Car crashes are one of the most common situations where a person can be injured or killed. This article focuses on the top road accident causes and how to avoid them.
While nobody likes to think about bad outcomes, you better know how to proceed, especially if you need a lawyer as a result of an accident. Law firms like Diamond & Diamond specialize in personal injury lawsuits. Click to visit their website for more information on how they can assist you.
Mechanical Issues
You might love your car more than your mom and look after it better than your body. Still, nobody is completely protected against mechanical failures. We recommend that you check on the car regularly and put it through maintenance services every season.
Neglected issues, however small, can lead to significant problems on the road.
Drunk Driving
It’s no secret that driving drunk is a hazard, and almost everybody does that. In 2016, 28 of traffic-related deaths were due to impaired driving, be it alcohol or drugs.
Driving requires your utmost attention. The sharpness of your reflexes is crucial. Sober driving puts you in an advantageous position against all the drivers on the road. You might even save lives if the drivers around you aren’t in their best shape.
Tiredness and Sleep Deprivation
As we’re talking about physical and mental sharpness, tiredness is also worth mentioning. According to research, moderate sleep deprivation produces similar cognitive and motor impairments that the illegally drunk person has.
Microsleep usually occurs when you’re supposed to be asleep: late night and early morning (usually when many people have to drive to work). Although it’s a momentary event, it can threaten your life if you’re at the wheel.
Before getting your driver’s license, ensure that you have your regular shuteye and are well rested.
Road and Weather Conditions
All of us have a way to learn about the weather beforehand. Seasonal car checkups mentioned above are a preventative measure against sudden malfunctions; it’s also a chance to change the tires for winter.
Even if you have the best tires, driving extra carefully during rain can be the difference between a successful trip and an accident. Always better to be late than to cause a wreck.
If you’re going to travel to a location you’ve never been to, try learning about the road conditions as much as possible. Be ready for anything.
Distractions and Recklessness
Last but not least, distractions while driving can cause mistakes that take lives. Distractions include:
- Texting
- Putting on makeup
- Eating
- Talking on the phone
- Daydreaming
- Turning your head to look at the back seat
- Talking to the passengers
All of these can cost you a fun trip.
While some distractions don’t exactly depend on you, others do. Speeding and maneuvering are the staples of reckless driving and can easily be avoided.
Final Thoughts
Driving is a mental process. Even if you’re the sharpest and most experienced chauffeur in the world, being extra careful always helps. The situation is hardly ever ideal, but there’s always a way to limit accidental circumstances.
