Scientifically Proven Ways to Prevent a Serious Road Accident

There are millions of car accidents that happen every single year in the United States. Some of these are fender benders while others can be fatal.

It is your job as a driver on the road to take precautions to prevent a serious road accident from happening. So what can you do to help with the safety of the road?

Keep reading to follow these safety tips! It takes everyone on the road to do it to make the road a safer place.

Do Not Trust Anyone on the Road Other than Yourself

As a driver on the road, you should not trust anyone else on the road other than yourself. You never know what someone else is going to do – whether that is swerving, breaking abruptly, or following the traffic rules. Because you are not sure what they are going to do, you need to drive defensively. You should always make decisions to protect yourself.

If you are in the right lane, you should always anticipate that someone could pull out in front of you. You need to be ready if that happens.

While you are driving on a highway, you have to anticipate that if a car is around you, it may swerve. You should be prepared to either break or switch lanes at this moment.

To drive safely, you should also remain far enough away from the car in front of you. You never know if they are going to slam on the brakes or hit something in front of you. If this happens and you are too close, you will be in trouble. You want enough space to be able to make a decision.

If something does happen on the road, you do not want to be the one in the wrong. If that is the case, you can look into personal injury lawyers that can help you with your case. You can have them on speed dial in case of unpredicted situations. To make decisions to protect yourself, you should always be ready.

Follow the Speed Limit

Although you may not understand why the speed limit is there for a reason. There’s also a reason that slower traffic is the right lane of a highway and the left lane is meant for people who are driving a little bit faster. By separating these two, there is less likelihood of a serious accident on the road.

If you want to think about it a different way, driving in general is already using all of your thinking muscles. You have to use brain power in order to drive and follow all of the rules of the road. Driving faster than the speed limit just requires more thinking power. There’s no need for this as it can create more dangerous situations.

Take the Right Precautions

Although you are not always at the mercy of yourself and instead do have a risk posed by other drivers, you need to take as many precautions as you can. Wearing a seatbelt is one of the most important precautions. Although you cannot prevent a car crash, wearing your seatbelt can protect yourself in case of a collision.

In addition to wearing a seatbelt, you should also get rid of any distractions. If you notice that when you talk on the phone (even if this is on Bluetooth over the car speakers), you get distracted, it may be best to avoid doing this altogether. You should also avoid looking out your windows too much at the scenery. This can lead to a fatal distraction if you are not careful.

Reduce Any Abrupt Movements

While you are driving on the road, you want to reduce any abrupt movements. If you are planning to change lanes, you should put on your blinker and slowly move over when the coast is clear. Jerking the car to the left or to the right can cause an accident if someone else does not see you doing it or if you do not see them. Going slowly in this case can help prevent that from happening.

Many abrupt movements can also lead to over-correcting. If you overcorrect yourself in situations on the road, this can actually lead to more abrupt behavior and dangerous situations. You may throw yourself into the wrong lane by accident, accidentally run off the road into a ditch, or even hit a pedestrian in a worst-case scenario. This is why it is crucial to take it slow and avoid abrupt movements.

Be Careful at Any Intersection you Cross

Did you know that 50% of all car crashes happen at intersections? This is the most dangerous place to drive. However, you are most likely going to come across at least one every single time you drive.

That is why it is important to be alert and careful when crossing one in your car.

When you cross an intersection, you should never accelerate. If you accelerate, you are not driving carefully or considering any other cars that may come into your path.

As you approach an intersection, you should also always stop if the light turns yellow. Do not risk your safety or anyone else’s by speeding up.

Personally, although not exactly an intersection, avoiding left-hand turns can help prevent any serious road accidents. These are one of the most dangerous turns to make, and if they are not protected, you may put yourself in danger. Always try to find a left-hand turn that has a light.

Take these Precautions to Prevent a Road Accident

With millions of road accidents happening every year, it is essential to practice safety tips to prevent serious road accidents.

Every time you get into your car, you should go over your checklist for these scientifically proven ways to prevent an accident. Always be alert and pay attention when you cross intersections, never speed up for a yellow light, do not make any abrupt movements, and only trust yourself on the road. By following these steps, you will be a safe driver which will not only help you but everyone else on the road as well.