Es fácil dejarse llevar por la mente en las carreteras rurales; las vistas pueden ser de una belleza que distrae, y el terreno suele ser desolado durante kilómetros. Sin embargo, la carretera no es tan atractiva como podría parecer a primera vista. Según la Asociación Federal de Carreteras, aproximadamente el 50 % de las muertes en carretera ocurren en zonas rurales cada año. Por lo tanto, es fundamental estar muy atento al tomar las carreteras menos transitadas para garantizar su seguridad y la de los demás. Aquí tiene algunos consejos útiles:

Take It Easy

Speed limits are necessary safety standards that are meant to set an absolute maximum on your speed. On rural roads, you may encounter a variety of conditions that necessitate going well under the speed limit in order to stay safe. For example, winding roads require significant attention and control of your vehicle, and are even more perilous in the presence of sharp drop-offs. In mountainous areas, rock slides and fallen trees are common hazards that could be hidden by a bend in the road.

Jinetes en la tormenta

Flash flooding, mudslides, manure, and icy bridges are also common occurrences on rural roads and should be treated with the utmost caution. If you live, work, or are traveling to an area where slick roads are common, look into investing in a set of all-terrain tires. Snow is also a common hazard, even more so in the winter months. In these instances, it may be prudent to purchase some chains or snow tires for your vehicle.

EIEI Oh No

La paciencia es fundamental cuando se trata de ganado. En primer lugar, es fundamental que permanezca en su vehículo. Nunca intente asustar a los animales de ninguna manera, ni siquiera desde la aparente seguridad de su vehículo. Acelerar el motor o tocar la bocina puede causar pánico que podría convertirse en una situación peligrosa, e incluso el vehículo más robusto no es suficiente para protegerlo de una estampida de ganado asustado.

Aquí afuera en los campos

Large, cumbersome, slow-moving vehicles are common on rural roads and can cause you mild frustration if you get stuck behind one for more than a minute or two. However, these vehicles are usually very accommodating and used to traffic patterns in the area. Often, they will move over and allow faster cars to pass, so long as it is safe to do so. If you find yourself trailing behind one of these vehicles, always follow at a safe distance. Harvested goods, rocks, or other material may accidentally come loose, potentially causing damage to your windshield or other unsafe conditions. If you’re looking to pass, give yourself plenty of time and space. Never try to pass a vehicle if you’re going around a curve, over a hill, or if you can’t see the road in front of you.

Cegado por la luz

Visibility is often much lower on rural roads. There is usually a significant lack of lighting, overgrown vegetation, or poor weather conditions, obscuring the driver’s vision. Keep your windshield clean, and repair any damage and cracks as soon as possible. Ensure that your lights are functioning properly and that the lenses aren’t clouded. Drive with your high beams on as much as possible—just remember to turn them off for oncoming traffic.

¡Doh! ¡Un ciervo!

Every year, there are over a million collisions in the United States that involve large animals. Hooved animals like deer, elk, and moose thrive in rural (and, in some cases, urban) areas where they become a hazard to themselves and to drivers. If you’re driving in a rural area populated with any of these animals, be especially careful around dawn and dusk. These are the hours when they are most active, and when you are most likely to encounter them.

Preste atención a las señales de cruce de ciervos y a las zonas boscosas, que son claros indicadores de que los ciervos frecuentan la zona. Si ve uno de estos animales, recuerde que la mayoría se desplaza en manadas. Siempre asuma que hay más de uno, incluso con un alce. Si se encuentra en una situación en la que de repente se encuentra con un ciervo en su camino, ¡frene, no se desvíe! Desviarse podría hacerle perder el control de su vehículo o chocar con el tráfico que viene en sentido contrario.

Abróchate el cinturón, Buttercup

A seatbelt is absolutely critical to driving anywhere, not just in rural areas. With so many unknown hazards and unpredictable conditions, keep yourself and others safe by buckling up behind the wheel.