4 Ways You Can Prevent Your Next Accident

CarUnfortunately, accidents happen each and every day—and by their definition, they are always unexpected!

Here are four sure-fire ways you can reduce the chances of one happening to you:

1. Recognize and reduce distractions.
Most accidents happen when someone—either you or the driver of the vehicle you got in an accident with—aren’t paying attention. There are many things drivers do that can distract their focus from the road: checking their appearance in the rear-view mirror, looking for their phone, trying to read directions, texting, looking at another accident, or even eating. To save yourself from an accident, do these things while your car is safely parked.

2. Don’t speed.
It should go without saying that you shouldn’t speed. Speed limits were invented for a reason, and driving at safe speeds will reduce accidents and save lives. Make sure you know the speed limits for the roads you normally drive on, whether it’s to work, school or other places you frequently visit. Furthermore, when considering these speed limits, it is important that you factor in weather conditions. Should you need to stop suddenly, it will be harder to do so in the rain than it would be otherwise—so keep this in mind if driving conditions aren’t ideal.

3. Know when you’re too impaired to drive—or when someone else is too impaired to drive you.
No one should drive when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or when they are just too tired to drive. The consequences of doing so could be deadly—and if not, could at least result in a fine, jail time, or even injury to you or another person. That said, make sure you don’t drive when you are unable to do so, and don’t get in the car with a driver who is in that same condition.

4. Wear your seatbelt.
Even though a seatbelt can’t prevent an accident, it can help save you from serious injury, and in some cases, even death. If you get in an accident when you’re not wearing a seatbelt, you could be ejected through the windshield. According to recent studies, 9,000 lives are saved as the result of seatbelts each year.