Tips for driving through traffic jams and surviving the queue

Driving in summer is something we all tend to do, and something we all enjoy. Being able to travel to our holiday destination and, once there, move around with the freedom our car gives us. But we must bear in mind that we are not the only ones who think this way, so it is easy to run into traffic jams in the least expected places.

This doesn’t only happen in summer or on holidays. Regular city drivers are more than used to these jams, so these tips can help you drive your car all year round. Let’s look at a few tips for getting through these traffic delays and at least get through them without losing your temper.

First and foremost, patience

Patience is essential when facing a traffic jam. It doesn’t matter whether you are in a hurry or want to arrive at your holiday destination on time. If there is a jam, you won’t be able to move forward no matter how worked up you get. So there’s no point in leaning on the horn and lurching forward. Put on your favourite music, try to stay calm and move forward carefully as the queue advances, avoiding sudden acceleration and harsh braking. In one of those nervous accelerations you may fail to brake in time and cause an incident that delays the resolution of the jam even further.

Increase your safety distance

In places where it is possible to run into a traffic jam, that is, areas with heavy traffic flow, tourist spots and city entrances and exits, it is advisable to increase the safety distance from the car in front. You can adjust your speed to these conditions, and by reducing it, your reaction time is shortened and you have more room to act.

Reduce your speed

Or better still, adjust your speed to the real conditions of the road. This means you shouldn’t focus on the road’s maximum speed limit. If it is necessary to drive below that limit, even when there doesn’t seem to be a jam ahead, it is better to be prepared. Signs that a traffic jam may be a few kilometres ahead are usually present and noticeable: higher traffic density, cars with hazard lights on a little further ahead, roadside signage warning of possible jams, and other indications that within a few kilometres you will encounter a traffic delay that will make you stop.

Caution in urban areas

The stretches between towns can be very comfortable if we are on a dual carriageway or motorway, but we often drive on two-way roads, so you must take extra precautions. Remember that on urban through-roads the maximum speed is 50 km/h, so you must pay attention to the signage to know when we are approaching a town and anticipate that there may be some kind of delay, caused, for example, by a delivery lorry. Driving at a speed suited to this situation and keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front large enough to react to a possible delay.

All these tips boil down to one: be careful when you are driving and above all, stay alert to road conditions and be patient. That way you can avoid losing your temper if you find yourself caught in one of the endless summer queues.