Motor vehicles plays a crucial role in supporting economic and social growth in many nations, which necessitates roads for modern transportation. Vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, motorbikes, taxis, and others are used to transport both people and products. This facilitates trade, building of community and ensures that people have access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and such.
However, the huge number of traffic accidents that happen every year is a drawback to the widespread use of motor vehicles, which causes millions of people worldwide to die or get injured. Moreover, road traffic accidents can severely impact social and economic factors in addition to the physical harm they cause to those involved.
The victims, their families, and the country as a whole suffer significant financial losses because of road traffic injuries. These losses resulted from the cost of treatment and lost work time or earnings for those who passed away or can’t work because of their injuries, as well as for family members who have to miss work or school to care for the injured. Most countries lose 3% of their gross domestic product due to these traffic accidents. (1)
Contrary to what you might think right now, preventing accidents is actually possible. Despite following preventive measures, the chances are that you may still get into a road accident. For instance, someone might hit your car from the rear end, causing lifelong injuries and pain. In such cases, it would be best to seek legal assistance from car accident attorneys to avail fair compensation for your loss. You can click here to learn more about how experienced and licensed personal injury lawyers can help you streamline legal proceedings. A very experienced Wilkes Barre car accident lawyer highlights the following very helpful tips that will aid you a lot to avoid most possible car accidents.
Get The Correct Attitude
Your attitude while driving can have a significant effect on how you act and what choices you make while on the road. For example, if you are feeling stressed, upset, or exhausted – you are more likely to be reckless, act aggressively towards others, or make bad choices while driving.
On the other hand, if you drive with a calm and focused demeanor, you are more likely to make safe and responsible decisions on the road; this includes being attentive with your surroundings, following the traffic regulations, keeping a safe distance from other cars, and also being prepared to respond positively in unexpected situations.
So many teen car accidents happen because of a lack of maturity and improper attitude. They do not happen because of a lack of knowledge or skill. This is why you should commit to practicing the best possible attitude when it comes to driving. Do this both for you and your passengers since you owe them to be careful.
Supervised Practice Driving
Supervised practice driving typically refers to learning how to drive with the help of a more experienced driver or a driving instructor in some cases. This is usually a step needed to obtain a driver’s license in many countries, as it gives new drivers a chance to gain experience and learn the skills required to drive safely on the road. In addition, it is necessary because it lets new drivers gain experience in a safe and controlled environment before they can drive independently. This can help lower the chance of car accidents as it can help new drivers build good driving habits and learn important safety rules and regulations.
Try to get as much of this as you possibly can when you are a beginner driver. This is so much more important than you might believe. Create a schedule and then stick to it. Ask someone with a lot more experience than you to help you.
Wear The Safety Belt
This should be a habit you never sacrifice. If you are inside the car and it is moving, you have to wear the safety belt. This is true as the driver and as the passenger and there should never be an exception.
Research has shown that wearing a safety belt can make it much less likely that you will get hurt badly or die in a car crash. Drivers and people in the front seats are 45–50% less likely to die if they wear seat belts. People in the back seats are 25% less likely to die or get seriously hurt. (2)
Even though it has been shown that safety belts are helpful, many drivers and passengers still don’t use them. Some people might think that safety belts are too tight or uncomfortable, and others might just forget to wear them. However, it is important to remember that failure to wear seatbelts may result in more severe situations.
Limit Passengers
Limiting the number of people in a car can also help prevent other types of accidents or incidents on the road. For instance, when there are too many people in a car, there can be more noise and activity, which can make it harder for the driver to pay attention to the road. With every single extra passenger inside the vehicle, there is a higher risk of being involved in a car accident. This is especially the case when you are new since distractions can easily lead to serious mistakes.
Also, limiting the number of people ensures that everyone wears a safety belt, which is another vital safety measure that can help keep people from getting hurt or killed in a car accident.
Drive Less At Night
Driving at night can be more dangerous for several reasons. With reduced visibility, it can be harder for drivers to see people, animals, or obstacles on the road, making it more likely that two cars will crash. Moreover, the glare from headlights coming from the opposite direction can be distracting and make it harder to see the road ahead. (3)
Also, exhaustion is another thing that can make driving at night more dangerous. Drivers who are tired or worn out might not be able to react as quickly or pay as much attention to the road. This is especially true for drivers who have been on the road for a long time without stopping or those who have had a long day at work or school. (3)
Fatal crash risks are so much higher when you drive during the night when compared to driving during the day. In fact, the risk of this goes up with every single mile you drive. It is always better to avoid such driving until fully comfortable during the day and even then, drive less during the night.
Drive Slower As A Beginner
The likelihood of a crash and the severity of its effects are both directly related to the average speed. For example, every 1% increase in average speed increases the risk of a fatal crash by 4% and the risk of a serious crash by 3%. (2)
When faced with high traffic volumes and fast-moving cars, you can easily become uncomfortable. This is particularly true for beginners but it can be the case even with those more experienced. As time passes, you can put yourself into tougher driving situations, such as driving in busy cities or even on the highway.
Get Ready For Bad Weather Conditions
Getting ready for a bad weather is an integral part of safe driving since this can make it harder to control a vehicle and increases the risk of accidents. Whether it’s pouring rain, snow, ice, fog, or strong winds, drivers need to be ready for the challenges that bad weather may bring.
You might start to feel confident when you drive on a dry pavement but it is still a good idea to try to avoid the poor weather conditions. You should try to keep things as simple as possible in the beginning. With supervised practice first during bad weather, it is much easier to get used to the differences.
Never Use Your Smartphone
Using your phone while you are driving, especially when the traffic is slow, is very tempting. But, you should never do it. The only situation in which you should use the smartphone inside a car is when you are stopped or when faced with serious situations. The best thing you can do since you surely have your phone with you is to store it somewhere so you are not tempted to use it.
People should refrain from texting, emailing, browsing the internet, making phone calls, or using social media on their phones while driving; these things can cause visual and mental distractions from the task of driving.
Even a short moment of distraction can be dangerous on the road because it can make it hard for a driver to see a hazard or respond to something unexpected. Research shows that texting while driving can make a car accident 4 times more likely. (2)
References:
(1) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
(2) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries