(Newswire.net — June 23, 2021) — In 2019, there were 33,244 fatal vehicle crashes in the U.S., in which there were 36,096 deaths. Driving is such a normal part of our everyday lives that it’s easy to forget just how dangerous of an activity it really is.
When you’re driving, you’re sharing the road with other people you don’t know. This means that you cannot assume that other drivers are going to follow the rules or act in rational ways. All you can do as a driver is control your own actions and make the safest decisions possible for you.
Are you wondering what you can do to help avoid a car accident while driving?
Let’s take a look at fourteen tips to help keep you and your family safe.
1. Don’t Get Distracted
Did you know that about eight people are killed in car crashes in the US every day that involve a distracted driver?
You should never be doing any other activity while driving that takes your attention away from the test at hand. Your chances of getting into a motor vehicle crash increase when you drive distracted.
Most of the news stories you hear about distracted driving focus on texting while driving, which is certainly a form of distracted driving. However, that’s not the only type of activity you should avoid when driving.
There are three primary types of distraction:
- Manual, or taking your hands off of the steering wheel
- Visual, or taking your eyes off of the road
- Cognitive, or taking your mind off of driving
Some of the most common distractions while driving include:
- Texting while driving
- Talking to passengers
- Using the GPS or navigation system
- Adjusting climate controls or audio
- Drinking and eating
- Dealing with pets or children
- Daydreaming
- Grooming or applying makeup
- Smoking
- Being emotional, such as driving while angry, confused, or sad
If there’s something else that requires your attention while driving, pull over before dealing with it. This is an essential step in car accident prevention.
2. Be Aware of Blind Spots
No matter your vehicle, there are going to be a few blind spots where you can’t see what’s going on. Learn where your blind spots are so you can adjust your position and check them before pulling out of a parking spot or changing lanes.
It’s also important to know that some vehicles, like semi-trucks, have significant blind spots. This means that you should always assume that they can’t see you.
3. Get to Know Your Vehicle
Another vital aspect of driving safety is making sure that you are familiar with your vehicle. Learn how quickly it can come to a stop when you apply pressure to the brakes, how the tires perform under bad weather conditions, and how it handles turns.
When you know your car, it can help inform the decisions you make while driving. If you are unfamiliar with your car’s performance and simply assume, it could end up leading to an unfortunate accident.
4. Stick to the Maintenance Schedule
Keep track of when you get your car maintained and do so according to the schedule provided by the vehicle manufacturer. When your car is safer to operate, it decreases your risk of getting into an accident.
5. Scan the Surrounding Area
You should always be paying attention to the vehicle that’s in front of you. On top of that, though, scan the surrounding areas where you’re driving.
Never assume that other drivers or pedestrians will act predictably or rationally. You should always be attentive when you are on the road, and this is particularly true when you are coming up on an intersection.
Before crossing an intersection, always look both ways before crossing. It doesn’t matter how confident you are in your own driving skills, because you can’t assume that other drivers or pedestrians are paying as much attention.
6. Be More Cautious When You’re Driving at Night
When you’re driving at night, visibility is lower. You might not be able to see as well and neither can the other drivers on the road. On top of that, the nighttime is when most drunk driving cases occur.
7. Don’t Drive When You’re Tired
Did you know that driving while drowsy might be nearly as dangerous as driving drunk? This is according to reports from NHTSA, which stated that drowsy driving was responsible for more than 90,000 car crashes in 2017. In those crashes, there were 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths. When you’re drowsy, it impacts your attention, decision-making, judgment, vigilance, coordination, and reaction time. Additionally, you’re at risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
8. Dont Drink and Drive
Drunk driving, on the other hand, is thought to have been involved in nearly 10,000 fatal car crashes during the same year.
It’s worth noting that measuring alcohol impairment is quite a bit easier than measuring sleep deprivation. Some experts think that drowsiness might actually contribute to something more like 6,000 fatalities every year.
9. Be Cautious When Changing Lanes
When you change lanes, always use your turn signal. Never abruptly change lanes or cut in front of another driver when you’re out on the road. This type of behavior is both against the law and can lead to accidents. It can also evoke road rage in other drivers and create dangerous situations.
10. Don’t Drive When You’re Angry, Upset, or Unwell
When you’re emotional, you don’t act the same way you normally would on a regular old day. The same goes for how you drive.
Driving while angry is sometimes thought to be just as dangerous as driving while drunk or texting and driving. Whether you’re mad about something that happened at work or an issue in your personal life, it can have an effect on the choices you make while driving. The way another driver is behaving also might rile you up into a state of anger.
There is some data to suggest that people who are emotionally agitated or sad are ten times more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident.
When you’re sick, your body is drained of energy and it can impact your cognitive abilities. If you’re prescribed medication for your illness, this can also affect your mood, concentration, reaction time, and coordination.
If you’re going to drive, even if it’s a quick trip to the store, it’s best to do so in a relaxed and calm state. Otherwise, you are at a higher risk of getting into a car accident.
11. Keep an Eye on the Weather Report
Before you grab your car keys, take a look at the weather on your phone, computer, or TV. Is it supposed to downpour, snow, or is there some other inclement weather in the forecast?
One survey asked truckers which types of hazardous weather conditions were the worst to drive in. They ranked them as:
- Freezing rain
- Heavy snowfall
- Fog
- High winds
Anything that can affect your car’s performance or your ability to see the road clearly can create the perfect ingredients for a car accident to occur. If the weather is going to be bad, consider whether it’s essential for you to head out the door right now. If you absolutely must drive somewhere, be sure to take extra caution out there on the road.
To learn more about how to avoid accidents while driving in the rain, check out this blog.
12. Don’t Drive Intoxicated
28 people die every day in the United States in drunk-driving crashes. That means that every 52 minutes one person dies because of the recklessness of a drunk driver. 2019 had the lowest percentage of drunk-driving-related deaths since 1982, but there were still more than 10,000 lives lost in preventable accidents.
Alcohol reduces your brain’s ability to function as well as your reasoning, thinking, and muscle coordination. You need all of these abilities in order to safely operate a vehicle.
The negative impact of alcohol on the central nervous system increases the more a person drinks. It’s important to understand that a person’s ability to drive can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. In fact, during 2018, 1,878 individuals died in crashes where the drivers had alcohol levels on the lower end of the spectrum.
You are also increasing your risk of getting into a car accident if you drive while under the influence of any mind-altering drug. Different drugs impact a person’s ability to drive in different ways depending on their effects.
For example, cannabis can lead someone to have impaired judgment of time and distance, a slower reaction time, and reduced coordination. People who have used methamphetamine or cocaine and drive can act recklessly or aggressively.
Prescription medications can also create situations where it is unsafe for a person to drive, even if they have been prescribed by a doctor and are being taken as directed. Drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and impair a person’s cognitive function. These effects can all lead to car accidents.
Cannabis is the second most common drug found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in vehicle crashes. At this point, the role that cannabis plays in car crashes isn’t entirely clear. This drug is commonly combined with alcohol, and it also shows up in the bloodstream for days and even weeks after it’s been used.
It is very difficult to measure just how many accidents involve a driver that is on drugs. There are a number of reasons for this, including:
- Some drugs stay in your system for several days or even weeks, making it hard to determine when a person used the drug and whether or not it impaired their driving
- There isn’t a good roadside test for drug levels in the body at this point
- If drivers have an illegal blood alcohol level, police don’t typically test for drugs because they have already gathered the evidence they need for a DUI charge
- Drivers who cause crashes often have a mixture of alcohol and drugs in their system, or a mixture of different drugs, making it very difficult to determine which drug was most responsible for the unsafe driving
If you’re going out drinking, always have a trustworthy designated driver ahead of time or plan on taking a cab or an Uber.
13. Don’t Speed
Speeding killed nearly 10,000 people in 2018. We all have busy schedules and it’s easy to let your foot slip a little on the gas pedal trying to get where you’re trying to go. However, driving too fast can turn your commute or errand into a nightmare.
Speeding has been involved in about one-third of all vehicle fatalities for the last two decades. Even if you’re driving the speed limit, it’s possible to be driving too fast for the conditions of the road. For example, if an area isn’t well lit at night, the weather is bad, or the road is under construction, you should be driving under the speed limit.
When you speed, there are a number of potential consequences, including:
- Higher risk of losing control of the vehicle
- Increased stopping distance
- Reduced effectiveness of protection equipment
- Increased fuel consumption
- Increased degree of crash severity
- Economic implications of a crash
When you speed, you’re driving aggressively. Keep your cool and always drive at a safe speed.
14. Don’t Tailgate
Rear-end collisions are quite common. In fact, they make up about one out of four car crashes. Every year, tailgating leads to roughly 2,000 deaths.
When you tailgate, you’re not giving yourself enough time to stop if the car in front of your brakes quickly. Keep a safe distance to help avoid vehicle accidents.
Follow These Tips to Help Avoid a Car Accident
You are always taking a chance when you get behind the wheel. However, you can do a lot to lower your risk of getting into a car accident by paying attention, driving with caution, and staying calm. When you keep your wits about you and focus on the task at hand, you have a much better chance of reacting quickly and effectively to an unexpected occurrence.
Did you find this article about avoiding a car accident useful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog!