The hustle and bustle of city streets can make driving a real challenge, especially for new drivers. By understanding the factors that affect driving in the city and by managing visibility, time, and space effectively, you can meet the demands of urban driving. 

What Special Factors Affect City Driving?

Cities can be hectic places. Pedestrians fill the sidewalks while cars, buses, and other vehicles crowd the streets encountering such things as double parked vehicles that block visibility and potholes that interrupt traffic flow. 

• Traffic Density

In city traffic which is dense and often slow moving, threatening situations occur more frequently. Maintaining a margin of space around your car can be difficult. 

• Number of Pedestrians

Cities seem to overflow with people so expect to encounter pedestrians anywhere and everywhere. Never assume that pedestrians will see you or that they will obey traffic rules or signals.

• Intersections

In the city intersections are typically jammed with both vehicles and pedestrians moving in all directions. When approaching or crossing a city intersection you need to use maximum care.

• Slow or Irregular Traffic Flow 

In congested city streets vehicles often move in packs or lines. The movement maybe in a steady stream or with frequent starts and stops. While you may move more slowly than you’d like to when you drive in a city, it is usually dangerous to try to move any faster.

• Lower Speed Limits

City speed limits are lower than suburban or highway speed limits due to congested city streets with frequent starts and stops. 

• Sight Obstructions

Several factors that tend to limit visibility in city driving are parked and double-parked vehicles, buses, trucks, vans, smog, and pollution which all may reduce your ability to see.

• Potholes and Other Road Defects

In cities with heavy traffic, streets take a lot of wear and tear, potholes and rough surfaces may develop. This slows traffic and poses a potential danger to drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

How Can You Manage Visibility, Time, and Space in City Driving?

By knowing the special factors to be alert for when driving in the city, you can manage visibility, time, and space to minimize risk.

• Guidelines for Managing Visibility in the City

Here are some guidelines to help you manage visibility on urban streets. 

1. Scan one to two blocks ahead and from one side of the street to the other. Don’t focus on any one object in your path. 
2. Keep your low beam headlights on at all times. 
3. Check your rearview and side view mirrors to monitor traffic every time you approach an intersection or when you intend to slow or stop.
4. Signal your intention to turn or pull over well ahead of time. 
5. Keep alert to the taillights of vehicles ahead of you so that you can anticipate when other drivers are braking or planning to turn. Always be prepared for unexpected stops or turns. 
6. Be ready for pedestrians darting out from between parked cars or crossing streets illegally.
7. Be on the lookout for warning signs and signals. Also be alert for the sirens and flashing lights of police cars, ambulances, fire engines, and other emergency vehicles.
8. Be aware of entrances and exits for apartment buildings, and parking lots.

• Guidelines for Managing Time in the City

Follow these guidelines for managing time while driving in the city. 

1. Reduce speed. Use the SIPDE process to help you identify threatening conditions early, particular as you approach intersections.
2. Dense traffic can make drivers tense and impatient and sometimes reckless. Always be ready to stop or steer to avoid a collision.
3. Often braking is the only response you can make in city traffic to avoid a collision. When you spot a possible threatening condition, place your foot just over the brake pedal without pushing down. By “covering the brake” in this manner, you’re ready to slow or stop if you need to. 
4. To give drivers and pedestrians maximum time to see and react to you, drive with your low beam headlights on and always signal your intentions well in advance.
5. Give yourself extra time for driving in city traffic, particularly during rush hours and other busy periods. 

• Guidelines for Managing Space in the City

Use these guidelines to manage space in city traffic.

1. Do not follow other vehicles too closely, even in bumper to bumper traffic. Never follow less than 2 seconds behind the other vehicle. 
2. When stopping behind a car, stop well back 20 to 30 feet until two or three cars have stopped behind you then move up slightly. Always leave an extra margin of space in case the car ahead stops suddenly or you have to steer out of your lane to avoid being struck from the rear. 
3. Keep as wide a margin of space as possible between your car and parked cars. Watch for people leaving parked cars and for cars pulling out suddenly.
4. Avoid driving side by side in the blind spot of other cars on multiple lane streets. Either move ahead of the other cars or drop back. 
5. Keep as much space as you can between your car and vehicles in the oncoming lanes.