Richmond, VA – According to the state officials, so far in 2023, there were 23,021 crashes where drivers were following too closely, 1,537 crashes involving pedestrians, 539 crashes involving cyclists and 130 crashes involving a failure to signal or improper signal.
In an effort to prevent crashes, DMV shares some small changes you can make to be a safer and more courteous driver in the new year.
- Remember not to cruise in the left lane. The left lane is intended to be used for passing. Once you have passed another vehicle, please move back to the middle or right lane to keep the left lane open.
- Don’t follow too closely. Always follow at a safe distance to allow yourself time to react. Use the two, three, four rule when driving on dry roads to determine the distance between you and the car in front of you.
- 2 seconds when traveling under 35 mph
- 3 seconds when traveling between 35 and 45 mph
- 4 seconds when traveling between 46 and 70 mph
- Always use your turn signal when changing lanes. Making sure other drivers are aware of a change in your path ensures they have time to react and can help avoid a crash. Don’t forget to check your blind spots too.
- Remember to share the road with pedestrians and cyclists. We share the responsibility to keep vulnerable road users safe. Be especially careful when turning at intersections and when driving in heavily populated areas.
