While speeding, drunk driving and texting are obviously dangerous, driving too slowly can cause accidents, too. In fact, California motorists who drive in a slow manner on a two-lane roadway and who cause a buildup of at least five vehicles following behind must pull over into a marked area on the side of the road to let them pass. Here are several reasons why people may drive too slowly and how motorists can safely avoid them.
Age may be one reason many motorists are slow drivers. An elderly person may drive slowly because of poor vision or weakness in applying pressure on the acceleration pedal. Then, there is the young driver who does not feel confident enough to go the speed limit. Impatient drivers who tailgate these slower drivers might cause them to drive more slowly. A better way that motorists can respond to slow-moving old or young drivers is to drive behind them patiently for several minutes, giving them a chance to pull over so that they can pass. Motorists could also gently honk their horn or flash their headlights to get their attention.
Another slowly moving motorist may be a tourist who is unfamiliar with the area’s roads and traffic patterns. These drivers may also slow down because they are looking at interesting sights. There are also distracted drivers who reduce their speed because they are busy talking or texting on their cellphones. Distracted driving reduces a driver’s ability to fully process all that is going on, including cars driving behind their vehicle. Drivers who need to text or make calls should consider pulling over to use their device.
Distracted driving was the cause of one-fifth of crash-related injuries in 2009. Those who were severely injured by a distracted driver might be awarded for their losses with the help of a personal injury attorney.
