Safe Driving Carson City: Merging into traffic requires a good look before taking a leap
There’s an old saying that many of you may have grown up with, “Look before you leap.” These four simple words apply to many situations today. When pulling out onto a street or highway, you should always be looking before you “Leap” out into traffic. Or for the purposes of this article “merge into traffic.”
When you properly merge and are aware of the vehicles that are approaching as well as those that are around you, you greatly reduce the risk of a crash. By taking the time to make sure that it is safe to enter the travel lane, you are showing that you are a courteous and careful driver.
There is another adage that is applicable when driving, especially when entering intersections from a stop. “Look left, look right then look left again” before crossing. By following this advice you will be able to get from one side of the intersection to the other with less risk of being involved in a crash by errant drivers.
Remember that not everyone drives as carefully as you do and some of those that you share the road with do not stop for stop signs or pay attention to traffic signals. Not only should motorists pay attention to these basic phrases but, so should pedestrians, motorcycle riders and bicyclists. By looking and merging properly, you can reduce car crashes on our streets and highways.
— Sgt. Scott McDaniel is with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office and writes regular public safety columns. He can be reached at smcdaniel@carson.org