Whether they are involved in a car accident with bikes, other cars, or just themselves, most people know what to do after car accidents: pull over, call the police and car accidents lawyers and insurance to file your car accident injury claims. But what more people should know is how to prevent a car accident from happening in the first place. Automobile accident lawyers and emergency personnel agree that safe driving is the best way to prevent accidents. Here are some steps you can take to be a safer driver:
- Keep both hands on the steering wheel, in the two and ten or nine and three o’clock position. This gives you more control over the car in general, and shortens your reaction time so that you can avoid dangerous situations.
- Keep your car well-maintained. Following the manufacturer-suggested maintenance schedule is a great way to prevent accidents caused by mechanical failure. A car that stalls, swerves, or fails to start is at higher risk of being involved in an accident. Don’t forget visibility! Keeping windshield wipers in working order is just as important as the engine and transmission.
- Keep your speed under control. Speed is an enormous factor in thousands of car accidents every day, so be sure to drive the speed limit in good conditions. In icy, foggy, or rainy weather, when visibility and control are impaired, consider slowing down. If you are worried about being a nuisance, keep to the right, and put your four-way lights on to signal to other drivers that it’s ok to go around you. Better to arrive at your destination safely a little late than to not arrive at all.
Driving safely to avoid car accidents is not difficult. As long as you are alert, aware, and considerate, it is easy to operate your vehicle in the safest manner possible. Everyone, from automobile accident lawyers, to police and EMTs, to other drivers on the road, will thank you for your considerate actions.