According to National Highway safety data, numerous accident fatalities in the U.S have decreased but the number of deaths due to traffic accidents is still high. Many people involved in accidents refuse to take responsibility.
Here are a few things that you can do to avoid #TruckAccidents or accidents in general.
1. Don’t Drink and Drive
We all know when a person is drunk their ability to drive is impaired as well as the ability to react quickly and accurately. If you are planning to drink at a party or otherwise, please refrain from driving, drunk driving is not only illegal but could lead to #accidents. Make sure you have arrangements made for someone to drive should the need arise.
2. Don’t Drive When Tired
When you are driving while tired, it is as dangerous as driving drunk. When your body is tired it will try and get the sleep needed one way or another. If you get 6 hours of sleep or less a night it triples your chance of crashing due to drowsiness. If you must drive and have no other options at least try stopping to rest a while before resuming to drive. Drivers who are sleepy have a higher tendency of crashing specifically when traveling on high-speed roads. These types of high-speed crashes can lead to serious injuries.
See here some stats from www.drowseydriving.org that might surprise you!
Who is at risk?
- Sleep-related crashes are most common in young people, especially men, adults with children and shift workers
- Adults between 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups (71% vs. 30-64, 52% vs. 65+, 19%).
- Men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy (56% vs. 45%) and are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving (22% vs. 12%).
- Adults with children in the household are more likely to drive drowsy than those without children (59% vs. 45%).
- Shift workers are more likely than those who work a regular daytime schedule to drive to or from work drowsy at least a few days a month (36% vs. 25%).
3. Speed
Speeding on the road is the highest leading cause of accidents next to drunk driving. If you are driving at a higher speed, chances of crashing into another vehicle become increased. Speed limits are there for a reason. When a driver is driving above or below the recommended speed limit, there are high chances of accidents as opposed to driving within a given speed limit.
4. Distracted Driving
When you are distracted by other things, such as talking on the phone or searching for items in your vehicle, you increase your chances of being in an accident. Talking and texting while driving or eating and drinking while driving is not recommended because it takes the eyes and mind away from the road and what’s going on around him.
5. Reckless Driving
When people are driving carelessly and recklessly they increase their chances of crashes. Reckless driving includes passing on the right, accelerating and braking suddenly, swerving and weaving in and out of lanes. Many states consider speeding 20 mph over the posted limit as reckless driving. If your actions on the road are different and more drastic than those of other drivers, you are more likely to cause and be in an accident.
6. Wear a Seat Belt
During high-speed crashes and rollovers, seatbelts and airbags that work in conjunction help prevent passenger ejection. This is a no brainer and wearing a seat belt is not only necessary for your own safety but the law!
Butler Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville TN, providing a multi-disciplined practice including business and defense law. Butler Vines and Babb is also skilled and has significant experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury, and other Personal Injury Law, including Trucking Accident Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 866-701-9631.
Please reference BV&B's content disclaimer (located in this channel's profile description) in regard to this shared content.
The 6 Most Dangerous Things Drivers Do
The 6 Most Dangerous Things Drivers Do
