Defensive driving is essential
There’s a lot happening on our roads. No matter which way you go, it’s not long before you encounter more roadwork. The diversions often take drivers through or past residential areas and involve changes to the rights of way, roads that are closed off to through traffic, and temporary one-way streets. Buses sometimes also have to squeeze their way through tight spots.
These rules aren’t just unfamiliar to drivers, residents also have to adapt to them during the construction work. What may at first glance look like an unimportant side road, can in fact turn out to have right of way over the main flow of traffic – the rule in Germany is to “give priority to the right.” That takes some getting used to and can easily lead to misunderstandings, not least because the right-of-way sign pointing this out can quickly become lost in the jungle of other signs.
“Diversions are full of surprises,” warns Luis Ancona, accident researcher at DEKRA. If the road has become a temporary one-way street, it may well be the case that cyclists are allowed to ride through in the opposite direction. Dangerous close calls are to be expected, especially in poor visibility. Anyone who relies on common sat-nav apps will often end up having to fend for themselves as these apps are often not updated quickly enough.
“Regardless of what the sat-nav system says, always keep an eye on the actual signs on the road and do not blindly follow the app’s instructions,”
explains the expert.
If the road goes near a residential area or school, drivers can often expect to encounter children on foot or on bike in the mornings and once school is finished. For this reason, among others, it is recommended to drive particularly carefully in such areas and be prepared for surprises. Ancona explains: “It is recommended to adopt a defensive, forgiving driving style. Be considerate and keep to the speed limits; you’ll then have more time to react.”
However, pedestrians also have to keep their wits about them. If there is construction work on one side of the street, they sometimes have to cross the road in places where visibility is restricted. Pedestrians also need to take care on the sidewalk that remains as larger vehicles could get perilously close to them around the roadwork. Additionally, they should always expect to encounter drivers, who may be paying less attention to pedestrians at the roadside because they themselves are distracted by diversions, the construction work, or the jungle of signs.