America’s national parks offer some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll find anywhere in the world. Unlike many other tourist attractions, you’re free to drive through them to take in the views. However, driving through some national parks means navigating winding, uneven roads, watching for wildlife, and being ready for sudden weather changes. To help, here are some tips to drive safely through national parks.
Plan Routes Carefully
When you’re taking a trip that includes driving through a national park, careful route planning is essential. First, check the National Park Service website for any travel advisories for the park you’re visiting. These may include hazards, road closures, construction, and weather warnings. Knowing about those things in advance can help you complete your trip safely.
You should also download offline maps rather than relying on your internet connection while driving. Many national parks have spotty cell service, and you can’t guarantee connectivity throughout your trip. If you get lost inside a national park, you can end up on unsafe roads or routes your vehicle can’t safely traverse.
Observe Speed Limits and Drive Cautiously
If you’ve never driven through a national park before, you may be unaware that they typically have lower speed limits than you’d find elsewhere. The speed limits reflect the realities of national park roads, which often have no shoulders, narrow lanes, steep grades, and sharp turns. Posted speed limits reflect road conditions and safety considerations, so be sure to observe them.
While driving through a national park, you may also encounter other drivers, whom you’ll need to share the road with. Remember, those drivers face the same potential hazards and challenges you do. So, always maintain a safe following distance, and never try to pass a vehicle except where you’re explicitly allowed to.
Beware of Wildlife
If you live in a rural area, you may be accustomed to occasionally encountering wildlife on the road. However, the wildlife inside a national park can be very different. Some national parks have animals like bears, elk, moose, and bison. There are likely to be more animals around roads, and they may be far less accustomed to vehicles than those even in sparsely populated areas. That means they may not behave as you expect, making driving more dangerous.
Whenever you encounter wildlife on or near roads inside a national park, be sure to give them plenty of space. Avoid sudden braking, and never try to follow animals on or along the roadway. If you’d like to observe the wildlife in the park, proceed to a designated area where you can pull off the road.
Beware of Distracted Driving
If you’re driving through a national park because you want to check out the scenery, plan to make multiple stops along your route. Otherwise, you’ll be tempted to gaze out your car windows instead of at the road ahead. Distracted driving is a frequent cause of accidents in national parks, and only drivers themselves can prevent it.
If you’re traveling with passengers in your vehicle, designate one to handle navigation. The others can take photos so you won’t miss anything. And remember, you’re in charge of your own driving pace. If you want to stop to see anything, go ahead and do it rather than trying to look while driving.
Periodically Check Weather Reports
The weather inside a vast national park can change constantly. So, check available weather reports before entering and prepare accordingly. If the weather looks like it could pose unacceptable risks, delay your drive.
Sometimes, the forecast won’t accurately predict sudden changes in the weather. So, if the weather changes mid-trip unexpectedly, you must react accordingly. Slow down as much as necessary to stay safe on wet, slippery, or muddy roads. And increase your following distance to prevent collisions if vehicles ahead must slow or stop. Be especially cautious and avoid driving through roads that may be flooded. The closest help may take hours to reach you if you become trapped in your vehicle on a flooded road.
Beware of Pedestrians and Cyclists
Cars aren’t the only things on the roads inside national parks. You’ll share many roads with cyclists and pedestrians, too. You may even encounter visitors on horseback in some places. Be mindful of everyone else on the roads, regardless of their mode of transportation.
When you see a cyclist on the road ahead of you, slow down and only pass when it’s safe to do so. And when you’re driving near rest areas and parking lots, be wary of pedestrians suddenly stepping into the roadway. Also watch for sudden stops and turns by other drivers who may be looking for parking.
What to Do if You’re Involved in an Accident
No matter how carefully you drive through a national park, you can get into an accident anyway. After all, you can’t control the road conditions, weather, or other drivers. If you have an accident, first try to ensure everyone involved is safe. Only then should you worry about the accident’s aftermath.
After you check on everyone in your vehicle and any others involved, proceed to exchange insurance information. Then, take photographs of the accident scene and the surrounding road conditions. Those photos may help establish fault when you file an insurance claim.
If you believe another driver was at fault for the accident, you should consult an experienced car accident lawyer like the attorneys at Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP. They can help you understand your rights and use the evidence you’ve collected to file a compensation claim. They can also help you successfully negotiate with any involved insurers, who always have plenty of lawyers on their side.
Safety First During National Park Drives
By planning ahead and taking reasonable precautions, you should be able to drive through any national park without incident. Then, you can explore everything the parks have to offer and return home safely. And if your precautions aren’t enough, don’t hesitate to contact a car accident lawyer to protect your rights.
