About 13 car accidents happen every minute. You can never be too careful while you’re on the road. You might be able to control your own actions, but you can’t control others. That’s why you have to be alert at all times.If you look down at your phone for a second, that’s considered distracted driving, which is one of the most common causes of car accidents. It can lead to people running red lights and intersections or making unsafe lane changes.
Distracted driving is only one factor that can play into a fatal car crash. Continue reading to learn more.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is any action that causes a driver to not have their full attention on the road. Using a cell phone while driving is the issue that gets the most attention, but something as simple as blaring music counts.
Eating a cheeseburger while trying to operate a vehicle at the same time is a lot harder than it looks. Your backseat drivers could cause you to get into an accident if you try to carry on an in-depth conversation while behind the wheel.
The good news is that avoiding distracted driving is pretty simple. If you’re using your phone as a GPS, turn on the voice feature so you don’t have to stare at the screen.
When you get hungry during your trip, pull over and go inside a restaurant to eat or take the food home with you.
Make a playlist before you get in the car, or create radio pre-sets. This will prevent you from messing with a dial while you drive.
If you don’t follow these safe driving tactics, even something as simple as a roundabout can be dangerous. Check out these facts about roundabout accidents.
Drunk Driving
When you drink alcohol, your cognitive function is compromised. It can become difficult for you to make solid decisions, let alone drive.
Once you’re a few drinks in, you’ll have a slower reaction time. That will make you a danger to yourself and everyone else on the road.
This being said, if you drink at a party, make arrangements to stay at the host’s house for the night or get an Uber. If there’s someone at the party that hasn’t had a drop of alcohol, ask if they can drive you home.
As stated above, you can control your actions, but you can’t control the actions of other drivers. If you suspect that you’re behind a drunk driver, keep your distance from them.
Don’t attempt to pass them because they may swerve into the side of your car. Take note of the driver’s plate number and pull over to call 9-1-1.
Speeding
We’ve all had someone fly around us, going ten over the speed limit. It’s not an unusual occurrence on the highway. It is unsafe, however.
If you’re driving 70 in a 50-mile zone, chances are you won’t be able to break fast enough to avoid an accident. The best way to stop yourself from speeding is to make sure you leave your home in plenty of time.
Use cruise control to set the speed for driving. The car will worry about maintaining the proper speed, which will allow you to focus on the road.
Certain navigation apps will alert you when you’re going over the speed limit.
Running Red Lights
Red means stop. If you run a red light or stop sign, you’ll most likely hit a driver who had the right-of-way. When you come across a stop sign, put on the brakes and proceed when there’s nobody else coming.
In some states, you can’t be in an intersection at all if the light is red. You can only proceed on yellow if you know you can clear it before the light switches to red.
Other states are a little more forgiving. You can be in the middle of the intersection during a red light if it’s impossible or dangerous for you to stop.
In 37 out of 50 states, you can be in an intersection while the light is red if it was yellow when you started to cross.
Weather Conditions
You may not be able to avoid driving in bad weather, but there are ways to do it safely. If you run into a downpour, reduce your driving speed and give other vehicles plenty of space.
When faced with fog, turn on your car’s fog lights and slow down. You should avoid driving entirely if there’s a lot of snow on the ground. If your boss requests that you come into work anyway, put your car in four-wheel drive and take things slow.
If your vehicle isn’t capable of four-wheel drive, invest in chains for your tires.
Car Defects
Cars are made up of several moving parts that keep them going. If one of these parts fails, it will put a cog in the entire machine. This could lead to a fatal car accident.
If you get a recall letter in the mail from your dealership, go handle the matter sooner rather than later. If you notice your car acting strangely, pull over.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Cutting someone off is both frustrating and dangerous for them. If you’re not paying attention, or misjudge how much space you have to get over, you could crash into a vehicle in the other lane.
If you don’t have enough room to move, don’t try to squeeze in, and always remember to put on your blinker. If other drivers can see that you’re trying to change lanes, they may be willing to give you the space to do so.
Wrong-Way Driving
If you’re unfamiliar with an area, it’s easy to take a wrong turn. If you’re not following the flow of traffic, it can cause a devastating car accident.
That’s why it’s important to pay attention to road signs. They’ll let you know which way you should be driving.
Improper Turns
If you make an illegal turn, you could crash into another vehicle. If you approach an intersection and realize you’re not in the turning lane, don’t proceed with the turn. Continue straight and turn around when it’s safe to do so.
Signs indicating that a turn is forbidden are there for a reason. Don’t disobey them by making an illegal turn.
When you do turn, be sure to flick on your blinker ahead of time and slow down.
Tailgating
If you’re driving too close to another vehicle and they slam on the brakes, you won’t be able to stop fast enough to prevent yourself from crashing into them.
In most states, if you crash into the back of another vehicle, the fault is yours. To avoid an incident with your insurance company, be sure to drive at least two car lengths away from the person in front of you.
Driving Tired
Driving tired is about as bad as driving under the influence. You’ll have a lower response time, and drowsiness can get in the way of your better judgment. If you’re too tired, you may even end up falling asleep at the wheel.
If you feel yourself nodding off, pull over at the nearest hotel and get back on the road after a nap. If you can’t afford a hotel, park in a safe location and take a quick power nap.
Make sure to get plenty of rest the day before a long trip. Try to start your commute as early as possible, and if you can, avoid driving during peak sleepy hours. Take a break every 100 miles to avoid fatigue.
Coffee can only do so much if you’re only running on 2 hours of sleep, but it can act as a quick fix for drowsiness. If you know your prescription medications make you tired, don’t take them until you arrive at your destination.
Animal Crossings
You never know when a large animal is going to run out in the middle of the road. That’s why you always have to be prepared for it. If you’re not, and the animal crashes into you, it could cause a lot of damage to your vehicle and the vehicle behind you.
If you see an animal crossing sign, practice a little extra caution. When driving through a rural area, keep your high beams on at night unless there are other cars around, and be on the lookout for glowing eyes.
Dangerous Curves
If you attempt to take a curve too fast, there’s a good chance that you’ll lose control of your vehicle. This could send you into a ditch or worse.
As much fun as it might be to go fast around a sharp curve, slow down and go the recommended speed limit. Be cautious until you make it through the curvy road.
Tire Blowouts
If you experience a tire blowout while driving, it could cause you to lose control of your car and send you into oncoming traffic.
The best way to avoid such a scenario is to take care of your tires. Check your tire pressure whenever you stop for gas.
If the emergency light comes on informing you that your tire pressure is low, don’t ignore it. Have your tires rotated on a normal basis.
If your tires start to show signs of wear and tear, go ahead and replace them instead of putting off the inevitable. You should also inspect them every so often using the penny test.
Road Rage
It’s okay to get angry at a driver who cuts you off. It’s not okay to let that anger take over you. That could cause you to make an unwise driving decision.
Give yourself enough time to arrive at your destination. If you’re in a hurry, that will make your fuse much shorter than normal.
If you had a bad day at work or got in a fight with your spouse, take some time to cool down before you get in the car. Driving while already experiencing tense emotions will only lead to disaster.
Car horns are for emergencies only. Avoid using them to show anger toward another driver.
If another motorist is showing signs of aggressive behavior such as tailgating, swerving, or sudden breaking, stay far behind them.
Potholes
Potholes are annoying, and they can be pretty dangerous. Many drivers have experienced a tire blowout from driving over one.
It’s best to drive around them. If you can’t avoid hitting one, let off the gas. The last thing you want to do is go over a pothole at top speed.
Night Driving
At night your vision is impaired, and other drivers are either intoxicated or exhausted from their long day at work. This makes being on the road dangerous.
If you do have to drive at night, stay alert at all times. If you find yourself getting sleepy, pull over.
New Drivers
New drivers are dangerous thanks to their inexperience. If they come across a problem that they’ve never encountered before, they may not know how to respond.
So, if you see a young person behind the wheel or there’s a “student driver” sticker on the car in front of you, practice precaution.
Avoiding the Common Causes of Car Accidents
As you can see, many things can go wrong when you’re driving. A single mistake could lead to one of the common causes of car accidents.
Don’t get behind the wheel while intoxicated, be wary of new drivers, and above all else, follow the rules of the road.
For more driving tips and tricks, be sure to explore the rest of our blog.
Read Also: Tips For Getting Your Life Back On Track After A Traumatic Truck Accident
