Many of us find city driving unpleasant and overwhelming. No matter how long you’ve been driving or how frequently you sit behind the wheel, the stress of travelling through a city and negotiating busy roads bustling with traffic and pedestrians can be profound. If you struggle with the complexity of city roads and junctions and often find yourself in the wrong lane or being cut off by fellow drivers, it is understandable that you would want to limit your time spent driving in busy areas. However, city driving is sometimes unavoidable, so here are some tips to help keep you safe and calm.
You may have noticed that you are far more easily irritated when you’re stressed about being late. In fact, lateness is a leading cause of dangerous driving, including speeding and ignoring traffic lights. Furthermore, cities can get remarkably busy, particularly during rush hour. As such, leaving plenty of time for your journey is always advisable. Additionally, if you’re planning to travel through an unfamiliar city, take a moment to familiarise yourself with your route so you’re not heavily reliant on your satnav.
One of the most important rules to adhere to when driving is never using your mobile phone, even for a split second, to change a song or adjust your satnav directions. According to statistics, drivers who use their phones are four times more likely to be in a crash resulting in injuries, either to themselves, other drivers or pedestrians. As a general rule for driving, keep distractions to a minimum so that you can devote your full attention to the road.
When driving through a busy town or city, being aware of your surroundings at all times will help to keep you and those around you safe. This means paying attention to other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic signals. It also means being aware of the physical environment, like construction areas, narrow streets, and parking garages. Staying alert while behind the wheel will help you to notice potential hazards and react to them promptly, reducing the risk of accidents.
As mentioned above, being aware of potential hazards will help you avoid traffic accidents. Always be ready to stop when necessary and practice “defensive driving”, which means anticipating dangerous situations. You may be a careful and conscientious driver, but you can’t rely on the safety standards of others or circumstances beyond your control. However, exercising caution and alertness while driving contributes to a safer road environment for everyone involved.
Whenever you’re driving through busy or congested roads, it is important to drive in a predictable manner. Predictable driving involves allowing other drivers to anticipate your actions by using turn signals when changing lanes or making turns and avoiding sudden, unpredictable manoeuvres. Unpredictability may cause other road users to panic and make poor decisions of their own; conversely, driving predictably provides a clear indication of your intentions, allowing other drivers to react accordingly, reducing the risk of accidents.
Traffic management systems improve city safety by optimising traffic flow and determining safe speed limits. According to The Department of Transport, responsible for traffic management in Victoria, the default speed limit in built-up areas is 50 kilometres per hour; however, this is being reduced to 30 kilometres per hour to help reduce the frequency and severity of crashes. The penalty for exceeding the speed limit currently stands at a minimum of $240. Excessive speeding may result in an automatic licence suspension and is classed as a criminal offence.
As mentioned, limiting distractions when driving through a busy city centre is crucial. Of course, there is nothing wrong with listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks while behind the wheel. However, excessively loud music may serve as a distraction. Devote your full attention to the road and your surroundings by lowering the volume on your stereo, as minimising potential distractions is one of the best ways to ensure a safer journey. Furthermore, your choice of music can significantly impact your driving performance, for better or worse - opting for calming music could reduce your stress levels when driving in rush hour traffic.