How to Safely Navigate I-10 in Louisiana and Avoid Accidents

You can try to avoid accidents on I-10 by following these suggestions:

Try to Plan Your Driving for Less Crowded Times

One way to safely navigate I-10 is to try, if possible, to stay off of the highway during rush hour traffic or during periods of higher highway congestion, like those periods leading up to big Louisiana events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

With these events come many thousands of extra cars on the road, and not all of them have sober drivers. Try to stay aware of what is going on in the area where you have to drive.

Devote Your Full Attention to the Road

Avoid distractions while behind the wheel and you can help to avoid accidents. Put your cell phone in the back seat or zip it into a purse or backpack. You should do your best not to engage in activities that take your eyes off of the road ahead, like changing the radio station or checking the GPS.

As a passenger, you can help the driver and yourself stay safe by choosing not to distract the driver. You could offer to perform tasks like adjusting the radio or the air conditioning so that the driver can concentrate on the traffic.

Do Not Tailgate

When you tailgate, you risk the safety of yourself and the people in the car ahead of you because you are not leaving adequate space between your car and other vehicles. By doing so, you greatly increase the likelihood of a wreck. If the driver in the front has to slow down or stop, you might not have enough time to avoid a collision.

Another trick to avoiding accidents on I-10 is to put distance between your vehicle and someone who drives recklessly. Taking this precaution gives you more opportunity to avoid getting hit if or when that person causes a wreck.

Drive Sober

You should not get behind the wheel if you have consumed alcohol. You might not realize it, but “buzzed” driving is impaired driving. Also, your blood alcohol level does not have to exceed the legal limit for you to get a citation for driving under the influence if the amount of alcohol you drank affects your ability to drive safely. Under LA §98, an intoxicated driver can be charged with a DUI if they are “under the influence of alcoholic beverages.”

When in doubt, let a sober friend drive, use public transportation, or call a ride-share service. The expense of a taxi or ride-share service is far less than what a DUI conviction will cost you.

Slow Down

Speed is often a factor in car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding contributed to more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities in 2017. When you travel at a safe speed, you might be able to avoid a collision.

Bad weather and slick roads typically mean that people need to slow down to drive safely. If you do not decrease your speed for the weather or road conditions when appropriate, you can get a ticket or end up in a car accident.

Do Not Cruise in the Fast Lane

We have all had the experience of getting stuck behind someone who drives slowly in the fast lane. Such a person might think that he is making the highway safer by forcing other drivers to slow down, but actually, he is creating a dangerous situation that increases the likelihood of a crash.

When a car in the fast lane does not keep up with the flow of traffic, other drivers change lanes multiple times to get around the slow driver. Frequent lane changes like this heighten the risk of collisions. If you do not want to travel at the flow of traffic in the fast lane, you should change lanes to one that moves along at a speed that is comfortable for you.

How to Get Help for a Car Accident

At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we sincerely hope that these driving tips will help you avoid an accident on the highway. Still, you cannot control the behavior of other drivers, so it is possible to have a collision despite your best efforts.

If you get hurt in a crash on I-10 because of someone else’s carelessness, we will be happy to provide a case evaluation at no cost to you. You can call us today at (337) 777-7777 to get started. The initial consultation is free, and there is no obligation.