Every time you get in your car and pull out of your driveway, you’re taking your life in your hands. Even if you are an alert and skilled driver, you cannot guarantee the other drivers on the road will be too. Defensive driving is key in making sure you get to your destination safe and sound.
These five defensive driving tips may save your life, or at the very least save you a great deal of money and trouble by preventing a costly auto accident.
Eliminate all distractions.
As the use of cell phones while driving has increased in recent years, so has the number of distracted driver incidents. In 2009, of the 5,474 people killed in the U.S. due to auto accidents involving distracted driving, about 995 contained reports of a cell phone as a contributing factor. Today, as many as 81% of drivers have talked on the phone while driving, and as many as 20% of experienced adult drivers have sent text messages while driving, with the number even higher amongst drivers under 24 (33%).
Though talking and texting on the phone is the most common driver distraction, it’s not the only one. According to a 2011 HealthDay poll of 2,800 American adult drivers, 86% admit to eating or drinking non-alcoholic beverages while driving, while many others admitted engaging in other driver distractions like programming their GPS (41%), reading a map (36%) and putting on makeup (14%). Eliminating any or all distractions significantly reduces your odds of being in an auto accident.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Focusing on the road and the car ahead of you is a good thing to do while driving. However, the car in front of you shouldn’t be your only focus. By keeping eyes locked on a fixed point ahead, you may not notice situations occurring to the side of you or behind you that may require your attention.
It’s important to keep your eyes moving while driving so you can be aware of what’s going on around you. Check your mirrors regularly so you are aware of the actions and positions of the drivers around you. Doing so will allow you to take evasive or defensive action should another driver behave in a way that endangers you or your vehicle.
If an inattentive driver next to you attempts to merge into your lane without noticing you’re there, or a driver behind you looks like they’re going too fast and may not brake in time to avoid a collision, you can avoid a messy auto accident if you are aware of your surroundings and can react in time to evade or alert the other driver.
Don’t drive drowsy.
It’s common knowledge that you should never drive while under the influence of alcohol or any other mind altering substance, as chances of an auto accident or DUI accident increase significantly when you do. What’s not as well known is that driving while drowsy and deprived of rest can have a similar effect on one’s vision and reaction time as being drunk at the wheel.
When driving drowsy, reaction time can be easily double that of an able-bodied, alert person. This can make adjusting to changes on the road risky and difficult. Study has shown that being awake for 18 hours produced an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05, while 24 hours was equivalent to a BAC of 0.10. A BAC of 0.08 is considered legally drunk and grounds for a DUI charge. The lapses in attention that occur when your brain is fatigued due to drowsiness make being involved in an auto accident much more likely as well.
Because of this, you should only drive when fully awake and able to react quickly to things around you. Only drive when you’ve had plenty of rest beforehand, and if you notice you are becoming drowsy or having trouble keeping your eyes open, pull over and rest before continuing.
Never assume.
Have you ever noticed somebody with their turn signal on and assumed they were going to turn at the next street only for them to keep driving right on past it? That is a perfect example of why you should never assume a driver’s intentions on the road.
A big part of driving defensively is always treating the situation as if the other driver might make a mistake. If they do not make a mistake, there is no harm done, but if they do make a mistake, you are prepared to react accordingly to avoid an auto accident. There are plenty of times when another driver may ignore a traffic sign or signal, be it mistakenly or purposefully, or they may misjudge someone’s speed or distance on the road. You can never assume other drivers will do what they’re supposed to do 100% of the time.
A good habit to have is always looking both ways when a light you’re at turns green, just in case a car runs the red light. Also, if you come to an intersection that is a one way street, it is a good idea to look in the direction you don’t expect a car to be coming as well. If it’s not a car driving the wrong way down the street, it might be a bicyclist or a pedestrian coming from that direction. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, as assuming a driver’s next move may lead to an auto accident.
Stay insured.
One of the best defenses you can have is the proper car insurance should you become involved in an auto accident. If all other precautionary tactics fail to prevent a collision, at least you know that the majority of your repair and medical bills should be covered (depending on your coverage). Also, if you’re the one at fault, your auto insurance should cover the expenses of the other person. If you are an uninsured motorist, you may be on the hook for covering the other person’s bills incurred in the crash.
However, if you do find yourself in an auto accident and you have auto insurance, it is wise to contact a good personal injury attorney with experience in auto accident cases. You may be entitled to more money than your insurance company is willing to offer you for your medical and auto bills.
If you’ve been in a new auto accident, remember to never tell your insurance company any specific details as they will likely be recording you. Talking too much with the insurance adjuster without first seeking legal advice may damage any claim you have if you say the wrong thing. Always speak with a personal injury attorney or auto accident attorney first if you’ve been injured in an auto accident and seek necessary medical treatment immediately. Getting medical treatment will also increase the value of your claim.
