Millions of people are seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents each year. Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid these accidents.
According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone in the United States is involved in a car accident every 10 seconds. In 2008, an estimated 37,261 people were killed and 2,350,000 people were injured in traffic accidents. In almost every accident, somebody acted negligently, and could have avoided the accident by exercising more caution. While environmental factors can play a role in causing car accidents, in most cases it is the driver's fault. If you are worried about getting into an auto accident, here are some precautions you should take to lower your chances of being involved in one.
Don’t use your cell phone- Taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds can cause an accident. Text messages or phone calls can also anger or upset you which further distract you from driving.
Avoid the fast lane- Using the right or center lanes give you more escape routes when encountering a collision. Most accidents occur in the left or “fast” lane.
Program your GPS before driving- To avoid having to type in route, or address names while driving, try to remember to program your destination address into your GPS before you begin to drive. This will allow you to keep your eyes on the road while driving.
Beware of blind spots- Adjust your side and rearview mirrors to provide you with a clear view of what is next to and behind you. When merging into another lane always physically turn and look into the lane.
Don’t tailgate- Leave a three second cushion between you and the car in front of you. Tailgating is a major cause of car accidents.
Perform engine maintenance regularly- Change the oil regularly, and keep tires properly inflated to avoid sudden vehicle failures.
Car accidents happen all the time. These accidents can cost people extensive amounts of money and time. Following the above directions can help you prevent car accidents, which will save you a lot of time and money.
