5 Ways to Prevent a Car Accident
The NHTSA notes that there were 6.74 million police-reported car accidents in the United States in 2019, which makes for approximately 17 thousand car accidents in the United States daily. How can you keep you and your loved ones from being part of those statistics? Follow these 5 tips to avoid ending up in a car accident.
Avoid driving in rough weather
One of the most important ways to prevent a car accident is to avoid driving in bad weather. Driving in rainy conditions can be particularly dangerous, so make sure you're aware of your surroundings and take extra care when conditions are uncertain.
In addition to rain, snow and ice are also common causes for car accidents during winter months. So if you live somewhere that sees harsh winters, it's especially important for you to know how to drive safely on icy roads.
Ensure your car's tires and brakes are in good condition
Ensure your car's tires and brakes are in good condition.
Make sure you have properly inflated tires. Tires should be checked at least once a month, since they can lose pressure over time (especially if you drive on rough roads).
Rotate your tires regularly (every 5,000 miles), if possible. This helps distribute the weight of the car evenly across each tire, which improves handling and minimizes tread wear.
Replace worn-out or damaged tires as soon as possible; don't wait until it's too late! You may feel like you're getting more mileage out of an old tire, but that could lead to an accident when one of them blows out unexpectedly due to under inflation or improper alignment or balance problems caused by uneven wear patterns caused by improper rotation procedures."
Don't drive if you are ill, or excessively tired
According to a study conducted by a UK-based car insurance company and Cardiff University in Wales, safety experts found that the driving skills of people who were under the weather were found to drop by about 50 percent when compared with those who were well. Their reaction time and focus were so impaired, researchers compared their driving abilities to someone who had consumed "four double whiskeys.” If you are feeling under the weather or sleep deprived for any reason, it’s best to stay at home.
Don't drive while distracted
You should never drive while distracted.
Listening to music may be relaxing, but it can also be dangerous if you're not paying attention to the road. If your favorite band is playing a show in town and you haven't heard their new album yet, wait until after work to check it out—and maybe even consider taking public transportation for the evening so that you don't risk hurting yourself or others by getting into an accident on the way home.
Texting and driving is banned by many states across America. No matter where your journey takes you, even if you're just driving from one side of town to another, texting while behind the wheel is always dangerous - if not illegal as well. You need both hands on the wheel at all times during driving.
Never drive under the influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense. While some people may think that it's fine to drive when they're just “tipsy” or “buzzed”, this can be dangerous. If you're going to drink, leave your car at home and take public transportation instead.
Avoiding driving while intoxicated is one of the most important ways to prevent an accident from happening on the road. You should also make sure that your friends and family stay off the road if they have been drinking too much or using drugs—and don't let anyone else get behind the wheel if they appear intoxicated in any way.
Driving under impairment of any kind can result in a car accident that leaves everyone involved injured and shaken up for life—which means that everyone needs to be extra careful about avoiding these situations altogether.
Avoiding a car accident can save you a lot of pain and money.
While accidents happen, there are steps you can take to make sure that you don’t cause one.
In the event that you do get into an accident, it's important to remember that you don't have to deal with it alone. You aren't alone in this situation and there are people who can help you out - especially if the accident wasn’t your fault. The attorneys at Best & Flatt are standing by to hear your case. Call 803-252-1800 to get a free consultation today!