Driving in rush hour traffic is usually unpleasant and can add 10 – 20 minutes to your commute. Between the hours of 6:30am and 8:30am are when the Des Moines areas highways become the most congested. Almost 16,000 people start their drive to work around 7:00am, with many of them having a 15 – 20-minute commute time. This can cause a headache for most people. However, it doesn’t have to. Take a look at a few quick tips to keep you safe and on time.
Give Yourself Extra Time: Leaving early for your drive can help relieve the anxiety of making it to where you’re going on time. Unexpected things can happen, so by giving yourself an extra 5 – 10 minutes to drive you can lessen the probability of being late due to traffic. Drivers who don’t time out their commute are often found driving to closely to others, cutting around other drivers, and speeding. So, pay attention and watch out for those aggressive drivers.
Keep Your Distance: You should never tailgate other drivers. Keeping a safe distance between yourself and the car in front of you can lower the chances of getting into an accident. Most drivers follow the 3 second rule, which is keeping at least 3 seconds of space in between their car and the car in front of them. Tailgating jeopardizes your safety and the safety of others, so if the person in front of you is going slow, either go around them or slow down yourself to keep a safe distance between you.
Plan Your Drive: Determine how long it will take you to drive from point A to point B and make sure you leave at a decent time. Choosing a different route to utilize if you need to may also help in instances of there being an accident on the highway. You can also plan to get everything ready the night before. Things like bags, lunches, and work supplies can add unnecessary time to your morning, which can in turn make you late. If you are prepared the night before, your chances of being late are reduced.
Driving can be scary, especially if you are just learning how to drive. Following these tips will help you out and give you the confidence you need to drive safely and make it to where you are going on time.
