One of the most dangerous places to be is behind the wheel of a car. Although this may seem like a bit of an exaggeration, road traffic accidents are extremely common and, in many cases, even fatal. Each year there are millions of car accidents in the U.S alone, with almost 40,000 of these ending in fatalities.
Fatigue and Exhaustion
When you’re tired behind the wheel, you’re more likely to doze off or close your eyes. Even a few seconds of this kind of behaviour can cause a disastrous accident. Although a car accident attorney can help you win your case, they won’t be able to reverse the damage you cause during a crash.
Jumping Red Lights
Running a red light is a serious traffic offence and doing so at a busy intersection could even cost you your life – not to mention, that of others as well. Most people jump red lights when they’re in a hurry, however, there’s absolutely no reason to be in a rush when you’re behind the wheel.
Misuse of Safety Features
Safety features in a vehicle are there for a reason and they can be a determining factor between life and death. Before you even get on the road you should always have your seatbelt or helmet on. Although this may not prevent an accident from occurring, it does help improve the chances of surviving a crash.
Distractions Whilst Driving
Even the smallest distraction can cause a massive accident. Therefore, it’s important to eliminate all possible distractions whilst you are driving. This means keeping the phone tucked away and lowering the volume of your music. When your brain is trying to focus on multiple things at once, it reduces your ability to pay attention to the road.
Speeding
Speed limits aren’t there to slow you down from reaching your destination. They are there to prevent accidents from happening, which is why you need to abide by them. Plus, the severity of your car crash and subsequent injuries is affected by the speed you are travelling at. In other words, a car crashing at 100 kilometres per hour is bound to be more destructive than a car travelling at 50 kilometres per hour.
Drunk Driving
Finally, drunk driving is extremely reckless behaviour and can easily cause an accident. When you are intoxicated your senses are impaired and you can no longer react as quickly as you would sober. If you do want to go out and drink, just call a taxi to take you back home or find a designated driver.
Nobody wants to receive the dreaded phone call that a loved one has been involved in a road traffic accident. Therefore, it’s important you do everything in your power to drive safely. Remember to drive rested and free of distractions whilst obeying all road traffic signs. It doesn’t matter how long it may take to get to your destination, only that you do so in one piece.
