It is estimated that more than 90% of all automobile accidents worldwide are actually avoidable. While automobile accidents can occur in a number of ways, most incidents and accidents are mainly due to human error. To avoid automobile accidents, it is important to practice the four (4) preventive measures mentioned below. If you were hurt in an accident, the expert legal team at Goodrich & Geist, P.C, will assist you.
#1. Drive Safely:
Though accidents caused by a mechanical malfunction cannot be ruled out, more often than not, the human element plays a major part in most automobile accidents. It may surprise you to learn that many car owners hardly conduct preliminary checks on the state of their vehicles before driving.
It is important that before you start your car, you pop the hood to check that your engine oil, radiator coolant, brake, and transmission fluids (amongst other things) are all in order. Having good car maintenance habits would greatly help to minimize your risk of automobile accidents due to mechanical malfunctioning.
Once your vehicle is safe to drive, you would be required to drive in a responsible manner. You can do this by wearing your seatbelt, driving within speed limits and obeying all road signs, and traffic lights.
#2. Drive Sober:
Automobile accidents caused by drunk driving is more common than you might imagine. Despite the very active campaigns against drunk driving and the very severe punitive measures in place, many people still get behind the wheels of their vehicles drunk.
When you drink, your focus, concentration, reaction time, and critical thinking are adversely affected. You are more likely to fall asleep on the steering wheel when you drink and drive. Being sober before you drive is crucial as your level of concentration as well as reaction time to incidents would be pretty high.
#3. Stay Focused Always:
It is very easy to be distracted while driving. There are so many things that can take your mind off the road even if it is for a brief moment (which is often all it takes for accidents to happen).
These days the most common form of distraction while driving is our mobile phone. It is important that you do not use your mobile phone while driving to avoid any distractions. If you need to answer a call, make a call, or send a text message, you should safely park your vehicle on the side of the road in order to do so.
#4. Keep A Safe Distance:
When driving you should avoid being too close to the vehicle ahead of you. Keeping a safe distance is one way to avoid automobile accidents. You never know what the driver of the vehicle in front of you intends doing.
He or she may inadvertently slam on their breaks and if you are too close, you would end up ramming into the back of their vehicle. Follow the two-second rule when driving.
Ensure that the distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you can be gauged by counting two seconds (one-on-one thousand to two-one thousand). This count should start from when the vehicle ahead of you passes a landmark or object to when your own car approaches that landmark or object on the side of the road.
Conclusion
Being a good driver means being a safe, responsible, and cautious road user. Practice safe driving by running a preliminary check on your vehicle before you start the engine. Wear your seatbelt at all times and adhere to all road signs. You should avoid speeding, staying too close to other road users, and above all, you should never drink and drive.