Opelousas is a town with a rich history just north of Interstate 10. It has 485 streets, many of which are one-way only. This sometimes makes a drive through the city a complex undertaking. You may find yourself having to determine the best way to get around, especially in the downtown area near the library and the old Abdalla’s building. Even going to church can be difficult if you’re trying to get around St. Landry Catholic Church.
Driving on one-ways streets presents some unique problems. It’s imperative that all drivers take proper safety precautions into account when they’re on these roads.
Know when to turn at lights
One thing that confuses many people on one-ways is that they can make a left-hand turn from a one-way road onto another one-way road – even if the light is red. They must ensure that there’s no oncoming traffic. (This type of turn on a red light can’t be made, of course, if there’s a posted sign forbidding turns on red.)
Try to alert wrong-way drivers
When you see headlights coming toward you on a one-way street, you may start to feel panicky. A good course of action is to try to get out of the way of that driver. Honking your horn may alert them to the fact that they’re going the wrong way on the road.
Be aware, however, that many wrong-way drivers are inebriated or hopelessly confused. Move your car as far to the right as possible so that the other driver can pass (hopefully, without incident).
Crashes on one-way streets can lead to catastrophic injuries. It’s imperative that you get medical care after a crash, even if you don’t think that you were hurt because you may have hidden injuries. As soon as practical, find out more about what it takes to get fair compensation for your losses.