How Common Are Road Accidents And How To Be Safe And Prepared
By Space Coast Daily // July 4, 2021
Statistics show that approximately 3700 people die from road accidents globally. Thus, in a year, over 1.35 million lives are lost. Alongside this, up to 50 million people suffer from non-fatal injuries brought about by car accidents.
For this reason, it can be deemed that car accidents are quite common. Fortunately, there are several ways on how you can be safe on the road and prepared for these unfortunate circumstances.
Buckle up and drive with a clear head
One of the primary things that you need to do to be safe on the road or be prepared in case of an accident is to buckle up and drive with a clear head. This can be attributed to the fact that one of the most common causes of road accidents is drunk driving.
When you have too much to drink, your judgment will most likely be clouded, making it hard for you even to fasten your seat belt as you get behind the wheel. Much more so, you won’t be able to focus on the road or make sound decisions while you are driving.
For you to be safe then, make sure that you stay within the allowable alcohol tolerance limit for drivers. Better yet, steer clear of drinking liquor if you are the designated driver.
A seasoned auto accident lawyer in Houston suggests that in case you encounter a road mishap with a drunk driver, not only should you call the police, but your lawyer as well. DUI attorneys will be able to advise you of the necessary steps that you need to take to make the drunk driver accountable for his actions, particularly if serious injuries were sustained, or worse, lives were lost.
Keep up with the regular maintenance of your vehicle
Another thing that you need to do to be safe on the road is to keep up with the regular maintenance of your vehicle. Each time you bring your car out, make sure that it is road-worthy.
The reason behind this is that another common cause of road accidents is vehicle defects, such as a tire blowout. Because your car is composed of several parts, you need to make sure that your vehicle is periodically maintained. In this way, each of the components of your car is in its best condition, allowing your vehicle to run smoothly on the road.
However, even if you keep up with the regular maintenance of your vehicle, you may still encounter being stranded on the road because your car won’t run.
In this case, make sure that you have the number of your mechanic saved on your phone or emergency road services. They will be able to help you in these unfortunate circumstances.
While waiting for help to arrive though, make sure to set up early warning devices to notify other motorists on the road that they should slow down.
Focus on the road
Every time you sit behind the wheel, make sure that you are focused on the road because distracted driving is another common cause of road accidents. Therefore, if you want to avoid any road mishap, then make sure that you concentrate on driving. This means that you should avoid texting or fiddling with your phone when you are driving.
If you need to make a call, leverage innovative devices such as a Bluetooth headset that pave the way for hand-free calls. There are even modern vehicles that incorporate voice detection technology to allow the drivers to make a call or even change the radio channel with audible commands.
However, your phone is not the sole source of distraction when you are driving. Even drinking and eating while driving can cause you to lose your concentration on the road.
For instance, you may not notice that the traffic light has already changed to red because you were sipping some coffee or having a bite in your burger. When you run a red light, then there is a great risk for you to encounter a collision with another vehicle that is already on the go.
Maintain your distance
Whenever you are driving, make sure that you maintain a safe and proper distance not only from the vehicle in front of you but as much as possible, from the other vehicles around you as well. This is most especially true if you are driving on a highway with other big rigs.
The reason behind this is that another common cause of road accidents is tailgating, particularly when you are driving at a high speed. When the vehicle in front of you suddenly stops and you are too close, then even if you step on the brakes immediately, you may still hit their bumper.
In parallel to maintaining your distance, you should also adhere to the speed limits set because overspeeding can also lead to road accidents that could have been avoided. When you are going too fast, you somehow have less control of your vehicle. Just keep in mind to drive with the speed of the traffic around you because going too slow is likewise risky for you and the other motorists on the road.
Check the weather
Finally, always take the time to check the weather because heavy rains, ice, and snow can also cause unfortunate road accidents. This can be attributed to the fact that wet roads are more slippery, affecting the traction in your tires. This may cause you to slide off the road, hitting other vehicles and pedestrians on your way.
Since road accidents are fairly common due to various reasons, you need to exert the effort to be safe and know what to do in case you get involved in an unfortunate road mishap.
Apart from buckling up and getting behind the wheel with a clear head, you should also keep up with the regular maintenance of your vehicle.
Make sure that you are focused on the road, maintaining your distance as necessary. Also, check the weather as well as your route before you head out. All these are geared towards ensuring that you are safe on the road.
