It can be hard to get away from road accidents. There seems to never be a day when you’re not hearing about one on the news or from your family and friends. It’s enough to make anyone fear the idea of going on the road at all. However, there’s a lot you can do to prevent yourself from being caught in the worst possible situation. Here are the four pillars of road safety all drivers should be working on at all times.
Your choice of car
If safety is on your mind, then make sure you keep it there as a priority when you’re choosing a new car. Some of the latest safety features keeping drivers safe can bump up the price a little. However, it might be wiser to splurge on features like collision detections and blind spot monitors than to invest in a car that can accelerate a little quicker.
Your habits
Your ability to maintain your focus on the road and to recognize risks is going to be the single biggest contributing factor to your safety. Distracted driving and speeding are some of the leading causes of accidents. If you feel like you could sharpen your skills, or you have been involved in one too many near misses, then you should look into defensive driving courses. These courses are all about teaching you how to recognize threats on the road and to drive cautiously in response to them. Being able to react and to remove yourself from a risky situation can really save your life. Complacency, on the other hand, can be a killer
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Your ability to handle a crisis
Everyone should have a step-by-step plan on how they cope with an accident. First, you have to ensure the safety of you, your passengers, and anyone else involved in the collision. After that, you should have a list of emergency contacts to get in touch with. The emergency services come first, then your car accident lawyer, then your insurance company. While you’re there, make sure to swap details with the other drivers without letting your anger, frustration, or stress taking over. Take pictures of the scene and, if you can, talk to witnesses about what they saw.
Your care for the car
If your brakes or suspension aren’t functioning as they should, then they can greatly increase your risks of getting involved in an accident on the road. Your routine maintenance is essential. There’s a lot you can do to keep the car in good health with your own two hands, but don’t neglect the need to follow your log book and have it serviced every time it needs to be, without fail. You’re a lot more likely to not only mitigate the wear and tear that can lead to a potential accident but also to spot the early warning signs that something is seriously wrong.
Statistically, you’re a lot more likely to be involved in at least one accident in your life than to keep an entirely clean record. But the tips above can help you ensure that those accidents don’t lead to the worst-case scenario and that you know how to cope with the aftermath.
