According to a report from the World Health Organization, around 1.2 million people lose their lives each year in car accidents and more than 50 million are injured. WHO predicts that by 2020, road traffic injuries and deaths will be comparable to death rates from AIDS or malaria; by 2030, road accidents will become the fifth leading cause of death. And don’t forget the economic impact of all these crashes, estimated at more than $500 billion each year.
As you can probably imagine, more than 90 percent of these accidents are caused by driver factors. And since we’re the only one responsible for our road behavior after we get behind the steering wheel, here are a few tips to help you stay away from road accidents:
* If you’re on the highway, try to avoid the “fast lane” and use the lanes in the middle or on the right. Your chances of avoiding a crash are much higher when using these lanes. Most tragic car crashes happen on the fast lane.
* Always scout the road ahead. And I don’t mean only the car in front of you: You must always look what’s happening to the cars in front of that. This way, if something happens, you’ll have more time to react.
* Watch out for the blind spot. These are the spots you can’t see in either of the mirrors; the most common ones are the lateral rear areas of both sides of the car. Always properly adjust your rear-view and side mirrors, but keep in mind that even so you might have areas you’re not seeing. Be extra careful when changing lanes or directions.
* Have the right driving position. Imagine a clock. Among the first things any defensive driving course in this world will teach you is to always keep your hands on the steering wheel at 10 and 2 (your left hand at 10, your right hand at 2). This way, you will have the best control of the steering wheel and best chance to avoid a crash.
Also, make sure the seat is close enough to the steering wheel so you can rest your wrist on the wheel with your back touching the seat’s backrest. Holding this position is not only less tiring, but also allows you to control the car better and be more protected from broken bones in case of a crash.
* Judge a driver by his or her car’s condition. If the vehicle looks awful, it has bent parts or it hasn’t been washed in ages, this could mean the driver is not too careful about the car; it could also mean he’s the same way with other cars in traffic, so you might want to be careful around him.
Often when you’re driving, you might notice people being tired, talking on the cell phone or drunk; you definitely should get away from them because they’re dangerous. There are plenty of other ways to prevent road accidents but, after all, the most important ones are to always pay attention to the road and try to keep your car in a condition as good as possible. That said, have great and safe trips!