With the arrival of spring, most of us are excited to enjoy the beautiful landscape with flowers, fresh air, longer days, and sunshine. Although we no longer have to deal with the winter’s snowy and icy road conditions, springtime also brings unique driving challenges and hazards. As such, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the most common driving hazards that come with the spring season in Maryland. This is necessary to anticipate the potential obstacles one may encounter while navigating the roadways and mitigate the risk of collisions. Please continue reading to learn the dangers of spring driving and how an adept Prince George’s County Auto Accident Lawyer can help you explore your legal options.
What Are the Most Common Spring Driving Hazards?
Now that spring is in full swing, that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down while behind the wheel. A new season brings new safety hazards. Drivers should look out for the following spring driving hazards to protect themselves:
- Inclement weather: During the spring, rain, severe thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds are not uncommon and can make driving treacherous. Slick road conditions can also increase the risk of hydroplaning, which occurs when your car’s tires lose their grip on a road surface and instead travel on a film of water. This causes drivers to lose control of their vehicle because they can’t break. Rain and hailstorms can also impair visibility. As such, you should ensure your tires and windshield wipers are in good condition. In addition, use your headlights, slow down, and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and other drivers. If the weather forecasts include flood warnings, you should remain indoors.
- Pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. With warmer weather, more people will be outside, so drivers must be more cautious. Drivers must be more aware of their surroundings because these vulnerable parties have a lower profile than other vehicles and can be challenging to spot. Drivers should avoid any distractions while driving to keep everyone on the road safe.
- Sun glare. During this season, the sun may affect your eyesight as you navigate the roadways. The sun can blind you, affecting your ability to see the road ahead, especially during certain times of the day. As such, you should wear sunglasses, a visor, or a hat to protect your eyesight. If visibility is impaired by the sun, this could affect your reaction time to potential roadway hazards.
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident in the spring due to another party’s negligence, it’s in your best interest to enlist the help of an experienced lawyer from Timian & Fawcett, LLC, who can help you hold them accountable. Our legal team is prepared to help you understand your legal options and the potential value of your claim.