Top Defensive Driving Tips for West Virginia Roads

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate for 16-to-19-year-olds is roughly three times higher than for drivers over twenty.

What’s ironic is that teen drivers are probably closest to understanding the rules of the road and what they should do to be safe drivers. That’s because they’re just coming off their intense driver’s education course.

No matter how long you’ve been driving, it is never too late to learn defensive driving techniques that can greatly improve your chances of avoiding a serious car accident.

A few minor adjustments can keep you out of a serious crash.

Mastering Steep Inclines and Mountain Road Safety

The roads around West Virginia offer scenic views of rolling hills, lush fields, and mountains.

A drive along the Highland Scenic Highway, the Midland Trail, the Cranberry Backcounty Road, or the Southern Backroads Ramble are an excellent way to spend a weekend, but they’re not without risks.

If you travel on these rural roads, you need to do the following:

• Anticipate Blind Curves: Mountain roads hide oncoming traffic. The best approach is to slow down and stay to the right when navigating tight corners.
• Use Low Gears on Descents: When heading down from a mountain road, you’ll want to shift to a lower gear to prevent your brakes from overheating.
• Watch for Falling Rocks: There are genuine risks on rural roads of debris and falling rocks. That is especially true on mountainous curves or after heavy rain.

Adapting to Rapidly Changing West Virginia Weather

Weather can be a contributing factor in an accident. However, a driver can’t use bad weather as an excuse for getting into an accident. The assumption is that when bad weather rolls through, you need to make the proper adjustments.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Check the Roads: Before heading out, you should always check the real-time road conditions using the West Virginia 511 traveler information. You should make that check in any kind of weather.
2. Master Visibility: After it snows, you need to completely clear all ice and snow from your vehicle to ensure you can see and be seen.
3. Beware of Black Ice: You might not be aware of this, but any shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses will often freeze long before the rest of the roadway. If you hit a patch of black ice, instantly ease off the accelerator, and keep your steering wheel perfectly straight. That should let your car slow down naturally without applying the brakes that could cause you to skid.
4. Turn On Your Headlights: Turn on your low-beam headlights in rain, fog, or at dusk so other drivers can see you.
5. Never Use Cruise Control: When roads are slick from rain or snow, avoid using cruise control. It reduces your reaction time and can cause your car to accelerate suddenly, leading to hydroplaning.
6. Combat Hydroplaning: If you begin to hydroplane on standing water, you need to take the same approach if you hit black ice: ease your foot off the gas, and steer gently in the direction you want the car to go.
7. Watch for High Winds: Storms come with high winds, especially up in the mountains. When the wind stirs up, grip your steering wheel firmly, reduce your speed, and exercise extra caution.

It will also help to make sure you have an emergency roadside safety kit. The West Virginia Department of Transportation has a helpful checklist of items you should include in your kit.

Avoiding Deer Collisions at Night

If you drive long enough on West Virginia roads, you’re sure to encounter a deer. Deer are most active during their mating season in the fall and during peak nocturnal hours from dusk until midnight.

You need to be on the lookout near wooded areas, farmlands, rivers, and posted deer-crossing signs.

Here’s what else you can do:

• Look for Reflections: Deer eyes uniquely reflect headlight beams. As you drive, watch out along the adjacent tree lines for glowing, horizontal pairs of eyes.
• Watch for “Followers”: Deer frequently travel in small groups. If one deer crosses the road safely, you can assume a second or third will be close behind.
• Utilize High Beams: Your high beams provide crucial extra reaction time on rural roads and highways. You should always have your high beams on and only switch to low beams when you see oncoming traffic.
• Don’t Swerve: If a deer does leap out in front of you, steering suddenly to avoid the animal often causes more fatalities than the actual impact. If you swerve, you can get into a head-on collision with other vehicles or strike a tree or pole. Maintain your lane and brake as firmly and safely as possible.

Talking to An Attorney After a Collision in West Virginia

Despite all of your defensive driving adjustments, you can’t control another driver. If you get into a collision with a driver due to their negligence, you should not be burdened with any medical expenses or repairs to your car.

The best approach for securing that compensation is to discuss your options with Hendrickson & Long, PLLC.

We are a team of experienced Charleston car accident attorneys who have helped many folks navigate through the car claim process. We take over communications with the insurance company and push hard to secure a fair settlement. This isn’t something we want to drag on.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, reach out to Hendrickson & Long, PLLC to schedule a free consultation.

Don’t wait to get the answers that can bring you peace of mind.