Tips to be a safer driver and prevent car accidents.
Drivers with bad habits – dangerous habits – are out on the roads every day. These are the drivers who ignore speed limits and get into road rage incidents. Drivers who have had too much to drink or who are distracted when behind the wheel, whether they are eating or they are looking at their phones. Many times, it’s these drivers who cause car accidents that leave people seriously hurt.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, more than half of survey respondents admitted to risky driving behavior. This includes:
- Speeding – 22.7%
- Aggressive and distracted driving – 17.3%
- Impaired driving – 1.3%
- All risky driving behaviors – 2.4%
But AAA notes it’s not too late for drivers to fix bad habits. All it takes is a few common sense adjustments.
Eliminate distractions.
The most common distraction when driving is the smartphone. Texting, emailing, talking, or simply reading messages while behind the wheel takes your eyes off the road. Maybe it’s only for a few seconds – but that’s more than enough time to fail to see a car turning ahead of you or a pedestrian crossing the street.
Barbara Ward, a traffic safety specialist with AAA Northeast, said the simple solution can be done before driving. Set your phone to do not disturb and put it out of reach.
Don’t drive after using alcohol or drugs.
People who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs aren’t safe drivers. They have reduced coordination and slower reaction times. Their judgment is affected, and they tend to make risky decisions.
The solution is to never get behind the wheel if you’ve had any alcohol or drugs. Have someone sober drive. Other options are to take a cab or use a rideshare service such as Lyft or Uber.
Don’t drive when you’re fatigued.
This may not sound like such a big deal. But fatigue can greatly diminish driving skills. It reduces your attention span and slows your reaction time. It isn’t easy to make good decisions when you're tired. Some drivers actually fall asleep at the wheel.
Find alternate transportation or postpone your drive if you’re fatigued. On long trips, take turns driving with another person. If you’re by yourself, stop every two hours or 100 miles to rest.
Slow down.
Sometimes, it can seem like everyone on the road is speeding. But there are speed limits for a reason. Speed makes a car more difficult to control. When you are driving too fast, you have less time to respond to changing road conditions and need a greater distance to come to a complete stop.
Always be aware of the posted speed limit on the road you’re traveling and stick to it. If you’re on the highway, you can use cruise control to make it easier to stick to the limit.
Calm down.
Aggressive driving is another dangerous habit that can lead to accidents. This includes actions such as weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, and speeding up to beat a red light. When drivers are angry or impatient, they don’t have the best judgment and don’t make the best decisions.
If other drivers are aggressive, responding with more aggression will make the situation worse. Don’t make eye contact with angry drivers. Take a deep breath and try to stay calm.
Call an experienced car accident attorney if you are in a crash
If you were hurt in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you deserve financial compensation for your injuries. However, negligent drivers often deny doing anything wrong. Don’t expect much help from insurance companies, either. They are mostly interested in finding ways to pay you as little as possible.
You need an experienced car accident lawyer who knows how to get results. The Law Offices of John S. Williams, LLC in New Orleans is ready to help. Attorney John S. Williams knows how to build strong cases and fight back against insurance company attempts to pay you less. He is dedicated to helping you recover the maximum compensation you deserve.
If you were hurt in a New Orleans car accident, learn more about how we can help. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.