Around 1.19 million people worldwide die annually because of car accidents, according to the World Health Organization.
Depending on the sources, there are around 6 million vehicle accidents in the U.S. every year. And millions of injuries occur due to these incidents. One source puts the number of personal injury cases necessitating medical treatment in the U.S. at 39.5 million annually. Many of these injuries are caused by car accidents that leave people banged up.
Many car accidents can be avoided, so on-the-road vehicular mayhem is especially tragic. Even so, here are five things you can do to lower your car accident risks.
1. Slow Down
Some motorists treat speed limits like suggestions. Your reaction time will be compromised and the margin for error will shrink if you’re going faster than the posted speed limit. Keep in mind, as well, that the posted speed limit applies to ideal road conditions. If the road conditions are sketchy due to weather or traffic, you’ll want to slow down and drive slower than the posted speed limit. The National Safety Council reports that speeding factored into 29% of all traffic deaths in 2022. If you slow down on the road, you’ll reduce your odds of a fender bender.
2. Stay Calm
Another way to stay safer on the road is to keep your cool in even the most stressful situations. Driving aggressively can boost your risk of accidents. If you’re easily agitated, it’ll be easy to do dangerous things on the road, like weave in and out of traffic, brake check, run red lights, honk the horn incessantly, or even yell at anyone who gets on your last nerve.
However, aggressive driving can create dangerous situations if things get out of control and motorists become confrontational. It appears most motorists have experience with aggressive driving, underscoring the need for vigilance. One source, for instance, says 82% of U.S. motorists acknowledge driving aggressively or exhibiting road rage over the past year.
3. Don’t Drink and Drive
While everyone has heard that drinking and driving is a no-no, that doesn’t mean everyone does the right thing.
Unfortunately, far too many people get behind the wheel after drinking. The legal blood alcohol content level throughout much of the U.S. is 0.08%. It makes more sense, however, to avoid driving after drinking. That’s the case even if you’ve consumed a relatively small amount.
People intoxicated due to alcohol or drugs can’t properly operate motor vehicles. If you drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. Get a ride with someone you know, or call a cab. It’s not worth the risk to drive after consuming alcohol and to have to get a lawyer involved.
4. Maintain Your Vehicle
Another way to reduce the odds of accidents is to take proper care of your car. If routine maintenance and repairs are an afterthought, the safety of your vehicle will be compromised. You need to ensure all the components are in good shape so that you can operate your vehicle safely. Prioritize keeping your car in good overall condition.
5. Take a Break
Yet another way to lower your odds of getting into car accidents is to stay off the road when tired. Driving when fatigued can compromise your driving ability similar to if you’re intoxicated. Your reaction time will decline and increase your odds of accidents.
So, if you’re too tired to drive safely, park your car and postpone your trip or find another way to travel.
Consider these options to remain safe on the road. Remember that a driver’s license is a privilege rather than a right, and that privilege can be stripped away if you break the law.
It’s also worth considering that car accidents can be life-changing in nature. If involved in an accident causing injuries, you’ll need to contact a personal injury lawyer (like NashvilleTNLaw.com) who can help you file a claim to obtain compensation. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay for treatment out of pocket.
An ounce of prevention is, as the old saying goes, worth a pound of cure. So, avoiding accidents is best. But if you find yourself in a dicey situation after an accident, it pays to know how to get some help.
