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Driving on the road can be a hazardous activity, and car accidents are one of the most common causes of death and injury in the United States. There are nearly 20.000 auto accidents on the roads each year, and the NHTSA indicates there are 90 fatalities every single day from road traffic collisions. Every driver on the road is responsible for being the safest driver possible, and the following tips can help you do just that.
Follow speed limits
If you want to avoid car accidents and reduce the risk of being in a collision, you should follow the speed limits in your area. Speed limits will vary from area to area depending on the location. It will be lower around schools and built-up areas, while the national speed limit of 70mph exists for highways and open roads that can accommodate traffic traveling at that speed.
Avoid distractions while driving.
Another way to avoid car accidents is not to drive distracted. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that drivers who engage in distracting activities, such as talking on their phones or texting, are 4.5 times more likely to be involved in a car accident. Other driving distractions include having heated conversations, eating, drinking, or taking your eyes off the road for any reason.
Monitor your blind spots.
If you want to avoid car accidents, another tip is to make sure that you check your blind spots while driving. According to the NHTSA, drivers who regularly check their blind spots are up to 37% less likely to be involved in a collision. However, if you are in an accident due to failure to monitor your blind spots or carelessness on the part of another driver, you should contact an accident attorney BDIW to look into your case.
Maintain a safe following distance.
In many car accidents, the primary issue is that the driver follows another car too closely. When following another vehicle too closely, the risk of colliding with that vehicle increases. To reduce this risk, you should maintain a safe following distance between yourself and the car in front of you. Generally, you should follow cars about three seconds behind them, longer in wet or adverse weather, which allows for about one second of braking for emergencies. You do not need to follow someone so closely that you must constantly tap the brakes to keep from hitting the car in front of you.
Don’t drink and drive.
Drinking alcohol impairs your concentration, leading you to make poor decisions, such as getting in a car accident. The legal limit for driving with alcohol in your system is having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. To put this into perspective, a 150lb man would be over 0.05% after 2 beers while a 120lb woman would exceed 0.05% after one drink (remember this can be influenced by how your body breaks down alcohol, how much food you have eaten, and other factors too). If you do drink, make sure that you have a designated driver, get a ride home from your friends, or book a cab so that you don’t drive if you’re under the influence of alcohol.
Conclusion
Driving can be risky, and car accidents are one of the most common causes of fatalities and injuries in the United States. If you want to avoid car accidents, the best thing you can do is to stay alert and be the safest driver possible. While this won’t prevent all accidents, it can give you the best chance of staying safe on the roads.
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