No one wants to die in a car accident – that is a fact. However, many people take actions every day that they do not realize put them at risk, and many others do not take simple actions that could save their lives. Check out these simple defensive driving techniques that could keep you from losing your life in a car accident.
Wear a Seatbelt Every Time You Get in Your Vehicle
You might not like wearing a seatbelt but you will like suffering a catastrophic injury or death even less. Seatbelts are the best way to significantly reduce your injuries if you are in a car accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seatbelts save the lives of about 11,000 people every year.
Avoid Distractions
You have no control over what other drivers do, but you can reduce your own chance of being in a car accident by making sure that you are giving the road your full attention. Do you not read, change your clothing, eat food, make phone calls, text, or put on makeup while you are driving. Recent studies show that distracted driving is one of the leading causes of fatal accidents.
Keep a Safe Distance Between Your Vehicle and the Vehicle in Front of You
It can be tempting to drive close to the vehicle in front of you if they are not driving fast enough or if you are on a busy road and you do not want other vehicles to cut you off. However, it can also be very dangerous. The rule of thumb is that there should be two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you. How do you judge that? Pick a landmark, start counting when the vehicle in front of you passes it, and see what number you are at by the time you pass it. If the weather is good then the number should be at least two. If the weather is anything but, then it should be three to four seconds.
Do Not Speed
The NHTSA has found that speeding is a factor in one out of every three fatal car accidents. Remember that staying at or below the posted speed limit is just the beginning. That limit is designed for perfect conditions. If road conditions are less than ideal, or if there are weather conditions that are suboptimal, then you should drive even slower. Do not drive based on the speed of other drivers – they are making choices for themselves. Make your own choices for you.
Have you been injured in an accident? If it was the fault of another driver, then you should consider all your legal options. The easiest way to do so is to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
