When you first start driving, the world feels big and full of exciting things to explore. Of course, if you’re not being careful on the road, things can get dicey pretty quickly. The following will explore some of the things you can do to help protect yourself and avoid the Dangers Of The Road.
Seatbelt And Vehicle Maintenance
Two incredibly easy factors to pay attention to in order to reduce risks while driving are your seatbelt and your vehicle’s maintenance. Make sure you’ve got your seat belt on when driving; it’s a simple as that—these nifty devices save an estimated nearly 15,000 lives every year. Similarly, making sure your vehicle is in good, and working condition can help you reduce the chances of a malfunction-related accident. Take your car in for a regular check-up and keep an eye on things like tire pressure and oil levels. Never drive a vehicle that seems unsafe or unfit for the road.
Know What To Do In The Event Of An Accident
Yes, ideally, you’ll be avoiding all accidents, but just in case something happens, you want to be aware of the steps you’re supposed to take. Don’t leave the scene, call the authorities, and seek medical attention are usually the first three steps. It’s important for you to visit with a healthcare professional even if you feel fine, as medical conditions like shock can prevent you from being aware of your injuries. You’ll also want to exchange information with any other party involved (it’s best to do this politely) and take photos of the scene if you are able. Before talking with your insurance provider, you should always consult a legal professional.
When it comes to accidents, many claims routes, once taken, involve your forfeiting your right to pursue any other paths of compensation. Further, your insurance company and the other party’s insurance provider will have lawyers and doctors, and other professionals working around the clock to ensure that they have to pay as little as possible. You need someone who practices law specifically regarding accidents which also practices in the state where the accident occurred. This means, if your incident occurred in North Carolina, you probably want to search something like: North Carolina car accident lawyer. Again, everyone else involved is going to have a trained and experienced professional protecting their interests; you need someone who can advocate for you. If you’re worried about the cost, note that most lawyers offer free consultations, and many offer a payment scheme where they only get paid should they win you money.
Don’t Drive And Eat
More Dangers Of The Road, when people are eating, they are prone to get distracted. The sandwich sauce can drip out onto your jeans, and suddenly you’re fumbling for napkins. Hot food can spill and burn you, causing flinching or jumping and, therefore, swerving. Keep things easy and pull over and park somewhere if you want a snack or a meal. It really doesn’t take that long to eat—you’re saving what? Twenty minutes if you eat incredibly, comically slowly. More than likely, all you’re gaining for the risk is 3 to 4 minutes.
Put Your Cellphone Away
Notifications are designed to be addictive. This is major Dangers Of The Road. The more time a person spends on their phone, the more data can be gathered and sold; therefore, the more money an app or corporation makes. Because of this, applications are programmed to earn as much of our attention as humanly possible. Given how perfectly programmed these little devices are, it’s unrealistic to expect yourself to be able to ignore sounds or lights related to notifications. To avoid the problem altogether, put your phone away with the volume off, somewhere you can’t see it. If you’re looking down or over at your phone, you’re not looking at the road or paying attention to what other drivers are doing.
Be Aware Of Your Mental State
You already know not to drive intoxicated, but not enough people are told not to drive when they’re exhausted, extremely stressed, depressed, or anxious. Mental states can play a major role in what you notice and how quickly you notice it.
Listen To Weather Reports
If you’re going for a drive, especially if it’s a long drive, it’s a good idea to look up what the weather is going to be like. Torrential downpour, forest fire smoke blocking out visibility, and blizzards are just a few instances of weather that should deter you from driving. If the weather is bad, cancel your plans. If you need to be home for work in the morning, call your boss and tell them that it’s not safe to drive, so you can’t come in. Legally, your boss cannot ask you to put yourself in danger to get to work.
The above tips should help you keep yourself safe from Dangers Of The Road. In addition to the above, always listen to your instincts—if you feel unsafe for any reason, pull over or turn off and address your concerns.