Driving Safely, Accident-Free

Every year there are approximately 6 million car accidents in the United States. Even worse, between 37,000 and 40,000 of these accidents involve at least one fatality, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This article offers you driving and maintenance tips to help you avoid being in any kind of auto accident.

Let’s start with the obvious; at least 30 percent of U.S. automobile fatalities involve alcohol, so do not drive drunk! Even if you don’t think you are drunk and have had just one or two drinks, it still means you shouldn’t get behind the wheel. Have someone else drive, or wait a few hours until you do drive.

Now even if you are 100 percent sober, you should always be on the lookout for drivers who are impaired from either alcohol or other drugs and attempt to stay far away from them. They are often very easy to spot; they are driving too slow, they are weaving from left to right while attempting to drive in one lane, they are driving too fast, they make sudden jerky movements from lane to lane without signaling, they change their speed frequently. In short, they are driving erratically. So make sure to stay far behind them or, if that is not possible, pass them when it is safest and keep them far in your rear view mirror.

Do not talk on your cell phone or text while you are driving. If you must talk on your phone, make sure to use a handless set up and dial any number either using a voice control feature or preset numbers. Dialing a number while driving is definitely a no-no as it will require you to take your mind and eyes off the road.

When you are on the road make sure you keep both hands on the steering wheel at a “10 and 2″ position (pretending that the steering wheel is a clock, keep your left hand at 10 o’clock and your right hand at 2 o’clock). You never know when a tire may blow out or when you may need to abruptly turn and/or swerve, so it is a good idea to have a good grip on the steering wheel at all times.

Drive the posted speed limit and pay special attention to the recommended speeds on off ramps and other tight turns, especially if they are unfamiliar to you. According to the NHTSA, 30 percent of traffic fatalities involve excessive speeding. On most cars, speeding also cuts into your fuel mileage — a car going 60 MPH gets much better mileage than a car going 80 MPH, so stay alive and save money at the same time.

Be alert at all times and make sure you are watching any cars in front of you, behind you, and on your side. If you are too tired to stay alert, pull over and get a cup of coffee or tea and wait until you are awake enough to drive safely. If you are on a trip, pull over to a rest area, catch a nap and get some rest before you continue on your way.

Make sure your car is safe to drive. Make sure the tires have enough tread on them and don’t need to be replaced. When people don’t pay attention to the tires on their cars, they leave themselves open to their tires being worn enough for the tire to blow out. Having a tire blow out at 65 miles per hour on the highway can be a harrowing experience, as you can easily lose control of your car and have an accident.

Also make sure to get your brakes checked at regular intervals and keep fresh windshield wipers on your car at all times. In short, make sure your car is properly maintained. It may save your life one day.

To sum up: don’t drive drunk, watch out for those who do, don’t talk on a cell phone, be alert and aware of other drivers plus your surroundings, maintain your car, watch how fast you are going and you should be fine.

Happy motoring!


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