What is the best way to avoid accidents at intersections?

To effectively avoid accidents at intersections, it is crucial to look both ways to ensure that cross traffic has yielded before proceeding. This practice is vital because intersections are common locations for collisions, often resulting from misunderstanding who has the right of way. By looking both ways, drivers gather important visual information about other vehicles and pedestrians, allowing them to make informed decisions about when it is safe to enter the intersection. This attentiveness greatly reduces the likelihood of unexpected encounters with other road users.

In addition to this, maintaining a vigilant approach in observing traffic signals and signs is essential, as these guide the behavior of all roadway users. While it’s important to be cautious, simply avoiding intersections or using your horn does not address the complexities of navigating them safely. Stopping at every intersection, even when unnecessary, can lead to increased traffic congestion and frustration, while avoiding them altogether might not be practical for most drivers. Therefore, the most effective preventive measure is to actively assess the situation and ensure it is safe to proceed by checking for yielding traffic.