4 common mistakes drivers make that can easily cause accidents when driving on the highway
Many drivers in Vietnam, especially new drivers, often make basic mistakes that can easily lead to accidents when driving on highways that are quite crowded after the Lunar New Year holiday.
During the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, many families and individuals use cars to return to big cities to work. In addition, many people with free time also drive cars to travel... causing the number of cars on the road, even on the highway, to be quite crowded, even causing congestion and traffic jams. Instead of taking the national highway, many drivers often choose the highway to travel to save time, however, many drivers, especially new drivers, often make basic mistakes that can easily lead to accidents when driving on the highway.
Many drivers, especially new drivers, often make basic mistakes that can easily lead to accidents when driving on the highway. Photo: Ba Hung
Below are 4 common mistakes drivers make that can easily cause accidents when driving on the highway:
Driving too slowly
Current expressways all have minimum and maximum speed limits for each section or the entire expressway. Most of them have a minimum speed limit of 60 km/h and a maximum speed limit of 120 km/h. Some current expressways such as Mai Son - National Highway 45, National Highway 45 - Nghi Son, Nghi Son - Dien Chau, Nha Trang - Cam Lam, Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet and Lao Cai - Kim Thanh have a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h.
Some current expressways such as Mai Son - National Highway 45 have a maximum speed limit of 90 km/h. Photo: Ba Hung
Speed limits on highways are clearly defined, however, many drivers drive quite slowly on the highway, even below the minimum speed limit. This is not against the law, however, driving too slowly on the highway, especially in the leftmost lane, causes obstacles and difficulties for other vehicles trying to pass and can easily lead to accidents. Therefore, to ensure safety when driving on the highway, if driving slowly, you should drive at the minimum speed limit and on the right side of the road so as not to obstruct other vehicles.
Not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front
Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front is one of the basic skills when driving a car. However, when driving on the highway, many drivers are often subjective and negligent, tailgating the vehicle in front. This is very dangerous because if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly when encountering an accident, the vehicle behind will not be able to handle it in time, leading to collisions and accidents in the form of "stacking" many vehicles. Especially in the days after Tet when traffic is heavy, if you do not keep a safe distance, it is easy to cause an accident.
When driving on the highway, pay attention to keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Photo: Ba Hung
Therefore, when driving on the highway, you should pay attention to keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Experienced drivers who often drive on the highway share that if you drive at a speed of 60 km/h, the minimum safe distance from the vehicle in front is about 35 meters. From 60 - 80 km/h, the minimum safe distance is about 55 meters. At a speed of 80 to under 100 km/h, you need to keep a minimum safe distance of 70 meters and from 100 to under 120 km/h, the minimum safe distance from the vehicle in front is about 100 meters. However, when driving on the highway in the rain, slippery road or foggy weather... you should keep a distance from the vehicle in front greater than the minimum safe distance.
Reckless overtaking, changing multiple lanes at once
This is one of the actions that can easily cause accidents when driving on the highway. Driving at a fairly high speed, many drivers often subjectively change lanes and overtake vehicles quite carelessly, even not paying attention to observe, turning on the turn signal too slowly and changing multiple lanes at the same time... very easy to collide with other vehicles.
To ensure safety before changing lanes, drivers need to carefully observe ahead. Photo: Ba Hung
Therefore, to ensure safety before changing lanes, drivers need to carefully observe ahead. If safe, turn on the turn signal, observe and change lanes. When changing lanes, the speed will increase, decrease or remain the same depending on the actual situation and the speed limit of the new lane the road has just entered. Absolutely do not change lanes continuously, because this will endanger you and other vehicles traveling on the highway.
Reverse, turn around and go the wrong way on the highway
Reversing or turning around to go the wrong way on the highway may sound absurd, but in reality, many drivers in Vietnam have made this mistake. Due to not paying attention, leading to passing the highway exits, instead of choosing to continue to the next exit, many people deliberately turn around to go the wrong way or go backwards on the highway. This is an extremely dangerous action that can lead to serious accidents. Therefore, when driving on the highway, absolutely do not reverse or turn around to go the wrong way on the highway.