Staying Safe While Enjoying the Natural Beauty of the Lone Star State
It’s spring in Texas and for many that means one thing—a chance to take in the beautiful wildflowers that flourish across the Lone Star State. The Texas Department of Transportation estimates more than 5,000 species of wildflowers lining the highways and byway statewide, including the state flower, the Bluebonnet. March, April and May are the best months to see the Bluebonnets in full bloom, but you’ll want to take a few precautions to ensure that you avoid unnecessary accident or injury.
Pull Off the Road for the Best Views
When you’re on the road, that’s where your focus needs to be—on the road. It’s one thing to take in the wildflowers as part of the scenic vista in front of you, but you never want to avert your eyes from the traffic and the road before you:
- Look for a place to pull off that has a wide shoulder—some roads don’t have room to get your car entirely off the road. That’s a recipe for disaster. Unless there’s a parking lot, you want to be able to park parallel to the road, but entirely off the road. Always pull off to the right, so that you’ll re-enter traffic in the right direction.
- Give other motorists plenty of notice that you’re leaving (or returning to) the roadway— tap your brakes a few times for a visual cue to anyone behind you. Use your turn signal to indicate that you’re pulling off or on the road.
- Once you’ve stopped, don’t cross traffic to get to the flowers—If the flowers are to your left as you’re driving down the road, find a place to safely turn around and park on the other side of the road. Don’t do a u-turn in the middle of the road, even if there doesn’t appear to be any traffic. Be willing to go down the road a bit to safely negotiate a turnaround.
- Do not park in a “no parking”; zone—These areas have been designated as no parking zones for a reason…usually because they pose a greater risk because of narrow shoulders or high traffic volumes
- Be careful when you walk among the flowers!—The Bluebonnets attract other species as well, including poisonous snakes. That’s because the Bluebonnets attract rodents and the snakes prey on the rodents.
Contact the Knowledgeable Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Galyen
At the law offices of Bailey & Galyen, we offer more than 40 years of experience successfully representing people who have been hurt in any type of car, truck or motorcycle accident. We know that the civil justice system can be confusing and intimidating and will take the time to carefully explain the process at every juncture. Contact us by e-mail or 844-402-2992 or call our offices at one of the convenient locations listed below. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
