You learn how to drive once. For most of us, that’s when we’re fifteen or sixteen years old. As time passes, and we log more and more hours behind the wheel, we get set in our ways, and most of us pick up bad driving habits. These habits may seem innocuous at first — until they lead to an accident. Read on for some helpful reminders about how to prevent a car accident.
Remove All Distractions
You hear it all the time: don’t drive while you’re distracted. Distracted driving isn’t just texting. It’s anything that takes your eyes and your mind off the road. This includes calling someone on the phone, changing the music, putting new directions into your GPS, and more. You may think you are sending a text quickly, or are able to change up your navigation within seconds. However, sending or even just reading a text can take up to five seconds, and when traveling on a highway at 55 miles an hour, by the time you’ve turned your attention back to the road, you’ve traveled the length of a football field.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019.
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Follow All Laws and Posted Signs
It sounds simple, but following all the posted signs on the road can mean the difference between a safe drive home and an accident you’ll remember forever. The posted signs are there for a reason. If a sign indicates you should drive no faster than 40 miles per hour around a curve, that’s because road safety experts have determined that exceeding 40 miles per hour while making the turn is dangerous.
It is all too easy to get caught up in the hustle of daily life and drive faster and more recklessly when you’re late, when you’re stressed, and even when you’re angry. However, taking two or three extra minutes to get to your destination on the road can mean the difference between a safe arrival and a life-changing accident. Take your time, and pay attention to all posted signs.
Don’t Drive Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Driving under the influence is a crime. When you’re driving a motor vehicle, YOU should be at the wheel, not the drinks you had, or the drugs you consumed. When you drive under the influence, your reaction times slow, your judgment is impaired, making you more likely to cause an accident.
Further, if your friends or family drink or take drugs, then try to drive, stop them. You can intervene and prevent a potentially deadly accident from occurring. Every day, 28 people die from crashes caused by drunk driving (NHTSA). By making a plan to get home safely, you can avoid becoming a statistic.
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Limit Driving in Complex Conditions
It is natural to have anxiety about driving at night, in rain, or in snowy conditions. These natural phenomena make it significantly more difficult to drive safely. In rain, snow, ice, and darkness, visibility is limited, and other vehicles could move unpredictably. In cases of snow and ice especially, drivers sometimes lose control of their vehicles and could come careening into you. The only way to ensure you are completely safe during difficult weather conditions is to simply stay off the road. Move plans to another day and cancel whatever appointments you have. Better to postpone and arrive alive than to get into an accident.
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Do Not Engage with Aggressive Drivers
It’s happened to all of us. Someone is tailgating you or cutting you off in traffic. All you want to do is speed around them in a huff and show them how angry you are. Bad idea. Reacting to aggressive drivers often leads to accidents. If you are watching an aggressive driver and think ‘they’re going to cause an accident,’ don’t get angry and react. Let the reckless behavior roll off your back and continue to drive safely. That is the only way to protect yourself, your family, and your fellow drivers.
Call Us Today
Let’s face it. Accidents happen. When you were injured in a car crash that wasn’t your fault, call DeMayo Law Offices at (877) 333-1000 . Our compassionate team is here to help you get the compensation you deserve for the pain and losses you suffered. We will review your case and walk you through the next steps to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us today to get someone in your corner, fighting for you.
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