Tens of thousands of people are killed in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. each year, and millions of people are injured. It is a fact of driving that we accept some degree of risk every time we get behind the wheel. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk, even if you can’t completely eliminate it:
- Don’t speed. It may sound commonsense, but a lot of people speed despite how obviously dangerous and illegal it is. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding killed nearly 9,500 people in 2019. Speeding makes it difficult to control your vehicle, increases stopping distance, and provides less of a cushion of time in which to react to unexpected situations on the road.
- Always wear a seat belt. They’ve been proven to reduce the severity of injuries and reduce the risk of death in a crash. Insist that everyone in the vehicle wear a seat belt – for any length of trip, at any speed.
- Don’t text while you’re driving. That includes both reading and sending texts. This is one of the most dangerous distractions because it takes your eyes, hands, and mind off of the task of driving. Even if you think you can take a glance quickly, it takes only spilt seconds of inattention for an accident to occur.
- Don’t drive drunk or buzzed. This is another one of those dangerous driving behaviors that seems so obviously dangerous that many of us may take it for granted. But especially around the holidays, with parties and gatherings in your schedule, it can be easy to have too many drinks. You may find yourself tempted to drive because you didn’t make any other arrangements, even though you know you might be a little too buzzed to drive. Don’t let this happen to you. Always be prepared to order a ride from a service or take a bus if necessary.
With a little care and caution, we can all do our part to prevent fatal accidents.
If you lost a loved one in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence, please search our directory to find an experienced wrongful death lawyer in your area.
