Tips to Avoid Car Accidents
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), approximately 36,096 people died in car crashes in the United States in 2019. That means an average of almost 99 people died in a car accident every day during that year. Sometimes, car accidents occur due to factors outside of a driver’s control. For example, a blown-out tire or brake failure is a common accident cause. Still, there are some driver behaviors that, if adopted, can help drivers avoid car accidents. These behaviors are outlined below.
Do Not Drive Distracted
The overall rise in cell phone usage has also led to an increase in cell phone usage while driving. However, using a cell phone is only one form of distracted driving. Other forms of distracted driving include:
- Eating;
- Doing makeup;
- Talking on the phone;
- Using a cellphone application;
- Daydreaming;
- Adjusting the radio;
- Reading; and
- Interacting with passengers.
According to a 2018 national observational survey, 3.2% of drivers stopped at intersections were talking on cell phones at any point during the day. Police-reported data indicates that of the 36,096 car crash fatalities in 2019, 3,142 people died in a crash where a distraction was deemed the primary factor. As expected, using a cellphone while driving puts the driver’s attention somewhere other than the road. This can result in delays in reaction time, increased lane violations, and the inability to keep their eyes on the road.
Avoid Driving Under the Influence
In addition to being against the law, driving under the influence puts everyone on the road in danger. Alcohol and drugs can impair a person’s judgment, impair their visual functions, reduce their reaction time, and alter their coordination. Of the 36,096 car crash fatalities in 2019, approximately 28% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above the legal limit of .08%. Additionally, research indicates that approximately 25% of car accident fatalities could be prevented each year if drunk driving was eliminated entirely.
A conviction for driving under the influence can have negative consequences on several areas of your life. You can face jail time, hefty fines, and a driver’s license suspension. That’s where Phoenix auto accident lawyers could truly help get you out of a challenging situation.
Drive Within Posted Speed Limits
Approximately 9,000 fatalities occurred in speed-related vehicle accidents in 2019. This means more than a quarter of the overall fatalities happened in a speed-related crash. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the longer it takes to slow the vehicle to a stop. That means the driver has less time to react to the situation, along with making collisions more deadly due to the energy of the fast-moving vehicle. Additionally, traveling at high speeds increases the risk of the driver making an evasive steering maneuver and losing control of their car.
Currently, 22 states impose a maximum speed limit of 70 miles per hour, and 11 others impose a maximum speed limit of 75 miles per hour. On a 41-mile stretch of Texas State Highway 130, drivers can legally travel up to 85 miles per hour.
Other Culprits
According to other common reasons for accidents include driving recklessly, failure to obey traffic laws and signals, and not paying closer attention when driving at night or in bad weather conditions. Teens and inexp
