Dangerous conditions

Dangerous road conditions

Defensive driving tactics often require you to understand dangerous conditions and how to react to them when you are on the road. Dangerous conditions exist all over the globe, and depending on where you are located may be numerous in number.

Some dangerous conditions are quick to appear, almost as if out of nowhere. Others conditions allow for at least some warning time before they pose a hazard to drivers.


Some of the more common dangerous conditions you might encounter include:

  • Bad weather
    • Bad weather conditions, such as rain, fog, wind, snow, or ice can make driving treacherous and dangerous.
  • Difficult road conditions
    • Difficult road conditions, such as sharp curves, busy intersections, uneven surfaces, or obstacles in the road can lead to accidents.
  • Poor light or glare
    • Poor light at night or glare during the day can reduce visibility and are often the cause of accidents.
  • Heavy traffic
  • Road work
    • Road work, with reduced or narrowed lanes; or accidents, can cause dangerous conditions for drivers approaching the scene.
  • Accidents

When confronted with a dangerous condition the best advice is to slow down. Driving too fast in hazardous conditions can and does lead to many of the accidents that occur on the roadways. By simply slowing down, you can give yourself the added time it takes to see and react to what is happening in front of you and around you.Defensive driving tactics also require you to pull over and stop at times if the conditions are so severe that proceeding would be hazardous. It is often better to stop and wait it out than to try to move through certain conditions.

Dangerous road conditions
This "document” is intended for general information purposes and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. This document cannot be assumed to contain every acceptable safety and compliance procedure or that additional procedures might not be appropriate under the circumstances. Markel does not guarantee that this information is or can be relied on for compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional or technical advice. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser or trained professional. Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Furthermore, Markel does not assume any liability to any person or organization for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any reliance placed on this content.  
Was this helpful?

Related Articles