Over the years I have had several close friends killed in auto accidents. In each case the crash was the fault of the other driver. Statistics show that there are over 5 million auto accidents per year with over 30 thousand fatalities. Alabama is the state with the most accidents per year.
Causes of Auto Accidents
The number one cause of car accidents is not the individual that drove drunk, speeding or ran a red light. Distracted drivers are the top cause of car accidents in the U.S. today. A distracted driver is a motorist that diverts his or her attention from the road, usually to talk on a cell phone, send a text message, eat food or apply makeup. By far the most common cause of driver distraction is using the cell phone while driving.
Women are 27% less likely to be involved in an accident than men. Men out number women 3:1 for drunk driving. The top four causes of accidents are:
Distracted Driver
High Speed
Drunk Driving
Reckless Driving
The fact is auto accidents can be prevented. Some organizations have gone as far changing the name to auto crashes instead of auto accidents. All auto accidents are preventable. When driving there should be only one focus. That is being an alert and proactive driver. Paying attention to what you are doing and what is going on around you.
Being a Proactive Driver
Enter traffic slowly. Stop, look and listen. Always look both ways twice. Avoid having your view impaired by obstacles.
Watch out for children. Kids seem to come out of no where. They may run into traffic from between parked cars. Always be alert especially in residential areas.
Use caution when at traffic lights. Some drivers tend to pull away from red light as soon as they turn green. Get in the habit of pausing for just a few seconds to look left and right before entering the enter section. This allows you to avoid someone who might run the red light.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times. Most newer model cars have controls on the steering wheel. Radio controls and cruise control are two that can be adjusted without taking a hand off the wheel. Keep both hands on the steering wheel allows you to react quicker and more effectively in the event of the unexpected.
Maintain you vehicle according to manufacture’s recommendation. By keeping your car or truck up to date on maintenance, it will operate better and will be more reliable.
Stay aware of your environment. When approaching intersections anticipate other drivers moves. Remember they may not see you. If so you have already prepared for his or her actions.
Do not tailgate. Leave enough reaction time when following other vehicles. This allows you more room to stop if needed. Tailgating leaves little room to respond for the unexpected.
Give respect to other drivers. OK they may have done something wrong. But getting mad and yelling at the driver is not going to fix what has already been done.
Be careful when backing out. At the fire department we know that most accidents occur when backing out. For this reason we always have a backer at the rear to guide us. Newer cars now have backup cameras that are very effective in reducing fender benders. Also consider walking around your car before backing out.
Stay focused on the task at hand. When behind the wheel your priority is driving and driving only. Don’t allow distractions to prevent safe driving. Avoid using your cellphone while driving. When driving at a speed of 60 mph, your car travels 88 feet for every second you take your eyes off the road.
Don’t allow distractions to lead to a horrific accident that could take your life or someone else’s. A split second distraction can change your life forever.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Proverbs 2:11
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