Watch out for these things when driving through intersections in South Africa

Intersections are a part of everyday driving, but can be some of the most dangerous parts of our roads.

Nearly half of all accidents take place at intersections, whether it be a slight bumper tap from not braking early enough, or fatal t-bone crashes following someone recklessly ignoring a red light or stop sign.

Several types of intersections exist throughout South Africa, with the most basic being stop streets with single roads running in different directions.

Multiple lanes can also converge at an intersection, where multiphase traffic lights are required to direct traffic to allow drivers to safely navigate the crossing.

Some intersections can be much more daunting, including crossings where up to six lanes from several directions converge, drivers need to cross two perpendicular streets, and navigate roads crossing them diagonally.

According to Arrive Alive, crossing and turning manoeuvres that occur at intersections create opportunities for vehicle-vehicle, vehicle-pedestrian, and vehicle-bicycle conflicts.

The definition of a traffic intersection emphasises the inherent danger of it, as an intersection is defined as “an area where vehicles may come into conflict.”

Traversing traffic intersections can be dangerous because motorists may encounter drivers who are impatient and aggressive, leading to impulsive decision-making and reckless driving.

By the end of the day, drivers may be distracted or tired, leading to a lack of concentration and poor decisions at intersections.

Late at night, drivers may also come into contact with drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, whose decision-making capabilities have been compromised.

Any of these situations may lead to several dangerous scenarios for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, who may all collide during a single crash.

One of the biggest dangers of incidents at intersections involves side impact crashes, which have higher rates of fatalities and serious injuries because of limited protective structures to safeguard occupants.

Side-struck or t-boned vehicles are also often knocked off course and into a second collision with oncoming traffic, guardrails, telephone poles, or trees, further endangering the lives of the vehicle’s occupants.

According to Arrive Alive, the chance of avoiding a serious crash is reduced dramatically when travelling above 50km/h in a modern car, and significantly less for older vehicles.

Safely navigating an intersection

Familiarity with road rules and traffic laws, as well as taking precautions behind the wheel, could help drivers avoid crashes at intersections.

Driving defensively, anticipating potential problems, and identifying dangerous situations can keep drivers out of harm’s way, and paying attention during congested traffic also increases the chances of avoiding incidents.

Arrive Alive suggests practising patience at all times, and considering what other drivers may do while altering your path approaching an intersection is a good start.

Ensuring that you and all passengers and occupants are buckled up is crucial in ensuring safety, as a passenger without a safety belt may become a projectile during a crash, threatening all occupants’ safety.

The easiest way to avoid danger at an intersection is to ensure you are not speeding while approaching a crossing.

Speeding into an intersection may lead to not being able to come to a complete stop in time, or not being afforded the space to manoeuvre out of a dangerous situation.

When approaching or waiting at an intersection, emergency vehicles may need to pass through. As they have the right of way, remain stopped until the vehicle has completely passed the intersection.

Check to see if no other emergency vehicles are following the first one before setting off again.

When setting off, ensure you look in both directions and pay attention to drivers who may be trying to beat the signal change.

Do not follow other vehicles too closely when going into intersections, as they might stop suddenly, leading to a rear-ending crash.

Should you be the first driver at the intersection, ensure you stop before the painted stop line, crosswalk, or in such a way that you do not enter the intersection.

Using turn signals appropriately is crucial, as without the proper signals, other drivers may not be aware that you are turning, and may try to overtake you, causing a collission.

Similarly, ensure that you give the correct turning signal before lange changes, and ensure you are in the correct lane to make a turn before signalling intention.

Avoid entering any intersection when traffic is backed up on the other side, you may be unable to leave the intersection before the light change and might be stuck in the middle.

Crcially, maintainng your vehicle is crucial to ensure safety at an intersection, and on the road in general, as malfunctioning warning lights make it difficult for other motorists to predict your actions on the road.