Here’s practical safety advice from someone who sees the consequences of traffic accidents every day: don’t wave people through traffic, and don’t accept being waved through.
Attorney Brian Dettman says he’s seen too many crashes caused by this seemingly courteous gesture. The problem is that the person waving you through can’t see all the traffic – and you can’t either. He’ll actually take a longer route to avoid situations where he might be waved through an intersection.
This advice resonated strongly with viewers. ‘I ignore anyone waving to me to do anything!’ wrote one commenter. Another shared: ‘I never trust the wave or anyone’s blinker.’ A third described the helplessness of witnessing these accidents: ‘I’ve witnessed so many of these accidents and it’s awful. You are absolutely helpless seeing this happen.’
Fellow attorney Donna agreed: ‘Good Samaritans cause SO many accidents!!’
If you’re trying to be helpful by waving someone into traffic, consider that you might be setting them up for an accident you can’t see coming.
*Comments referenced above are from social media discussions, not client testimonials, and were accurate as of the time this article was created.*
Why I Never Wave People Through Traffic
Even if the coast looks clear, you don’t know who might be coming.
https://www.tiktok.com/@dettmanlawinjurylawyer/video/7564498525338291487
The one thing that I refuse to do as a personal injury car crash lawyer when I’m driving is wave people through traffic or allow myself to be waved through traffic. I see entirely too many crashes that are a result of that. I, in fact, will take a right turn, go down, find a light, take a left, and then find a parking lot to avoid scenarios where I have to be waved through traffic. It is wholly dangerous. Don’t do it. Too many people get hurt waving people through traffic or allowing yourself to be waved through.
