Did you know more than 42,000 people died in car accidents on U.S. roads in 2022?
For every death, there are many more injuries. Some sources suggest that millions of people sustain car crash injuries requiring medical attention. The recovery stage can be long and arduous, and returning to normal isn’t always possible. A new normal must sometimes suffice.
The adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure rings true. Avoiding problems is much better than encountering them and dealing with the consequences.
Here are five tips to remember if you want to avoid accidents and stay safe on the road.
1. Don’t Get Distracted
Distracted driving is a primary cause of accidents on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,308 lives were lost in 2022 because of distracted driving. When operating a motor vehicle, you must focus on driving. You can’t afford to pet your dog, fix your hair, eat your lunch, or change the radio station when driving. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted for even a split second.
2. Don’t Drive Too Fast
When driving too fast, your reaction time will diminish. 12,000+ deaths involved speed-related collisions in 2022. If the speed limit is 75 miles per hour and you’re traveling 90 mph, your reaction time will be compromised. It’ll be harder to use evasive maneuvers to avoid problems. Observe the speed limit and reduce your speed if the weather or road conditions warrant doing so. It’s better to be late than to speed and get into a vehicle accident.
You might be surprised to know how many car accidents leading to injury start with a speeding motorist. If injured in an accident, you must contact a personal injury lawyer. Going toe-to-toe with an insurance company is a bad idea since they tend to offer lowball offers. When looking for a lawyer, you can ask people you know for recommendations, research online, and check out the social media profiles of lawyers on your shortlist of candidates.
3. Don’t Tailgate
Few on-the-road behaviors frustrate drivers more than tailgating. No one wants to see someone driving within inches of their rear bumper. If being tailgated, you could easily be rear-ended if you must stop suddenly. The tailgater won’t have time to react. If you’re being tailgated, don’t brake check the offender. Brake checking involves unnecessarily using the brakes to scare the person behind you who must also brake to avoid a rear-end collision. It makes more sense to change lanes when you can do so safely. But if you are the tailgater, stop.
4. Don’t Drink and Drive
It’s alarming to think that around 37 people die every day in the U.S. due to drunk-driving collisions. If you drink but believe the amount consumed is inconsequential, you should avoid getting behind the wheel. Find another way to get home. You can get a ride from someone at the event who didn’t drink, call a loved one or friend, or take a cab or Uber. There’s never any excuse to drink and drive. The consequences have life-and-death implications.
5. Don’t Drive at Night (When You Don’t Have To)
According to one source, 49% of fatal collisions occur between sunset and sunrise. That’s astonishing considering that a mere 9% of driving happens during that time. You should stay off the road if there’s no good reason to drive during low-light conditions. The statistics show that your collision risks increase substantially between sunset and sunrise.
These are five ways to reduce your chance of getting into accidents on the road. On-the-road safety is everyone’s responsibility. So, do your part to keep yourself and others safe.