How to Prevent Car Accidents in 5 Simple Steps

How to Prevent Car Accidents in 5 Simple Steps : Around 6 million car accidents occur every year in the United States. Sadly, 6% of these crashes lead to death, and 27% end in non-fatal injury.

The worst part of car crashes is that they can almost always be prevented. Whether you’re a new driver or have been behind the wheel for years, it’s always a good time to brush up on your driving skills.

Are you interested in keeping yourself and others safe while you’re on the road? Keep reading for 5 tips on how to prevent car accidents.

How to Prevent Car Accidents: Never Drink and Drive

The biggest tip on how to avoid car accidents is to never drink alcohol and drive. Over 25 percent of traffic-related deaths are caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

The legal blood alcohol content limit in the United States for drivers 21 and over is 0.08 percent. While everyone’s tolerance is different, your faculties become impaired with your very first drink.

Alcohol slows down the body’s reaction time and alters the function of your eyes. It greatly impairs your coordination and judgment, all of which you need to properly operate a vehicle.

If you’re going to be drinking, utilize a taxi, ridesharing, or a designated driver to get home safely.

Follow the Speed Limit

One seemingly obvious tip on how to prevent car crashes is to always follow the speed limit. No matter how much of a hurry you’re in, you should never exceed the posted speed limit.

Speed limits are set to coincide with the type of road you’re driving on and the environment it’s in. Even if there are no cars around, exceeding the speed limit can make it more difficult to take turns or stop for pedestrians and animals that may be crossing.

Stay Alert

Another tip on how to prevent vehicle crashes is to always be aware of what’s going on around you. This means you shouldn’t be on your phone, eating, or doing any other activity while you’re driving.

Be aware of the cars around you, but don’t forget about pedestrians. The number of pedestrians struck and killed by vehicles increased by five percent between 2018 and 2019.

Increase Following Distance

One lesser-known tip on how to avoid car crashes is to increase your following distance. You should always maintain a three-second following distance between your car and the car in front of you.

This will allow yourself time to react to sudden heavy braking or other dangerous traffic events ahead.

You should also keep distance between you and the car in front of you at traffic lights and stop signs. If a distracted driver hits your car, you may be able to save your front bumper if there’s enough space.

Adjust for Weather Conditions

A big part of driving is knowing how to drive safely in inclement weather. This includes rain, snow, and ice. The primary goal of New York Defensive Driving is to protect oneself, passengers, and other road users from harm.

When the roads are wet, snowy, or icy, you should go at least five miles per hour under the posted speed limit. In the case of heavy rain, snow, or fog, always turn on your headlights.

Don’t slam on your breaks when driving over excessive water or ice. Lastly, prevent yourself from oversteering if you lose control of your vehicle.

Drive Safe

Now you know how to prevent car accidents by driving safe. Be sure to check out our website for legal advice concerning everything from driving and traffic injuries to real estate and immigration.