| When we think of blind intersections, we often think of | | | | see no problem at all making a turn across the |
| buildings, trees, walls or other features that prevent us | | | | oncoming lanes of traffic. In fact, we'd be hard pressed |
| from seeing cars entering the intersection. That's not | | | | to explain why it might be one of the blind intersections |
| always the case. Sometimes it's simply because the | | | | out there. |
| road curves and it's filled with enough traffic to | | | | If we let ourselves get lulled into a sense of security |
| "screen" out oncoming traffic. Vehicles can create | | | | when there is no traffic, then we put ourselves in |
| what amounts to a large curved wall that you can't | | | | jeopardy when traffic is heavier and we assume that |
| see beyond. | | | | what we can see affords us the same level of |
| Think of driving down a winding road with steep | | | | awareness as we've always been used to at that |
| mountainous sides. Imagine you're making a sweeping | | | | intersection. |
| turn to the right. The sides of the mountain block your | | | | That's why intersections that we are unfamiliar with |
| view of what's coming up in the opposing traffic lanes | | | | are often safer for us to negotiate. We tend to |
| - it's a blind curve. It's the same with a line of traffic on | | | | approach these with heightened awareness. |
| a road curving to the right - it can block your view of | | | | When making turns at intersections that have traffic |
| what's coming up in the opposing traffic lanes. An | | | | lined up ahead, consider them to be just like a turn at a |
| accident can result if other vehicles block your view of | | | | blind intersection. Take your time and be certain it's |
| only one oncoming vehicle. | | | | clear before you venture out into the oncoming traffic |
| It all seems obvious, but there's a catch. Where we | | | | lane. It's much better to be cautious under these |
| get into trouble is at intersections that we are very | | | | circumstances than to regret not being cautious |
| familiar with. When the intersection is mostly clear, we | | | | enough. |