Avoiding Car Accidents

Driving a car is one of the most dangerous activities we engage in on a regular basis, and reckless driving behaviors are increasing largely due to the prevalent use of smart phones to text or catch up on social media exchanges. Few of us think about the possibility of getting into a serious accident until it happens to us, or someone we love. We often take our safety for granted, but in reality, much of our safety on the roads depends on everyone exercising personal responsibility.

You may not be one of them, but you are sharing the road with distracted, intoxicated or inexperienced drivers nearly every time you journey out. Many motorists, to their horror, have observed fellow drivers busily texting or otherwise engaged while traveling along the highway, sometimes at a high rate of speed. We have probably all witnessed driving that leaves us wondering if the driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

We cannot always control the driving behavior of others, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. It is important to always remember to:

• Drive Defensively – That means that you should always be alert, looking for potential problems so you will have time to react.
• Eliminate Distractions – Never text or use social media while driving. Pull over or wait until you get to your destination to check on the latest developments or to contact others. If you are traveling with young children, lay down the law on squabbling while you are driving and provide activities that will get you from point a to b without having to lean over the seat to provide assistance.
• Don’t Drive Drowsy – With spring break approaching, many families are planning a car trip across the state to see relatives or to just break up the routine. Make sure you are well rested before embarking and, if there is another adult to keep you engaged along the trip, all the better.
• Never drive while intoxicated – DUI – Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes. If you intend to ‘paint the town’, plan to use alternative transportation methods – phone a friend, designated driver or cab.
• Maintain a safe speed – The faster motorist are traveling, the more risk of accident. Give yourself time and control to react to unanticipated problems on the road such as traffic stopping, another motorist’s error, debris in the roadway and more.
• Wear your seat belt, and insist your passengers do as well – Adult seat belt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about half.