It’s a terrifying thought: You’re driving down an interstate and all of a sudden, you see a driver going the wrong way, coming at you at high speed. What do you do? Every second counts.
There have been many wrong-way crashes on Atlanta roads. And unfortunately, some have been deadly.
Triple Team Traffic’s Mark Arum has some advice for drivers on what you should do if you’re ever in that scary situation.
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Rule #1: Drive in the far-right lane. Wrong-way drivers tend to drive in the left lane. In fact, seven out of nine wrong-way crashes occur in the lane closest to the median, notes NTSB.
Rule #2: Keep your attention on the road at all times. As always, it’s important to stay alert to the roadway by avoiding distractions such as eating, fiddling with the radio or checking your cellphone. In the event a wrong-way driver suddenly appears, having your full attention on the road could save your life.
Rule #3: If you see a wrong-way driver coming toward you, do your best to pull over to the shoulder. Don’t hit the brakes. It’s better to swerve out of the way, and you will likely only have a few split seconds to react.
Rule #4: Call 911. If you manage to avoid the wrong-way driver, immediately call 911 to help warn others of the driver. You could help save someone’s life.
Information from Automotive-Fleet used in this report
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