Maintaining a safe cushion is a lost art
3. Distracted driving – Texting and speaking on cellphones. Impaired driving beyond legal limits.
Additionally, we drivers who are regular motorists here know the pinch points – roads that have little merge lane distance, intersections that have heavy emergency vehicle activity, intersections where 0 to 50 mph is sometimes necessary to cross or merge into traffic. There are also visiting drivers who will cross over multiple lanes to get to the restaurant or outlet, or the speed racers roaring down Coastal Highway from traffic signal to traffic signal.
One last danger area: scooters, conventional and electric bikes are not just confined to designated trails and paths; they’re also on highways in increasing numbers. They can be in a blind spot or sometimes go in unexpected directions. Keep an eye out for the cyclists!
So, let’s get the big picture, exercise patience behind the wheel and use those turn signals.
Here’s to a safe summer on the highway!
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