Upon entering the driving world, a motorist discovers one simple fact, “Accidents are going to happen.” Where this is true and currently, a car accident happens every 60 seconds on average, there are things the driver can do to help avoid getting in an accident. Here are some of the best tips, according to a car accident lawyer, on how to stay safe and avoid accidents on the increasingly busy roadways.
Watch Stale Green Lights
Stop lights work on a timed system in most cities. There are some that are pressure based, but generally speaking, each stop light will have a standard time setting where it will change. A stale green light is one that has been green for a while and you suspect will change to yellow at any moment. Keeping an eye on these stale green lights will ensure that you have plenty of time to stop when the light decides to turn yellow, so you will avoid the instance of running the light.
Keep an Eye Out for Red Light Runners
Red light runners are more frequent than one might imagine. When you are driving your vehicle, you must account for other drivers and intersections are one of the top spots for accidents to occur. Red light runners are those that speed up to avoid stopping at a light or those that do not adhere to the stale green light tip you just read. When starting off at an intersection, give at least 3 seconds when the light turns red to account for any driver that may be trying to avoid stopping. You may encounter an impatient driver behind you, but your life is worth more than their impatience.
Never Use Your Cell Phone While Driving
There is a reason most cities and countries have some form of laws regarding the use of cell phones while driving. Cell phones distract drivers more than anything else these days leading to countless accidents annually. This problem is completely avoidable, so put the phone down. At the very least, use a hands-free device or pull over if you must make a call. One small distraction or a second looking away from the road can lead to tragic circumstances.
Look Far Ahead
Every possible accident scenario is unavoidable, but your chances of getting into a car accident drastically drop when you pay attention to what is going on ahead of you. Many drivers make the mistake of only paying attention to issues that are right in front of their faces. That can limit your focus. Ideally, you want to watch for things farther ahead. The general recommendation is to look 12 seconds ahead of your car. This will allow you to see the person pulling into the road just ahead of you or the family walking along the sidewalk in your city.
Watch for Children
Children love to play and sometimes, they may play in areas that are not appropriate. As with the family walking along the sidewalk above, the children could be bouncing a ball as they stroll down the street. One missed bounce and that ball can fly directly into your vehicle’s path. Children are impulsive and rarely think before acting, so it is not uncommon for a child to run after their toy without a thought as to how many vehicles are on the road. It can be very hard to stop your car before impact, so it is best to keep a close eye on children while driving.
Check Your Tires
Accidents sometimes do not involve another vehicle. At times, the accident is caused entirely by our vehicle. One of the largest sectors of these type of accidents occur due to blown tires. Tire tread is something to pay attention to. The tread is how your car gains traction with the road and maintaining tires with excellent tread will help you stop more effectively and avoid skids. Tire pressure is also important because proper inflated tires allow you to have better control of your vehicle, over or under inflated tires are a constant moving hazard.
Apart from the tread of the tire, a responsible motorist understands the need to check for abrasions on the tire itself. Fractures in the rubber or heavily worn areas might still hold air, but when traveling down a hot road, can quickly become a severe hazard. Heat can cause a small abrasion to split causing a blowout. Before getting into your vehicle, do a quick walk around to check for any small abrasions in the rubber of your tires. You will avoid a possible blow out and maintain a safer driving experience with just a little time spent looking at your tires.
Keep the Proper Distance
Distance is not always an option on the busiest of road ways but keeping your distance from other drivers is one of the best ways to avoid a potential accident. Tailgating is illegal in certain areas as it can insight the person being tailgating to become angry. There is no reason to follow another driver too closely. They are not going to speed up just because you get up next to their rear bumper. In many instances, they will slam on the breaks causing an accident. Although it is a dirty deed to slam on breaks just to cause an accident, it is also simply bad form to follow a driver too close, so for the safety of everyone, keep your distance.
Accidents are going to happen from time to time, but if every driver does their part to avoid car accidents, we would see a drastic drop in the number of accidents on a daily basis. Do your part and use these tips to become a better driver.
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