Risk factors on the roads

You should know that risk on the road involves surroundings, car equipment, road layout, and assessment of conditions that could lead to accidents. You should also understand how your driving may be affected if the road is slippery or in any other condition where you don't have the usual grip you're accustomed to.

Characteristics of risk factors

Surroundings of the road

Most accidents occur in cities, especially in densely populated areas. The surroundings play a significant role in safety, so you should be able to decipher them and take precautions accordingly.

• When driving in urban areas, shopping streets, residential neighborhoods, and where there are children, you should be extra vigilant.
• When passing pedestrians or vehicles stopped in built-up areas, approaching intersections, or making turns.
• When seasons change, such as from autumn to winter and from winter to spring, roads can become slippery from tractor mud, moist in marshes, lakes, or depressions, and slippery due to fallen leaves.

Equipment or standards of the road

Sidewalk and bike lane

Here are a number of checkpoints so you can read the road and understand how the bike lane is used, both by cyclists and small mopeds. For all, you need to know them and react appropriately, both in light and darkness.

• If you drive through an area without a sidewalk or bike lane, there is a greater risk of hitting pedestrians or cyclists. You cannot be sure they have lights or reflectors, so be extra careful and look carefully.
• If cyclists and moped riders turn out from a bike lane onto the roadway, they have an unconditional duty to yield and must always yield - except if the bike lane ends at an intersection. Be aware that they do not always yield.
• Bike lanes are marked with the traffic sign 'Bike Lane'. You can also recognize them as a raised path or as part of the road, just with a white-painted bike lane and white stripe.
• A 'cycle lane' can be recognized by a wide, dotted line or blue color, typically at intersections. Here you should also give space.
• A double-directional bike lane is marked with the traffic sign 'Bike Lane' (D 21) and the sub-sign (UD 21.1), showing that cycling is allowed in both directions. You mark again when the double-directional bike lane stops.
• A so-called super cycle path is marked with a special sign.

Crosswalks, footbridges, etc.

When it comes to footbridges for pedestrians and crosswalks, there are some things you need to know because accidents often happen. Pedestrians do not behave as you might expect. Therefore, you may more easily end up driving on pedestrians just before or after a crosswalk than if there is no crosswalk at all. Pedestrians tend to choose the shortest routes instead of going all the way to the crosswalk. Pedestrians will also often cross on the roadway, even if there is a footbridge or tunnel, because there is not much time to save by using them.

Road stripes

Stripes on the road (lane lines, stop lines, edge lines) are a help to you so you can be in the right place on the road in relation to other traffic. Keep a close eye on them, especially in the dark. If there are no stripes, you should be even more attentive because accidents are more likely.

Road width

• The large, wide four-lane roads are not safer than the two-lane roads, not even concerning pedestrians. The risk is greatest in cities.
• Accidents are more likely on narrow roads. Both as single accidents when there is oncoming traffic, when hitting mopeds and cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Be particularly attentive at small side roads.

Median strip

• The median strip on four-lane roads does not make them safer than roads without a median strip.

Road surface type and condition

Road grip is closely related to the road surface and is crucial for safety when driving. Road grip is important when accelerating, braking, and steering. If the road is wet or greasy, you should use the accelerator, clutch, brake, and steering wheel carefully and drive at a low speed. You should know that:

• Dirt and gravel roads provide poor road grip. Drive slowly to avoid skidding when turning or braking.
• Cobblestones provide better road grip than dirt and gravel roads. However, cobblestone roads become smoother.
• The best road grip is on coarse asphalt with small stones. Drive slowly if stones have just been laid so you don't whirl stones up to stone chips. In the spring, there will often be holes and unevenness on the road after frost.
• Heavy rain showers can make the road greasy and slippery, and heat waves can melt the asphalt surface, making the road slippery.

Speed bumps

If there are bumps on the road, you should not drive too fast over them, as it is uncomfortable for those in the car and can also damage the car. You should follow the traffic sign showing the maximum speed you should drive over the bump with. Buses and large trucks should drive slower than cars over bumps.

Road lighting

There is, of course, a big difference between driving in light or darkness. There is a much greater risk of accidents in darkness than on illuminated roads, and you should remember that when encountering other traffic. It can be difficult to orient yourself if there are many reflectors and light sources. This can cause glare and is particularly dangerous if there are pedestrians on the road.

Course of the road - intersections and roundabouts

Most accidents occur at intersections, both in rural and urban areas. Traffic converges and mixes here, increasing the risk of accidents. The four-legged intersections in rural areas (i.e., intersections with four side roads) without traffic lights are the most dangerous. Here, you need to be very attentive. Whether the road is wide or narrow doesn't matter for safety. Also, take note of whether there are stripes on the road because if there aren't any, it's harder to stay in the right place on the road, increasing the risk of accidents. A roundabout is safer for motorists compared to regular intersections. However, they are more dangerous for cyclists, who are often hit by motorists entering and exiting the roundabout. So, you need to be very careful when navigating roundabouts to prevent accidents.

Road usage

When driving in the city, you need to keep an eye on several things. Are there rush hours, is there extra traffic in general, or does the road serve a specific purpose such as ferry traffic, school traffic with many children, truck traffic to recycling centers, traffic to pedestrian zones, and parking garages? In general, you should be able to read the traffic in the area where you are driving during your practical driving lessons. Most accidents occur on roads with heavy traffic. The more traffic, and the more mixed it is, the higher the risk.

Road type or class

How are different types of roads marked? You need to learn about the following types:

1. Motorway.
2. Expressway.
3. Main road.
4. Areas with speed reduction.
5. Pedestrian street.
6. Cycle lane.
7. Recreational and play area.
8. Tunnel.

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