Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents

1. Rid yourself of distractions, such as:

• Children jumping around; children should be safely secured in their seatbelts.
• Cell phones, mp3 players, etc.

2. Do not drive when you are tired.
Driving while tired could result in you falling asleep at the wheel.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries per year are due to fatigued driving.  In addition to the danger of falling asleep at the wheel, fatigue can cause you to make irrational decisions while driving.

3. Adhere to both road laws and courtesy rules.

• Use your turn signal;
• Do not exceed the posted speed limit;
• Obey traffic signs;
• It isn’t illegal to be in the left lane if you are not passing, but be courteous to other drivers.

4. Maintain your vehicle:

• Regularly check your vehicle for low tires, working tail and turn signal lights, etc.
• Make sure your car gets the regular maintenance it needs.

5. Be a cautious driver.

• Consistently check your surroundings and take note of other vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
• Check your blind spots periodically.
• Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• Check for drivers who appear to be under the influence or whose driving is erratic and/or too fast so that you can take the proper defensive measures.

6. Avoid driving:

• At night; seeing pedestrians, animals, and even other drivers can be difficult.
• In poor weather; rain, snow, and other elements can make the road slippery, increase how long it takes you to stop, and obstruct your view of the road.

7. Do not drive if you are under the influence of any drug.
Remember that alcohol is a drug.  All drugs can not only affect your vision, but your decision making capabilities.  Driving under the influence of any drug puts your life and others at risk.  Over 10,000 people died in 2009 due to drunk driving and 1.1 were arrested for driving under the influence of a drug; do not become a part of these statistics.

8. Periodically take defensive driving.
This will refresh you on the rules of the road, update you on new laws, and many insurance companies will give you a discount if you prove you have taken a defensive driving course.

9. Double check yourself and others.
You can only be responsible for your actions; you cannot always count on others to follow driving laws.  For example, if someone has a turn signal on, make sure that they are really turning before you pull onto the road.  Also, double check yourself; thoroughly check your blind spots before changing lanes and make sure you use your turn signal.

10. Do not give in to road rage.
Everyone has become frustrated with another driver at some point.  Do not let it get to you.  Road rage leads to accidents and altercations; you shouldn’t put your safety at risk.