Defensive Driving: Tips to Avoid Vehicular Accidents

Car accidents can be extremely terrifying, and unfortunately, they are pretty common as well. In the U.S, car crashes are the fifth leading cause of death. Statistics show that getting behind the wheel of your car is one of the most dangerous activities you can do during the day. On average, there are more than 3000 deaths that result from car accidents per day worldwide, in addition to the injuries that affect a range of 20 million and up to 50 million people each year for the same reason. While you won’t be able to control other motorists, you can still control how you operate your vehicle. Fortunately, with a little precaution, you can reduce the risk of these accidents by practicing safe driving. Here are some defensive driving tips to ensure your safety:

Avoid Distracted Driving at All Costs

Many of us don’t view munching on snacks or making some occasional calls while driving as big deals. Statistics have reported that every day there are about 9 people who die from car crashes due to distracted drivers. That’s why it’s vital that we change this mindset and avoid distracting ourselves with any activity other than driving. Three categories of distracted driving should be avoided. The first is manual, which is being distracted with your hands -like scrolling through your smartphone or searching for the AUX cord. The second is visual; you should always keep your eyes on the road. Last, but not least, is cognitive distractions. Texting while you are driving is considered to be the worst as it falls under the three categories. Instead, follow these tips:

• Make sure that your smartphone is on silent or completely turned off.
• In case of emergencies, pull the car over to text or make the emergency phone call.
• If you are hungry, make sure that you eat before you hit the road.
• Limit the number of passengers you ride with to limit any distractions.
• If you are taking a new road that you don’t know well, make sure to plan your route before you start moving to save yourself from looking up directions while you are driving.
• If you have to use the map, however, it’s better to invest in a GPS instead of relying on your cell phone for directions.

Don’t Trust Anyone But Yourself

You might not be distracted, yet, you may still not pay enough attention to the road. The driver should always be focused and alert. Make sure that you are constantly scanning the horizon to be able to spot any upcoming hazards. This way, you can spot any reckless drivers who are speeding or maneuvering erratically. Leave a safe distance between your car and the other cars to avoid drivers who speed up, slow down, change lanes, or make reckless maneuvers.

Never Drink and Drive

Even if you are an excellent driver, or if you know how to drive well enough when you are tipsy, it’s never an excuse to drink and drive. This reckless act will not only put your life in danger, but you are compromising the safety of other drivers as well. If you are caught in a car accident and while intoxicated, even if it was not your fault, it can put you through legal hassles that are better avoided. 

However, making sure that you are being extra careful will not only help you in reducing the risk of car accidents, but it will also help you in case any car crashes happen despite your efforts. In this case, any personal injury lawyer or an attorney who handles car accident cases will be able to help you cover the costs and damages that the other negligent driver has caused you. It’s recommended that you educate yourself on these accidents, and you can find out more here on how professionals handle these cases in order to be well aware of what you should do in these situations. Usually, these claims will not only cover your medical expenses, but they will also compensate you for any mental suffering you had to endure due to the accident.

Avoid Drowsy Driving

Many of us drive to work or school without getting enough sleep. While this might be considered normal behavior that many don’t think much of, it shouldn’t be. Not getting enough sleep or being drowsy will slow down your reactions which will make it more difficult to avoid any hazardous situation that you might find yourself in. If you feel sleepy, you shouldn’t drive.

You should also pay attention to your medications and how they affect you. Some drugs such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers might cause cognitive impairment. If you are not sure whether the medications you take affect your brain functions, you can search the side effects online. If you still don’t know, then you should seek medical advice. If any medication you take is found to cause drowsiness or a reduction in brain functions, then you should discontinue taking the medication if you can. If you can’t, you can stop getting behind the wheel while you are on these drugs. Sometimes people have to drive for long hours. So, even if you’ve gotten enough sleep, you will find that you are tired after a while. In these situations, you should pull over for a coffee break. If you are still not fully alert, then it’s better to call it a night.

All of the aforementioned tips and precautions are pretty straightforward and common. Yet, many think that they don’t have to follow these rules. Whether you are an excellent driver, or you are still a beginner, make sure to follow these tips religiously to ensure your safety. Eliminating any distractions, whether they are visual, manual, or cognitive, is common sense. Texting or being drunk while you are driving can be dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Practicing safe driving will not only reduce the risk of accidents and protect you from awful experience, but it will also protect other drivers and pedestrians.