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How Can You Avoid Erratic Freeway Drivers?

July 3, 2024
Automotive
Editorial

Freeways allow us to travel long distances with relative ease and convenience, but they do offer some unpredictability due to factors such as poor weather, environmental concerns, and erratic drivers. In some cases, the actions of careless or dangerous drivers can put you and your car’s passengers at risk of serious harm. Erratic drivers may make sudden lane changes, weave through traffic, or drive substantially faster than is safe. While you can’t control the actions of anyone else on the road, you can take steps to protect yourself from other motorists. If a collision does occur, the car accident attorneys at Monge & Associates may be able to help.

Recognizing Erratic Driving Behavior

Protecting yourself against dangerous drivers, especially if you haven’t been driving for long yourself, can seem a daunting task. To begin with, you need to recognize the signs of erratic driving. Common forms of dangerous driving include:

  • Swerving in and out of lanes without signaling
  • Cutting off other drivers
  • Driving too fast for road conditions
  • Aggressive tailgating
  • Erratic braking or brake-checking 

People may drive erratically for many reasons. In some cases, a dangerous driver may be in a hurry and show blatant disregard for everyone else on the road as long as it gets them to their destination faster. A dangerous driver may also be distracted by their phone or something in their car. Other drivers may be operating their vehicles while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Regardless of the cause, you need to be ready to react to unexpected hazards at a moment’s notice.

Defensive Driving Techniques to Implement

Anytime you’re on the freeway, you need to implement the core principles of defensive driving. To begin with, maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you. In normal weather, a three-second delay between your vehicle and the car in front will suffice. When following a large truck or visibility is limited by poor weather, increase this following distance accordingly. Keep an eye on your mirrors and avoid lingering in another vehicle’s blind spot, particularly when you’re coming up on a large truck with more vision limitations.

Managing Your Speed and Lane Position

The safest lane on a freeway is generally the center lane since it keeps you away from merging traffic and exit ramps. However, you should adjust your position to the traffic flow as you drive. There may be one lane that is consistently slower than the others, in which case you should merge over to maintain a safe speed. You should do your best to match the speed of the overall flow of traffic but prioritize your safety over driving neck and neck with an aggressive driver.  Avoid tailgating, since this gives you less chance to react if the driver in front hits the brakes or swerves to avoid something in the road.

Techniques for Dealing with Specific Situations

Although it’s impossible to predict the kind of dangerous motorists you might encounter on a given day, some situations to be ready for include:

  • Aggressive Drivers: If you encounter an aggressive driver, stay calm and avoid making eye contact. You shouldn’t antagonize an already-upset driver by brake-checking them or speeding up. Instead, you should switch lanes if it’s safe to do so and allow them to pass. If you feel like you and your passengers are in danger, call 911 and pull off the road at a safe location.
  • Distracted Drivers: When a driver is distracted, their ability to make split-second decisions and adequately control their vehicle will be sufficiently reduced. You may notice that a distracted driver exhibits slow reaction times, weaves between lanes, or fails to signal their lane changes and turns. While these drivers may not be actively aggressive, their behavior is still dangerous and you should keep your distance. When possible, change lanes to maximize the distance between your vehicle and the distracted driver.
  • Drunk or Impaired Drivers: Erratic swerving, aggressive tailgating, or driving with headlights off at night can signal that a driver is impaired. If you suspect that a driver may be drunk, high, or otherwise dangerously impaired, do not attempt to engage with them. Increase your following distance, change lanes if possible, and call 911 to report the driver. Provide law enforcement with as many identifying details about the other driver’s car as possible, such as license plate, make, model, color, decals, and exterior damage.

Taking Advantage of Your Car’s Advanced Safety Features

Many modern cars have advanced safety features that help you stay safe behind the wheel. Lane departure warning systems alert you if you begin to inadvertently drift into another lane. Adaptive cruise control helps you maintain a safe following distance by automatically adjusting your speed to match the car in front. Blind spot detection systems indicate when a vehicle or obstacle is in your car’s blind spot. However, you should take care not to become overly reliant on these safety features. While these systems can help you avoid potentially dangerous situations, they should not replace your attention to the road and safe driving behaviors.

Protecting Yourself & Your Passengers With Defensive Driving

By driving defensively and proactively responding to potential hazards around your vehicle, you can significantly reduce the dangers of erratic freeway drivers. Be sure to stay aware of your surroundings, take advantage of your car’s safety features, and avoid escalating situations with aggressive drivers. We hope this article helps you stay safe the next time you hit the freeway!