Terri Ramsey Beavers Statistics show that there are close to 280 million vehicles on America’s roads, and 6 million auto accidents occur each and every year, so the chances of being involved in a collision of some kind are reasonably high, even for safe and careful drivers. The risks of these accidents can be grave, with approximately 100 Americans dying in crashes on a daily basis.
Common car accident injuries can range from minor bruises and scrapes to much more serious issues like traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, and even death, as mentioned above, along with a range of mental health issues that can remain with accident victims for life, like PTSD, paranoia, and fear of driving.
With so many potential risks and dangers out there, it’s important to take safe driving seriously. Even on small and simple trips to the local store, you need to keep your wits about you, as you never know when a reckless driver or negligent road user could put you and your passengers in jeopardy. With this in mind, here are some top driving tips to keep everyone safe.
Learn Some Defensive Techniques
Defensive driving is a term used to refer to a wide range of driving techniques and skills that can be used by motorists to stay safe on the roads. You probably already know plenty of these techniques, like keeping your distance from other vehicles, slowing down in rainy conditions, and never passing on the right.
You can’t control what other drivers do on the roads, but knowing and using defensive techniques can help you adapt to any situation. They can help you protect your passengers when drunk or reckless drivers are nearby, for example, so it’s wise to learn and use these techniques as often as possible, and you can even take defensive driving courses to enhance your skills.
Eyes on the Road
It’s one of the most repeated rules of safe driving, but it’s worth mentioning again here: always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Between smartphones, GPS devices, radios, and snacks, there are lots of possible distractions in the average car nowadays and so many things that can cause you to lose concentration.
Distracted driving accounts for thousands of unnecessary deaths and injuries every single year, so it really is important to keep distractions to a minimum, never trying to use your phone while driving, and always taking the time to pull over safely if you need to make a call, eat a snack, or simply take a quick rest before carrying on.
Make the Most of Modern Technology
Modern technology can help out with many aspects of our lives, including our driving, and there are various apps and devices you can use to stay safer on the roads. A GPS, for example, can prove to be highly useful, guiding you to your destination with ease and letting you focus on the road around you without needing to look at maps or worry too much about making wrong turns.
There are also plenty of safe driving apps you can set up on your phone before you start a journey. Some of these apps are able to track your driving performance, letting you know if you have any bad habits like braking too harshly or accelerating too quickly. Other apps alert you to upcoming hazards on the road or changing weather conditions that could affect your journey.
Cool, Calm, and Collected
One of the biggest threats to your safety, and the safety of others on the road, is road rage. It affects countless people every year and leads to many additional deaths, injuries, and accidents too. The worst part is that so many cases of road rage could be avoided if people were able to have better control over their emotions.
It can be easy to let yourself get angry or frustrated by the irresponsible or reckless actions of other drivers, but getting angry only increases your risks of making a bad decision that could endanger your life. Enraged drivers have lower concentration levels and less control over their actions, so it’s much wiser to remain calm and collected, rather than responding violently. And if you ever get injured in a car accident where the other driver is at fault, you can file for compensation. Of course, money can not undo the wrong but it can at least help you pay your hospital bills and repair your car damages. According to expert car accident attorneys such as georgiatrialfirm.com/duluth/
Conclusion
It’s important for everyone to acknowledge and comprehend the many real risks they face on the roads each day, taking the necessary steps to stay safe and helping to lower the chances of accidents for all. By following the tips above, you can greatly reduce your risks of ending up in an accident, while setting a great example for other drivers too.