Car accidents are devastating. They may cause injuries requiring hospitalization and damage to the car, and in the worst cases, they may lead to the loss of life. In order to understand how to avoid accidents, it’s important to be aware of the factors that cause them. In this post, we cover some of the major causes of accidents and tips on avoiding them.
1. Distracted Driving
Many drivers use their phones while they’re on the road, and this is extremely dangerous. Interacting with your phone while driving can cause a huge distraction and lead to collisions. These days, many cars are fitted with systems that allow Bluetooth connection so that you can answer your calls without physically using the phone. If you don’t have this in your vehicle, using a talk headset or Bluetooth earpiece will work just as well with less distraction than taking your eyes off the road would incur. According to GlobeNewswire, the car audio market is projected to hit $13.52 billion by 2028 as more people install hands-free audio, and it’s definitely worth it to jump on this trend.
2. Drinking and Driving
Drinking and driving is a terrible mistake to make. It’s impossible to give the road your full attention when your brain is impaired by alcohol. The legal limit for charging a driver with DWI is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. However, a driver with a lower BAC can be charged with driving while ability impaired (DWAI). It’s important to only drive if you’re completely sober. This ensures you won’t get ticketed or cause a deadly collision.
3. Driving With Aggression
Aggressive driving can end up costing money and may even cause injuries or death. Aggression includes road rage, tailgating, speeding, sudden acceleration, disregarding the speed limits, and failing to signal among other things. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTA) defines aggressive driving as the act of endangering others and their property by violating road rules, and it’s critical to avoid this type of driving at all costs.
4. Road Hazards
According to Asphalt Magazine, 94% of the nation’s roads are paved with asphalt, and this helps create better driving surfaces to lower the risk of accidents. However, driving is not always straightforward and requires drivers to search, predict, decide, and execute. Since there are always possible obstacles on the road, it’s important to be vigilant and prepare yourself for the unexpected. Some common road hazards include but are not limited to animals, changes in the surface of the road, potholes, and fallen obstacles from other vehicles. Observe the road and drive carefully. If you are aware that a certain road is bad, choose other roads as an alternative route to your destination.
5. Poor Visibility
Drivers not being able to see properly is one of the biggest culprits of accidents. Poor visibility may include things like heavy rain and fog that disrupt the driver’s vision. Night driving is also a risk for poor vision while driving, as the world looks different without sunlight. If night driving doesn’t work for you, try only driving during the day. However, some specially made glasses help improve night vision on the road.
6. Fatigue
Driver fatigue is very dangerous and can cause nodding off behind the steering wheel, which poses a risk of driving off the road or into another car. It’s important that drivers are well rested before taking to the road, as this will reduce the chances of fatigue. If you’re feeling too tired to give the road your full attention, take a break between stops or even a short nap if you’re in a safe location.
A car accident can have a truly horrific effect on a person’s life, but with the right strategies for safety, it is possible to avoid crashing. Keep the above information in mind to ensure safe, happy travels.
