How to Prepare for It Before It Happens to You

How to Prepare for It Before It Happens to You

You can be in a car accident, but preparation reduces the odds. Learning defensive and safe driving practices or knowing when not to drive can save lives and keep you out of harm’s way.

Never Drive Impaired

Among the critical steps in accident prevention is never driving while drunk. The effects of drunk driving are:

  • Impaired judgment
  • Slowed reaction time
  • Diminished ability to make medical decisions when driving

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that drunk driving causes more than a third of fatal car accidents in the US.

This statistic alone proves how dangerous impaired driving is. Choosing to stay sober or using alternate transportation when intoxicated helps protect you but also prevents catastrophic accidents from happening. The choice to never get behind the wheel impaired relies on your safety and the safety of everyone on the road. However, if another drunk driver causes your accident, speak to an Anchorage lawyer.

Never Drive During These Times

Avoid driving late at night, especially between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends. However, this is when the most fatal accidents occur, and they are usually caused by impaired or fatigued drivers.

That spike in dangerous driving also happens on weekend nights, when alcohol consumption is also at its highest. Fatal crashes peak around these times, and it’s not just impaired drivers at risk — anyone on the road is more vulnerable, the NHTSA reports.

If you do not have to drive during these hours, it is best to avoid the roads. Dramatically avoiding these danger zones will reduce your chances of an accident.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

There are distractions everywhere today. Phones, GPS devices, and radios can distract you from the road. Distracted driving is deadly. Every day, nine people die and thousands more are injured in the U.S. from distracted driving, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These distractions can be as simple as texting, eating, or talking to passengers — and they can result in just a split-second delay that can become a tragic accident. It’s simple but vital advice: Always keep your eyes on the road. Driving always reduces the chance of an accident, and everyone is safe.

Slow Down

The road is a silent killer with speed. The less you can react when you drive over the speed limit, the more severe the crashes are when they happen. Such is the nature of motion, the quicker one goes, the lesser the time one has to respond and the higher the impact force in case of an accident. The figures from the NHTSA show that reckless or aggressive driving accounts for almost 25% of vehicle homicide through negligence.

These prerequisites are imposed with a view to forbidding the operators of motor vehicles from being able to drive on the mop for the normal conditions. Whether it is the weather or heavy traffic, the best way to avoid a fatality is to change the driving speed. To secure compensation from another speeding motorist who caused your accident, hire experienced anchorage lawyers.

Avoid Congested Areas When Possible

Accident hotspots are in high-traffic areas, especially those with multiple intersections. Collisions are more likely at intersections; the closer the area, the more danger there is. Choose routes that have fewer intersections or less congestion when possible.

Increased vehicles and the possibility of multiple car pile-ups make accidents in busy areas more frequent and more severe. To avoid unnecessary risks, you can choose alternative routes. This means you have less traffic and more control over your driving environment, and that’s a safer journey for everyone.

Accidents can be prevented with preparation. Stay sober, drive carefully, and avoid high-risk times to reduce your chances of an accident. You should always prioritize safety before you hit the road.

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Author: Andy Snow

With a knack for simplifying complex business concepts, Andy Snow writes articles that empower his readers to make informed decisions about their businesses.