An essential rule of the road that even experienced drivers forget

Rimvydas Pocius, manager of the transport insurance portfolio of corporate clients at Ergo insurance company, says one of them is the right-hand rule, which often causes difficulties for drivers.

Forget one of the most important rules

In smaller settlements and remote district roads, unregulated and unmarked intersections with traffic signs are more common, so according to R. Pocius, they need to remember one of the most fundamental traffic rules. Although it would seem very simple, drivers used to traffic lights in cities often feel confused and confused when they are in an unregulated intersection.

“As a result of such confusion or ignorance of the rules, there are many accidents that occur at unregulated intersections. Not only vehicles, but also people are often affected. And all because drivers don’t always lose an oncoming vehicle. on the right. They have to do this every time they cross a cross road and there are no priority signs, traffic lights or road markings, “recalls R. Pocius.

The representative of the insurers points out that the right-hand rule does not apply at irregular road intersections. For example, at the intersection of gravel road and paved road, the driver of the paved road is considered the primary one.

Even the victims are lost

It is true that R. Pocius points out that, although the right-hand rule is quite simple, there are also situations where its application to drivers is not necessarily very clear or obvious. For example, in parking lots, where one vehicle goes straight and the other turns right, it is the first to yield. However, according to R. Pocius, drivers often intuitively think that driving in a straight line is a priority. As a result, car collisions often occur.

“Even the drivers themselves in such situations often do not realize that they are not the real culprits of the accident. As a result, it is only after the experts have examined the accident statement that both drivers realize that the right hand rule has been violated during the accident. Generally, in such cases, road users admit their mistake, ”says R. Pocius.

Impatience can be expensive

In the case of unregulated intersections, the right-hand rule, according to R. Pocius, is often violated because drivers think they will be able to “request” the intersection quickly before the priority vehicle enters.

“It is a common situation on rural roads when the driver of a car thinks that a tractor or other slower vehicle coming from the right at a slower speed will not be able to enter the intersection. Of course, this is a big mistake that can lead to a painful car accident. The right-hand rule leaves no room for interpretation, so you should always stop at an unregulated intersection on level roads, make sure all vehicles coming from the right are jumped, and only then cross the road, ”says R Pocius.

According to him, as the holiday and travel season approaches, drivers on the road should not only forget about traffic rules, but also about the principles of safe driving – to maintain maximum attention and concentration on the wheel. , choose a safe speed as well. as good technical condition.