Each year, there are more than 6 million traffic accidents throughout the U.S. and recent statistics show that Florida accounts for more than 394,000 accidents annually. With so many crashes and collisions occurring, it can be hard to see how any driver can avoid getting caught up in a car accident but, fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk.
To help you stay safe on the roads, take a look at these top tips for avoiding a costly car accident now:
1. Avoid Drink Driving to Reduce the Risk of a Car Accident
More than 162,000 crashes involving impaired drivers occurred in Florida in a 12-month period, which highlights just how dangerous drunk and drug driving is. If you want to reduce your risk of being involved in an accident, it’s vital to only get behind the wheel when you’re sober.
2. Stay Under the Speed Limit
Excessive speeds can not only increase the risk of an accident occurring, but they can increase the severity of a crash if a collision does occur. Due to this, people can sustain serious or life-changing injuries if they are involved in a speeding accident. By slowing down and sticking to the speed limit, however, you can improve road safety for you and other road users.
3. Turn Your Cellphone Off to Avoid Distractions While Driving
Even if you don’t intend to use your phone while you’re driving, it may be tempting to glance at the screen or reply to a message if a notification comes through. However, using your cellphone in any way takes your attention away from the road and increases your chances of causing an accident.
To prevent any driving distractions, turn your cellphone off before you start your journey. This will ensure you’re not tempted to respond to incoming calls or send a quick message while you’re behind the wheel.
4. Pay Attention to Other Road Users to Prevent Accidents
When you’re driving, you need to be aware of how other road users are behaving and not be solely focused on your own actions. After all, a speeding driver or a jaywalking pedestrian can easily present a hazard that is hard to avoid.
By remaining vigilant and paying close attention to other road users, you pre-empt potentially dangerous behavior and avoid a potentially serious collision.
5. Protect Your Auto Accident Liability
It may not always be possible to avoid getting caught up in an accident, but you can take action to protect your car accident liability. Seeking advice from a lawyer who specializes in car accident cases will help to ensure that you’re not unfairly blamed or sued for an accident that wasn’t your fault, for example. In addition to this, working with car accident lawyers will help you to obtain compensation for injuries that were caused by a crash or collision.
Make Traffic and Road Safety a Priority
While inexperience can cause young drivers to be more at risk of accidents, complacency can be one reason why experienced drivers succumb to accidents too. Whether you’re a new driver or you’ve been on the road for years, make sure traffic and road safety are always a top priority if you want to reduce the risk of accidents occurring.
